When Amelia receives a mysterious key and a letter with a single word-"library"-she's compelled to return to her father's estate, a cold and vacant mansion she hasn't seen in years. Though she always knew she'd have to return, the shadowy halls now...
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The cobblestone path wound down the hill, surrounded by forests. Treetops blossomed in every hue, and the pleasant aroma of spring saturated the air. The roads cracked as plants took up residence. I kept glancing behind me, expecting a chase as my heart pounded in time with the clopping of hooves.
Soon, trees turned to buildings. Homes and store fronts made with crumbling brick and rotting wood. Glass shattered and nature overtook what little remained. Everything was abandoned. My brows pinched in confusion. I slowed. Where was everyone? What happened here? As I peered into shattered windows and open doors, I noticed the statues everywhere. Men, women and children. In suspended animation and fear etched on every face. Was this a stage?
A chill swept through the air and I shivered. It was like a ghost town, except there were no ghosts, only statues. I recalled the woman who took me captive. Never had I seen anyone like her. Her cold silver eyes surrounded by inky sclera flashed across my mind and I clenched the reins. I needed someone who could explain the situation and assist me in returning to my world. Back to my sister. But then what of father? I didn't know how big this world was. He could be anywhere... and what was his role here?
I shook my head and continued on, passing dilapidated buildings and more creepy statues. Another gate appeared, and I noticed the buildings on the opposite side were just as, if not more, damaged. They were more homely, less elegant. A city divided by class, perhaps? I halted in front of what appeared to be a bookstore. Before I leave, I should search for a map. Getting lost was the last thing I needed.
"Hello?" I called as I stepped over fallen beams and broken glass. Like the library, books here were faded and cracked, some too fragile to touch. The store was completely empty save for the statues huddled in the back. A man and woman crouched in a corner, embracing their small crying children. The scene made my heart ache. These couldn't be real people, could they? I became frozen in an instant, suspended in ice for who knew how long. I suppose anything was possible here.
Pushing the chilling thought aside, I continued my search for a map and found one tucked away in a box. I was so very careful as I unrolled the fraying paper and blew off the dust. Just barely legible, but it would do. I quickly recognized the symbol for the castle and elegantly scrawled in the corner the name Spring. I was in a town called—my eyes widened. Freywood! The same name and spelling of my manor. What did this mean? What were the odds? My mind reeled. Was this a trick of the mind? Some kind of weird magic like I had witnessed before?
I shook my head, trying to dispel the creeping sense of dread that gnawed at me. Coincidence, I thought, though deep down, I knew better. On the map, I saw that the nearest town, named Ishel, was marked with a temple and a giant tree. The tree was visible from the storefront. The dark clouds that swirled and swallowed the top of it made my stomach churn. Nope! checking the map again, the next closest town was a small unnamed town to the east. I folded the map, slid it into the saddlebag, and mounted my horse.
