The Moonlight Lake (Book 1 of the Magic Wing Series)

Chapter 5

"Carter."

"Carter, wake up."

I blink my eyes open and I look around me. There's nothing but whiteness all around me. "Where am I?" I say, slowly standing up. I look at my hand. It looks normal. There aren't any monster claws or anything like that. "Am I dead?"

"You're not dead."

I jump at the sudden voice and look around.

"I'm right behind you."

I turn around and see a faded figure of a young girl with long wavy blond hair and blue eyes. She looks...familiar.

"Al-?" I say when I realize who it is, "Alice?"

Alice smiles at me. "Yes, it's me," she says, "Alice. Aya's sister."

"H-how?"

She holds out her hand to silence me. "Now's not the time for that." She says, "right now I need your help."

"What's wrong?" I ask, "Did something-?"

She puts her finger to my mouth. "I said not now." She says. I nod. She moves her finger away and continues. "I have been cursed." She says "A death curse; I am very weak and I don't have much time." Her figure flickers a bit, "I need your help"

"How?" I ask.

"My body is in a cabin by the lake, unable to move" she continues, "You have to hurry."

I nod. "Don't worry Alice" I say. "I'll save you."

She smiles and the vision fades.

~

"Carter!" I hear someone cry. "Carter, please wake up!"

I open my eyes. I'm lying on the ground back in the forest. I look over and see Maggie crying on me. I reach a clawed hand out and ruffle her hair. She stops crying and looks at me. I smile. She smiles and gives me a tight hug as she continues to cry.

I let out a weak laugh and cough a bit. I still feel a bit dizzy from the lack of oxygen to my head. I remember the vision with Alice.

"Maggie." I say. She looks at me. "I saw Alice."

She stares at me and sits up. "w-what?"

"Alice. She's alive." I say, "I saw her."

"Alice is alive?" Aya says. "Where is she?"

I sit up myself, with Maggie's help. "She's in a cabin by the lake." I say, "She's not doing so well. She's been cursed and needs out help."

"Cursed?!" Aya cries, "How?"

"She said it was a death curse." I say, "She doesn't have much time left." I look at the group. "We need to save her!"

Maggie nods and stands up. "Alright," she says, "we can get her on the way to the lake! Let's go!" she reaches her hand out to me. I grab it and she pulls me up.

We all agree and move out. I hear a soft voice call out "save me." as we head towards the lake