Fantasy

Chapter VII

     I mean, I've seen horror movies before. I know about werewolves, vampires, witches, goblins, etc. etc. But it's different when they're standing right within lunge-and-kill distance of you. 

     Looking to Sierra, I could see fear in her eyes. Her entire face contorted into a horrible expression of who knows what. She didn't say anything.

     Looking over at Mercy, I saw that she held the flashlight near her face and turned towards me. With a toothy smirk, she gestured me towards the ravenous field of creatures. I let my geet move unwillingly and slowly. The gate that had been open earlier was now closed. The iron bars twisted and loomed above me, straight out of a haunted mansion. Behind it, monsters of all sorts banged, and scratched, and snarled against the fence. Calling me to my imminent doom.  Closing my eyes, I let out a breath. 

     I turned to Mercy once more. She handed me a large black key which I didn't question how she got. Sierra wasn't anywhere to be found. Of course, she abandoned me. Then again, I didn't blame her.

     The key felt chill against my skin, and as I turned it in the lock, I pushed the iron gate forward. It creaked ominously and the handful of large dogs, pale faceless monsters, and unearthly beings who were seemingly trapped a moment ago, stepped backward. With their beady, and strange eyes on me, I stepped through the gate. My heart froze and so did my body as I stood in the center of a small circle formed by these creatures of the night. I closed my eyes, bracing for impact. I would die tonight. I knew I would. But as I stood there waiting, nothing happened.  I heard the iron gate creak behind me, and I snapped back to reality. Turning my head, I saw that Mercy had closed the gate behind her and was now joining me in my, how do I put it nicely, "friendship circle." 

     She didn't seem afraid of the creatures, who were too close for comfort. Walking towards me, she twirled the flashlight in her hands. 

     "I'm surprised you're not dead yet." she let out. I swear, this girl was driving me mad. 

     "Me too." I said cautiously. It's hard trying to keep an eye on killers and keeping a conversation going at the same time. 

     Mercy laughed... actually, cackled, into the night sky. With her voice the animals howled, and eerie screams and moans were expelled into the darkness. I was scared to the bone, and I could see my fingers shaking.

     The noises descended throughout the Grove, and didn't stop. They certainly weren't echoes. 

     "Mercy, you've had your fun. Now please, can we try to get back to the Academy alive?" I pleaded.

     "You really are naive, aren't you? I can certainly try, and I'll succeed. You on the other hand, might want to start praying." she replied simply and calmly. I didn't understand. What was she going to do? She didn't actually want me killed, right? Right?! 

     Tossing me the flash light, Mercy vanished into thin air. No, I'm not stupid or insane. She just disappeared. No cliché puff of smoke either. Holding the flashlight, I turned it on. Which led me to what would keep me alive for a period of time. Shining it at the creatures, they scattered like cockroaches. They didn't exactly die, but they were certainly startled. I used it to my advantage. Backing up towards the gate, I waved the light around rapidly. It distracted them as I crept up against the gate. Fumbling around in my jacket, I searched for the iron key Mercy had given me and forgot to take.

     It wasn't there. 

     "No. No, no, no. This can't be happening." I murmured with frustration. Checking all of my pockets thrice, I still found nothing. Stupid! If she can disappear easily enough, she probably had some way of taking the key. I thought to myself. 

     Groaning, I did not stop moving the light. I needed to collect myself and think. The only reason I was alive right now was because of the flashlight. It would die in about an hour, or even less. I had to get out before then. 

     The gate was too tall to climb, plus I wasn't exactly athletic. I couldn't squeeze through the bars either because, let's face it, I'm not exactly skinny either. 

     Death seemed to be a very possible idea at that point. I suddenly felt a chill go down my spine. I was shivering. My entire situation was very futile and insane. A few days ago, I didn't even think any of this was real. Even now I'm not sure if all of it is. But the fact of the matter, I might die. That to me, is what made it all maddeningly real. 

     I took a deep breath. I was scared of the dragon too. But I turned out fine. I just had to believe that everything happened for a reason. I saw my white knuckles holding on to the gate, and I closed my eyes. Turning the flash light off, I waited. It was hardly giving up. More like waiting for a miracle, but trying to hurry it up. 

     That's when Caspian started yelling my name. 

     "Jo! Jo! Wake up! Please, if you hear me, please, please, please, wake up!" he begged.

     Opening my eyes, I saw him leaning over me, along with Bryn, Mercy, and Sierra. I was back in the dorm, still in bed. He was holding my face in his hands, and I prayed that he didn't see the blood rush to my cheeks.

     Suddenly letting go, he got up off the side of my bed andlet out a breath. 

     "Thank god." he muttered. 

     Looking through all the worried faces, I saw Mercy. I felt fear well up inside me and I pushed my back against the wall. 

     "Wh...What happened? She.. she's evil... she left me to die.. with those monsters." I murmured while pointing a shaking finger at the blond little devil. 

     Mercy turned towards Caspian and he started, "You were having a nightmare Jo. A horrible one apparently, from all your screaming. You nearly woke up the entire school."

     "A nightmare? But it felt so real! No, it couldn't have been a nightmare. I was shivering, and  I felt the cold iron, the grass, everything! Don't tell me it wasn't real!" I screamed. I probably sounded insane right now, but after seeing everything that was real, it was hard to believe this wasn't. 

     "Joelle, please, calm down. It was just a nightmare, they happen. You're probably still getting used to all this magic. It happened to all of us." Bryn tried.

     Looking from Caspian to Bryn frustratedly, I was on the brink of hysteria. I felt tears spilling over my eyelids, but I didn't care. I don't know what happened, or how I got back to the Academy, but everything happened. I knew it did. 

     Caspian turned towards Bryn and whispered something to her. Why did he have to be such a good whisperer? Sierra sat down next to me and rubbed my shoulder.

     "Jo, you're going to have to be patient with me today. We're off from school, so Bryn and I feel it's best if we take you to the Village, and have this all explained." Caspian said with his air of responsibility. 

     Sniffling, I nodded. Whatever and where-ever this Village place was, I needed explanations.