Rift

Chapter 3

Lacie-

As a child Lacie's mother had told about this place called the Promised Land. It was apparently this place where the souls of the dead would wonder off to. This concept seemed strange, much different than the other religions she heard of from other kids at school. The Promised Land was hallowed ground for mages, when one died their soul would drift into the Promised land where they would stay until they could become reborn. One kid in her class believed something similar to this, though the means were different. It was also said that if one could reach the Promised Land while living they would return with something, though it is unknown what exactly it was. She thought of the Promised Land whenever she thought of traveling. They were still in the limo, it was silent, but Everett looked as though he might explode from excitement.

* * *

When Lacie was seven her parents had gone on vacation, leaving her with alone with Stephan and some of the servants. It was September so Everett had visited two weeks prior. The next day Stephen I had wandered into the forest without him. She picked the wild flowers and put them in her hair, making sure to save the pretty yellow dandelions for Stephan. She walked near a river when she saw him. He was about her age, maybe a bit older. He cheeks were a bit pudgy, but whatever they were kids. His hair was a bright blonde color, almost as bright as hers. He wore a olive green polo with tan shorts, though they were tattered and covered in dirt. He was hugging his knees tightly, face in his knees.

"Are you alright." Lacie asked. She cautiously walked over to the boys side. Her nanny had taught her not to go near strangers so she was reluctant to go near him. He looked up at her, his eyes were bloodshot from crying.

"What do you want!?" He screamed. His sudden shout had caused her to flinch, but she managed not to be frightened.

"You look sad, what's wrong?" Lacie squatted down next to him, flowers still in hand. "Please tell me, you look really sad." There faces were near each other now. His lifted his face from his knees. His eyes were still bloodshot but he seemed to look more annoyed now.

"So what?" He said. Lacie didn't know what to do, whenever her mother had saw her sad she would hold her and kiss her, so she did what she thought was best. She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek then wrapped her arms around him. He must of been flustered because the two of them fell backwards, Lacie lying on top of him. His face turned a bright red.

"What're you doing?!" The boy shouted. They were face to face now, her arms were stuck behind his back are their lips accidentally touched. It must've caused him to go overboard because he rolled over knocking them both into the slow moving river. Most people would've considered this like their first kiss, but it was an accident so Lacie didn't count it. They both climbed out, clothes completely soaked. They took off their clothes, except their underwear.

"Mm nmm." The boy mumbled quietly

"What was that?"

"I said my name is Jean." He grumbled louder. Lacie turned around and they faced eachother, she hugged him so they would warm each other.

"My names Lacie." She grabbed a red flower, a daisy probably, and placed it in Jean's hair. "So why are you out here anyways?" She ran he fingers against her moist dress to see if it had dried.

"I left because it got really scary."

"Did you see a monster or something?"

"No..." He paused for a second."My parents screamed at me to leave the house." The two of the. Sat in silence for awhile. What Jean had said made Lacie tear up a bit, she couldn't imagine her parents disliking her so much as to kick her out the house, not even when she made messes.

"Well what're you gonna do then?" Lacie asked. Suddenly he stood up, he started dressing himself and handed Lacie her dress too. Once they were finished they looked at each other.

"I plan on finding some kind of treasure or slay a dragon!" Jean said. Lacie had heard of knights traveling to foreign lands to save a princess and become king."But... I don't know where I could find something like that."he slouched down and went back to hugging his knees.

"I have an idea." Lacie said. Jean looked over at Lacie with curiosity."My mom has been telling me stories of this place called the Promised Land, it's said that when someone goes to the Promised Land while alive and return they'll receive spoils beyond their wildest dreams!"

"What does spoils mean?"

"I think it has something to do with milk, or treasure, either one."

"I can't go back with spoil milk."

"Then it'll be treasure."

They both looked at each other, excitement gleaming in their eyes. "Why don't we go back to my house?" Lacie said. She grabbed Jean's hand and they trekked through the grasses and trees. On the way their they told jokes and played with animals they found like frogs or squirrels. When they neared her backyard she could hear the servants screaming her name as it echoed through the rainbow sunset. She told Jean to hide in the bushes until she cleared things with Stephen. As soon as she cleared the underbrush a servant spotted her and called for Stephen. He sprinted, his usually curly hair was flat from sweat and his clothes were grimy. He was around 15 years old at the time.

"Lacie where have you been?!" Stephen shouted."I've been looking for you for hours now!" Lacie would always get scared when someone started screaming at her, it made her feel a mix of emotions that made her queasy and a bit guilty.

"Sorry Stephan, I was playing in the forest when I found Jean in the forest and we fell in the river." Lacie confessed. She didn't want Stephen disliking her, she knew bad things would happen if she lied. Upon saying this Stephens eyes widened, he hadn't taken time to pay attention. "Jean you can come out now." Slowly, Jean came out of the bushes

"...Hello." Jean said timidly. Suddenly brushed past Lacie and pushed Jean over causing him to fall backwards and get his clothes caught in some of the bushes.

"Jean!" Lacie screamed as she ran over and started tugging at Stephan's shirt.

"Don't come near Lacie or this manor beggar, or I will be more severe with you." Jean picked himself up. He ripped his clothes and cut his cheek getting up. He started crying.

"Fine! I don't need you !" Jean screamed. He ran into the forest without another word. Maybe he'd find the Promised Land one day, but Lacie wouldn't know.

"Why'd you do that Stephen!" Lacie shouted, Stephen was a bit hot blooded and that scared Lacie sometimes.

"It was to protect you, you shouldn't be talking with strangers or letting them push you around. Sometimes, kids with dirty clothes like his wander here because they don't have anywhere to go." Stephen said, he kneeled down and put his hands on her shoulders.

"Why don't we help them?" Lacie asked. She had a big house and plenty of rooms, couldn't her parents spare some of them?

"Why don't we go inside." He scooped Lacie up in his arms and carried her. "You smell really bad right now." He said, in a effort to make her smile. Lacie giggled and poked his nose.

"You do too."

The next few days were calm.They went outside or drew in coloring books when the weather got rough. Eventually her parents returned from wherever they went with gifts. They gave Stephen a beaded bracelet while Lacie got a stuffed teddy bear. Lacie refrained from mentioning anything about Jean when her parents talked to her, she didn't want them getting mad at Her like Stephen had days previously.