The Rift

2

        When I got to the Old Oak Tree, it was practically dusk. I looked around for Henry but saw him nowhere in sight. Taking in an exhausted breath, I looked out at the Royal castle. It was dazzling and somewhat dark at the same time. There was a wall that separated us, unfortunately. I looked at the Tree of Gaia that stood in the middle of their kingdom. Would you believe me if I told you, I actually didn't envy them? Thousands of soldiers died to protect them. Its leaves are said to hold the souls of the pure that have died. The leaves were a bright white and its trunk twisted. From here it was impossible to, but I could feel like someone was looking back at me. 

    Just then a hand touched my shoulder, instinct kicked in and I twisted the hand and flipped him over in front of me. I crouched over him and raised my fist to punch when I noticed it was Henry. His blue eyes startled, but a smile on his lips. "Good. You know how to fight.", Henry said as I backed away and cleared my throat.

"Question.", I said, folding my arms over my chest. "Why does it feel like you're lying to me about where we are going exactly?"

"Answer." Henry said, picking himself off the ground and dusting himself off. "We're not going to Sham Creek."

"What?!", I said.

    He grabbed my arm and faced me towards the kingdom. "We, my darling friend, are going to the Royals.", I shook my head and ripped myself away from him.

    "That's suicide, Henry. You really must have gone mad, haven't you? I'm going home." I started to walk away, and he raced after me.

"You have to help me, Castille."

I stopped and turned to him. "That's exactly where you are wrong, friend. The moment you asked me to help you. I could feel like you were planning something bigger. You always do Henry. So, I don't have to do anything.", I said with so much anger that it felt like it would kill me. Henry gave me a pained look.

   "What are you trying to steal anyways?", I asked.

     He hesitated before answering, "An amulet."

    I laughed hysterically. "So, you are telling me that you were going to risk my life for an amulet? Why don't you just steal one from the Marketplace? They have plenty."

"It's a magical amulet that can control dark spirits like..."

   "Demons.", I whispered, finishing his sentence. Then I remembered the vision I had last night. "Henry, we need to warn them. Not steal from them. Something's coming."

   Henry looked at me in confusion, and I looked off again at the Royal palace. I started to take off down the path and Henry raced after me grumbling.

Inside the Kingdom

     "Child, slow down.", a woman called out to her child. He raced into the woods and she quickly followed him. She called out to him and when she finally caught up to him, he was staring up a dark figure. The woman gasped and pushed her son away from the figure and the Shadow pushed her into a tree and dove down her throat. Corrupting everything she ever knew. Twisting her into something dark and inhuman. Her eyes were pitch black and then it manifested itself. It turned to the boy and the child looked up at her with fear. "Go along. Tell them what you've seen, child.", the demon said. Tears streaked down the boy's cheeks and he raced back to the kingdom. It breathed in and smiled devilishly. "Feels good to be back.", it snarled and with that the woman went back towards the Kingdom to spread her chaos.

The child raced through the woods and gave terrified looks behind him.

***

     When we reached the wall, I looked up. "We have to climb. Just don't fall.", Henry said.