Journey to the Core

Chapter One

"The shifting sands of time have spoken," called out a voice in the inky darkness. The stars were covered from view and the wind howled, yet the voice was clear as day.

"What have they sssssaid?" Came the hiss of a reptilian creature.

"We must gather the Council!" The first voice exclaimed, a slight edge to its voice. "All need to hear its message."

Somewhere far away, the skies were clear. Millions of stars and galaxies bloomed in the night sky, the kind of which would not be seen today, lighting the grassy plain as clear as the sun would have. Three robed figures stood in the center of a ring of boulders.

"Why have you summoned us?" The sound that followed the question was not a human sound, but instead it was a name. Of course, these beings could not speak any language modern times would comprehend.

"The shifting sands of time have spoken on the darkest of nights, as it was proclaimed by the Messenger!" It was obvious that this was the same voice who had called this Assembly. "All are to hear its message."

A stretch of silence followed this announcement, broken by a new voice. "Well? You have called this Assembly. Speak the message."

A chill filled the air as a bodiless voice spoke, in perfect English: The end of days is to come when the dark god awakens. Only the one with the Sword of Sealing can stop it, aided by their friends.

A black cat meowed, curled up in the center of the robed figures. "Wait for me," it said.

I woke up in my bed, blond hair wild and untamed, a cold sweat glistening on my forehead. I looked left and checked the time, which said it was 7:30. I was late for school.

"God fucking damn it."

"No cursing," said a wild mother who appeared at my door. I should really start closing my door at night. "You're late for school, kid. Do you need a ride?"

A cacophony arose as I fell out of my bed in my hurry. "Yes, now shush, I'm trying to leave, I've got literally no time!"

"Is school really that important, Hunter?"

"Yes, it is," I replied as I threw a sweatshirt over my body and jeans on my legs. "Our English teacher is walking through college applications with us, for those of us who are utterly confused by them and have no idea where to begin."

"Fair point," my mother claimed. Thank you, mother, I'm well aware. "Well, I'll be in the car. Come out when you feel like it."

I sighed as I grabbed my pre-packed backpack and raced out to meet my mother.

~Five Hours Later~

"Legend has it that somewhere deep in the Greyskull Caverns, a sword rests in its pedestal, waiting for the hero to come and claim it," said the boy across from me, green eyes narrowed as he dramatically told the story. They were one of the things I liked focusing on about him. "I know it sounds crazy, but I've seen the door! The one that only the sword's chosen hero can open!"

"Avery, come on," I rumbled, head shaking in disbelief. "I highly doubt that I'm some hero."

"Your name is literally carved into the door, Hunter Malachite Blossom, in Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs," Avery said dramatically. "Disbeliever, pray tell, what might you make of that?"