Ramzdon

The ground broke beneath me, pulling me in as I held on to a ledge for dear life. "Help, someone help!" I shouted as something grabbed on to my feet and tried to pull me in.

 "Take my hand," said a voice from above. I looked up to find a stranger in ragged clothes crouched beside me with his hand stretched out. I grabbed his hand and he pulled me out as the ground closed beneath me.

"Thank you for saving my life, sir," I said. 

"You're welcome, miss. But you must keep away from this place," he said.

 "Why; who are you and why do you care?" I asked. 

"Because Ramzdon is not a world to be played with and, as its gatekeeper, it's my duty to make sure it stays closed," he replied.

"You're the Gatekeeper of Ramzdon?" I asked.

 "Yes, and for over two centuries, I have been its guardian," he said.

 "Then you must know how a soul can be freed from it!" I asked. 

"No, once a soul's gone, you can't get it back; just leave it be," he said. 

"But my parents are there and I want to get them back," I said.

 "I understand your situation, but the dead should be left alone," he replied. 

"I'm sorry, but I cant accept that," I said. 

"Don't meddle with things you don't understand; the repercussions will be deadly," he replied. I walked away saying nothing.

I went home and contemplated what I was going to do in order to get my parents back. The next day, I left for the forest again.

I hid and watched the gatekeeper leave with a towel on his shoulder towards the stream. I then stood on the spot I did the day before and chanted, calling out to my parents. After a few minutes, the ground beneath me cracked opened.

I moved away to prevent myself from falling in as I continued to chant. I could see my parents float up to the surface, but, as I tried to hold on to them, they were pulled back in. "Mom, dad!" I yelled as I watched them sink. "Selene, honey, we love you; but you must stop trying to bring us back—you must get on with your life," they said as they disappeared into the abyss.

"I told you not to open the gateway!" came a voice from behind me. I turned around and found the gatekeeper standing there; in his eyes was a hint of fury. 

"I need my parents!" I said with tears in my eyes.

"Behind you!" he yelled.

I turned around; behind me stood a hideous creature with grey skin, bulging black eyes, and thick horns. I was petrified. The beast lunged at me, but my body didn't budge. The gatekeeper pushed me away as he jumped in front of it. The monster grabbed him and fell back into the abyss. 

"No!" I screamed as I fell to the floor. Though I set out to restore lives, I had only offered one to Death.