Nevermore

Prologue

A cloaked figure dressed in the colors of the night stood before hellish gates. The bars were so tightly interwoven, that no one could ever hope to see beyond.

But a blood-red light pierced through, illuminating the spaces before it. The obsidian bars on the gates were twisted horribly, and the lights cast many shadows. The shadows formed monsters and beasts of all sorts. Gnarled claws, hooked fangs, spiked backs, and through some holes, the shadows formed eyes. Eyes filled with unfathomable hatred and malice. Ferocity and viciousness.

Monsters.

The mere sight of this should have sent the figure running for the hills. But they stood their ground and continued to stare defiantly as if challenging it. They never once flinched when the shadows dared come near them. 

The top of the gates formed a single hideous word.

Nevermore

The figure's ebony cloak fluttered in the slight breeze, revealing a shirt the color of the night sky. With silver buttons for stars. A locket on their neck caught the light, glowing softly like the moon.

They threw off their hood, revealing a beautiful woman. Her hair fell down her shoulders in a graceful waterfall of ebony, fair skin glowing with health and beauty, and dark eyes sharp with intelligence and bravery. She took one step closer and reached out to the bars that seemed to have been woven with darkness.

An ornate doorknob was the only way in. The beautiful little object seemed so out of place in this landscape of darkness. It was the lone star, in the obsidian night. It was the last spark of hope in a war. It was the first ember to catch flame.

That small piece of twisted metal gave the nameless woman hope. I hope that her theories were true and that Nevermore was not as bad as people thought. Not as bad as the gates made them out to be.

She took one step closer and put her hand on the doorknob and turned it. She saw nothing. Just empty yawning blackness. But she took one step in, despite trembling in her boots.

And gasped.

She had been right. It wasn't bad. It was beautiful. But in her wonder and awe, she didn't notice the door closing behind her. Until it was too late. She looked back and tried to stop the rapidly closing door.

She was too late.

She wept as she lay at the unforgiving door. For hours, she had pounded the door and screamed at it. In her desperation, she took out a long dagger and tried to carve a way through.

All in vain.

Eventually, she stopped her fruitless efforts and just hung her head in defeat. The light was gone from her eyes. Mind-numbing shock paralyzing her. She closed her eyes and felt herself fall into an awaiting abyss. But even in her plight, she seemed to remember something. She opened the locket that hung at her neck.

Within the silver lining, were four pictures. One, of a girl with vibrant green eyes and fiery red hair. Another, of a shaggy-haired boy with dark twinkling eyes and a mischievous smile. The third of a young girl with bronze hair, freckles, and a playful grin. The last, of another girl with a shy but kind smile. She had tan skin, long dark hair and looked like a miniature copy of the woman. The woman managed a smile through her tears. The pictures gave her hope, but it was soon snuffed out when she looked at her surroundings, and at the door.

The woman sighed and said in a tear-filled voice, "I'm so sorry my children. I will see you again. Someday." She craned her neck to see the stars and whispered, "I promise..."