Saving The Gateway.

~Prologue~

Marya ran through the forest, breathing heavily as a head of sweat rolled down her face. Marya's attacker was not far behind, his own huge steps echoing throughout the forest. She ran as hard as she could, but even Marya had her weaknesses, and running was one of them as her legs started to ache, and she knew cramping would come next.

'Hes going to get me' she thought in panic. 'This evil man will get me' her small feet made tiny crinckling sounds as they crunched against the fallen Autumn leaves.

Marya rounded a corning and turned sharply, the leaves flying around her in what seemed a fiery tornado. "I CaN HeAr YoU!" The man's voice boomed across the forest. Sending a chill down the 15 year olds spine as her eyes widened. 'Hes going to catch me' she thought between breathes. 'Im going to be done for' Her big green eyes darted back and forth as her chest heaved with exhaustion.

'A place to hide...a place to hide... there!' she spotted a large tree and to her delight there was a rotting hole. The bad news, it was about thirty yards away.

"Shit." She mumbled. Marya knew she would have to take a risk. Hiding, or being caught trying."I can make it." She stubbornly mumbled, and sprinted to the hole in the tree, diving in at the last possible second, because right then the man rounded th corner.

Marya slammed her eyes shut. Not daring to make a sound, not daring to breathe.

"Oh Marya...!" The man whispered. The young teen forced her body still. Forced her body not to tremble in this man's wake, forced herself to remain calm.

His footsteps grew closer. She could sense he was moving towards her hiding place, and bless Urania she was scared.

A loud thump made the timid teen open her eyes, and she saw two large black boots outside of her hiding place. A small voice spoke in her head.

' He is outside your hiding place, you could easily kick out your leg and trip him.'

Marya thought, and the voice was right. She could easily trip the man, summoning her courage, she shifted her weight from flat on her stomach to sitting up. Cobwebs snagging in her hair.

'It will be simple'

She shot out her leg, surprising the man and causing him to fall flat on his bum. Taking the chance, Marya leaped from her hiding place, leaving the man to tell behind her as she slowly left him behind.

******

"Come on you Damn thing!" Marya slammed her hand forcefully on the broken Net Gear with frustration. "Why won't you work? Ugh."

Marya had left the man behind and was now walking at a slower pace. Taking her time.

"You know what? I bet Tyker broke you" she sneered. That was, before the cold thought slammed her as words caught in her throat. "Tyker.." She slowed to a stop. Staring at the ground. "I. Where are you?" She whispered. "Who Has taken you?" She pulled up a Nolagram of her brother and stared at it for a few minutes. overwhelmed with grief.

"Mom, dad, " she whispered. A tear streaming down her face.

"I will find you Tyker. I will." Marya swore. Tears obscuring her vision.

"I promise on the magic river of Urania."

"I promise"