Obsidian

Chapter 3

Birds were chirping outside. Amalia groggily opened her eyes and looked out at the window. The sky outside was brightening but the first rays of sunshine hadn't appeared yet.

The chirping birds outside didn't comfort her as nature usually did. For her, it only emphasized the empty quietness around her. She was alone and without the warmth of her family's laughs around her. She heard the light footsteps and muffled voices of the inn workers outside. All the sounds made the musty room around her feel emptier and more solitary.

She swung her legs out of bed and tried to stretch out some of the tiredness from her muscles. The wooden floorboards creaked underneath her feet as she made her way to the small washroom.

She combed out her messy black hair and used a rag to rub some of the dirt and grime off of herself. She wanted to get out of this town and on the road to Budapest as soon as possible. With each passing day, she felt like her heart was constricting tighter and tighter with fear and worry for her family.

She dressed and tugged on her riding boots. Fastening her cloak, she opened the door and walked to the inn's dining room.

The light smell of bread wafted through the air. One of the workers brought her a plate of breakfast. She hadn't eaten an actual meal for a week. On the road, she had mainly subsisted off of cured meats and cheeses that she had packed. In between gulps of fresh coffee, she devoured the delicious plate of sliced bread and eggs mixed with onion and bacon in front of her. As the sun rose, the dining room began to fill with more people. The still, quiet morning was slowly shifting into a busy, lively one.

After finishing her food, Amalia gathered her belongings and returned her room tag and key at the check-in desk.

After getting her horse, she set off on the road, ready to reach Budapest and reunite with her family.

On the road, she looked at the forest around her. Looking at it now it reminded her of a whimsical wonderland of sorts, not a cold, alluring abyss full of terrible nightmares.

Golden rays of sunshine shone through the trees. A new day was dawning that filled her with hope.

Insects hummed and the birds sang around her. A slight breeze blew her through her hair and rustled the leaves. Deep within the forest, she heard the slight tinkling of bells.

And underneath the soft tinkling of bells, Amalia heard soft singing. It was a hauntingly beautiful melody that tugged at her heartstrings. It was not until she was at the forest's edge that she realized that she was straining to get closer to the source of the music.

Why do I hear the sound of bells? There's nobody for miles around, she thought.

Peering into the forest she didn't see anything. She only saw the thick foliage of the forest and the golden rays of sunshine pierce through the leaves.

She was about to brush it off until she noticed a horse farther up ahead. She cautiously approached the horse. A satchel and cloak were strewn across the edge of the road and there was no rider to be seen.

Maybe it's a raider's trap, she thought.

The horse neighed and jerked its head in the direction of the forest. Amalia surveyed the forest again. Within the forest, she noticed the outline of a man. He was walking deep into the forest like he was in a trance.

She dismounted from her mare and tied her to a nearby tree. She then took a step into the forest.

The amulet at her chest pulsed. "Shit." She knew something wasn't right and she couldn't just let that man walk blindly into danger.