The Quest of Destiny

Tv Broadcast

January 31st

This just in; They say a woman’s body has been ejected from a vehicle after a fiery thirty-car pileup on I-76 West. 

Police say a body has not yet been discovered and are requesting additional EMS and SES personnel.

[Beep, beep, beep]

This is a severe weather alert.

…. “WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST TUESDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES; Southern New Jersey, southeast Pennsylvania, and northern Delaware.”

PARALYZED

My birthday is two days away, and we’re under a winter weather watch until Tuesday. I honestly thought my week couldn’t get any worst. Then suddenly, I hear two knocks at the door, so I quickly get up, zoom across the floor, and as my hand meets the door to open it up. I realize that it was the county sheriff with his hat clenched in his hand.

“Is everything okay?” I asked

“Can I come in? It’s about your mother,” he said

“What’s going on with her?” I said while opening the door.

“Have you heard from your mother within the past five hours?” The sheriff said while looking down at his notepad.

“No. I did try calling my mom, but her phone keeps going to voicemail.” I said

“I’m sorry to inform you like this, but there was an accident on I-76 five hours ago, and a woman was ejected from her front window.” He said.

“How do you know it’s my mother and not someone else?” I asked

“We ran the plate number, and it traced us back to this address under Elizabeth Diana, age 47,” Said the sheriff.

Rapidly, I feel this cold paralyzing rush flow through my body, and I fall to my knees. I feel like the world is caving in on me, but all I can do is cry. I can’t move a muscle, can’t even open my eyes. The sheriff bends down to talk to me, but all I can do is picture my mother’s pain and the fear of being injured and alone, or even her last words. I’m trying to pull it together, but it’s hard. She’s all I’ve ever had, and now I have nothing.

“I’m sorry, Emma, we will continue to search for her, and with hopes, we will bring her back home,” he said

“Can I help with the investigation?” I said while biting my nails.

“We gathered a search team, and they are searching all possible parameters, but it will take some time. I will need your help with your mothers’ search is there anything special that she would wear that would have her scent. Maybe an item she always wore?” The sheriff said while looking around.

“I think so. I’m going to check the room,” Emma said while walking away.

I know mom has a scarf she wears every day, but I didn’t see her leave with it today; maybe she left it. As I search her closet for the scarf, I knock over a box, and behind the box, I find an envelope that says my name.

“To Emma, From Mom, Happy birthday.”

 I put the letter on the dresser and hand the scarf to the sheriff, and he departs without a word.

THE LETTER

Dear Emma,

I wanted to wait until your 18th birthday because I know how overwhelming this past year has been. 

I know school started back up virtual, and your junior prom got canceled 

because of quarantine. 

I just want you to know that things do and always will get better.

Everything in your life has happened for a reason, and I need you to stay healthy.

Stuff might be confusing right now, but you will understand everything soon.

When I was a little girl, it was hard being the only kid in school who was exceptional,

I got bullied every day, and no one wanted to be my friend.

After I graduated, I was blessed with you, and ever since then; my life has been

filled with nothing but happiness.

Remember those scavenger hunts we would play when you were a little girl?

Well, I set up a scavenger hunt of your own to help you get out of the house for a little while.

Emma, I need you to follow every instruction in order.

In the end, there will be an extravagant surprise better than your birthday.

I hope you find these instructions to help you well with your journey.

Go to Greene Lane and Main St in East Falls.

Look for the bookstore. Once you’re inside, ask for Glinda she will tell you what is next.

Please dress warm and good luck.

I love you, princess.

Love Mom,

PANDORA’S BOX

Monday morning

I can’t believe all of this is unfolding right now. I hope my mom is okay; They still have all of I-76 blocked off. I’m going to try and get to East Falls and see what mom was talking about in her letter. Hopefully, the sheriff finds a lead while I’m down there because, Jesus, my nerves are in a wreck.

[Bell rings as the door opens]

“Hello? Is anyone working?” Emma Shouts.

“This bookstore is very odd; where the hell are all the books? Damn, I don’t even know what to do right now. I can’t stop thinking about the accident.” Emma mumbles to herself.

“Hello, I’m Glinda. How can I help you?” She says while smiling.

“Um, hi, my mother Elizabeth left me a letter, and she mentioned you. So I’m guessing you know what it’s about?” Emma says while shrugging her shoulders.

“Emma, is that you? WHOA!, you are so big!” Glinda said while looking surprised

“Thank you; I have a question; aren’t you a book shop? Where are all your books? My mom wanted me to get something here.” She says while taking out the letter.

“Hold that thought; I’ll be right back,” she said while walking into the back of the book store.

“Okay,” Emma says while walking around.

Looking around, all I see are these jars with beans, bags with powder, trees, teas, and herbs everywhere, and like three books. I guess that’s why they call it a book shop, huh.

“Hey, Emma, your mom left this box with me a few years ago, but I could never open it. Not like I wanted to be nosey or anything, but, you know, it looked fascinating. I had to make sure nothing in there was perishable. We know how that would have been. Someone brought in a box for charity, and there was a dead mouse in it. UGH! The smell was HORRIBLE! It was stuck in here for days. I wanted to barf every second.”

“I can imagine I would have quit if it was up to me. This box is a little heavy. I wonder what’s in it or how do I even open it.” Emma inspects the box.

“I’ll be over here if you need any assistance,” Glinda says while reading one of the books.

It looks like it needs a unique key, but I don’t have it.

“Hey, Glinda, did she give you a key for this box or anything else with it?” I said while carrying the box over to her

“No, I’m sorry, she just left that, anyways. How; is she?” she asked.

“I honestly have no idea the sheriff came to my house last night and told me about the accident. He said it involved my mother, then he went on and said that they couldn’t find her body. They aren’t allowing me to help with the search, and it’s driving me crazy. I hope they find her…” Emma says while wiping away tears.

“Oh my god! That is horrible. I hope they find her.”

“Glinda, look, the lock on the box kind of reminds me of the locket I got when I was a baby.” She said while grabbing her necklace.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Do you still have it?” Glinda looks up at Emma and notices Emma holding it.

“Yeah, I never take it off; that’s weird”… Emma says while ironically taking it off.

Let’s see if it works. Here goes nothing. Hesitating to unlock the box because I don’t know what’s in here. It might be something that doesn’t matter right now, or it might change my life. Who knows.

As I open the box, it creeks like an old wooden door. Doesn’t everything inside look like it’s been stuck in time for centuries? What is all of this?

“Oh wow, it looks fascinating in there,” Glinda says

I look at Glinda with a grin on my face, and my heart is filled with hope. I take the box and run home. I bust open the door in hopes that my phone would ring, but it didn’t. I sit at the counter and take everything out of the box. There’s a woven blanket, a key, a little black book with an elastic strap, which looks like its dates back to BC times, a credit card with twenty-thousand dollars, and another letter. The letter has more instructions written on it, but I can’t make out what it says. It looks like it’s in some type of ancient dialect.

I know Ms. Ambrose might be able to help me translate it. My mind isn’t right to be dealing with anyone’s bullshit, but I guess I’ll be going to school tomorrow.

I hope moms okay.

RESEARCH

Tuesday morning

[School Bell Rings]

Ugh, I don’t feel like being here. My birthday is already screwed up. The last thing I need is anyone snooping around asking me questions.

“Hey Emma, what’s that you got,” Jack says while snatching the book from Emma,

“Give me back my book and stop acting like an ass, Jack,” I said while reaching for my book.

“Jack, give me the book and get to class before I give you detention for the whole year.” Mr. Greyson says while holding his hand out.

“Thanks, Mr. Greyson. I’m not up for it today,” I said while putting my head down.

“No problem, Emma, I heard about your mom; I hope she’s okay. If you need anything, let me know.” He said while softly patting me on the back.

“Thanks, I appreciate it,” Emma said as she walked away.

Walking through the hallway, I feel like an oddball with all eyes on me. I can’t believe any of this is happening. The world feels empty now.

I walk into class with my head down and suddenly feel the need to break down. Fighting the urge to cry and trying to act like everything is okay is hard. I don’t know if I can do this anymore. Maybe I should find Ms. Ambrose and get this over with asap.

Well, look at that speak of the devil.

“Ms. Ambrose, do you have a minute before class starts?” Emma says while walking out of the classroom

“Yes, Emma, one-second,” she said while putting down her belongings.

“Hey, Emma, are you okay? Why are you even in school? You don’t need to be here.” Ms. Ambrose said while putting both hands on my shoulders.

“I know, but I need your help. I wanted to know if you could help me translate a letter from my mom.” She said while unfolding the letter.

“Sure, let me talk to Mr. Greyson to find coverage while we go over this. Do me a favor and go wait in the study hall .” Ms. Ambrose said while running to the office.

I haven’t been in the study hall since 9th grade. I wonder how it looks now.

Don’t you think it’s a coincidence that this accident happened and my mom left this “scavenger hunt” for me to do precisely on my 18th birthday?

“Emma, Are you ready? I only have thirty minutes.

“WHOA! Don’t sneak up on me like that!” Emma said while jumping.

“Ms. Ambrose, can we just translate everything, and I’ll take it from there, so we don’t take too long,” Emma says while holding her phone out to record.

“It says in translation; on this quest, you will need to follow each instruction in order sequence. In this box, you should have received a black book with all you need to know, a credit card with twenty-thousand dollars for your journey, a woven cloak, a particular key, and this letter.

If anyone helps you translate these instructions, you need to cite these words immediately after the translation is over.

I. Go into the woods and find the tree that has the same marking that is on your charm

II. Once you have found it. That tree needs a particular key, and then a keyhole will appear.

III. Open the bark door, then step inside.

IV. Once inside, The door cannot be opened back up. Make sure you have all that you may need.

V. You will find yourself in a town, go to the spell shop and ask for Luci.

Cite these words immediately

After this translation is said and done, let these words be spoken to no one. 

“Ms. Ambrose, I need you to tell Mr. Greyson you needed some time to gather PPE for social distancing,” while compelling her to believe the excuse.

“Ms. Ambrose, is everything alright?” Emma says while putting away the letter.

“Yeah, Emma, I can’t remember what we were talking about.” She said while trying to retrace her thoughts.

“Well, I better get going; I have an early dismissal,” I said while walking out of the study hall.

I don’t know what just happened, but I think that was a spell, and it actually worked. Stuff is getting very witchy around here. I feel like I’m in an episode of “Sabrina the teenage witch” on CBS. I can only imagine this quest I’m about to go on. It sounds intriguing, especially with this excessive amount of snowfall.

THE QUEST

Wednesday morning

Dammit! Still no call from the sheriff. Hopefully, I can find help from someone where ever I’m going.

Okay, so first things first, I need my phone, my charger pack, some snacks; simply because the person inside me is hungry every five minutes. The Items that were in the box, including some other items. As I was packing everything in my duffel bag, something told me to go to my mothers’ room and grab her favorite sweater to wear.

In it, I find the necklace she wore every day. It was gold and had a green emerald in the middle. So I throw on my boots, hat, and gloves and open the door, and BOOM, 36 inches of snow buries my front door. So I grab a shovel and start digging a tunnel to the woods across the street. I remember my mom telling me about a snow blizzard in 1996 that covered everything it touched.

This makes me feel like I’m a 90’s baby trapped in the year 2000. PHEW, I’m finally in the woods. That felt like forever! I guess it’s time to look for that unique tree. HMMMM. Where should I start?

I wonder if the key can help me find it, Like some sort of radar. It has this weird crystal in the center, so I wonder if I put it to the sun would it work, like in the movies. As I hold my key to the barely visible sun, it SHOOTS a beam of light through all of the trees in the Forrest and illuminated up an entire area.

Quickly I run through the trees because the light is starting to fade. When I get to the location, I see three trees with different symbols and color bark. So I look at my locket and look at the trees. I go up to the tree with the marking embedded on my charm, and I take the key out. It cracks and crinkles as it starts to warp and then appears a keyhole.

I unlock the tree, and the bark door opens up. It looks very dark in there, and It’s kind of scary. “What the hell am I getting myself into…” Emma says to herself while stepping into the passageway. I hear the door close behind me, and before my eyes, I see a whole new world.

It Looks like Hogsmeade, but it can’t be! I didn’t think any of this was real; I’ve only read about it in books. That rocky road looks like it leads to a village; I guess I’ll wander around for a bit and see if I can find the spell shop.

AMNESIA

Everything seems a little too familiar here. I feel like I’ve been here before, but I can’t remember.

“You look lost? You okay?” A stranger says while walking up to Emma 

“Hello, I don’t recall asking anyone for directions. So I guess I should ask you, what is your name?” She says while observing his every movement.

“I’m sorry, my name is Raymond, but my friends call me Ray.” He says while bowing.

“Okay, Raymond, So, do you know where I can find a shop that sells books possibly about magic?” She said while raising one eyebrow and walking towards the village.

“I believe you’re talking about the spell shop; if so, it is down the road to the left,” Raymond said while almost tripping over a rock.

“Thank you so much; I have to go now.” She said while sprinting away.

“Wait, I didn’t get your name.” He said while running after her.

“Emma,” She yelled to him.

MULTI-VERSE

Walking into the spell shop felt like I just walked into the book shop on Main Street, but only to see that they have way more books; In fact, more than three, I believe. It looks like no one has cracked open one of these books in centuries, though. I wonder if they are googling it like everyone else. That’ll be a coincidence if you tell me, it doesn’t look like anyone owns a phone here.

“UGH! You reek of questions girl, why are you in my shop.” He said while filing his nails.

“Excuse me? No need for hostility. I came looking for someone named Luci.

Is he or she here? If not, I’ll be on my way.” She said while grabbing the door handle.

“It depends, who’s asking,” Luci says while putting on his glasses.

“Well, of course! It wouldn’t be me now, would it?” She says as she rolls her eyes.

“You remind me of someone I know, but I’m Luci, short for Lucinda; how can I help you?” He said while pulling out thousands of spellbooks.

“My name is Emma, and these creepy instructions told me to look for you, so here I am.” She said while holding out the letter.

“Let me see those “Creepy” instructions you’re talking about?” lucid said while he holds his hand out.

“WHOA! Okay. Holy shit, mother of god, where has the time gone.” He said while gasping at the instructions.

“What are you talking about?” She says while trying to overlook the letter.

“Emma, you need to listen to me carefully; you need to buy a train ticket to the city of Babylon. The next train leaves in twenty minutes, so you have to hurry if you want to catch it. Do you have the woven cloak, The funds for the travel, and the little black book?” He said while rushing around.

“Yes, all right here,” Emma said while passing him the items.

“This cloak allows you to become unseen to anyone and everyone. You’ll know when to use it! This is your ticket for your train ride. This darling is your wand, crafted 18 years ago with cedar-wood, smoky quartz, carbon fiber, and dragon’s blood.

You will need this; everything in the book will guide you. Once you get to Babylon, tell them you are there to speak with queen Artemis about the darkness. Don’t forget to show the guards your charm. NOW GO EMMA! Good luck on your travel, and remember to read the book; it has all of your answers!”

“Thank you! Luci,” Emma says while running out of the store.

[store door closes]

[Train Horn Blows]

“The last call for Babylon.”

GREENLAND

“Wait for me!” Emma screams to the train conductor as she jumps aboard the train.

Phew, that was a close one. I almost missed my train.

“May I see your ticket, ma’am?” said the conductor, as he holds out his hand.

“Here it is. Do you know how long would my train ride be?” She says while looking down at her watch.

“It is an eighteen-hour ride to your destination. I will show you to your carriage where you can store your luggage,” says the conductor while floating through the vestibule.

“This place feels so amazing!” Says Emma, following the conductor; while looking around at everyone and smiling. Everyone is genuinely their most authentic self, and no one judges anyone around here. Isn’t it just marvelous; I wish it were like this back at home. Maybe I would have liked it better there.

“Here we are, Ms. Emma. There are refreshments and beverages through the next vestibule if you would like to help yourself.” Says the conductor while drifting away.

As I put my luggage away, the train’s horn blows, and off we go. I’m kind of hungry. I should see what is for dinner.

Entering the next train cart, I open the doors, and I see every kid’s dream.

It lies in front of my very eyes, every sweet or salty snack anyone would love. A chocolate fountain. A palace of fruits and candy to dip. On the other side, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, and fries. Then the beverage fountain is impressive. They have the “good” ice, for starters.

Milkshakes just like nifty fifty’s back at home and every flavor soda and juice ever created. As I grab a little bit of everything, I go back to my table and sit down. I start to eat everything chaotically fast, and my cheeks are filled with joy.

I am so stuffed I think I might just blow! “Hmm, that reminds me of those kids from Hansel and Gretel.” She says, with a poker face. INSTANTLY my stomach growls, and the food decides to come back up. EHHH! Great now I feel sick to my stomach. “Why did I just do that to myself?” Emma says while rubbing her belly.

I should get back to the passenger cart and try to make some acquaintances. Opening the vestibule door to leave the snack cart, I look down to watch my step and “BUMP!”

“Emma, Are you okay?” Raymond says while catching Emma from almost falling overboard.

“Oh my gosh, Raymond, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were getting on the train; it’s nice to see you again,” Emma says nervously while stuck between both train carts.

“I’m going to visit an old friend; I’m glad you’re here, though. I was wondering when and if I would ever see you again.” He said while charmingly looking into Emma’s eyes.

“Thanks for catching my fall. That was scary!” She said while opening the vestibule door.

“I’ll be in the passenger carts if you want to find me,” Emma says while walking away.

“Em don’t even start; You know what happens when you fall for a charming guy like that.” I think to myself.

Raymond smelled outstanding, and it felt so good being in his arms, but then again, it’s been a long time since I’ve felt any type of comfort. As I walk back to the passenger cart, I catch a glimpse of everyone and how they looked.

It felt like a scene out of Halloweentown, and it was so cool! I am so overwhelmed because I’m living my childhood all over but only in reality. I grab a seat near the window and watch the view as the train gets further away from the village.

“It’s so green; living in Philly, the only green I see is the weeds that no one pulls out of the sidewalk,” Emma says while grinning.

“Ma’am, may I sit here,” Raymond says while sneaking up behind Emma?

“Yes, you may, kind sir.” She said in a phony British accent while turning away from the window.

“So what brings you on this lovely train ride?” He says while leaning his head against his arm.

“Nothing serious I just have to meet with someone in town,” Emma said as she looks away curiously.

“What brings you here, Mr. Raymond?” She said while dazing into his eyes.

“Actually I have to meet up with a family member’s friend kind of urgent, but since I have a few hours on this very train. I figured I could spend some time trying to learn about this breathtaking goddess I ran into this very morning.”

“Was she really that breathtaking?” Emma says while smiling.

“She is! I wonder if she would like to go to dinner with me someday.” He said while giving Emma puppy eyes.

“I think she’d love that very much,” Emma says while blushing.

“Sir, may I have a moment with you?” Says the conductor.

“Yes, One moment, Emma, Is there a way to keep in contact with you?”

[Emma takes out a pen and writes her number in his hand.

Raymond gets up and follows the conductor into the locomotive.]

THE ARRIVAL

[16 hours later, The train arrives in the city of Babylon.]

[conductor speaks over the intercom]

Attention; Ladies and Gentlemen, we have arrived in the city of goddess and art. Please grab all of your belongings and exit to your left. Have a great stay.

As I got off the train, I could feel my whole body start to shake. That’s when I began to realize that I had no idea where I was going.

I walk into the village, and everyone stops and stares at me like if they have never seen a human.

Looking around at everyone, I figured no one would give me directions after the looks I got from them.

So I continued to walk down the path. A kid was handing out flyers to every person he saw. Then he ran up to me and handed me one. When I took a look at it, the headline said,

“The darkness is coming. Will the prophecy be fulfilled, or will Babylon fall?” Emma then questions the boy.

“Hey, kid, do you know of any directions that can get me to the castle?” Emma says.

“Yeah, just keep straight up this road, and when you see a big guard with a flaming sword, you’re there, but anyways miss, why are you going there?” Said the little boy

“I’m new in town, and I have a meeting; thanks, and bye now.” She said while walking away from the kid.

Now that I think about it, I’m not sure if that was a kid or an elf; he had really pointy ears, though. Who would know; with all of this gender fluid going around, I don’t question anything anymore.

I wonder if I have to go through those woods; it seems dark and creepy, especially with all this talk of darkness. It seems to be the only way I can keep on the path, though.

I wish this were like the scene in Disneys’ “Finding Nemo,” and I could go over the crap, not through it.

Well, I can’t turn back now, so I might as well get it over and done with. I really need to stop being scared of the dark.

As I walk through the woods, the trees drift through the wind, and the path starts to glow. It must have been some type of Bioluminescence algae. The moment I stepped on the trail, the whole forest started to awaken, and it looked so amazing.

“I guess the dark isn’t so bad here; I kind of love it. A Forrest glow party is literally lit! All of this walking my feet are starting to kill me. Maybe I should rest for a little bit and regenerate my energy.” Says Emma, as she slowly falls to sleep on a giant mushroom.

The darkness appears to have gotten closer to the village, and time for Emma is running out.

[4 hours later, Emma awakes from her slumber in panic as a white horse panting beside her stumbles and falls.]

“Oh my god, Are you okay? I know you don’t understand me, but I hope you’re okay.” She said while lifting the horse’s head onto her lap. I can see the pain in the horse’s eyes as it starts to breathe slowly.

“I wonder what happened to you, pour thing,” Emma says while examining the horse.

I can’t find any visible wounds, so you’re not hurt. 

“Are you sick or dehydrated?” She said while trying to give the horse water from a bottle, but the horse rejects it. Next thing I noticed as I pet its cheek and neck. The horse closes its eyes and stops breathing, and before we know it, a few moments later, the horse was dead.

I wonder why did she just drop dead like this. I hope it has nothing to do with this darkness. I once read this article that talked about animals dropping dead for no reason; they called it the end times of christ.

As I left the horse in a burial of flowers I picked, I look at my watch and notice that it was almost time to meet with the queen, so I hurried out of the woods, and a mile up, I can see the castle.

When I approached the gates, this creature looked just like the cherubim in paintings and held a sizable flaming sword in the shape of a cross.

The guard held the sword across the door and didn’t want to allow me into the castle. Suddenly I remembered Luci telling me to show the guards my locket. So I take it off and hold it up to the guard, and instantly the guard bows before me and opens the gate.

I walk through the gate and wait for the workers to drop the draw bridge. While I’m eagerly waiting to meet the queen, I hear a familiar voice, so I turn around and see a guy talking to one of the servants.

“Raymond, is that you?” She says while walking his way.

Raymond turns around and is shocked to see Emma.

“EMMA! Wait for a second, are you following me?” He said while laughing nervously.

“What are you doing here,” they both said, looking confusingly at one another.

“You first!” They both said.

“Remember that urgent thing I told you about on the train, so yeah, this is kind of that thing. What are you doing here? Only the chosen can pass the cherubim.” Raymond says while looking at me suspiciously.

“Well, Remember that someone I had to meet? She’s the queen, I hear.” Emma says while revealing her clenched teeth through a smile.

“WHOA! Emma, what in the world, your breathtaking and an important woman? I like that!” Raymond says while smiling cheek to cheek.

She giggles and looks away.

“Thanks, Ray. Maybe after all of this chaos dies down, we can get a drink with a side of dinner. It’s been a long ride, and I feel like it is only the beginning. Do you know the queen personally?” She says.

“The queen is an amazing goddess, but she was gone for a while. She just got back to the castle because of the darkness posing a threat to our worlds. No one knew where she went.

We only knew she would always come and go, and no one could ask why or where.” He says while shrugging his shoulders.”

“Make way for the draw bridge,” the servants yell.

“Good luck,” they both say to each other while stepping to the side and facing the castle. 

MARVEL

As we walk onto the draw bridge and up the steps to the castle doors, my palms get sweaty, I start to feel hot, and my whole body starts feeling funny.

I turn around to look at the view of the village for a second. Waiting for the castle doors to open, I’m so nervous because this can be the last time I ever see the light.

The castle doors open, me and Ray walk down the castle aisle. The Hall is so beautiful, like in a fairytale. As we walk halfway up to the queen, Ray kneels for the queen.

“Psst! Emma, you have to curtsy,” Raymond whispers.

So as I bow my head and begin to curtsy, the queen turns around and says, “That isn’t necessary.” Instantly I look up to the sound of the voice and notice the queen looks exactly like my mom.

My body gets fired up, numb, and I can’t control what I’m about to do.

“MOM!” Emma yells, Running towards Queen Artemis.

The guards quickly draw out their swords, ready to decapitate Emma, and the queen yells at them.

“STOP! Let her through.” She says while opening her arms to Emma’s loving embrace.

Emma hugs her mom tightly, and they both fall to their knees. Emma sobs with snot running down her lips while hugging her mom.

“I can’t believe you’re alive!” She said in a weary voice.

“I’m so sorry, Emma. I needed to prepare you for what’s to come.” Said Elizabeth while wiping Emma’s tears.

As I’m hugging my mom, I can’t help but continue to cry. I feel so happy and angry at the same time; I just don’t know what to do! I don’t want ever to let go of her.

“Mommy, I thought I lost you; I didn’t know what to do without you. I felt so lost and alone,” Emma says, sadly while looking at her mom.

“It is okay, my love, I’m here, and I will always be with you near or far. I love you, Emma.” She says to Emma while hugging her close and kissing her forehead.

[Raymond looks around awkwardly, trying not to stare at the emotional ceremony]

“Let us get you cleaned up and out of these clothes. A princess should always be cleaned up nicely. Then I’ll explain everything,” says the queen while getting up with Emma.

“My lovely Prince of Egypt, what brings you here?” The queen says to Ray.

“I bear bad news of the darkness, but we can take a moment to situate princess Emma.”

“Meet us in the West wing at noon. We will discuss this matter over brunch.” She says as she takes Emma’s hand and walks away.

ENDEAVOR

As soon as we leave the room, handmaidens come out of every door and bombard us with different outfits. Some of them had those old 30’s dresses with the wooden cage, and some had an idea of a night in the club, but one maiden had jeans, boots, a t-shirt, and a sweater, so I think I found my favorite stylist.

She then took my clothes to the bathroom, and I followed mother around as she showed me the castle. She told me the darkness we were fighting was ancient but possible to extinguish as long as I can fulfill the prophecy. I got nervous and thought to myself, am I a sacrifice or something?

As we’re talking, she starts telling me about the accident on i-76 and why it seemed so real.

“Those cops who came to the house weren’t cops; they were warlocks. I sent them to the house to make you believe I died in an accident. Emma, it was the only way to make you strong enough without me and the only way I could come back to this world without anyone following me.

Underneath i-76, there is a special portal that brings you to this world. Still, only our family’s blood and the Gemini ascendant can open it.” She says while pulling out the little black book from my bag.

“How did you know I had that?” She said to her mom.

“Because it was mine, and when you were born, I knew you would one day need it,” Elizabeth said while opening the book.

As I hover over my mom’s shoulder to look at everything in the book. I start to see spells and creatures of every kind. 

“When your father and I met, we fell in love and were inseparable, but then I got pregnant with you. Which meant I had to leave him before he could find out about us and who we really are; if I would have made one mistake, this world and everyone in it could have been exposed and in danger.” She said with a sad look on her face.

He was human, and I am a hybrid between wolf, witch, and goddess. It was impossible to conceive a human baby and only talked about in prophecies of the end days; then you came to me.” She explained while smiling.

“So who was he?” She questioned the queen.

“His name was Apollo Greyson. My name is Queen Artemis in Greek, but when translated, it turns into Elizabeth Diana. It sounds human enough to blend in with society, but if they had found out about you, they would have tried to stop the prophecy by sacrificing you. They would’ve had to deal with me first because you are my world.” Said the queen as she laughed.

“EW, mom! Isn’t that my principals’ name! That just made things highly awkward if it is him.” She expressed with an annoyed face.

“I know that’s why you’ve been at that school since you were a kid. Luckily my powers allowed me to change my whole appearance, enough to show up to back-to-school nights. Now get cleaned up and meet me for brunch. You must have an appetite,” She said while laughing and walking out the bathroom.

Sometime later, I walk into the West wing and see a feast of food and my mom sitting at the table’s end. The village council sat there waiting for me. I felt so special, but a little too unusual.

“Whoa… What’s going on?” Emma said while walking towards the table. The servants pulled out a chair next to my mom and told me to go and sit down. I sit down, and I started serving myself.

My mom started laughing and helps herself and then tells everyone it’s self serve. I didn’t know they were supposed to serve us.

“I’m not ready for this royalty stuff,” Emma says while eating a greasy drumstick with her hands.

“Prince Raymond, please share with us your knowledge of the darkness,” Queen Artemis says.

“Well, we already know that it is ancient, and no one was ever able to stop it until the prophecy was told.

It was said that the hybrid child would be the only one powerful enough to extinguish the darkness forever. In this case, princess Emma, you will have to work on your abilities to harness the power and dispose of it. You must channel all of your energy into the blade of Apollo just then, after placing your blood on the nose of the edge, driving it into the heart of the storm.

Many attempts were made, but none were successful, and we have never seen them again. It is said to be in the center of the devils’ triangle. To get in, you need to get through the creatures that are guarding the gates of the garden.” Ray says with a concerned look on his face.

“So when do I start training because this seems a bit suicidal.” Says Emma while shrugging her shoulders.

“Don’t say that! You are strong, and you are ready! We will guide you the whole way to the garden, but only you, Emma, would know what to do,” the queen says.

“I don’t even have the blade of Apollo,” Emma says.

[The towns wizard interrupts]

“If I may, this is for you when you can harness all of your energy,” he says, handing over what looks like a metal cylinder.

[Emma grabs the cylinder, it opens, and a flaming blade comes racing out of the cylinder

Everyone gasps at Emma while in shock.

Emma quickly tosses the cylinder as she gets surprised by the blade nearly cutting her stomach open]

“You are more ready than we thought, which means the darkness is closer than expected,” says the wizard.

[Castle alarm plays; while the townspeople gather in the yard awaiting the queen’s announcement]

“Emma, I love you, but you must be strong for me and the kingdom, Ray can you take her to the gates and make sure she’s equipped with everything she is going to need Emma, I will see you soon, but for now, I must tell the village what’s going on. I do not want anyone causing mass panic.

I am sending a special forces team with you. They are to protect you and obey all of your orders. Their lives are in your hands. God is with you. May he guide you and protect you at all times,” she says while kissing Emma on the forehead and walking away.

“Emma, Right this way” Ray walks through a secret portal the wizard made to enter the island, which inhabits the devils’ triangle.

This is all happening too fast. I hope I know what to do when that time comes. Maybe Mom’s book will tell me about this creature and its weaknesses.

[Emma looks through the little black book]

It says those who guard the gate can be weakened by water, and to kill it, you need to impale its heart with its sword. “That’s crazy; I guess it is true; you live by the sword, you die by the sword.” Emma looks down at her sword and shakes her head.

“Emma, we're here before you go. I just want you to know that you’re amazing, and I think you will make an amazing queen one day, and hopefully, someday, I can call you my queen. I will be waiting for you no matter how long it takes, but for now, good luck, and please come back to us.” Ray says while pulling Emma close to him and kissing her.

“I will come back, I promise. We still haven’t been on a date, so I will defiantly hold you to it when I come back.” Emma says while walking into the garden.

[They go deeper into the park, and the cherubim spotted Emma. It starts running towards her, and she tells the soldiers to attack from each side of the cherubim. Then she slides under the cherubim’s sword, inches away from skinning her clothes, and through its legs. She then opens her fiery sword and chops off one arm.

The cherubim regenerated the arm and withdrew its wings. As it ascended into the air, it grabbed a soldier by the neck and dropped him from a great distance. The soldier falls, hits the ground, and snaps every bone in his body. CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!

The next soldier takes out a machine gun and starts shooting the cherubim, but it does not affect the creature. The cherubim swooshed over towards the soldier and sliced her in half with its all-powerful flame sword.

Emma Jumps mid-air and slices both of the creature’s arms off and then does a backflip off of the cherubim’s chest and cuts its head off. Tossing her sword into the air like a Paton.

Instantly she then bends the exudation of drops from the garden plants into a ball to trap the creature. Suddenly she takes the flaming sword and impels it through the creature’s heart, laying it to rest.]

“Whoa, I didn’t know I could do that! It’s like all I have to do is point my fingers in any direction and whatever I’m thinking. Happens,” Emma says while wiping the cherubim’s blood off of her face.

“Are you guys okay?” She asks the four other soldiers who are left.

“Yes, but we lost two of our people, your highness,” they replied

“Their deaths will be avenged by saving the world from the darkness. We should keep moving before one of those creatures come back out. We don’t know how many lurk around these gardens.” She says to them while walking away through the gates and into a cave.

REVELATIONS

[As Emma walks through the cave, the wind starts to pick up, and you can hear water dripping everywhere.]

“Come on; we have to find the center of the storm. Once we pass all of the wind gust, we should be in the eye of the storm. Hopefully,” she says while forming a fireball in one hand and holding the little black book in the other.

“Let’s see if this thing knows about the darkness,” Emma says while flipping the pages quickly.

“Ah-huh! I found it. It says to create a portal that enters the depths of the darkness. You must lay out arrowwood, sage, elderberries, mustard seed, and black salt in the shape of a pentagram. Then cite the words.

“On this place and in this hour. We call upon the ancient power. Open the door through time and space. Create a path to another place.” Emma reads from the little black book.

[She takes out everything from her bag and places it on the ground in the shape of a star. She then cites the chant, and a portal starts to appear in the middle of the star.

Emma calls the soldiers to join hands with her and repeat the incantation. As they radiate their powers through one another, the portal begins to get bigger and bigger. They all jump in the passageway, following Emma. They land, and in front of them lies the tree of life with a bright glowing heart in the middle.

It was on the edge of a lake made from lava. They all walk up to the tree quietly, so their cover isn’t blown. Emma shares the Cloke with them, but the last soldier trips and falls, pulling it off of everyone. Then out; comes a smoke-like spirit and possesses the soldiers before they can even react. Emma turns around and notices that her guards have just turned into enemies. 

She starts fighting all of them, reaches into her bag, and finds a jar of sleep dust the wizard prepared for her. She quickly blows it in their faces, and as they inhale it, they suddenly collapse into a coma]

“That was my only backup, and they wanted to sleep on the job. Moms going to hear about this,” Emma says while shaking her head.

I guess I’ll have to do this alone. It isn’t like I had professional help anyways. Those soldiers were trained like five-year-olds with foam swords.

“As I run towards the tree, it starts to grow out of the ground, breaking the Clift and exposing all of the lava 20 feet below me. When I started to jump rock to rock, I nearly missed a rock and slipped. I pulled out my sword and dug it into the trunk of the tree before I could fall to my death.

The tree started moving as if it were some type of god. I then started to climb up the tree and behold the mythical three-headed Cerberus. This time it had horns and a triple sword and was as tall as the empire state building. As the Cerberus swung at me, it missed my leg by a hair.

The tree grew like a magical beanstalk, So I quickly jump off the tree onto the monster’s back. While stabbing it in the rib to catch me from slipping off, I turned around and quickly saddled myself on its back. It tries to bite me, so I drive my sword into its head and fry its brain.

I then chop off its other head and one arm. Quickly I grab its sword and cut off one leg while the arm is regenerating at the same time it falls towards me. I steadily hold its sword up in the air as the three-headed Cerberus fell on the flaming sword! SPLAT! It drops right onto me, but the sword spears its heart and instantly kills its self. While I’m able to squeeze my way out of the mess, I run to the tree and start to climb it.

Suddenly, I hear what sounds like a car accident and my mom’s voice screaming my name. I turn around and envision all of it happening in front of me. Still, I realized it was a fragment of my imagination and that it was only a test. I concluded that demons were trying to play in my head.

I climb closer to the tree’s heart, and the tree branches start wrapping around my legs, my arms and neck preventing me from going any further. I try to break free, but everything is getting so much tighter. I manage to reach my sword and slice off a few branches to allow me to climb higher and higher to where I could reach the heart.

In the process of doing so, I start to envision my whole life from the day I could remember until this very moment.

When I noticed my life was flashing before my eyes, my vision got blurry, and suddenly a brilliant white light took over my sight. It was the almighty god standing before me. A powerful voice spoke to me and said, “My child though you are weak and weary, you are not defeated. Every lesson you’ve been through made you stronger and brighter.

I will give you peace, and I will be your light. Fear not of the darkness; know that you will win this tonight. The heart you yearn for is in the tree of life. You mustn’t get lost in the darkness created by the thoughts and freight. There will be dark days and lonely nights with no one or anything to help you get through this, not even a knight.

You’ve sunken into suicidal thoughts from the trauma in your life. Depression and anxiety are not only your fight. I will be at the bottom, waiting to catch you and hold you tight. Always remember that the darkness inside of you is just a space waiting to be filled. You have a beautiful life that’s placed in your sight.

You are the creator of the heavens on earth that are in your life. The dark place that swallows you is created by others who deceive you; only you know who you are. You go there quite often to beat yourself up and tear yourself down because you’re not what everyone expects you to be. Always remember to stay true to who you are no matter the demons you hide.

It may be hard, but you have experienced better days, and you know that all is possible through faith. Never forget how far you have come to be where you are. Now go and be the best that you are meant to be. The battle of your destiny awaits you.” God said while fading away. 

“I open my eyes and could almost grab the heart. I reach further, struggling through the branches, and I grasp the side of it. I look up and see another hand. When I lift my head, it was like looking into a mirror. I see me, but I was so dark. We both grabbed the heart and tugged at it back and forth until we both lost grip and fell back. When we both got up and caught the heart, this big light illuminated the sky,

and my demon self disintegrated into thin air. The darkness vanished. The tree of life grew back to size, and then I passed out and seen a bright light. I thought I died, but then I woke up here. Why did everything feel so real if it was only a dream?” She said

[Emma looking around, confused as she explains her dream to her mom, dad, and boyfriend at her bedside]

“How long was I out? What happened” Emma says, looking at ray

“A few months, you got into a bad accident before your birthday and was in a coma.”

[Elizabeth and Apollo call's ray, and he leaves the room.

Emma feels something hard under her pillow. She takes it out and, BEHOLD! The magical cylinder, or should we say sword]

I don’t think that was all a dream. I have to figure out what happened to me and why the hell did this sword pop up under my pillow? There are so many unanswered questions I have, but damn it! I don’t know where even to start. 

THE END