I wish my shift would end… my feet are killing me…but I suppose that is what you get for working in one of the most popular steakhouses in the country. At least my tips are good so I can’t really complain.

　　As the night creeps in, most of the staff leave. Myself and a few friends finish the last chores. Just as we are about to leave a strange noise comes from the kitchen….

　　“What was that?” Peter asks. Lance, Tracey and Gabriel – who is the manager on duty, all look at each other. “Lance, get the broom” I whisper.

I am not dying in this kitchen

“Grrr, Grrr”

oh no it can grrrr

We all huddle together and approach the door cautiously. Lance slowly pushes the door open with the broomstick. Tracey is armed with a rather large candlestick….

She’s gonna wax it to death

” Grrrrraaa!” something snarls, we scream!

Those eyes

a Large animal stands on its rear legs and growls fiercely “what the hell is that thing?!” “Run!” we all turn to run but as we do a blinding light flashes around us. Poof…

　　We stagger around to find our balance. Then I look up

oh wow… where are we?

I’m gawking in disbelieve. We all look around not sure where we are or what just happened when a loud voice shouts “Rudah what did you bring us?” Suddenly the beast jumps to it‘s master’s side from behind us. We’re all frightened and confused. The man looks at us, his eyes trace us from top to bottom

just breathe…. Breathe

We stand shoulder to shoulder… no one moves. The man looks at us with a calm but cold stare. “I see my beast has done well…. You smell of meat”

Seriously! Meat!

Oh, wait, I work at a steakhouse…. Okay, okay…. It makes sense

Gabriel speaks first “What is this place and who are you?” the man gives him another cold stare and then answers “My name is General Zardaf first in my regiment and also the Military to the city Akeldama, fields of blood, and loyal servant to the Lord Canowicakte, The Forest Hunter.” “All hail the King” they shout as they pound their chests.

Popular guy

Around him are more men, they all wear animal skin pants and boots. Their torsos are covered in a thick metal mesh decorated with teeth and fur of some kind. Their arms are covered in leather skin sleeves and each of them has some sort of tattoo marking on their upper arms. The general has the most.

This is a prank right… like any moment someone is coming out of this forest with a camera

“Bring the prizes!”

Wait! What?!

My mind is racing as some men approach us. Just as cold as their general.

Like hell I’m going!

We desperately try and fight them off. Gabriel gets knocked to the ground first, but even Peter and Lance who are big strong guys have very little impact.

They are not entirely human… omw!

Every punch and kick is like a leaf blowing in the wind. I try clawing and biting but it’s useless. They push us together grabbing the men by their necks “ah” I grown

ouch I’m hurt

only then I notice my side has been sliced by one of the soldier’s short blade sticking out of his sleeve. It is just enough for some blood to stain my white shirt

this is so coming out of my tip jar

the man next to me starts sniffing the air and then looks at me.

ah! he’s not human

his eyes turn a shade of deep red I have never seen and something starts pushing down on his lips

teeth… long teeth

“Ahh!” I scream and start squirming like a worm that’s about to be bait. “Get your claws off me you monster!” just then the general constricts him around the neck with a leather whip. “Zain!” He looks at me calm as ever “Please excuse my young soldier, he is a new recruit and still coming to terms with the curse” my eyes nearly pop out of my skull when I look at him “he’s what now?” “he was going to eat me!? Are you freaking insane?!” Calmly he answers “Well that is why you are here, no? The beast does not just hunt for sport you know”

Really! Well that is marvelous! Now I feel so much better!

I breathe deep and feel sick to my stomach

I’m gonna throw up

I feel the life leave my body as I come to understand what just happened. He continues “You are a feisty one… the Lord will keep you for himself”

I can’t feel my legs

everyone is quiet. We don’t know what to say or what to believe.

Did that just happen?

A soldier pulls out a glowing golden rope from the satchel on his belt. He speaks to the rope “bind them”

wow hold on

the rope glides through the air and around each of our wrists placing us in a line one behind the other.

First Mr. Fangs and now a rope with an attitude, this can’t be!

　　The General is riding on a dragon-like creature in front of us. Scales on his body and a long tale, with lizard eyes. I can see sharp teeth all around and they smell like something on fire.

Why am I not more scared of these dragons? I kind off want to pet one, like a dog…

Behind him the soldier who tried to eat me

good keep and eye on that one

behind him another. We are on foot walking behind them tied up and behind us two more soldiers.

They keep staring at us

Ouch my side stings, it hurts and my hands won’t stop shaking but I am not afraid… could I actually be excited? I knew there was something wrong with me!

I notice Tracey behind me shaking like a leaf.

Definitely afraid

“Trace, are you okay?” She looks up at me, mascara running with tear filled eyes. She can’t get the words out but shakes her head. “Ah Trace…” I coo her and slow down pulling the rope to walk next to her. The soldier in font of us looks back from his dragon “keep moving” I say nothing staring at him and keeping my shoulder next to Tracey’s as we walk.

I am not leaving her

we’re walking on a footpath large enough for the dragons to pass each other if needed but I keep looking at the dense forest that surrounds us

this place is so beautiful, it’s magical

all around us are tall trees that seem to kiss the clouds. A light breeze blows through my deep red hair and over my cheeks.

I have never heard so many bird songs. Some of these flowers are as tall as I am

the guys behind me are plotting an escape but for some reason my mind keeps getting lost in the forest like something is calling me. I feel them pull and tug at the rope but as they do the rope seems to fight back getting warmer and warmer until in burns into our wrists “Ah!” “Ouch!” “My hands!” “Stop!” we all cower to the ground in agony. The General motions with his hand and everyone stops. He jumps off his dragon and walks casually to us

nothing gets to this guy

the beast right behind him. He stands in front of the men who has clearly gotten the worst burns from the rope

It’s like the rope knows

with a very calm voice he says “See, now this is what happens when you try and escape. The rope knows”

I knew it!

Traitor rope thing!

“We are nearly at the castle so I strongly suggest you calm down and save your energy. You’ll be needing it” he smirks as he says this before turning around a continuing the journey. We all look at each other with anxious stares

this is hopeless

the burns Gabriel and Lance sustained are the worse. The rope cutting into them.

　　We walk up a steep hill and when we get to the top the view is breathtaking “Wow” I gasp. The general looks at me “Impressive isn’t it?” “Lord Canowicakte takes great pride in his Kingdom”

no kidding

in front of us is a valley between mountains almost hidden and nestled in the middle is a great castle with towers reaching for the Sun. Around the castle is a town, a nice town.

Wow this town seems modern in a way

Bright colors as far as my eyes can see, alive with a bustle of people. A deep crystal clear river runs around the town

How can these creepy men live in such beauty

the others are also speechless and seem relieved we’re not going to some cave filled with human skulls. The General looks at us “Be careful when we cross the river, many things come alive there. Don’t touch the water, stay on the bridge, and if any thing comes out of the water, duck…”

I am sorry, out of the water?

I look at him puzzled “What would come out of the water?” he chuckles while taking the golden rope off our wrists “come on, hurry up”

well that didn’t help

I feel Tracey taking my hand as we near the bridge, the guys surround us looking and waiting. We move slowly. Even the general and the soldiers don’t make a sound and look very alert. We move like stealthy cats to the middle of the bridge.