On the biggest and most cushioned chair in the room, Anara was sat with a book in her lap.

There was nothing better than a good book. Daring adventures through desert and tundra - intricate mysteries set in the heart of the Victorian era - she enjoyed them all. Most of her summer holiday had been spent with her nose buried in new books, eager to accompany the protagonist on their journeys. She had just finished another one - and with a small thud, she slid out of the armchair and onto her feet. Walking across the room, she scanned the bookshelf for something she didn’t recognize. She smiled at familiar spines and titles, recalling the time she had already spent with those books, but still searched for something that would take her fancy. She spotted a potential winner, but was called downstairs by her mother before she could even think to put the finished book back on the shelf.

“Coming!” she replied, bolting downstairs with the book to her chest. Her feet pattered across the cool floor before hopping into her chair at the kitchen table.

“Your lunch is ready.” Her mother said, placing a plate in front of her. Anara muttered a quick thank you, shoving her book onto the table, and a sandwich into her mouth.

“I’ve got to clear out the upstairs today Ann.” Her mother started, occupied with the dishes. “I want you out of this house and out of the way, do you understand? And don’t be taking any books outside, I don’t want them ruined.”

Anara groaned. This was the last thing she wanted to do. “But mo-”

“No buts! I want you out. Lord knows you can find something to do in all of that woodland, Ann.”

Anara sighed and swallowed her food. “Alright.” She replied, resigned. She scooped up the rest of her sandwich and made for the front door.

“Don’t forget you have school again next week. Please don’t hurt yourself before your first day of middle school. I’ll call you inside for dinner later, so don’t go far either.”

Anara was a little annoyed, but she knew better than to be vocal about it. After pulling on her boots, she opened the front door and waited as all five dogs inside the house bolted past her and went to play on the green outside. Only Prince stayed behind - her favorite. The German Shepherd whined, and nudged her out of the door with his nose. Standing out on the cobblestone driveway - she was forcibly reminded of her dislike for the sweltering heat, and found herself longing for the biggest and most cushioned chair - with her nose firmly planted in a new book.

There really wasn’t much for her to do around the cottage. Around the house there were other buildings - stables, a barn, a tool shed and a large wood burning kiln on the very far end of the driveway. To the right side of the cottage was a large expanse of woodland that her family owned, which she was allowed to go and explore as long as she didn’t go past a certain point. Anara often thought about going out beyond those points but she had always been deterred by stern words and scary stories. If there really were monsters in there, then she would have to go on a little adventure of her own to find out.

She set off across the green with purpose, cutting through the playing dogs and entering the woodlands. Prince broke away from the other dogs and tore past her - obviously wanting to come along for a walk. He trotted ahead of her, going along the usual route. Anara thought back to her books - what would her favorite characters be doing in this situation? What kind of adventure would it turn into? As she continued onward she thought about all the different stories and scenarios she had read, pushing past trees, brush and other obstacles absent-mindedly. When she approached the point where she would usually turn back, she simply carried on - a confused Prince now following at her side. The woodland grew thicker and thicker and after being assaulted repeatedly by branch, thorn and bush, she finally broke out into a clearing in the middle of the woods. Curious still, she wandered over to the center.

The first thing she noticed was how quiet it was.

It wasn’t that it was quiet - but more like there was a distinct lack of sound altogether.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she turned around to look at the woodland that surrounded her. Standing still, she closed her eyes. Silence. Not even a gentle breeze, the rustling of leaves, or the slightest chittering from any woodland creatures could be heard. She opened her eyes and stepped backward, and her back met with something very cold. Prince growled.

'I’m sure… There was nothing else here, other than me and Prince.' She thought to herself. She felt anxiety grow inside her stomach. Slowly she made to turn around and look at what was behind her, half convinced that it was her mind playing tricks on her. As she saw something peek into the corner of her eye, she whipped around as fast as she could, and the world around her changed in an instant. She looked around - confused. She was in a place she didn’t recognize, in the middle of the night. Her confusion turned into fear, she quickly decided that she had had enough of adventuring for a lifetime, and that she should leave these things to the characters in her books. All she wanted right now was to get home as fast as she possibly could.

“Prince?” she shouted into the darkness. “Prince, c’mere boy!”

She had hoped that wherever she had wound up, Prince would come running back up to her and lead her home. She kept shouting into the darkness, wiping the tears from her eyes. She sank onto her knees and sobbed without restraint.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Something tapped her on the shoulder. She desperately wanted to believe that it was her mother - standing there with a frown, ready to scold her. She wanted to believe that it was her imagination playing tricks on her, even. She didn’t want to meet any monsters. With her head hung low, she stared into the grass. From behind her, someone cleared their throat. Startled she asked, “M-mom…?”

She turned to look around her, becoming increasingly aware that she was not alone. What she saw encroach into her vision was not something she could describe. Whatever it was that was standing in front of her now - towering above her with a curious look on its face, gave her an awkward smile and a wave before she screamed and blacked out.

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When Anara finally came too, she quickly realized she was in another unfamiliar place. She sat up, and looked around at her surroundings. It looked like some kind of dwelling a witch would live in. It had a damp and earthy smell to it - a smell that she was well acquainted with. She figured that she must still be around the dark woodland area she passed out in. Around her there were lots of different objects and trinkets she didn’t recognize dotted around the place - hung from the ceiling, placed on shelves and stuck onto the walls. Across the room was a small kitchen area - a bubbling stove, a keen fire and various plants and goods drying on a rack above it. Her stomach growled as she thought about food.

“Are you hungry?”

Anara jumped, and scuttled backward into the corner of the bed. She looked over to where she thought she heard the voice from, but all she could see was darkness.

“Please, calm down..” The voice pleaded. It was gentle, and soft-spoken. Anara was suspicious, but found herself relaxing slightly. She focused her attention on the large armchair that was placed just a foot away from the bed.

“W-where are you.” She said, stumbling on her words. “I can’t see you.”

The darkness in front of her moved, and slowly rose to the ceiling of the dwelling. It turned towards her and a fairly normal face greeted her. Whatever he was, he had prominent fangs, and strange markings all over his face. Against his ashen complexion, they almost looked like scars. Anara would have been none the wiser if they didn’t seem to curl and dash across his face, as if an artist had carefully stroked his skin with a paintbrush. A pair of piercing silver eyes looked down at her. After a short while she was able to make out the shape of his body - an abnormally tall and slender one. Everything apart from his hands and face was such a deep shade of black that Anara was convinced she was looking at the complete absence of color, rather than a shade of black.

“You’re... the one that found me earlier?” she asked tentatively.

He frowned, his eyebrows furrowing slightly. “Yes.” He looked absolutely downcast. “I’m so sorry that my form is such an abhorrent one.” He added apologetically.

Before Anara could stop herself from asking, she blurted out “You’re not human?”

“I am known as a Forgotten. We are usually invisible to those around us… it is in our nature to be forgotten and forget who we were.”

“That sounds terrible.” Anara sympathized. The Forgotten smiled a little.

“It’s not so bad.”

The Forgotten seemed to pause for a moment, and then slowly sat himself down on the floor by the bed. At this level, he still towered over the young girl. Anara sat up, and shuffled forward a little. “What’s your name?”

The Forgotten seemed to consider the question for a moment before deciding on an answer. “King,” He replied, “I’m pretty sure someone used to call me that, at least. What about you?”

“I’m Anara.”

“That’s such a pretty name!” he exclaimed. Anara thanked him, blushing slightly. Her stomach growled once more, and she smiled at King awkwardly. “Ah. I should get you some soup.”

King rose from his seat on the floor with the same care and speed as before. It seemed like he didn’t want to accidentally spook Anara. He went over to the kitchen, and she watched as he went about serving whatever food was bubbling away on the fire. She couldn’t tell what was in the cooking pot, but whatever it was, it did smell delicious. Soon enough, she had a bowl of it in her hands with a spoon at her side. King took his own serving and sat back down on the floor. She peered into the bowl curiously, and saw nothing that she immediately recognized. Her stomach growled once more, and her hunger quickly won out over her apprehension at eating the mystery soup. The pair of them ate in silence, and when they were done, King collected the dishes and placed them in the washbasin.

“So Anara, what would you like to do now?” King asked, smiling.

“Could you show me the way home, please?” she asked politely. “I live in Horten, but I got lost wandering in the woods…”

King’s smile faltered. “Is that what your home is called, back on your world?” he asked. Anara frowned.

“My world? What do you mean?”

“You wandered into this world, don’t you remember? I found you outside, near the gate…”

“Then take me back to the gate.” She said, stubbornly.

“I... I can’t.” He replied sadly. Anara bounced on the bed, and sprung herself onto the floor. Before King could stop her, she had already bolted towards the door and opened it. He chased after her. “Ana, wait!”

She didn't get far.

As she flung the door open and took the first few steps outside, she soon stopped dead in her tracks. In the center of a swirling pattern of burnt grass was a tall, imposing stone structure. It was split into six different sections, with different carvings on each. The separate sections seemed to twitch and vibrate independently of themselves, and the carving on the stone face glowed, illuminating the darkness around it. 

"What… is this?" Anara asked.

King, who was still behind her, moved past the small girl and laid a hand on one of the glowing sections of stone. "I'm not entirely sure…" he said, sighing deeply. "It appeared shortly after you did. All I know for certain is that it sealed the gate that brought you here."

"Then unseal it." Anara retorted stubbornly.

"I already tried. I poured as much magic as I was able into this… Monolith, while you were asleep."

"But I want t-, wait, magic?"

"Do you not have magic in your world?" he asked, gently sitting himself upon the ground.

"It's only make-believe. In books and stories."

"I would very much like to hear all about those stories. Ah! And your world too. It must be a peculiar world without magic."

Anara bit her lip. "Okay. But how will I get home?"

King scooped the little girl up in his arms, and raised her off of the floor. "I don't know, Ana. But I will help you as much as I can."