(This is the first book in the Fallen Lands series. Because this has been moved to Kindle Unlimited, only a sample is currently available here on Royal Road. If you like what you see here, I'd love for you to grab the rest from KU and let me know what you think! Future installments will be posted on Royal Road before moving to Kindle after completion and editing.) Moving to Monterey Bay for college was supposed to be my big adventure, you know, fresh start, new dreams, that sort of thing. But instead of worrying about my first day jitters, I found myself in a real-life nightmare – trapped in a chilling ritual chamber, surrounded by the echoes of cries and the stench of blood and old earth. It was like stepping into the worst horror game, except the iron collar around my neck and the creepy messages flooding my vision were all too real.Thrown into this bizarre, terrifying world, I had to pinch myself to believe it. Monsters, magic, chaos – it felt like a messed-up dream. But hey, a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do, right? My will to survive kicked in big time. I wasn't going to let the darkness, or the monsters, swallow me up.It was like being lost in a twisted version of a history book – ruined cities, ancient secrets, and here I was, running from demons and dodging danger at every turn. I didn’t even recognize myself anymore, thrust into this strange role, armed with just a smidge of newfound magic. But I learned something out there – when life throws you into the deep end, you either sink or learn to swim real fast. And trust is a funny thing in a world where everyone's a stranger. I had to rely on others, not knowing if they were friend or foe. But amidst all the fear and uncertainty, I found little sparks of hope and friendship. I knew I had to find out why this happened to me, to chase even the faintest chance of getting back home – a home that was starting to feel like a distant dream.So, with a deep breath (and maybe a little pep talk), I stepped forward on this wild, scary, but kind of exhilarating path. I was determined to unravel the mystery of my abduction and hold onto the hope of returning to a life that, once upon a time, was just about college applications and what movie to watch on Friday nights.