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  “So you’re telling me, that this book we found belonged to some long dead wizard, or warlock, if those things even do exist.”

  “I think he was more then that, I think he was almost a god of sorts. I think that those people in that house that were being sacrificed, were being sacrificed to him. Almost as if he was the god they believed in.”

  “Jesus…” Travis trailed off. “Well, now that we’ve learned that why don’t we return it, or throw out the book, or whatever we can think of to get rid of it.”

  Dean looked away and then back to Travis. “There’s more.”

  Travis cocked his eyebrows.

  “Toward the center of the book it mentions that those pages might be the resting place for this thing, whatever it is. And, it gives you instructions on how to get him out should he be in there.”

  Travis felt his jaw swing open. “No fucking way… we’re not about to try and summon some dark godlike entity. Are you insane?”

  “I’m not insane, just like in the house, I’m curious, it’s a curiosity that I can’t seem to shake.”

  “So you want to stifle that kind of curiosity by what exactly? Going into the woods and using some possibly 300 year old spell book to try and bring something to life? What happened to believing that this stuff could be real, or that it could end up hurting us.”

  “What happened to not believing it?” Dean shot back. Travis didn’t have an answer for that, instead he just sat on the bed. “Look, I still believe that it’s bad, but there’s a pull, a subconscious pull in my head that says that if we don’t do this, then I may end up going insane myself.”

  “Do you really think something like that could be housed in that book?”

  “It’s hard to tell. I’d say probably not simply because if he was that powerful how would something put him away. However, there’s also a chance that I’m wrong and we bring some sort of ancient demon to life.”

  “Yeah, great way to spend a summer.” Travis muttered under his breath.

  “Look, you don’t have to do this with me.”

  “No, I’m the reason that you have that damn book in the first place. I’m not going to let you walk out there and try whatever it is you’re about to try on your own.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “No, not really, but I’m still going to do it.”

  Dean got up and walked over to where Travis was sitting, he clapped him on the shoulder and smiled. “Thanks.”

  “No problem.”

  ****

  They went to the edge of town where a patch of woods had almost turned into a small forest and came to a stop. They hopped off and started to walk through the trees. Travis was following Dean for a while in silence. As they made it to a thicker set of woods he spoke up.

  “What is it you’re looking for?”

  “A clearing of some kind.”

  “Why in the world are we doing this in the woods, on the edge of town of all places.”

  “Because, if something does happen would you rather it happen out here where we don’t have to explain it, or would you rather try and explain it to our neighbors.”

  “I guess you have a point there.”

  The thicker part of woods thinned out just ahead of them. Dean slid sideways around a tree and came to a stop, trying to catch his breath. Travis came up behind him.

  “You gonna make it?”

  “Yeah, if this whole adventure has taught me anything. I need to hit a gym.”

  Travis laughed, Dean started too but it changed to a fit of coughing. Once he had himself under control he stood up. “It’s okay, I think this is where we need to be anyway.”

  Travis looked around and saw the woods had in fact thinned out into a decent size clearing where they stood. He watched as Dean, who this time carried the backpack took out the book, unclasped it and sat it on the ground flipping pages until he found the one he wanted. He read in his head for a minute then motioned over to Travis.

  “So according to this, we have to stand over the book, chanting a small passage. After three runs with that we have to add a small drop of blood to the book. If the blood is pure enough it will summon him forward, if it isn’t then…”

  “Well then nothing happens?”

  “Pretty much.” Dean said.

  Dean held out his hand, Travis took it and as they stood above the book Dean started to speak.

  “The world, the earth, heaven and hell, bring us our savior, we will bend to his will!”

  Dean continued to chant over and over, with each pass the wind started to pick up. The leaves swirled around them. As the wind picked up Dean separated his hands and grabbed the knife out of his back pocket, all the while continuing to chant. He took the end and cut across his own hand, then across Travis’ hand. They each held those hand above the book and watched as parts of blood started to drip onto the pages. Dean watched as each drop hit the book and seemed to burn through the page.

  Dean continued to chant while Travis took a step back and fell. He watched as wind swirled around Dean. Then there was a loud explosion that knocked both boys back.

  Travis lifted his head and watched as a fire erupted out of the book. The flaming tower jetted into the sky almost catching trees on fire as it went. Dean watched in awe on the other side. The tower slowly descended and as it did above the book now stood a large man. Travis stared at the man, who stood just under 6 foot tall. He looked a little feeble, but still intimidating. Travis found himself scooting away toward the tree as the fire was completely extinguished. In its’ place the man kneeled down and collected the book off the ground. He turned and looked at Dean.

  “I want to say thank you kind sir. In fact, it’s more than a thank you, I owe you a debt of gratitude that I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to repay. You see my fine sir, you’ve freed me from the confines of that book after almost 200 years.”

  Dean stared at him almost completely in shock. He was unable to move, he stared at the man ahead of him, his mouth hanging open.

  “What in the hell did I do?” Dean asked.

  “You’ve freed a beast. In more ways then you realize. You’ve opened a world that until just a few minutes ago was closed off. I am free, and what happens next is completely on your head.”

  Dean wanted to move but he was still frozen. He shot a glance over at Travis who was also against the tree unable to move.

  “I wouldn’t think about whatever it is you may be planning. I can promise you that it won’t end well for either of you.”

  Dean moved his eyes back to the man with the book in his hand. “What are you?”

  “I’m the thing that nightmares are made of, I’ve called this world my home before, but that was before my kind were hidden away, by sad broken people. People who claim to be good. Those people wanted to put me away forever. But they will never succeed, not when there are people like you around who want to bring me back.”

  “But…”

  “Now you want to know what you disturbed? After it’s too late? Do you realize that you’ve set in motion, things that will never be able to be undone.” The man laughed, it was a deep bellowing laugh that echoed throughout the woods.

  Dean sat silent unable to move. He chanced a glance at Travis again. Travis had managed to move, and was now crouched on his heels. Dean wasn’t sure what he was going to do, but he was sure that it was something he probably shouldn’t try. As if reading his thoughts, Travis launched into action. He ran forward without a sound, but before he could reach the man, he flung his arm out. Travis went sailing into the air and slammed back against the tree, getting knocked unconscious.

  “I am evil, and evil is me. You see, I’ve spent many lifetimes over many years learning how to blend, become one, and still maintain the immortality that my father gave me. But now, now I’m weak. I will need to be restored, and you two seem to be fitting candidates that can do in a pinch.”

  He looked at Dean who was almost on the verge of tears. “It’s okay, it won’t hu
rt, much.” With a lightning quick motion the man circled the clearing and grabbed Travis then got to Dean, who blacked out from fear before the man could touch him.

  Chapter 3

  Dean woke up to the feeling of a slight tap on his cheek. He slowly regained focus as everything that had happened slowly sunk back in. He tried to move but was unable to, instead he cocked his head sideways and saw Travis tied to a tree next to him.

  “Hey, Travis are you okay?” Dean called.

  Travis didn’t answer. Dean tried to move his arms again, he was unable to move them. He looked up and saw that he too was bound to the tree by what looked like vines.

  “What in the hell?” He asked out loud. As he did he heard leaves crinkling under feet somewhere below him. He turned and saw the same man from before standing against a tree.

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “Because, it’s survival, and I have to survive. I get it, you’re the reason that I’m here and I can’t say thank you enough, but you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Had this been any other instance in life, I might have offered you a place by my side, seeing as you were the major reason that I found my way back to this world. Then again, that’s not how time works, that’s not how life works. Especially for someone like me.”

  “What are you?”

  “Some call me a demon, some call a warlock, others just call me evil.”

  Dean sat there with his head resting against the tree. He was trying to get his heart rate under control and was doing a horrible job at it. He looked back at the man standing down on the ground below him.

  “Why us?”

  “Honestly, you were the only people around. Even if you hadn’t been, as easy as it was to bring you to this point, I probably would have taken you anyway.”

  “Do you have a name?” Dean asked.

  The man laughed again, the sound echoed around the woods again and sent a chill down Deans’ spine. Once the laughter subsided. The man peered up at Dean.

  “I go by a lot of names, but you can call me Mr. Green.”

  Dean took a deep breath. “So what happens next?”

  “First, I wake up your friend here, then, I’m going to proceed to do what I need to do to make sure that I can bring myself back to a healthy state. From there, well from there the world becomes my oyster. I will begin my journey through whatever has become of this world, and you, you and your friend there will both be memories of those who once loved you.”

  Dean watched as the thing climbed up the tree, almost completely horizontally. Once he was Travis he gave him a couple of smacks on the cheek similar to how he’d woke up Dean. Travis shook his head, trying to bring the world into focus.

  “What happened?” Travis asked. His voice was weak and barely audible. Mr. Green smiled at him. When Travis realized he was hanging off the ground he shook himself trying to free the restraints, but they wouldn’t move. Mr. Green walked back down the tree and got himself back on a flat surface before turning back to them.

  “I’d like to tell you that this wasn’t going to hurt.” Mr. Green said with a smile as he opened the book at his feet and turned it to a page. He put a hand up and began to speak in a language that Dean or Travis couldn’t understand. Dean didn’t feel anything and thought maybe it wasn’t working, then he turned and almost screamed as he saw Travis. What had once been his friend was already starting to age rapidly, pieces were flying away from him almost in a dust storm and it was all heading straight for Mr. Green. Dean watched the display and felt himself growing uneasy. As the last of the dust seemed to fly away, Mr. Green turned his attention.

  “I’d say that this is difficult for me but it’s not. For centuries I’ve met hundreds of people who wanted what I have. All they were awarded was a lesson in humility and awarded the honor of feeding me just a little more life that they didn’t deserve.”

  “I don’t want to die…” Dean had tears in his eyes now. “I had so much ahead of me…”

  Mr. Green smiled. “I know, that’s why you make a perfect person to give me strength I so desperately need.”

  ****

  As the lsat of the essence of Dean flushed into his system, Mr. Green felt a sudden wave of energy wash over him. Almost as if someone had turned on a faucet and energy was flowing directly from it, into his veins. He closed his eyes and instantly was connected with the other world. Mr. Green felt the familiar comforts of home and smiled as he realized how strong he’d become.

  As he stood there soaking in the sights and sounds of finally being back in the real world again he heard a voice inside his head, it was faint but it was there.

  Your work isn’t done yet. There is still another one, a more powerful one, that will be coming to collect you sooner rather then later. This time it won’t be as simple as just locking you away. He’s coming to end the evil that you’ve put on this world for good.

  Mr. Green looked out over the vast emptiness of the world he was currently in, a shadow-plain it had been called in the past. He called across it. “Who speaks of this, and does it truly carry any weight?”

  We believe that it does, as the seer has focused directly on you, she’d like to see you’re well being in tact should you decide to continue to walk among the earth as you do.

  “Does she have any information about the location of this new threat?”

  She does, but it is only general. She’s unaware of whom, or what might actually be out to do you harm, that is something you shall have to decipher on your own.

  “If he or she is gone, are there more in line waiting to take their place?” Mr. Green asked.

  One can never be too sure of the enemies they make. It all depends on the day, and the decisions you chose as you walk along the path of life.

  As if being sucked out of the Shadow Plain, Mr. Green opened his eyes and he was back in the clearing. The book at his feet was now closed and he felt rejuvenated. He bundled the book up and put it under his arm. He began to walk out of the clearing giving what remained of the two boys on the trees a final glance before heading off in search of this mysterious new threat.

  Afterword: Fears And First

  You know, when I sat down to write this book, I didn’t know what to expect. This would make the fourth finished novel I’d done in six months, and my fifth, or sixth overall. Yet, I still wasn’t sure if this one would see the light of day. Let’s be honest, if you’re reading this and you’ve ever written anything at all you know it’s nerve racking to have your work put out into the public to have it read, and/or judged by the likes of other individuals who enjoy it.

  But I put it out there.

  If you’re not aware this is my first published novel and I’ve decided that through the course of my careers, (There will be more books) that I’d take a small chance at the beginning and introduce you to the guy writing the stories. Why? Because, at the end of the day, I want those of you have come along on this journey to know who the co-pilot is. So I’d like to introduce myself, my name is Kyle Robinson.

  In case you’re wondering, the book you hold is your hand is a labor of love and passion I’ve put together over the course of a few months, that being said, I also realize that your interested and eager to read the book, after all you bought it right? So with that said I want to take a minute, and say thank you.

  Thank you for taking a chance on a guy who you’ve likely never heard of until you picked this book up. Thank you for taking a chance by reading my first published novel, and thank you for baring with me as I experience not only the growing pains, but the feel my muscles flex as I continue to write word after word hoping that you the reader, will be entertained.

  At the end of the day, I might be a regular writer, who lives in a house in a small Missouri town, with my wife and my two dogs. I’m a regular man who holds a regular job, and spends my off time writing these stories so that one day I can make this my full time living. So Again, I thank you. Because while sometimes I’m regular, sometimes I have nigh
tmares that come to life on the pages, and those pages are what you have in front of you today.

  Thanks for Reading,

  Kyle