my fingertip, drawing blood. Jerking my hand away, I watched as the few droplets resting on the stone soaked into it. As they
were absorbed a rumble could be heard through the room and the floor began to shake.
A bright light circled around the edges of the archway then the middle began to shine brightly. Right before my eyes, a
portal opened. This was the adventure I’d been craving! Surely this was the reason I was here. To escape this entire world
completely and start somewhere new and fresh.
But before I could even think to step forward, a loud growl and a shadow appeared in the portal, making me jump back in
fear. I’d read with Hector about the existence of portals in our world. The Goddess of Light used them to wander between our
world and her own.
Great animals, monsters, and creatures were said to live in some of those worlds. After she left us, she sealed each portal
so they could not escape and come into our world.
Stepping back and tripping over my own feet, I watched the shadow grow larger and larger. My eyes widened more as fear
stole my breath.
“What are you doing here?!” Nicholas shouted at me as he yanked me up off the floor.
He looked from me to the portal where something was desperately trying to push its way through. He looked angry,
infuriated as he stepped in front of me, shielding me as his shadows started to grow around him.
Out stretching before him, and towards the portal, they covered everything until the light disappeared behind his darkness.
After a few minutes the shaking in the room stopped and the rumble silenced itself. The portal light snuffed out completely as
the monster faded away.
He turned his attention to me then as the portal went back to sleep and gripped my wrist, holding up my hand to see the
blood pouring from my wound.
“WHAT DID YOU DO?” He snarled at me baring his teeth.
“I-I didn’t…eh…” I struggled to find words to explain myself.
“Don’t lie to me, Ornella, or you will find out what I do to liars,” he snapped.
I tried to pull my wrist away, which only made him hold it tighter. It felt as if my bones would break under his grip as he
started to yank me towards the door. I resisted, digging my heels in as best as I could.
“GET OFF ME!” I tried to pull away, shouting at him.
He pulled harder and came nose to nose with me. His breath came out harshly, his eyes being swallowed by darkness. He
terrified me as he stared down at me. A growl escaped his lips as his blue eyes slowly reappeared.
“You stupid, stupid girl. Do you know what you just almost did?!” he shouted back.
“YOU’RE THE STUPID ONE!”