Post by BlueWinter on Jul 1, 2010 21:04:19 GMT
Let's start this again.
A long time ago, a town stood on the coast of a large island. It was called Danballton. The town was not big, yet it had its own currency, customs and government. No one from it had ever had contact with the outside world, but stories and legends had been passed down through the generations of explorers venturing far out into the ocean. Some versions told of the explorers returning, and being hailed as heroes, while others whispered that these brave souls never reappeared. However, while I could recite the myths for hours, these dark tales are irrelevant to us. What really matters is now.
Satchu Phaidon woke with a start. He tried to remember what had woken him so suddenly, and the dream came back to him, flooding his mind.
Satchu had been walking down a long, twisting path. Tall fir trees had towered both sides of it, totally blocking out the sun’s calming rays. As he had proceeded further down the path, eyes appeared in the trees, staring out at him. Big red eyes. It was the same every night. The path got darker, the trees denser, and the eyes increased in number. But that wasn’t the worst of it. Sounds now penetrated through the darkness. Scratching. Scuttling. Howling. Satchu screamed at himself to stop, to turn back, but his body was seemingly unable to stop. Walking. Ever walking down the path.
Without warning, everything changed. The trees were gone, the eyes disappeared, and the ground fell away. Satchu was falling to his death, still listening to the sounds. A face appeared in front of him. It was round and glowing green, with hideous features etched into it…
And then he had woken up.
It was the same dream every night. What could it mean? he pondered. Satchu’s thoughts were interrupted by a crashing sound from below, followed by an angry shout from his mother.
“Damn it!”
Satchu pulled on some clothes and rushed down the stairs, to find his mother sweeping up bits of broken ceramics in the kitchen.
“What happened?” he asked, staring at the shards.
“I dropped one of my best plates,” his mother, Kami replied sadly.
“Would you like me to help?” he offered.
“No, love, I’ll be fine. Shouldn’t you be training?”
“Yeah – I’m going out now,” Satchu said, walking away. “ I just need to get my gloves, and I’ll be off.”
“See you later, sweetie!” Kami called after him.
Satchu paused in the doorway, sunlight pouring over him. “Please don’t call me that, Mum. I’m 27, after all.” He walked out into the street.
Prologue
A long time ago, a town stood on the coast of a large island. It was called Danballton. The town was not big, yet it had its own currency, customs and government. No one from it had ever had contact with the outside world, but stories and legends had been passed down through the generations of explorers venturing far out into the ocean. Some versions told of the explorers returning, and being hailed as heroes, while others whispered that these brave souls never reappeared. However, while I could recite the myths for hours, these dark tales are irrelevant to us. What really matters is now.
Chapter 1: First Morning
Satchu Phaidon woke with a start. He tried to remember what had woken him so suddenly, and the dream came back to him, flooding his mind.
Satchu had been walking down a long, twisting path. Tall fir trees had towered both sides of it, totally blocking out the sun’s calming rays. As he had proceeded further down the path, eyes appeared in the trees, staring out at him. Big red eyes. It was the same every night. The path got darker, the trees denser, and the eyes increased in number. But that wasn’t the worst of it. Sounds now penetrated through the darkness. Scratching. Scuttling. Howling. Satchu screamed at himself to stop, to turn back, but his body was seemingly unable to stop. Walking. Ever walking down the path.
Without warning, everything changed. The trees were gone, the eyes disappeared, and the ground fell away. Satchu was falling to his death, still listening to the sounds. A face appeared in front of him. It was round and glowing green, with hideous features etched into it…
And then he had woken up.
It was the same dream every night. What could it mean? he pondered. Satchu’s thoughts were interrupted by a crashing sound from below, followed by an angry shout from his mother.
“Damn it!”
Satchu pulled on some clothes and rushed down the stairs, to find his mother sweeping up bits of broken ceramics in the kitchen.
“What happened?” he asked, staring at the shards.
“I dropped one of my best plates,” his mother, Kami replied sadly.
“Would you like me to help?” he offered.
“No, love, I’ll be fine. Shouldn’t you be training?”
“Yeah – I’m going out now,” Satchu said, walking away. “ I just need to get my gloves, and I’ll be off.”
“See you later, sweetie!” Kami called after him.
Satchu paused in the doorway, sunlight pouring over him. “Please don’t call me that, Mum. I’m 27, after all.” He walked out into the street.
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