The Town Of Woodlake: Prophecy
You tell her you want to go a little farther. The long walk back doesn't appeal to you, and while you know you're delaying the inevitable, there's something about turning around and seeing the same trees again that makes you want to go on. Alexis nods and you continue walking.
"We should head back now," Alexis says, stopping.
You shake your head. "I see something up there. Looks like the end of the forest. Maybe we'll find an easier way back." The trees give way to a large clearing, which, unfortunately, was surrounded by trees. You wouldn't be finding an easier path. That is the farthest thing from your mind though. A small village sits in the middle of the clearing, with tiny wooden houses covered in scarlet patches of vines. Goats roan behind wooden pens. That is if they could be called goats with their six horns and lizard tails.
"Where are we?" Alexis whispers and you give her a startled look.
"You don't know of a village in the forest?"
She shakes her head. "Never heard of it."
"Oh, who are you?" a cheerful voice says behind you. You whirl around. A young boy, maybe the age of four stares at you with big grey eyes. He blinks. "What do I do with them?" he says to himself. His brow furrows as he thinks hard.
Alexis turns to you. "Where did he come from?"
You shrug. "Snuck up on us?"
The boy's eyes suddenly light up. He grabs your hands and drags the two of you towards the village. Not sure what to do, you run along. He lets go when you reach the doorstep of the largest building in the village. He attempts to push the door open, his little arms straining as he shifts it a few inches. Hesitantly, you open it for him. He pulls you inside and down the hall. You struggle to keep up with the child. He stops at a small room and pushes the two of you inside. An older woman sits on a simple wooden chair, reading a book. She looks up at you. Neither of you move.
Alexis finally speaks up. "Hi?"
The lady startles. "You two are humans, correct?"
You and Alexis exchange a look. "Yes?" she says. "Aren't we all?"
"Now why would you assume that?"
You blink. This is getting weird. She walks over to the young boy standing beside you. "Good job, you may go now." He scurries off and you are left alone. She walks back to her chair and sits down, eyes closed and a smile tugging at her lips. You hear her murmur, "The prophecy, is this it?"
Alarm bells start to ring in your head. You speak up. "Excuse me? Where are we? Why did you just mention a prophecy and why did you check if we are humans? What did you think we were?"
"Two human children would come and end the great beast that's been terrorizing us for nearly a decade," she says and then frowns. "It said you would come in the winter, not the summer though."
Alexis laughs nervously. "Can't be us then."
"Nonsense. We have to at least try. You'll stay here tonight, and tomorrow, we'll send you two to the caves to slay the DeathBringer."
******
You pick at the food on your plate. Alexis is having the same issues. "My family is probably so worried," you say. Looking out the window, you see that the last of the sunset had faded away.
"I'm worried about my own life," Alexis mutters.
You wince. "Don't think of it like that. We'll be fine." But your words are flat. You're not sure if you'll survive. Not after that description of the DeathBringer.
Alexis sighs. "This is so messed up. These weird people are sending two random kids to kill a giant monster that's been slowly picking them off one by one." Her laugh is sharp and grating. "This situation seems so unreal now that I've said it aloud. Even ridiculous."
No kidding, but it isn't ridiculous. This is happening and it doesn't sound good. You look around, what do you do?
-Attempt an escape
-See what morning brings