Everybody wants to know something. Doesn’t matter how big the truth is. They feel like they can handle it. As if their path can be decided so easily. Everybody wants to know someone. No matter how important or irrelevant they feel as if knowing is the most important part. Everybody wants to be remembered. For a heinous crime they committed or an act of service to a friend, foe or even their country.

But what happens when things don’t turn out as planned. What if you question things so much that one day, just maybe you finally find out the answer? But it wasn’t the one you had hoped for?

What happens to you when you find out a secret to your life that you never thought possible. Let alone one that could change your fate forever.

Well, if you must know I’m here lying in the middle of some random forest just outside of a quiet little town I like to call home. Honorary Falls to be exact. It’s somewhere in Virginia.
What am I doing here you may ask yourself? Good question. Wondering where my life went on this crazy misfortunate misadventure that everyone says I’m so lucky to be a part of. Don’t get me wrong the past few weeks have been the best of my life. But there’s also this ominous problem of having others chase me to my death at every turn. I’m continuously doubting myself and to be honest I just want my life to return to the way it was before.

I’m wondering, why I’m stuck in a place filled with a bunch of crazy people and why now that I’m fourteen, I am cursed with being chased by monsters that only I can see.

Talk about a birthday present huh? You know some teenagers get fascinating privileges such as marriage and a learner’s permit when they turn fourteen, but nope. Little old me I get a chance to run away from carnivorous freaks at every turn.

If you must know, my name is Jason Wells. I’m a freshman in high school. And if you’re lucky enough that’s just about all the similarities we share. If you’re not, then I’d advise you close this book and never open it up again.

The forces of darkness might find you and if you’re anything like me. They will come for you and call you their King. Don’t worry about what that means because it’s not important. But if you aren’t then keep on reading. I indulge you to have some fun and think all of this is just a crazy fictional work of art.

I sure wish I was as lucky as you.

Anyways, where was I? Oh yes, my name is Jason Wells. And wouldn’t my luck have it that this all started with my last day of my first semester in, (you guessed it), high school.

My nightmare started like this.
I was standing in an old fashioned temple. It reeked of old onions and centuries old works of literature. (Please don’t ask how I know that.) The temple was fashioned out of some white marble that had decayed in the last two thousand years. Cracks and fissures traced across the marble pillars, but the temple stood erect.

I made my way towards an old dusted altar which held a book on top of it. The text was in a weird foreign language but I could clearly make out every word from it.

Turning the pages, I examined the book. It was a book filled with old tales. Stories if you will about various disasters that were destined to happen. Glancing across the texts I found it odd how I could read the ancient language with simple ease.

In a rustle of wind, the scene changed. I was making my way through a tunnel that lead out into a cliff which overlooked a maze. Intricate stations were placed as the maze shifted as if it had a mind of its own.

“The Labyrinth?” My voice commanded. I stood still as I gazed at the beauty in the art work. Managing downward, I scaled down the mountain until I reached the level of the entrance.

Weary voices cried as selective teens scaled into file as they all were being unleashed into the Labyrinth. I caught a glimpse of one young man with green eyes and curly brown hair. He wore a white toga and held a spear and a ball of yarn in his hands.

Turning my attention toward a woman in a cloak, I smiled as I raced after her only to have her disappear on me.

Turning around, I was forced up against one of the walls of the Labyrinth as I gazed at the woman’s pure and innocent eyes.

“Who are thou?” The woman demanded.
“Easy there!” I complained. “You do know it’s not polite to hold a sword against a stranger’s neck.”

“This is a dagger.” The woman responded as she removed it. “Now, answer my question who are thou?”

“I don’t know who thou is, but my name is Jason.” I remarked. “I’m just here marveling this here Labyrinth. It’s quite impressive, almost reminds me of the myth about Theseus and the Minotaur.”

The woman smiled. “Myth? So you mean to tell me.” At that moment the woman paused.

“Thank you. You must be dreaming. You should go now the forces of darkness are at work here. They’ll need you. You’ll be their King.”

I frowned. “Wait what?”

“Quickly, go and hide before it’s too later.” The woman raced off into the shadows of night.

“What do I call you?!”

“Ariadne.” A voice called back from the shadows of night as the scene shifted one last time.

This time, I stood on another cliff facing a giant chained up against a volcano, which was highly active and dropped lava onto his back. The giant held marvelous cold stormy blue eyes and he had skin made of brimming golden stone. He was shaved bald but his body retained hair from his stomach down.

His body seemed fragile and wounded almost like he had been putting himself together for a long time. I gazed at him as his gazed locked onto me from miles away.

“I see it is almost time.” His voice resonated with the cliff. He could see me although I couldn’t tell if he was looking at me or the sky. His voice was commanding and powerful yet scary almost like he was someone I was never supposed to meet.

“Jason Wells.” The giant’s face scathed out a smile as his eyes flickered into a storm of blue. “I’ve been expecting you. You shall be my favorite of them all. This time we meet in all but a dream, but the next time we shall meet in battle. Where you will die but only after I kill everyone you love. Muhahahaha!”

Thunder reaped the skies as lighting crackled. The giant was a mad man. But his words etched into my very core. I didn’t know who this giant man was, but whomever he was. He knew me.

I sat bolt upright, shivering in my bed.

There was no storm. No giant.

Morning sunlight filtered through my bedroom window.

I thought I saw a shadow flicker across the glass – a humanlike shape. But then there was a knock on my bedroom door - my mom called: “Jason, you’re going to be late” – and the shadow at the window disappeared.

It must’ve been my imagination. A second story window with a slippery roof ledge, no way anyone could manage that and not slip and fall especially not at this time of year.

“Come on, dear,” my mother called again. “Last day of school. You should be excited! You’ve almost made it!”
“Coming,” I managed.
I felt under my pillow. My fingers closed reassuringly around the ancient dollar I had kept since I was a kid. I always slept with it. I brought it out, studied the Ancient Greek writing engraved on the side: θεριστής. From what I could gather that had meant Reaper in Greek.

Placing Reaper on my nightstand I dragged myself out of bed.
I got dressed as quickly as I could. I tried not to think about my nightmare or the shadow at my window.

I’ve been expecting you. You shall be my favorite of them all.
What could the giant had meant?

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the impending feeling of danger into the deepest parts of my mind as I ushered on forward.

When I reached downstairs, I saw two plates of my mom’s special Captain Jack Sparrow Pancakes and a bowl of bacon and eggs polished right next to it.

I smiled at the sentiment and sat down to eat breakfast.
“You know; I was thinking after school maybe we could get you that new skateboard today. Probably even go to the skate park?” Mom purposed.

I smiled at her. “Yea. I was really into that one board the last time we went. Besides I kinda haven’t been into skating that much. Might wanna get back at it.”

“Then it’s a deal then. We can go after school today. Just be back here on time or else it’ll be hard and all remember sweetheart I have be at work at eight tonight.”

My smile faded slowly. “Yea, I know.”
“What’s wrong honey?” Mom wondered as I took in the last bits of the food.
“Nothing, thanks mom, love you!” Giving her a kiss on the cheek and a hug, I raced off towards the bus stop.

Notes

Been A while since I was last on here.

former member here as Beikeiai 17, although account is inacessable as of late so I decided to make a new one. Anyways, this is just a trail and test for this story that I have in mind, if you like it please comment, rate, and add. Whatever it is for feedback on this site I'd really appreciate it. My own take on a self-contained world and you'll discover more in the next 2 posts what I mean by self-contained. But anyways thanks for the read and I hope you all enjoy.