Fate's lie

Nate crept low to the ground, his slender frame searching for hidden treasures amongst the undergrowth of the forest.
Using his imagination, the winding path before him became a hidden trail leading to untold secrets. The trees became home to the evil creatures barring his path, determined to stop him reaching his goal. The call of the birds became the cries of the lookouts on the prowl for those who would steal the fabulous treasure waiting to be unearthed. Within his mind, Nate was the last person that could save the world. No one else was as brave or as strong or clever as he, and no one else knew the secret trail that he stood upon right now. Only a few more steps and he would¦
"Nate? a voice shouted. "Where are you?
Nate stood still, fearful of giving his position away. Somehow he had been discovered, and time was running out fast. The creature guarding the treasure had awoken, and her powers were great. A plan formed within his mind, and he knew what he had to do. Carefully making his way through the forest undergrowth, he slowly crept closer to the guardian of the treasure.
"Where are you, Nate? the voice said. "Come out here now.
The urge to obey the creature was strong, but Nate was stronger. The fate of the entire world rested upon the next few moments. With infinite care, Nate crept behind the creature, so close he could reach out and touch it. Knowing the time was right, Nate pounced upon his prey, shouting at the top of his voice.
"I got you, Mom, Nate said. "I got you!
Nate's mother screamed in shock. "Jesus, Mary and Joseph, she said. 'You scared the daylights out of me.
Nate jumped around in joy, safe in the knowledge the world had been saved once more by yours truly. The urge to laugh was overpowering, but as strong and heroic as he was, he was even smarter. Laughing might not be the best thing to do right now judging by his mum's expression.
His mother, having just managed to keep her heart from exploding from her body in shock, turned to find her son watching her with a barely suppressed smile upon his face.
"So you think that was funny, do you? she said. "If you ever do that again¦
Nate guessed this would be a good time to be somewhere else. Taking a step backward, he readied his escape, but without warning a figure appeared in the corner of his eye, and before he knew it he was floating above the ground, the forest becoming a blur as he was held upside down by his legs.
"Aaagh! Nate said. "Dad! Put me down! Put me down!
"Have you been scaring your Mum? asked his father. "I think there's only one thing to be done about that.
Nate felt the wet ground seep though his clothes as his dad stretched his body deliberately along the ground. Jumping to his feet, Nate brushed his muddy hands against his damp jeans. Vowing revenge, he spied a large branch and rushed towards it, grabbing it off the ground.
"I'm gonna get you, he said. "You asked for it.
"Please don't hurt me, said his father. "Take pity on an old man.
Nate's father ran behind his mother, using her body as a shield. Seeing the determined expression upon his son's face, he ran to his right before glancing over his shoulder. A look of horror appeared upon his face, and without warning he ran down the path, shouting for someone to save him.
Nate stood unable to move, shocked at his father's cowardice. Seeing that his foe was disappearing fast, he roared in anger and willed his limbs towards the path his father had vanished down moments earlier.
"You won't escape me, he shouted.
Nate rushed down the path as fast as he could, barely avoiding crashing into a tree that blocked his path before skidding to a stop. His father lay still upon the ground before him, his hands clasped together upon his chest, his eyes closed as if asleep. Sensing victory, Nate crept silently towards his prey, his branch held high above his head ready to strike when suddenly he felt his legs give way beneath him. In an instant, he found himself lying prone upon the ground. His father stood over him, an evil grin upon his face.
"No way, Nate said. "You can't¦
"Oh yes I can, said his father. "And I will."
Nate suddenly felt his father tickle him under the ribs without mercy, and his screams of laughter echoed through the forest. After what seemed an eternity, a voice came to his rescue.
"Leave him be, John, said Nate's mother.
Nate's father ceased his torture of his son and grabbed his wife about the waist. Lifting her into the air, he twirled her about, his own laughter echoing hers as they forgot they were adults and became children once more for a time.
"Put me down, John, said Nate's mother. "You're making me dizzy.
Nate rose to his feet, smiling at his parents as they danced about the clearing smiling and laughing. He brushed his hands down his clothes, picking the wet leaves off his jeans with relish. He watched his mother playfully push his father away, and thought of a way to get revenge.

[

"It's time to go home, said Nate's mother. "Look at how late it is.
Nate looked upwards through the thick foliage of the forest trees, noticing for the first time the dark, menacing clouds that were rushing across the sky.
"It shouldn't be getting dark this early, said Nate's father. "It's not even gone five. There should be another few hours of daylight yet.
Nate grabbed his father's hand, pulling back the sleeve of the coat that was hiding his father's watch. He wished his father had a digital watch like his own, currently perched upon his bed.
A sudden, bright flash illuminated the surrounding forest. Nate forgot about what he was doing, letting his eyes roam about the forest looking for the source of the light.
"It was just lightning, said Nate's mother. 'Nothing to be afraid of.
A thunderous boom crashed above Nate's head, followed immediately by two more. The noise was so strong he imagined sensing the ground vibrate beneath his feet. He felt the hairs upon his neck stand on end, and grabbed his father's hand tight within his grasp.
"Come here, son. There's no need to be afraid, said his father. "We'll be back home in no time and we can finish our book before bedtime.
Nate found himself being lifted off the ground to rest upon his father's shoulders. As the echoes of the thunder faded into the distance, he wondered whether it was the best place to be.
"God, you're getting heavy, said his father.
"Let's go back to the car, said his mother. "I don't like this one bit.
As they walked down the path, Nate felt the wind strengthen with each step. As he let his eyes roam upon his surroundings, he imagined the shadows upon the ground getting longer, almost having a life of their own as the wind lashed against the trees.
"Dad? Can you put me down?
"Sure, son, said his father. "Now grab my hand tight.
Nate did as he was asked, gladly, and hurried to keep pace with his parents, taking two steps to each one of theirs. As they travelled down the well-worn path, he watched wide-eyed as the surrounding trees thrashed wildly about, brought to life by a newly born gale. Another bolt of lightning flashed before his eyes turning night into day for an instant. He felt his breath catch in his throat. Something was there in the depths of the trees, no more than a few paces away. He was sure of it.
"Dad? he cried. 'There¦
"Don't worry, interrupted his father. 'We're not far from where we parked.
Another thunderous boom crashed though the forest, so strong it seemed as if it originated only a few feet above their very heads. The forest shook with the force of the wind that crashed through its very heart.
This time, Nate was sure he could feel the force of the thunder vibrate through the ground and up his legs, for why else would his body be shaking so. A sharp tug of his arm brought him to a standstill. Nate turned to see why his father had stopped.
"What is it? said his mother. "Is something wrong?
"There's something out there, Mary, said his father. "I saw something move.
Nate's mother looked about the clearing, trying hard to see any signs of danger. Hard as she tried, she couldn't sense anything out of the ordinary.
"You're scaring Nate, she whispered.
Nate watched as his mother brushed his father's hand with hers, before coming to stand beside him. He felt his mother's cold hands encompass his, and squeeze tight.
"Look at the ground. It's turning all white. What the hell is happening?" cried Nate's father
Before another word was spoken, the wind battering Nate's body ceased its torment. He opened his mouth to speak, but he couldn't think of anything to say.
"Something's very wrong," Nate's mother shouted. "Get us the hell back to the car now!"
Without warning, an inhuman cry of pure torment blasted through the forest, shattering the veil of silence.
Nate looked up into the face of his mother, and regretted it instantly. Where he thought to find comfort, he found the opposite. Her face was frozen with fear. Her mouth was open, her lips forming an O that would not go away. Nate knew in his bones that something terrible was happening. He tried to speak, but the words did not come. It was as if they were scared to leave his body. Time stopped as he waited, and waited...
"M ' M ' Mum? he whispered. 'Mum!
Nate saw his mother turn her head towards his, though it seemed her eyes passed right through his body as if he was not there. He felt her arms encircle his waist, and lift him off the ground, wrapping him tightly in her embrace. He closed his eyes as her warm breath heated his cheek for a brief moment before the cold snatched it away.
A movement to his left caught his attention, and he turned to see his father taking a step backwards, his hand held outwards before him as if to push something away. He saw his father's lips move, but he could not hear a word. He had thought his father to be the strongest person in the world, but something was scaring him badly.
And he heard his mother say, "Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord¦
Nate listened to the words of the prayer coming from his mother's lips, and felt tears roll freely down his face. He did not know or care to whom they belonged to. Terror raged through every fibre of his body. He watched in a trance as his mother's face froze in fear, a scream upon her lips.
Beneath his rigid body, Nate saw the remaining colours of the forest bleed dry.The trees turned white as if life fled from their limbs.
Numb with fear, Nate felt his body crash towards the ground, smothered within his mother's embrace. The breath was driven from his body, the air whooshing from his mouth. Through tearful eyes, he watched his mother's face, praying for some sign of life, but there was nothing there. Only the frost of a snatched breath upon the chilled air gave claim that she was still alive.
Nate attempted to move, but he was stuck tight. Panic filled his mind, but there was nothing he could do. He opened his mouth to scream for help when movement to his right stilled his breath. Tearing his free hand from his mother's clutches, he wiped his eyes, staring at the spot where he thought he had seen movement.
"D - Dad? I - I - Is that you?' he whispered.
Nate suddenly felt something grab his coat. Screaming with all his might, he felt himself being ripped from his mother's grasp. Closing his eyes tightly, he sensed that he was being held off the ground. Praying he would awaken from this nightmare, he seized upon his father's advice, to count to five when afraid and all would be well again.
"One¦two¦three¦four¦five, Nate blurted.
Opening his eyes, he realised he was suspended facedown above the ground. Looking to his left, he saw his parents lying still upon the ground, their faces hidden from view. Tree-limbs, white in colour, thrashed lifelessly above their heads as the wind battered the forest, though not a breath of air touched his skin. Though deathly afraid, he turned his head to the right to see a pair of legs by his side, though he could not make out their owner. Moaning in terror, he tried to force himself to look upwards, but his body would not obey him.
"One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Nate screamed. "One! Two! Three! Four! Five!
In a blink of an eye, he saw the ground disappear into a blur beneath him, and he looked to his left to see trees flash by as if he were travelling extremely fast. He tried to cry out once more but his body was unable to take any more. Everything faded into black as the echoes of his screams faded upon the wind.

[

Nate found himself trapped with no way of escape. Behind him was a creature from his worst nightmare, and before him was nothing but emptiness. His only option was to jump onto the darkness facing him, not knowing what was below. He knew he could not stay where he was, for the beast was coming for him even now. Glancing quickly over his shoulder, he saw a form rushing towards him with inhuman speed. He took a deep breath, and jumped. His heart pounded against his ribcage and a scream tore from his throat as he sensed the ground rush towards him. He screamed harder, as if the force of the air expelled from his lungs would somehow slow his descent. He knew instantly that it was the end, as he felt the life leak from his body as the ground approached...
Nate regained consciousness as the echo of his dream faded into memory. Unwilling to open his eyes for fear of catching a glimpse of some monster standing over him, he prayed to God to let him be in some bad dream, soon to awake in the comfort of his own bed. Shivers wracked his body, and just as he was about to lose all control, he felt the comforting touch of hands upon his face, their soft caress acting as a sedative to his fears.
"Mom, is that you? he said.
Nate felt the touch upon his face for only a moment longer. His skin tingled with cold as its warmth was taken away. He hesitantly opened one eye, catching a glimpse of something moving away out of view.
And he said, "Please don't leave me alone.
"S'gone, a voice answered.
Nate did not recognise the voice, and any hope that his parents were nearby drained from his body. Eyes shut tight once more, he waited for the voice to continue but nothing more was spoken. Sitting up, he forced himself to breathe, taking big gulps of air to try calm down. A soft crack caused Nate to whip his head around in alarm. Torn between the urge to run or fight, he swallowed nervously and opened his eyes. To his complate surprise, a girl stood no more than a few paces away, her thumb firmly lodged within her mouth.
"Who're you? said the girl.
"I'm Nate, he replied. "Who're you?
The young girl moved a few steps closer. Raising the hem of her knee-length coat, she flopped onto the ground a few paces away.
"I'm Amy, she said.
Nate stared, a thousand questions unfolding upon his tongue, but he did not know where to begin.
"Don't waste your breath, a voice said from behind.
Nate screamed in shock. Terrified, he scrambled across the ground towards Amy, who shrieked in terror and scampered away in the opposite direction.
"Calm down, said the voice.
Nate turned his head to see a boy seated a dozen steps away, his legs crossed beneath his body. He seemed to be a few years older judging by his height.
"Who're you? Nate said.
"Jack. Don't worry, I'm not gonna hurt you.
Nate watched him carefully, watching for any signs of danger. He remembered the little girl and glanced behind expecting the worst. To his immense relief, Amy was crouched a few paces away. He slowly turned his head, peering about him to make sure there were no more surprises waiting to be uncovered. Satisfied they were alone he turned to Jack.
"Where are we? he asked.
"Don't know. Near as I can tell, I woke up about a half-hour ago same as you. But my watch isn't working and neither is my mobile. Then I blacked out again and found her here. The same thing happened when you arrived.
"Where's my mam? said Amy.
Nate turned towards Amy but he did not know what to say. He saw the expression of fear upon her face, and knew that she was seeing the same emotion upon his.
"As you can see, there's not much here," said Jack. "These tree branches completely surround us, and there's no way through. We're stuck here, wherever here is."
Nate listened to the words, but he knew he had to check for himself. Slowly as not to scare Amy any further, he stood and took careful note of his surroundings. With increasing disbelief, he saw he was trapped within a circular prison, with a barrier of tree branches instead of iron bars.
Jack's voice rang out. "I wouldn't bother..."
At first glance, large gaps seemed visible between the thick, entangled branches, but upon closer inspection, Nate realised these gaps were in fact deep shadows offering false hopes of escape. Thet were trapped, with no way out.
"How is this possible?" Nate said. "How did we get in here if there's no entrance?"
Jack remained silent, though a told-you-so look had appeared upon his face. Amy's expression remained the same, frightened and confused.
"And then there's this weird grass. It should be green but instead it's this weird white colour except for that bit there. And all these leaves are the same colour as well. Everything's wrong!"
"And...." asked Jack.
Nate opened his mouth, shut it again, and exhaled loudly. He shuffled across to the others, and slumped to the ground in defeat. He didn't know what to say.
"S'magic, said Amy.
Jack laughed aloud, quickly covering his mouth as Amy's glare threatened to burn holes into his skin.
Nate listened as the echoes of Jack's laughter echoed unnaturally around the clearing, giving it an evil resonance. The feelings of unease that crawled up his spine brought back fresh memories of what had happened to his parents. It seemed like only minutes had passed since...it happened. His body shuddered with revulsion as images of his parents lying unmoving upon the ground. Tears ran freely down his face as he lost what little control he had remaining.
"They're gone, Nate cried. "My parents are gone.
Amy threw herself into his arms, her tears joining his as she grabbed him tightly around the waist.
"I want my Mam, she cried.
Jack did not move, though the urge to join the others was overwhelming. His own feelings of terror threatened to break free, but he fought to control them. He needed to remain strong if they were going to escape.
"Listen to me, said Jack. "Listen! We need to find a way out of here. We need to understand what's happening.
Something flickered in the corner of Nate's eye. He realised the light within the clearing was slowly beginning to fade. Puzzled, he brushed away tears with his hand, before a searing pain raced across his arm. He looked down to see deep scratches upon his skin. Tearing his eyes away from dark droplets of blood running down his arm, he looked upwards to see Amy's face frozen with fear. An unwanted vision of his mother with that same expression flashed across his mind. The blood drained from his body, and he turned his head to try and see what had scared Amy so much. He saw Jack shuffling backwards along the ground directly towards him.
Within seconds, darkness had devoured all remnants of light within the clearing, turning the false day into a terrifying night.
Raising his eyes upwards, Nate saw two bright orbs radiating light from the shadows. His heart thundered within his ribcage as a speck of light appeared above Nate's head, slowly blossoming until once more the clearing glowed with unnatural light, except for a single slab of shadow from which the predatory eyes were watching.
A tall form slowly emerged from clutches of the darkness. At least two metres tall, the figure seemed to be a man but with subtle changes. Thin, skeletal even, and clothed in garments old yet beautiful, it moved with athletic grace as if poised for action. Two eyes that shone like stars pierced the darkness of its hood. The figure raised both hands towards its face and pulled the hood backward with agonising slowness to reveal its face. A thin mouth drew attention from its small nose, almost invisible when looking directly at it. Its face seemed chiselled from stone, all hard edges with no softness. Shoulder-length hair fell gracefully upon its shoulders. Its hands once more came into view, and within their grasp lay two swords.
Nate's gasp of alarm around the clearing.
"L - Leave us alone" said Jack.
Nate knew, felt it deep within his bones, those swords could take life effortlessly with one blow. The swords were pitch black, almost as if they were swallowing the light around them. His eyes ached as he tried to focus upon them.
The figure stopped a few paces away, its burning gaze burrowing deep into the children as if digging for treasure. With alarming speed, the swords disappeared from view to rest upon the figure's back. It happened within a blink of an eye, and with frightening ease.
Nate watched with wide-open eyes while his mouth formed an O of surprise. A moment passed, and the creature was within touching distance of Nate. With trembling limbs, he scuttled backward using his hands and feet until he reached the edge of the clearing.
The figure raised its arms, slowly, as if trying to appease the children's fears, until they were high above his head.
"Look at his eyes," whispered Jack.
Amy's voice whispered into his ear, scaring him witless. "Look at his ears?"
Nate focused upon the now jet-black eyes of the figure, where only moments earlier they had burned bright with fire. His gaze flickered to the creatures ears.
And he blurted, "They're pointy!"
Slowly shaking his head with dismay, Jack wondered Nate's words would be the last words he would hear in this lifetime.
"Nice one. Great way to make friends with him," he said.
Dumbfounded, Nate watched as without warning, the figure began to withdraw into the shadows beyond. Before passing unhindered through the wall of branches, Nate watched the figure's mouth turn upward in what could be taken to be a smile, though he was not sure if it had been a trick of the light.
With neither a warning nor a farewell, the figure vanished.
Nate remained frozen to the spot, trying to comprehend what had just happened. It seemed an age before he or the others found the courage to speak, not to mention even moving.
Jack spoke first, unable to keep silent a moment longer. "Did you see how weird he was? And his eyes?"
Nate thought about asking whether Jack really knew whether 'it' was really a 'he', but knew it wasn't really important. Things had become more complicated, and he knew that answers would be hard to come by. What surprised him most were the words he heard Amy repeating softly to herself.
"It was an Elf!"

[

Jack paced about the clearing, anxiously wringing his hands together. Nate sat beside Amy, legs crossed-together, his head towards the ground.
"Just give it a try. We need to do something, and you haven't come up with another plan, have you?"
Nate shook his head, fear blossoming within the pit of his stomach. There had do be a better way but hard as he tried, he just couldn't think of one.
"No way," he said. "Why don't you do it? It's your idea."
Jack bit his tongue, fighting to keep control. He knew Nate was afraid, and understood his reluctance, but something needed to be done, and done soon. This was the only plan he could think of.
"I told you already. It would be easier for you," he said. "I'm much taller than you are, and obviously Amy can't do it. So that leaves you."
Nate wondered whether Jack was too scared to try himself, but he dared not say it aloud. Jack was older, stronger and judging by the look upon his face, he was ready to hit something, and Nate did not want to be the something that was hit. He considered Jack's plan once more. First, make your way through the branches to the other side. Then use the mobile to ring for help. If that didn't work, find the nearest road and find someone to come and rescue them.
But Nate had a vivid imagination, and cursed himself for being so unlucky. Even if there was a way through this cage of branches, those creatures may be waiting outside the barrier. And even if they weren't, they could be stuck in the middle of nowhere, and he would have no idea which direction to take to search for help. And even if he did succeed, what's to say he could find his way back.
"Listen. We don't know how much time we have," said Jack. "They could come back any minute with their great big swords and¦."
"Don't finish that," Nate said. "You'll jinx us."
Nate felt Amy take his hand in hers, squeezing it hard. He looked down to see her thumb firmly lodged within her mouth and a questioning look within her eyes. A sliver of fear crawled up his spine as he realised he had no choice in the matter.
"Alright," he said. "I'll do it."
"Don't leave," cried Amy. "Elves won't hurt us, you'll see!"
Nate watched Jack's eyes look up to the Heavens. Amy had convinced herself the figure had been that of an Elf, and Jack was having none of it. Even though so much had happened he could not explain, Nate could not help but take Jack's side. It just sounded funny when he said the world Elf within his mind.
"Don't worry Amy," he said. "I'll be back soon."
"Take my mobile. If you can get a signal outside, ring for help." said Jack. "And don't forget to warn the police that Elves have kidnapped us either. They might need to bring special weapons with them."
Nate watched as Amy kicked Jack's shin hard, causing him to yelp aloud in pain. He desperately fought to keep from laughing as Amy was keeping him under close scrutiny.
"See you soon," he said. "I won't be long."
Nate placed Jack's mobile phone deep within his pants pocket. Saying one final prayer, he stumbled towards the barrier. Trying to make out details within the thicket of branches seemed impossible, but eventually he thought he spotted an opening. He grabbed hold the nearest branch, and pulled hard.
Amy, seated a dozen paces away, immediately felt a deep sensation well up inside her stomach. She couldn't begin to guess what it was, or meant, but she knew it was wrong. She tried to shout a warning, but found herself unable to utter a single word. The sensation thrummed within her body once more. Biting back tears, she drew her knees towards her chest, and willed her self to speak.
"Nate!" she screamed. "Stop!"
Nate's stomach lurched in fear as the branch suddenly moved beneath his touch, scraping his skin as it slithered beneath his hand. As his eyes struggled to make sense of what was happening, the wall of branches before him seemed to shift. The slithering noise of the branches brushing against each other was almost overwhelming. Nate tried to push backwards but couldn't move. He screamed aloud as something snake-like grabbed hold of his hand. Through a mist of panic, he barely registered hands encircling his waist, pulling him backwards. He desperately clawed at the nearest branch with his free hand, his nails tearing at the trees unnatural tendrils.
"Let him go!" screamed Amy.
Without warning, the suffocating grip encircling Nate's body vanished, and he felt himself floating for a brief moment before his body smashed into the ground, winding him in the process
"What did you do, Amy?" said Jack. "H - How did you do that?"
"Nate? Please wake up?" said Amy.
Waves of pain battered Nate's body. With infinite care, he tried moving his fingers. A flash of pain rattled his skull, but faded within moments to be replaced by a dull throb.
"Nate? Stay still. You're safe now," said Jack. "Everything's alright."
Nate slowly opened his eyes. Everything seemed to go dark almost immediately. "I think I hurt..."
"Oh crap! It's back," interrupted Jack.
Though a foggy-mist shrouded his eyes, Nate raised his body off the ground to see two bright orbs of light shine once more within the darkness, immediately followed by two more, and then another two became visible.
"Oh nuts," Jack blurted. "There's more of them."
Nate felt Amy's hand grab his sleeve. Strange as it was, he found himself wondering how strong her grip upon his arm was, rather than what was happening before his very eyes.
"Why aren't they doing anything?" whispered Jack.
Nate's body almost sank into the ground under the weight of fear that washed over him. With surprising strength, Nate grabbed Jack's arm, squeezing it tight.
"Shut up," he whispered. "Don't say stuff like that."
Standing still, in complete silence, the figures seemed cloaked in darkness that devoured all traces of light. A soft echo upon the air, barely audible over the sound of the children's heavy breathing, banished the darkness, allowing light to shine once more upon the clearing.
Nate watched the three figures stand directly before him, their hands by their sides, their mouths moving in unison. Hard as he tried, he couldn't hear a sound.
"They're doing magic," whispered Amy.
Nate glanced across towards Jack, hoping to see a smile at Amy's latest outburst, but saw only fear upon his face. A brush of air whispered against his skin, and he turned to see leaves dance upon the ground. He watched entranced as the leaves swirled inches above the ground as if possessing a life of their own.
Amy squealed in delight, grabbing at leaves that danced around her body.
Nate suddenly realised that he could hear a soft melody echo around the clearing. As he listened intently, the melody gradually grew stronger, and the dance of the leaves increased in volume. Nate looked back towards the three figures, though he could barely register their forms through the movement of the leaves. They had raised their arms above their bodies as if calling out to someone. A shiver of unease raced through his body, and he knew something was happening. Something bad.
The haunting melody grew stronger, its pitch increasing with every breath.
With astonishing speed, the leaves that previously had no visible direction began to join as one, as if drawn together by an invisible net. Within seconds, every leaf had combined to form what looked like a giant rectangle suspended above the ground, almost as tall as the three figures themselves, and maybe twice as wide. Not a single leaf remained upon the ground.
Nate was transfixed by what was happening before his very eyes. He physically had to remind himself to breathe. He forced himself to look to his right, seeing expressions of awe upon the faces of Jack and Amy. "This is magic," he whispered.
A thunderous boom shook the clearing.
Nate's mind went went completely blank, except for the expression his father sometimes used when something bad happened.
And he said, "Oh sh¦"

[

Nate wondered whether he was trapped within some wild dream.
A torrent of brilliant colours flashed before his eyes from one moment to the next. Each individual colour fought for his attention but paled in comparison to the whole collection. Every few moments he would have to shield his eyes with the sleeve of his coat, otherwise he might go blind, and even then the memory of the colours would flash within his mind.
Even more disorientating were the melodies that touched his soul, so soft and gentle in pitch he wondered how they did not disappear upon the wind blowing gently about the clearing. Concentrating hard, he tried to follow the harmonies but each one seemed to be overlaid with several others, all meshed together. And unlike the melodies he had heard when this show had started, he knew there was something different to what he was hearing now. It was more intense.
"Something's happening," he said. "Something bad."
A touch upon his arm almost caused him to faint, and it took him several seconds before he could catch his breath. He looked up to see Jack seated a hair's breath away, his face a sea of colours.
"It looks like a picture," said Jack. "But it's still not finished."
Nate understood what Jack was trying to say, even though it didn't make sense.Within the solid framework of leaves, a constantly changing painting was being created. Colours appeared one moment and disappeared just as quickly. His stomach lurched as he concentrated on making sense of what was before him. He could not begin to understand how the creatures were making this happen, but he did think that Amy's use of the world magic did not seem so unbelievable as it once did.
"Where's Amy?" he said.
"Just behind you to your left. She seems alright, just enjoying the show."
Nate looked lover his shoulder to see Amy watching in rapt delight, her thumb firmly lodged within her mouth. He almost felt jealous.
"This isn't good," he said. "Why are we here?"
"Search me," said Jack. "But they haven't hurt us yet so there's¦."
"They took me from my parents and left them for dead, and you think that they won't hurt us? Are you crazy? We're sitting here watching what may or may not be three Elves sing to us and a great big something is forming in front of our eyes. What do you think is going to happen?"
Jack remained silent. Thoughts he had desperately tried to suppress deep within his mind began to rage upwards to the surface.
"What do you think will happen to us?"
"Something's changed!" Nate whispered. " T - They've stopped singing."
Jack could not believe he hadn't noticed, but he had more important things upon his mind. The picture frame, once full of light and colour, was now shrouded in complete darkness. It was if something had pulled the plug and switched it off.
"Where'd it go?" said Amy. "I liked watching the colours."
Nate ignored everything but the three figures before him. Nothing had changed since the light had suddenly disappeared, and that definately troubled him.
"Do you think they got it wrong?" said Jack.
"Something's not right. They haven't moved," Nate answered. "If something was wrong, they'd be angry, wouldn't they?"
"Suppose so," said Jack.
Nate ignored the tone of dismissal in Jack's voice. This was important. He could feel it with every fibre of his being.
"They're waiting for something to happen," whispered Amy.
Nate screamed in surprise as a blinding flash erupted within the clearing. Terrified, he turned away, blocking his eyes with his hands. A thunderous chorus of loud cracks echoed from nowhere and everywhere. Nate curled into a ball, praying this evil dream would end and he would be at home where it would be safe. Suddenly, he felt the warmth being sucked from his body. Tremors ravaged his body as every sense was completely overwhelmed.
"Please stop," Nate whispered. "Please take me home."
Time passed so slowly before curiousity overcame his fear, and Nate opened his eyes once more. Lying upon a carpet of white leaves, he saw saw what looked like a shadow of him standing burnt upon the ground, one hand shielding its face. He realised wherever the blinding light had come from was now behind where he was lying upon the ground. Taking some deep breaths, he turned over, slowly, and sighed aloud in surprise.
It was if he was watching one of those Nature programs on a giant screen.
Fantastically giant trees, numbering in the hundreds, soared into a purple sky. A massive mountain range seemed to hang over the forest, like a mother over a child. But what immediately caught his attention were the constantly moving figures darting to and fro across the image, many in number but vague due to the apparent distance that separated them. Squinting hard, he thought he could make out some of the figures beckoning towards them.
"Guys, you have to see this!" Nate said.
"We are," said Jack. "It's like watching a movie at the pictures."
"Look at the small people. It's like they want us to go there," said Amy.
Nate felt a well of terror rise from deep withhin his body. The truth of Amy's words echoed within his mind, and he knew, he knew, that is exactly what was happening.
"That's a load of..." began Jack.
"We have to get away. That's why were here, why they took us from our families," Nate screamed. "They want us to go to wherever that place is! It must be some sort of gateway."
"Listen to what you're saying," said Jack. " How is that possible?"
"Where did the Elves go?" said Amy.
As if summoned by Amy's words, Nate saw a pair of outstretched arms appear directly before him. Before he had a chance to react, it was already too late. Wrapped tightly within a vice-like grip, he was dragged across the ground. Hard as he fought, it was no use. He caught a glimpse of Amy being dragged alongside him screaming in terror before all his attention was drawn towards the gateway looming before him. The beginnings of a scream left his throat before he was flung through the air into its gaping maw, his arms flailing uselessly about his body.
Within a heartbeat, all air was sucked forcefully from his body causing him to struggle for breath. A raging pain smashed through his head as his eyesight was blinded by a powerful surge of light. Without warning his body crashed against a rocky surface with a jolt that knocked him senseless. As he struggled to breathe, his body shuddered in pain and unable to see, he rolled about the ground in agony, screaming as soon as he drew breath.
He was barely aware of other voices around him before he felt himself losing consciousness. His last thought was that the language the voices were speaking were stranger than anything he had ever heard before.

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