The Great Training Begins

As quickly as the sleep found me it deserted me the same and I awoke to a startle. I was still a little groggy and it seemed as if a thousand light bulbs were all shining ahead of me, twirling and swirling and dancing all around me. And then everything snapped straight.

“Welcome back to the world of the living boy.” Rasped Fryll, “You’ve been asleep for quite a while, I apologize but there were matters me and Calminaion needed to discuss and I figured that after a long journey you would need the rest. Especially for today.”

“What do you mean, especially for today?”

“Well my boy, I’ve made a decision, I’m going to train you. We can’t have a Cerediron running around who doesn’t know how to use his powers.”

As he said those last words Fryll walked over to a chest in the far corner of the room, apparently the lights were a way of travel here, because we no longer were in the library study room, but now in a great hall surrounded by tall stained glass windows that glowed greens and blues, with candles of every shape and size lining the perimeter of the room. There were no doors in nor were there any ways out that I could see. Probably to make sure that we weren’t disturbed, or I give up and try to leave. As I was taking in the sudden grandness of the room, Fryll rustled through his chest and with a great “Aha!” he pulled out a bracelet unlike anything I had ever seen before.

It was golden with what looked like silver grain within it similar to that of a tree. It was round and simple but yet it had a dull green glow; and had an engraving of a small dragon with ruby eyes that seemed to stare right into you upon the faceplate.

“It’s called the Dragon’s Force. It’s an enchanted bracelet that will aid us in your training, here stick out your hand.”

And so I did, I was expecting Fryll to unlatch some hidden clasp and put it on me but the most curious thing happened. As if on cue the bracelet unwound itself and in the shape of a dragon flew around the room and surrounded itself around my right hand.

“Now then the dragon’s force is something of great value. First off it will only bond with one person and one person only during its phase. That’s you. The second thing that makes it special is that it will not come off until an eternity has passed. And Third...”

“Wait an Eternity?? What do you mean? I’ll be wearing this, the rest of my life??”

“Boy just listen and let me finish, all will be made known to you in due time. As I was saying, thirdly it grants the wearer the ability to live for an eternity. That’s what is truly remarkable about it and what is crucial for your training.”

“You’ve got to be kidding, I have everlasting life?”

“No everlasting life is life that last forever, you on the other hand have a life now for at least an eternity. There’s a difference.”

Thinking on this made my head spin. I think Fryll may have lost a few marbles along the way, but hey maybe there’s a reason for all of this.

“Alrighty boy, now that you will live for an eternity, and I’m Immortal, we can begin. First Lesson: This place is special, time doesn’t flow in a straight line as you are used to, and rather it is like a soup all jumbled up into a big ol’ mess. What I want you to do; is to find a way to the Hills of Teneheldrin when the tree at the very top bloomed. Fetch me that blossom and bring it here and your first lesson will be complete.”

“Ok? Now how am I supposed to do that?”

“Well now, if I told you everything what would you learn?”

“I don’t even know where to begin!”

“You begin with that book; in it are some pages about this place, use those pages to make your path. I have business to attend to but I leave you a companion.”

Reaching into his cloak, Fryll pulled out a small smooth pebble not much bigger than a quarter. Blowing on it and whispering an unknown word in a foreign language the stone seemed to take a breath and slowly grew until it was about a foot high, had two legs, and what could only be described as a strange little head.

“This is Demeythos; he will join you on your journey and provide anything that you need, other than the solution.” With this he turned to leave, but not without turning and saying with a glimmer in his eye, “Paper and ink are in the cabinet over there. You will need it.”

With that Fryll disappeared into a cloud of small specks of light that fluttered into the air and dispersed.

So there it was, I began a journey in school, left school, only to find myself about to take the hardest class I’ll ever know, wearing the Dragon’s Force, granting life for an eternity, and of course on top of all of that; a pet rock. I thought things couldn’t and wouldn’t get any stranger but they did.

Fryll was right when he said that within the book I’d find the pages that would help lead me on the path, the only problem was I had no idea how to create the gateway.

“I figure you don’t know how I’m supposed to make a gateway to here?” I said as I pointed to the book.

Demeythos looked up at me, made a cooing sound and hobbled over to the closet full of the supplies that Fryll pointed out before he left.

“Maybe you are helpful and not just a, rock.”

As I walked over and opened up the cabinet and began pulling out sheets of paper, pens, and pencils of all shapes colors and sizes, I didn’t notice the new page that was being created within the book.  The page that explained everything about how to make a gateway, I finally took notice of it after a few rough attempts at trying to “create” a gateway of some sort to no avail.

On the page in the book, it showed a wall covered with sheets of paper that seemed all patch worked together to create a massive door. The curious thing though, was that it seemed like the door was opening from the papers. In that moment I knew what I had to do.

I started pulling sheets of paper, taping gluing, drawing, inking, coloring, the doorway that suddenly became clear in my mind, and what seemed like days finally came together. As I put up the last sheet of paper, the doorknob, it seemed as though the room shifted a bit. Then as I knew what would happen I grabbed the handle and pushed the new doorway open.

Turning to Demeythos, “Come on boy, it looks like we have a tree to find.” And so began the quest to find the impossible blossom.

Part 3 - A chance meeting of strange fellows

“Hello?”

The voice haunting and eerily familiar startled me so much that I almost fell backwards. Turning to face the voice I was surprised to see someone not so much taller than 4 feet yet homely looking. The dwarf looked like he had seen many things, been on many adventures which some seemed to have left their marks on his rough hands and face. He was dressed in a drab brown work suit, goggles hanging around his neck, and a strangely looking axe over his shoulder, it looked like a cross between a pick axe and a woodcutting one.

“Well now you look like a curious fellow,” the stranger bluntly spoke. “Where do you come from, there is nothing out here but desert and the occasional…dwelling. Your kind does not simply survive out here easily.”

“I seem to be lost sir, I went through the door, and the next thing I knew I ended up here. Wherever here is. I really don’t know what is going on. My name is Desmond, and you are?”

“Calminaion, 9^th commander of the Dwarven Scouts. Pleasure to meet you, Desmond you said. Hmm that name sounds familiar. Well either way you said you came through a door and you are here. I wonder…”

“What is it? You don’t seem to find it strange that I came through a doorway and then I turned up in the desert…” Thinking to myself I could hardly believe it myself, it seemed as though the life that I once was living was just a dream and this place with the thick hot air and the piercing sun was somehow more alive. It felt as though the lands themselves were breathing in the heat and living like some kind of animal. And here I was talking to this dwarf,  a DWARF, this is the thing of fairy tails and yet it doesn’t feel out of place, back home I would have thought I was crazy, maybe I was and this was just a delusional dream. But it feels so real, so tangible that I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve been here before. But How?

“Come Boy, I fear we are not alone and it is not safe to stay here much longer. There is a man I think you should meet. If you really did come through a door into this world then HE is the one you must speak to. HE has the answers to your questions I believe. Come now let us go.” With that he turned and started walking towards the mountains. Without hesitation I picked up my bag, took a look back at the door, which it seemed I was the only one who could see it, and as I started following Calminaion it seemed as though the door slowly began to fade into nothingness.

It seemed like we walked for an eternity, the mountains slowly growing closer and bigger more ominous than I had originally thought. They seemed to have this haze that never left them, even with the heat of the sun it seemed as though a fog was attached and part of the range. The dwarf spoke a little along the way, speaking of his home Galandryll, his family the Ironaxen, and this world Asperion as it is called. He said that the desert used to be a great forest filled with trees of all kinds, rivers as blue as sapphire, and lakes as cool as snow. But in ages past a traveler came and with him came destruction. The dwarves contrary to the belief and myth that I knew in my world, funny  I refer to home as my world, were actually great woodcutters and craftsmen, not miners, but when the “Great Destructor” came things changed, the dwarves created scouting clans, created large underground Cities, mined all through the world that they lived. Stone became their wood, and from that they created a new civilization for themselves from the ashes of the destroyed world that used to have so much life.

“Don’t worry boy, you look tired, but we are almost there just a little farther.”

“Where is it that you’re taking me?”

“The seer, he is the one who knows more about everything than anybody. He is a good old friend of mine and it so happens that when I ran into you, I was on my way to meet with him to discuss another matter. It seems that the stars of fate have crossed and linked our meeting.”

“Hmm, a seer. And I guess so. Look there is something that has been bothering me from the start.”

“Speak your mind boy.”

“Did you see the door when we met? It was ten feet from me but as we started this journey when I looked back it seemed to have faded and then disappeared from the spot.”

“There was no door, boy. But as I thought You are, Unique. The Seer will be able to answer your questions better than I, and here we are Fryllandrial, Home of the Seer.”

Fryllandrial, a strange but fitting name for the place we came upon. Before us was a great tree which seemed to span endlessly into the sky, shrouded by the strange mists that clung to the mountain, In the tree were multiple houses and patios bridges connecting one to another, all around the tree. The tree itself was a strange one in itself, the bark had a dull gold glow eminating from its dark brown bark. The leaves were as large as my hand, and were a strange combination of greens, blues, and oranges. This gave the tree a look as though its leaves were on fire glowing gold with oranges and blues that swayed with the light breeze. This place felt like a place out of time, separate from the happenings and the events of the world it was located in.

This place is special you best not disturb the peace.

The thought popped into my head out of nowhere, I knew it was not my voice or the voice I heard before, this one was deep, it felt as though it penetrated deep into my being. Piercing through the darkness and crevices of my mind, searching it seemed to find something lost, hidden, terrible.

You are special boy. The darkness seems to not have noticed you yet, nor realized what power you hold deep within your soul. You may enter.

“Greetings friends, I’m sorry about the search, but these days I cannot tolerate any of the darkness in this place.”

Standing before us was a man or being I’m not quite sure how to describe Him, He seemed to tower over me and Calminaion by a good three feet or more with a long white beard that was as long as he was tall. His eyes were a strange sight, instead of round pupils his looked as though two ovals were overlapped one on top of another creating a strange shape that had strange colors glowing around them, his eyes were such a sight that I could barely turn my gaze.

“Come friends we have much to discuss, and you seem weary from your journey. I have refreshments already prepared in the living room. Follow me.”

“Seer, He knew we were coming since we first met.” Calminaion said as he gave me a slight nudge and a chuckle.

The Seer walked into a doorway and led us up a flight of stairs that wrapped around the trunk of the tree and it went up and up into the air until we came upon a platform that appeared to hold a great study, with plush chairs, three to be exact, and on the walls books stacked onto shelves as high as the ceiling.

“Here Desmond, take this seat, We have much to discuss.”

“Wait how did you..?”

“Seer, remember He sees everything knows everything that has happened and some of what is to happen.” Calminaion bluntly muttered.

“My name is Fryll, and son you seem to be an important individual to what is to happen. For one who came through the door, you seem to not know much about what drew you to us here.”

“Well yes, I don’t understand anything that has happened, one second I’m flipping through this book, the next a doorway appears as it is being drawn into the book by some unknown force, I can’t pull myself away from it and then open the door and the next thing I know I’m in the middle of a desert. Yes, this makes sense and I should understand everything already.” I knew it was a bit harsh but after walking hours and the mystery of my plight had finally hit the wall and now I wanted answers.

“A book you say, hmm. They had one too I wonder if it made…” His voice trailed off as he closed his eyes as if he were thinking and trying to grasp onto a distant memory of a chance meeting long before. Then suddenly his eyes snapped open, full of fire, full of mystery, full of intrigue. “YOU! You. You. How can it be, its been an eternity and yet you are only a boy. They came…” Again his voice trailed off. “I’m sorry but I was gravely mistaken as to who you ARE my boy, it appears that there is hope for us after all.”

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean is that you my boy are special, a rare individual indeed. You are a Cerediron, a world builder. You can make words with a pen and a paper. The door is your gateway to those worlds. You are an orphan I take it, you never met your parents, you don’t know what happened to them. Well they were the last of the Cerediron and fled from the darkness. But in you I see something greater than the power they held.”

“Wait you knew my parents, what happened to them, where are they, I’m a Cerediron!” The words came stumbling out of my mouth, but as I was speaking the words the world around me started to spin, and slowly everything faded to black. When everything was gone a voice spoke to my mind.

Sleep, your journey is beginning; you will find your answers. Sleep.

The words hung in my mind, and then ever peacefully I accepted the darkness and slept.

New Year, New Me, Craziness!!!

The title of this post sounds like it should have been posted last month, but you know better late then never. Currently life has been absolutely crazy, I've pulled 17-20 hour days at least once a week or so to finish projects. Started working weekends at camp again. I've started an internship at camp, working with the digital side of things, so mostly web stuff, which is always fun, and lots of things like that. What this all boils down to is: I HAVE NO FREE TIME OR SOCIAL LIFE!!! Oh wait that's really not that new haha.

All in all I couldn't be happier with how some things are going, while at times other things keep popping up and creating some stress and confusion as to where I am at in life, but I am always moving forward trying not to look back.

10 Things I have Learned over the past few weeks:

1. Learning multiple programming languages at the same time is not a great idea.
2. The past is the past and you have to set your gaze on the future and start walking there.
3. There's always a reason for things, small things are connected to bigger things.
4. Taking a first step into something new, seems scary to the mind, but easier in practice when you just go do it.
5. Enjoy every moment that you are given with someone.
6. Realize true friendships are ones that grow and build you up, not ones that try to choke you and hold you back.
7. Moving on is hard, but worth it in the end.
8. Build on relationships you have now; it's like a tree, build up the roots and the rest of the plant will grow and bud into something amazing.
9. You learn by doing.
10. The road may be long and narrow and confusing, but along the way adventures will find you, friends will aid you, and battles will be fought, won, and lost but the memories and experiences make you strong and form you into the person that God created you to be.

Well this is pretty much all I have for now, well that I can write about right now anyways ;) but I hope to e able to update this blog more often and get into the habit of writing more. Until next time, find your adventure and live it!!!

Adventure Will Always Find You

So today I just had an amazing experience. I worked at the Leadership Center with a mens retreat group, and had a total blast. They had an amazing attitude and created a very wonderful working environment. But this wasn't what made it so much fun, when it came time to debrief the activities with them, I barely had to say a single thing. They went super deep into why we do the things that we do, how we can also apply that to life in a christian sense. One of the major things brought up in the morning was patience. How we had to learn to be patient in this life, that when we try to rush through things in a hurry we make mistakes, we stumble, we fall. But when we turn things over to God and wait on him, things work out in a way that we couldn't even imagine.

Just after this, we did a few activities; a group climbing wall and one called stump garden. I had the honor of climbing with one of the last groups due to them needing one more person. Through some struggle and assistance, I made it to within about five feet from the top of the wall, far higher than I have ever made it on any of our other climbing elements. And for the first time, I had no fear. No fear of falling, no fear of being pretty high up, no fear of failure. THIS was just an amazing thing, for years I have always been crazy scared of heights and this time I faced it and succeeded in something that just boggles my mind when I think about it. After thinking about it later on when I had some free time driving home, the entire time my rope was tight. The second I made it a little higher it was tight. If I fell a little to try and switch feet it was tight. When I was trying to come down, it was tight. And in relection I thought about how this is so true with God. He holds us tightly when we are out of our comfort zones, he protects us, and gives us strength when we need it most. We might not always feel that security right away, but its there. I know for the first half of the climb I never noticed how tight the rope was and how secure it was. It was only when I neared the top that I started to pay attention to it, and realized how in control everything was.

But this was not the end of the day. We ended our session with what we call the man hike trail. It's a pretty basic trail at camp that winds around the Ghost Creek Valley snaking its way down to the river. Once there, you hike along right next to the river for a little ways through mud, over streams that you have to jump across, past burrs and thorns, through tall grass, under fallen trees, until you reach the hill. The main hill, the great hill, the mountain. At the top of this steep hill that has ropes hanging between trees to help those who dare challenge it get up it, lies the mountaintop and the satisfaction of accomplishing a great feat. For this part of the journey that I've only been able to make two other times, I decided I would do something different for myself. This time I would challenge myself to make it up this great mountain, without using the ropes that makes this challenge much easier. And as I scurried, crawled, slipped, dug in, pulled on roots, jumped on trees, and clawing the ground. I made it to the top. This was the great satisfaction that I needed, I accomplished something Great! But what brought this all back to home for me was, in the group of men, we had a slightly older man joining us on the journey. And as he struggled his way up the hill, everyone was helping him cheering him on, and giving him what they could. A few times we became worried that he wasn't going to make it, that his health was becoming an issue, but all of these worries melted away as he got to the top and everyone cheered. In reflection on this afternoon, how true is this climb for us in life. We struggle, we dig in, dig deep, to try and reach the place that God wants us to be at. Even if we are weak, or strong, or big, or small, or young, or old, we can still make it. We just have to give it all to God, and he will give us the strength to make it just one more step, one more toil, one more mile, one more struggle, until we reach the top and are greeted by his Presence.

Today just was an amazing day so long, so fruitful, so draining, and so struggling, but ALL worth it. Again just to bring things into prespective, this was the verse of the day on my phone:

"But don't forget to help others and to share your possessions with them. This too is like offering a sacrifice that pleases God." Hebrews 13:16 (CEV)

Remember: Live the Adventure...Everyday.


One of my new favorite spots at camp:

The Book. The Door.

This is a continuation of the story, the next chapter if you will. It begins before the bell ringing.

The book. The door.

Then as if I were being pulled inward it was as if the door was opening and I was drawn into it.

Blackness. Silence. Falling. Why always falling? As soon as I realize I’m back in the dreamworld that has plagued me every night for the past 9 years, everything changes. The voice echoes throughout the dark depths of the place, at first I couldn’t understand the words, but I remember from my dreams that it was always something like sleep, remember, dream. But this time things changed. The words were different, and as if on cue music echoed throughout the great void and the words flowed from around me engulfing me in every stanza until I could barely keep myself from shaking.

Enter Through the Door

To find your truth

To be rather than appear

Find your heart and remember

Darkness before the Light

Over and over again the voice sings these words to me, and as they do a light appears. The first light I have ever seen in my dreams. It’s far off, but as soon as I see it I begin to move towards it, and then with ever increasing speed until it feels like I’m in the jeep going 120mph I smash into the light. With the final words echo.

Remember.

RRRRIIIINNNGGGG.

I almost jump out of my seat. I’m back. I’ve never had that happen before, it never happens anywhere except when I sleep at night, never during the day. And that song, what were the words, why can’t I remember.

“Alright class see you tomorrow, and remember quiz on Thursday.”

Brushing this all off as if I must have dozed off or maybe going crazy I begin to pack my things and prepare to leave.

“Desmond, can I speak with you for a second.”

Crap. Mr. Grayson must have seen me sleeping.

 “Sure, what’s the problem?” I replied sarcastically. Bad choice.

“Look, I understand you don’t enjoy my class, I know it isn’t art, or video games, or television, But it is important.”

“I know sir but I just have a hard time believing that I’m going to be counting valence electrons, when I’m working on my next painting.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.” He replied, as his demeanor changed. “I knew your parents well, we were friends a long time ago. I know things about your life that you couldn’t possibly even remember.”

“Don’t, you’ve treated me like crap for the past two years, I’ve failed your biology class, and you’ve sent me to the principles office more times than I can count. Don’t try to pretend you know my parents and suck up.”

“But that’s the thing, I did know your parents, and I’m not sucking up. They gave me something that until today I didn’t think you would ever be deserving of, but now things have changed.”

“Wait what?”

“The book. I saw you open it at the beginning of class. I saw your eyes. I can’t tell you everything, but I can give you something.” As he said this he opened the bottom door of his desk. After fumbling around for a minute or two he finally found what he was searching for. A box.

“Your parents gave this to me a long time ago, before you were even born I believe. I’ve never opened it and I don’t dare to. They told me that one day a book would find its way into my presence. The reader of said book would be the one to change the world.” Saying this he handed me the box. “You, are that change Desmond. Why you I don’t know, but there is a very special destiny for you.”

As I examined the box closer, I began to notice that on the outside what I originally thought was the grain of the wood, were actually small engravings creating spirals. And then I saw it. The spiral of three.

“Desmond, one last thing. I got a letter a few years back. It was from your parents. How I don’t know but it was dated the day before they, died. It only had one phrase on it.”

“And what was that?”

“Enter the door. Enter the door Desmond. You are the change, why, how, I don’t know. But I see it in you already.”

“This is too much. I’m no superhero, I can’t change the world, I’m only 17. I can barely change the laundry.”

I started fumbling with the box, but as soon as I began to open it. Mr. Grayson quickly put his hand on top of mine shutting it.

“This isn’t the time or place to do that. Wait until the right time. Now I think you need to go, my students are waiting in the hall. I also think you have a class to get too.”

“Ok Mr. Grayson. And thanks.”

Leaving his room I didn’t realize a few things. One is that Mr. Grayson was more than a teacher. The second was that I would never make it to my next class.

As soon as I rounded the corner in the hall way, there it was. The door. Majestic it stood alone in the hallway. My jaw almost fell off of my face. I walked all the way around it and yet it just stood in the middle of the hallway without support from behind or on the sides. The frame looked even more majestic than it did in the book and the strange spiral looked as if it was spinning on the door itself. As if it wasn’t just a door, but rather something alive. Very much alive. I pulled out the book, It was amazingly accurate how much the drawing looked just like the door. That’s when I saw the words. They appeared on the top of the page, above the door.

“Those weren’t there before.”

They must have appeared there when I was in the dream. I just didn’t notice them when I rushed to pack up my things.

Enter Through the Door

To find the truth of the maze

To be rather than appear is the way to life

Find your heart and remember yourself

Darkness breaks before the Light

It was different. But as I re-read it again the words seem to jump off the page and before I knew it my hand was turning the door knob. With a deep breath I pushed it open. And so my Journey began, not with a bang, but a whisper.

Untitled

This is a rough draft of the first part of a story I'm writing. There are parts that need to be edited and revised but It's start to shape up into something. :) enjoy :)

Falling. Falling in this great void, this great blackness. How did it all come to this? I was able to come so far and yet I still failed. This place is the price of failure.

I guess it all started sometime ago. Was it really just only a year, or has it only been a few days? Time seems to have no place on the journey I underwent. I endured all of the travels, found all of the clues, let my heart loose, and yet here I am alone, with the only one that I have ever truly loved gone. 

“Sleep my Child. Remember.”

That voice, that familiar voice. Where is it coming from? I feel weak.

And as the final thought ran through his head Desmond fell asleep with the words, “Dream my darling,” floating eerily through the air.

And then I woke up. These dreams keep happening to me and I can’t figure out what it is about them that scares me. The strangely familiar voice, or the void. But either way I knew that today was Monday and that meant one thing. School.

“Desmond, you best be getting your butt ready for school before I have to grab the bucket,” Kami yelled up at me.

“I’m already up, you don’t need to resort to THAT.”

And for once I was truly awake, you see ever since the accident I’ve been living with my Aunt Kami. Well when I was younger, I made the mistake of sleeping in. The punishment? Getting a bucket of ice cold water thrown on you to wake you up. Needless to say this has only happened a handful of times over the years, and honestly I’d rather not have that experience again today.

I quickly got ready and headed downstairs to grab some quick breakfast and within only a few minutes I was out the door, racing to the end of the drive to wait for my ride.

“Now you be a good boy!”

“I will Kami, don’t you worry about that.”

Honk. Honk. HOOOONK.

“Dagnabbit I’m late again.” I muttered.

“Come on Dessyboy we gotta get goin,” yelled Dex the only guy in town who when I first moved here, 

treated me like I was normal. Something hard when both your parents die, and you are only 8. But since my first day at school we became instant friends and ever since then we act like brothers to each other.

“I’m sorry man, had a rough night.” Sliding into the beat up jeep.

“It’s alright, too much Dew? Hehe, Now I gotta speed all of the way, lets just hope that Conrad isn’t finished with his daily dozen yet.”

Conrad was what you would call the town cop. Granted he could arrest anybody and do other police duties, but everybody knew that he really didn’t do much of anything unless there was a true emergency, which hasn’t happened in our small town of Jasper Indiana in a good long while.

With this we both laughed as the jeep hiccupped its way down the road speeding towards school. Granted living in the country pretty much meant that this trip would only take five minutes, we had ten. Really not too much to worry about.

And so it began the day that would change the rest of my life. Started out like anything normal, but that was about to change.

Walking down the halls of Jasper High was much different when life throws you a curveball. Because of being raised by my Aunt and not having my parents, I’d been prone to trouble and almost got expelled a few times. This of course didn’t last long when I played the dead parents card, everybody just then feels bad for you. Fortunately for me though, I found something I was good at, Drawing. Anywhere else this would probably label me as a weirdo or a crazy. But around here there isn’t much artwork, so when I discovered I had an ability, let’s just say I put it to good use. I painted murals around the school, drew landscapes that hung in the halls, painted the school theater sets, most of which I designed. All in all, I was an art kid, but people saw something beautiful in the work that I did, and because of this I was able to quickly turn my bad boy rep around and become a normal kid with just about everyone.

“Hey Desmond, you going to the party on Friday at Ashley’s?”

“Yeah man, there’s supposed to be like 50 people there!”

Turning, I was surrouned by the Holmes twins, Eric and Bryant. Most people refer to them as Thing 1 and Thing 2, mainly because they both dress similar, have the same personalities, and occasionally switch spots. So nobody really knows which is which, and rumor has it that one time they switched on their girlfriends. Needless to say they are both single now, and know not to do THAT again.

“I’m not sure, I have to make sure I don’t work then.”

“Well, take it off, skip work, do whatever you can to be there, it’s supposed to be the party of the Century!”

“Well at least since the last one.” Retorted Eric. At least I think it was Eric. Seriously, I’ve known these guys since forever and yet can’t tell them apart.

RRRRIIIIINNNNGGG.

“Well, I have to book it, Chemistry. See you guys at lunch.” Rushing down the hall and couldn’t help but over here them muttering if they wanted to switch again. Those guys I’ll never understand.

Walking in to class, Mr. Grayson gave me the eye of, You should have been here by now, and with that I avoided eye contact and made it back to the back desk of the room.

“Well Class, as you all know we have a quiz on Thursday on the elements. Now you all HAVE been memorizing the list of elements I gave you right? You will need to know names, abbreviations, and how many electrons each molecule has.” With that he turned his back and began to lecture about the elements, chemical compounds and all of that jazz. I meanwhile started doodling in my notebook.

Opening my backpack I looked to see if I brought my notes about the quiz, might as well study for it since I really don’t pay attention in class anyways. That’s when I noticed it. In my backpack was a leather bound book.

“what the…”I muttered a little too loudly.

“Desmond, would you like to teach the class about chemical bonds, or would you rather me to. Because we all know how much you actually studied last night.” It was true I didn’t really try in Mr. Grayson’s class. At least I tried enough to have at least a C.

“No sir. Sorry sir.” I replied rather quickly, I knew better than to show any disrespect, Mr. Grayson was one of the only teacher’s here at school who didn’t like me, and for that I had a very short chain and with the slightest tug, I would find myself in the office.

“Alright class, moving on Valence electrons….”

This book. How did it get in my bag? It had a leather strap around the cover and from what I could tell it looked pretty old. Undoing the knot I opened the book. Flipping through the pages, they were blank. Except for one, it was the very first page of the book. Drawn in amazing detail was a great door. It had carvings all around the frame, and strange shapes and words surrounding it. But on the door was the strangest thing. It had symbol, three shapes that came to a point and made a sort of spiral. I recognized that symbol, but from where? Taking another look through the book, I could find nothing more than this one image, a door.

 

RRRRIIIINNNGGGG.

“Alright class see you tomorrow, and remember quiz on Thursday.”

Grabbing all of my things, including the book, I put everything in my backpack and head into the hallway.

Enter Through the Door

To find your truth

To be rather than appear

Find your heart and remember

Darkness before the Light