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Gates to the Realms: The Traveller
Gates to the Realms: The Traveller
Gates to the Realms: The Traveller
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Gates to the Realms: The Traveller

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Thinking the strange sightings of dark wispy creatures with glowing eyes were only hallucinations brought about from lack of sleep, Lin brushes them off without a second thought. That is until one of them almost smashes her head open with a flower pot. The following night a mysterious blue cloaked man and a Keeper named Izhmayel show up to guide her on a journey through a foreign land that Lin thought was only in her dreams. But when her dreams start to mix with her everyday life Lin begins to question what reality is and what it means to dream...And who is the mysterious blue cloaked man? The Traveller opens up new Gates to the Realms.

LanguageEnglish
PublisherJunko An
Release dateJul 29, 2016
ISBN9781311632999
Gates to the Realms: The Traveller
Author

Junko An

I am an artist who creates stories through my art.

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    Book preview

    Gates to the Realms - Junko An

    The Traveller

    Gates to the Realms Book One

    By Junko An

    Copyright © 2016 by Jenni Cutrer

    All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the copyright holder or publishers.

    The stories, characters, and events mentioned in this book are entirely fictional.

    Smashwords Edition License Notes

    This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

    For the ones that inspire my imagination:

    Michelle Gallogly

    Alicia J Hong

    My dear family

    And the rest of you guys, my fans and readers.

    Chapter 1

    Encounter

    Are you sure you want to do this? The woman could barely make out the man’s face in the dim night light when he asked the question.

    They were both standing on a ledge high above a massive city; its twinkling lights close enough to illuminate the total blackness that came with a moonless night, but not so close as to reveal the conversing figures fully.

    There is a possibility that you won’t recollect anything prior to this. The man paused and pulled out a very delicate and ornately decorated pocket watch. The watch was platinum with blackish red and gold decorations on it.

    The woman squinted to get a better look at the decorations and noticed that it was an hourglass with two pairs of wings just before the man closed it and stuffed it back into his pocket. And in that case you will be of no use and your life will be in danger.

    The woman shifted uncomfortably. Somebody has to do it!

    Yes, but the consequences – Another voice started, but was interrupted.

    Would be far worse if we sit back and do nothing… The woman hesitated somewhat and turned to look at the new speaker. Don’t you think?

    The new speaker gave a little nod then backed away slightly. If you must do this then let’s get it over with before I change my mind.

    The woman nodded then closed her eyes. Hold on a sec… She broke off and took a deep breath. Just promise me something…Promise me that you will–

    Lin blinked then rubbed her eyes and shook her head. She had stayed up late studying and was exhausted. I am so sorry!

    She reached down to help the young lady she had just run into. Are you okay? The woman just sat where she had fallen to the ground in a daze.

    Hey? Lin said and crouched down to the lady’s level. Are you alright? The lady blinked then looked around.

    L-L-L-I-I-I-N-N-N! Lin turned around to see her friend waving her arms and running towards her.

    Hey! Trish, be careful! Lin yelled back when her friend crossed the street without looking to see if it was safe. Lin was standing by the time her friend crossed the road.

    What were you doing? Trish asked when she got to Lin.

    OH! I was– Lin spun around, ready to apologize to the dazed woman again, but she was gone. Where did she go? I hope she’s okay.

    Who? Trish asked, looking around.

    I accidentally knocked someone over. I think I startled her…A lot.

    Trish shrugged. Oh well, let’s go! I don’t want to miss the movie!

    You know they show like ten minutes of previews before a movie, right? Lin asked still looking around for the dazed woman.

    I know, but I like to watch those too, Trish said and grabbed Lin’s arm then tugged her towards the theater.

    ~

    The sound of shattering glass made Lin whip her head up just in time to see two figures jab at each other before disappearing back into a room of broken windows high above her.

    Warm golden sunlight shone through the glass and steel tower that surrounded her and made the broken pieces of glass look like a rain of golden glitter when it fell, in slow motion, all around her.

    Another glass window broke and a wave of water came spilling down the balcony from two stories up.

    Lin glanced around in confusion, the building she was in had a circular shape to it and was made entirely of glass and steel with a single column in the middle that rose up about twenty stories high. Trees and bushes circled the center of the tower in an orderly chaos with smooth white stoned paths weaving in between them. It reminded her of a sort of greenhouse, the type one might see at a botanical garden.

    There was a crash to her right which made the young woman jump and swirl around to see what had made the sound. To her horror, a disfigured and bloody person rose up out of the various broken and burnt things around it.

    ‘How could anyone with injuries like that be walking? Let alone, stand?’ She thought. She knew she shouldn’t simply stand there and stare at him. She knew she should go and try to help the person out, but there was just something wrong about the way he looked.

    The injured man took another staggering step closer. His features twisted into a cruel sharp toothed smile as his hand reached out to her. Found you.

    ~

    Lin jerked awake when a loud boom shook her theater seat and almost knocked her drink out of its holder. Trish turned to her then shook her head and snickered.

    When the movie ended Trish slapped Lin hard on the back. I can’t believe you fell asleep!

    What? I stayed up really late last night!

    Let me guess, you decided to count all the little bumps on your ceiling?

    What? No, why would I do that and where do you get these weird ideas? I was studying.

    Trish shrugged. It’s almost as boring. Do you ever go out and have some fun? And I don’t mean going to a bookstore to read.

    Hey! There’s nothing wrong with that and besides I came to the movies today!

    You slept through half the movie!

    But I came, didn’t I?

    That doesn’t count! So, as for punishment… Trish paused for a second and looked around. We’re going to go clubbing! She put her arm around Lin’s and started pulling her towards the nearest club.

    What!? No! Wait! Lin protested when her friend dragged her down the sidewalk. Despite the cold night, the streets were crowded with people and soon enough Lin’s friend had lost her grip and they became separated. ‘I wonder how long it’ll take for Trish to realize that she lost me,’ Lin thought to herself.

    Lin shivered as a cold chill ran down her spine. She stood in the middle of the sidewalk watching the people trudge past her.

    Suddenly, she stiffened, holding her breath when she locked gazes with a young man. His silvery blue eyes held her hazel ones then were gone in an instant. She lurched forward trying to get a better look at the man just as something came crashing down on the spot she had been standing.

    Startled passer-byers jumped, screamed, or cursed then looked around for the source of the noise. Lin had jumped and whirled around to see a smashed flower pot a few feet away then quickly looked up and almost screamed.

    There on one of the balconies, two stories high, was a shadowy black figure with glowing red eyes, twisted horns, and sharp claws. It had a human-like head, the body of a canine, a spiked lizard-like tail, and weird feathery bat-like wings.

    Lin stood there, frozen with terror, until a hand clasped her on the shoulder and she jumped. She screamed, trying to get away from the grasping hand.

    Hey! Are you alright? Lin? It was her friend Trish.

    It took a few seconds for Lin to calm down a bit and noticed that she was causing a scene. After the flower pot had crashed, there had been a few startled responses but none as freaked out as she was. She glanced back up towards the balcony, but the creature was gone.

    What happened, Lin? Her friend asked, but Lin was barely paying attention.

    Did anyone see that? Lin asked the people around her.

    Yeah, are you okay? That pot almost hit you, a little girl responded, her mother was trying to gently drag her away, but she wouldn’t go.

    No, I mean on the balcony. Did anyone see anything on the balcony? Lin pointed up to where the creature had been.

    There wasn’t anythin’ on it, a nearby man stated.

    NO! There was a cat! This time it was a young teenage boy who answered. It was black…I reckon it knocked the pot over on accident, or something, jumping from one balcony to another.

    Lin, is everything alright? Trish asked as the crowd started to disperse.

    Yeah, um, fine… Lin replied and started walking. Umm…can we call it a night? I’m actually really tired.

    Trish looked at Lin a bit concerned and nodded her head. Call me if you need anything, okay?

    Alright. See ya at school tomorrow.

    Kay, bye, Lin responded before heading towards her home with a growing sense of being watched.

    When Lin got to her little apartment, she double checked to make sure all the windows and doors were locked before finally going to sleep.

    ~

    Lin took a deep breath and choked on the rancid smoke filled air. The smell of rotting flesh and burning plastic hovered in the air and made her gag. Trees, grass, and other vegetation around her burned and black smoke rose to the ceiling of the glass tower, blocking out the sunlight.

    Twisted burnt and bleeding figures surrounded her. Sharp teeth lined the insides of a few of the figures mouths and their big almond shaped eyes glowed red. A few of the figures looked almost human, but most of them seemed like dark twisted versions of goblins and other monstrous creatures she had seen in story book illustrations.

    Some of the figures were still moving, clawing at the ground to move closer to her as they whispered something to her in a strange language. Come, come to us. Come with us. She didn’t know how she understood the meanings of their strange whisperings, but she did.

    Lin backed away and turned around, only to be confronted by more of the foul creatures. The injured man with the cruel sharp-toothed smile reached out and grabbed her arm. A searing hot pain shot through her arm where the man had grabbed her, burning her skin wherever he touched. Found you.

    Lin screamed and tried to yank free of his grasp, but it only tightened; intensifying the pain. The creatures that circled them started chanting in a guttural language that somehow screeched against her ears and tore through her mind.

    Blood started to trickle out from underneath the man’s fingernails and down her arm. A few drops of blood hit the ground and instantly sizzled and burst into flames. The flames raced around the circle of chanters surrounding them, turning the foul creatures to ash on the spot then rushed back towards the two of them.

    There was a whistling sound right as the flames caught hold of the man and then a sickening ‘thunk’. The man holding her staggered back suddenly, losing his hold on her then disappeared in a blaze.

    Everything seemed to slow down for a few moments afterwards. She felt herself fall, but time was moving at such a listless pace it seemed as if she were just hanging in midair.

    Somebody had caught her. Warm strong arms picked her up. She felt as if she were floating. Wind gently rushed through her hair and made her open her eyes. She had closed them just before the injured man vanished in a torrent of fire. She blinked, wondering if she was actually falling. The ground was so far away and she seemed to be rising.

    A sudden rush of weariness overtook her as she looked up into the face of her savior.

    ~

    Lin awoke to the sound of her alarm clock, the dream had already faded by the time she reached her alarm to turn it off. She got ready for school then headed out the door.

    The apartment that she lived in was within walking distance to the University she went to. She took her usual route while re-reading the assigned book for her class. Lin scratched her head when she looked down at the book in her hand then glanced up and abruptly stopped walking, nearly missing a pole that stood in front of her. Her book and papers flew out of her hands. She glanced around to see if anyone had noticed and to her dismay, of course, a handsome young man was staring at her with an amused expression.

    Her mouth slightly gaped open, as she stared at him. There was something strangely familiar about the way his eyes seemed to change from a silvery blue to sky blue every time he shifted his gaze and his hair that fell past his shoulders in light waves of platinum blonde that shone so bright when the sun came out from behind some clouds, it looked as if he was ringed in a halo of light.

    He smiled at her as he got up from the bench he was sitting on and started to walk straight towards her. Lin blushed and gathered her scattered papers to stuff them into her backpack.

    LIN! a familiar voice called out and she peeked up to see one of her friends walking towards her.

    Lin glimpsed back in the direction the young man had been, but he was gone. She looked around somewhat confused, she had only taken her eyes off of him for a few seconds.

    What’re you doin’? Trish asked, also scanning the area.

    Huh…that’s weird, Lin mumbled then looked directly at her friend. Trish, did you see that guy?

    Trish shook her head and glanced around some more.

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