(WORDS: 1064)

Poem written by: unknown.

O N E | THE PLOT

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'I am just another Alice who's trying to find her way out of her head and into a wonderland.'

~Vazaki Nada

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June 15, 1664
Illsta; The kingdom of riches
Earth realm

Searching for the words inside her head

Looking for the monster waiting to be fed

Finding the story that wants to be read

She silence her thoughts by seeking the dead

The night sky was seared red with fire. The peaceful night had turned into a living nightmare. It had begun with the soaring of poisonous arrows impaling anything in their path and then the distant booming of cannons fire, awakening the villages sound sleepers and sending them screaming into the night. Then the real assault had started, as the inferno of orange flame ate wood and bullets whizzed through flesh.

Astoria propelled down the stairs with a cloak draped around her as she heard the inaccessible pistols being discharged, igniting dread into everyone as they ran to and fro as hell broke loose on earth. The castle was in tumult and the royals were mysteriously gone.

She hustled through the main hall rushing towards the hidden passage leading to a secret tunnel. The abandoned tunnel had been a smuggling den and a homeless shelter for decades. The lights flickered, casting an ominous glow throughout the tunnel, causing shivers to ripple across her body. The brick wall was covered in grime and graffiti. All signs of life had vanished. No one in their right mind would go through there without a weapon.

Astoria ran deeper into the tunnel with the only thought of escaping, and just like the tunnel, her soul too abandoned and then all fades to black and she's left in eternal darkness not knowing what's waiting for her on the other side.

Astoria crept along the side of the abandon house adjacent to the tunnel walls without glancing behind her. Her ears twitched and her body stiffens on alert as she strained her eyes in the darkness.

She paused in her escape, inclining her back flat against the wall as she readjusts the dark cloak draped around her to further conceal her in the dark. Harsh voices traveled towards her, which belonged to those of the raid.

"Kill 'em all! Leave na stones unturned" The rough voiced demanded.

Curiosity got the better of her; she peeked around the corner, at least a dozen figures manifested in front of the abandon house.

When her mind has ceased its unproductive buzz, she was able to start thinking of her way out this mess. If she stays, she has well as dead and if she run, there was a possibility the raiders wouldn't catch her.

She think about the long time ago

Where the future was hers to make

And there was no such thing as a mistake

Astoria heaved a sigh of despair as her grip tightens around her mini messenger bag that was slashed over her shoulder, carrying a book.

But not just any book, it was the one her mom always had with her.

The one she was forbidden to read or touch.

Astoria looked up; the full moon shone bright, blessing the children of the earth with her grace and beauty.

Tonight, the dead would be mourned, the right will be wronged and justice will not be served.

Suddenly the group of marauders charged straight at the front entrance, snapping Astoria out of her stupor as Panicked ascend in her, as the painful scream of children tore the air. She scan the woods for the enemy before darting towards the right, deeper into the woods in a heartbeat. It was everybody for themselves.

Alone at the bottom of god knows where

she'll sit and cry with nobody to hear

her pace is marked with her empty sorrow

Sadness she will carry in the depths of her eyes

When she bleeds a little part of her dies.

The smoky fragrance of flames and metallic smell of  blood choked her as she hustled through the woods avoiding corpses and poisonous and thorns slice through flesh drawing blood. Adrenaline coursed through her system as a fight instinct. In this case, is run away with your tail between your legs.

And the movement is lingering as she breathe

she'll talk to herself as she weeps

The secrets of yours she will always keep

As you have forever been sentence to sleep

Soon after the woods was set ablaze, arousing screams of terror as they burn to death.

She's seeking the dead as she laugh

Approaching a new route,

The old one too dark

But she don't notice she's too busy dying

Too tired of trying, to lying

Astoria inclined her back against a tree, slightly giddy from the amount of blood lost as she catches her breath and glance back at the village she once known and loved. She bid her village a farewell before sprinting in the night.

Above her the heavens opens its door

'I'm free'

Finally content with who she's meant to be

So now when she no longer breathe

She's irrevocable at peace with the living dead.

The sea breeze was like a frigid kiss this evening as it swept in over the tall, cold Atlantic waves. The seagulls' chirps were music to his ears as he relaxed against the railing of his ship and gazed out at the beauty of Illsta but it was nothing but fire, dead bodies and blood. The place where he was once grown and adored however it's nothing more than a place that just harbors too many bad memories.

He lifted his hat and ran his hand furiously through his ebony hair as his mind went back to the event of the previous night.

'Another hopeless night and still no sign of her'

He released another sigh, enjoying his remaining solace before he was interrupted.

"Ah! This place brings back memories huh?" The ship's first mate sighed breaking the awkward silence.

The Captain gazed ahead at the outstretched ocean, as he remains silent.

"Ship's pack 'n' loaded captain"

"All hands on deck" he shouted, as he watched all his crew men scrambled to their feet and was standing in a straight line with their hands behind their backs, heads held high.

He took one final gander at Illsta before facing his crew once more "we set sail."

Thanks for reading this book it means a lot. I hope you have it enjoyed. P.S: please comment and vote :p