Castle of Illusions

Castle of Illusions

Castle of Illusions

He took his original route to school, just like every day. Walking down the dirt road, beside the highway in Pine Falls. His head lowered so that he stared at the tips of his boots, watching them carefully as the moved forward and back. Every now and than, he would look up as a Semi Truck would pass by, throwing a gust of wind against his body. His dark, brown hair tossed back against the wind, revealing his chestnut brown eyes. The skin a pale tone, gave away a brief look of a boy who lived a life locked away from the sun. He stood five foot four, at the age of eleven, this was fairly tall. His body was covered by a winter coat, a beige color with the symbol "Columbia" labeled on the right side of the chest. Tightly gripped around the boy's back, was a dark green school bag, which had his name etched in with pen. The name of the boy happend to be Jacob Miller, and under it there were numbers below and words below which read "If found please return to 9 EverCrest." Jacob took his gaze away from the truck that passed him by, and returned it to the ground below him.

Passing the small grocery store, he raises his head, and looks at the water that flowed slowly in the Winters Day. The water however, was calm and at ease, not a layer of ice was formed on its surface. Just inches above the surface, a thin layer of fog was visible. It danced across the glossy, chilled water making it seem as though some act of nature has brought life to the lifeless. Jacob watched this with great awe, not paying attention of what is infront of him. Another semi passed him by, blowing another gust of wind against his body, causing his to sway from side to side.

Regaining his balance, he looked over his shoulder at the dust covered backing of the truck, watching it as it faded away off into the distance. Returning to his walk, Jacob noticed something to his left, something that was new to him, and him only. Shifting his eyes towards what had caught his attention, and froze him in his footsteps; was a narrow path that burrowed it's way deep into the evergreen forest. Some of these trees at the edge of the path, were bare long before the coming of fall, their bark covered with frost and their branches creek with stiffness. The curiosity of where this path went to, overclouded his thoughts, and caused him to pivit on the tip of his foot. A moment he hesitated to go any further, but that hesitation was gone just as fast as it came. Digging his hands under the straps of his back pack, which slid under his armpits; Jacob Miller made his way into the forest, and down the path to wherever it would take him.

Chapter One: The Path of Fog

His boots clicked as they met the ground, dragging the soles across the stoney ground as he walked. Like usual, he kept his eyes on the ground, always observing his feet with interest. The air around him began to chill, his breath became noticeble. Looking up, and gazing over his shoulder; he noticed that he was no longer near the highway, and he had only taken a few steps into the forest. Behind him, the path seemed to lay out for miles, and the trees arched over eachother to imitate a roof. A thin layer of fog crepted above the cobbles, and seemed to be entwining around the trees, making itself more lifelike (Like a snake) Shaking his head, and closing his eyes as though to throw himself awake; Jacob turned his attention away from the fog that seemed to manipulate certain things, things like a "Snake..." He uttered this under his breath trying to forget all about it, and thought it best to continue on down the road.

With the fear and uncertainty that he was alone, Jacob would peer over his shoulder every now and than, only to see that same fog entwining itself around the bark of the evergreens. What ever was happening, he told himself, didn't seem all right. As though he were in a dream (A nightmare) "Yes...A Dream." He couldn't come to the conclusion that he had been awaken by his alarm clock at seven in the morning. That the cold beads of water doused his body, bringing him to a state of awarness that he was awake. No, this was no dream he was having. It was "Real..." This was another whisper that he softly told himself, in his same "It's going to be fine" tone. He once again, set off down that stoney path, trying to ignore what ever was happening to him, but something just didn't want him to do that. Something clinged to his ankle, and began to constrict at the boney skin. A sharp pain surged through his body, causing him to glance down at what ever it was that had a hold of him. The fog was entwining around his boot,
and began to make its way up his thin leg. Jacob tried to scream, but it seemed to be lodged in his throat, like a piece of fruit that got stuck on the way down. He began to kick his leg into the air fiercly, trying to force the fog off, which to himself, seemed quite silly. But something started to happen, something that he did not expect. The fog grew two slits at the end that was farthest up, two slits that imitated eyes of a snake. Than it grew fangs of white, which burrowed into the skin of his leg. There was no pain when they entered him, only a feeling of utter horror. What had entered him was not the sharp, venomous fang of a snake; but what seemed like the fog that had just formed itself into the creature, which Jacob had suspected was following him.

Jacob stumbled to the ground, bumping his head on the path, uttering out a shrilled cry as he cracked his head open on the stoney path. The sound shocked the fog, and it released its grip from Jacob's leg, and hurried off into the darkness from which it came. The presence of blood was well known to him, and he knew it well enough that he sat up, legs crossed, and took his bag off. "Thank god for Med-Class..." This was said when he unzipped the bag, and shoving his hands into the opening. Scrounging around in his bag, his fingers touched the cold steel of a case. Yanking up, he brought out a medical kit, and placed it firmly on the ground. The case was a faded grey, with dings in the side, and scrathes on the surface. In the middle of the case was a red cross with two snakes entwining around the base, to the top. Prying it open, he revealed the assortments that lay inside the kit. There were band-aids, scissors, rolls of what seemed like polyester fiber, and safety pins.

Grabbing a hold of the roll of polyester, the pair of scissors, and a safety pin, he closed the kit and began to wrap the fiber around his head. Cutting the polyester, he pinned the fabric together, and placed everything back into the compartment. Getting up slowly, after zipping his bag up, he continued his way down the path, when a bright light blinded him, and a voice spoke. "Wanderer, you have stumbled upon the hidden realm of Fog and Illusions." The light dimmed, and what he saw next, shocked him that he dropped his bag that he grasped a hold in his right hand, and spoke a loud. "This can't be..."

Chapter Two: The Castle Grounds

Out infront of him lay a field of what seemed to be water. Rubbing his eyes in disbelief, he took another look at what lay out infront of him, and taking a step towards the water, he could see a giant Jelly Fish pass by. He realized that he was ontop of the water, and in shock, he jumped back and bumped into something that responded "What is a boy of your age wandering around my grounds?" Jacob turned around swiftly, and he found himself facing a man. He was five foot nine, hair grey and balding with age. His face was slacked, and his eyes a trancing hazel. The clothing he wore was a smokey grey suit, buttoned up to the neck. "I got lost..." In reply, the man gave him a smile, revealing a row of yellow, crooked teeth. Even though it were ugly, the smile bore some importance in Jacob, which warmed his heart a little as though he could trust this man. "Lost, is that right?" Jacob nodded in acknowledgement. The old man rubbed his chin in thought, keeping his eyes on Jacobs, as though he were looking inside his mind. "Well, my home is just yonder hill." He pointed towards a hump that seemed to never be there when Jacob arrived. A thin layer of fog crepted below it, making an eerie sensation in the atmosphere.

The man lowered his arm, still looking at Jacob, and brought his hand forward "The name is Charles, Charles Keener." Jacob held out his own hand, in a shaky gesture "Jacob, Jacob Miller." Charles grinned as he took a hold of Jacob's hand, and shook it gently "Well, we must be on our way Mr.Miller. We want to make it back before dark." Jacob looked around in wonder, only seeing darkness that surrounded them, besides the water filled grounds, and fog barren waste land. "But, Mr.Keener, it's already Dark..." A smile formed upon Charles face, that oddly disturbed Jacob, causing him to let go of his hand. "Take another look Jacob, and you'd be suprised." Jacob looked up, and in an instant, it was bright as it was before he walked his way into the forest. An expression of shock fell upon his face, and Jacob looked from Mr.Keener to the Hills that lay infront of them. The Fog still lingered though, and the Jelly Fish were more noticeble. But it was bright as a day in the desert.

Charles let out a soft, warm chuckle "I know what you are thinking Jacob. How could at one point, when it was full of darkness, than the next it is as bright as day." Jacob's mouth fell a gap in suprise, suprise that Mr.Keener knew his exact thoughts, as if he opened up his mind (With a key) "Well we are wasting time Mr.Miller, dark approaches." The next thing Jacob knew, the light that blinded him, was turning into a soft glow. Mr.Keener was smiling a crooked smile that disturbed Jacob. His eyes were still on his, looking into his (Soul) mind. "Well Jacob, we must really be off." He held out his hand in a gesture of friendship, and Jacob took it, his hand shaking as his finger tips touched the cold, damp skin of Mr.Keener. Locking his fingers with his, Mr.Keener and Jacob Miller made their way down the Castle Grounds, and towards the hill where the fog settled at the base.

Chapter Three: The Hills of Fog

Jacob looked up at Mr.Keener who seemed to be looking off in the distance, as though he were stuck in a day dream. Blinking with curiosity as to what was so fascinating, Jacob told himself that he was being silly, but another part of him screamed out that what he was so worried about, should be known. This voice made Jacob open his eyes wide, allowing the last stream of sun light to reflect off his pupil, glistening the surface of the eye. The left side of his face was shadowed out, while the right was basked in a warm, orange glow; and as he turned his head towards Mr.Keener, the light shifted across his face with his movement. "Charles, what is this place, and how did you come here?"

Charles looked away from the hills, in which he was so fixed upon, and gave a hearty smile. His eyes flickered in the last of the sunlight, as the ball of fire fell behind the hills, and darkness secluded them. "This is the land of Fog Jacob, and it is a long story of my arrival here. YOu see, this would be better left for another time." His voice was calm and soothing, but at the same time, something ate through Jacob that bothered him.

Looking off into the darkness, which was a shade of dark blue, Jacob heard Mr.Keener utter something, something that made him worry. But he could only pick up few words from what was said, and these words were sketchy "Fog...Sinister...Castle...Mary..." Jacob tried to form a possibilty, but couldn't bring his tongue to it, the words just circled his mind like a whirpool "Fog...Sinister...Castle...Mary..." The thing that rattled his brain the most, was this Mary he spoke of. With the emmense questioning he did with himself, Jacob looked up at Charles with caution, afraid that if he made it clear that he had heard Mr.Keener speaking to himself. Afraid of what he might do, or what he might say.

Mr.Keener glanced at Jacob, who looked away. "I can sense you are troubled Jacob Miller. You are wondering what I have just said under my breath. Am I right Jacob Miller?" Jacob looked into Charles eyes with suprise, and also fear. He nodded slightly, peircing his lips togther, bracing himself for what might happen. "Well, Jacob Miller, if I am correct, and I always am; the words that you must have heard were Fog, sinister, castle, and Mary." Jacob dropped open his mouth in haste, causing him almost to split the bottom lip with his tooth that held it. "How did you know?" Mr.Keener let out a chuckle, and gazed into the distance where the faint sound of a raven could be heard resounding throughout the land. "Well, Jacob Miller, I will tell you all about those four words in time. But I think the one you must really want to know, is who this Mary is. Right?" Again, Jacob nodded his head in suprise, and said nothing, allowing Charles to continue on with what seemed like a trick. "Mary use to be my love. She died a tragic death many years ago. How it happened, that is the part that is clouded from me. As though it was blanketed by the fog that you see infront, and below us."

Jacob looked down at his feet, and found it hard to see because a thick blanket of fog lingering below him. It whisped and entwined around his leg, but it slowly retreated back to the ground. "The Fog has a mind of its own, Jacob Miller. I suspecty you must have figured that out when you made your way through the forest." Jacob looked up at Mr.Keener with admiration, and yet, again, fear. "Yes, the fog acted in a way I have never seen before. It was like it had a mind of its own." Charles smiled, and even though Jacob couldn't see through the darkness, but he could see the crooked smile of Mr.Keener as he looked upon him.

"We are almost there Jacob Miller, look." Through the darkness, Charles outstrecthed his arm, and pointed his index finger as though dotting out a constellation. "You see those threes that arch themselves at the base of the hill?" Jacob looked, using Mr.Keeners index finger as a guide, and spotted out the cluster of trees. "I see them." Mr.Keener shifted his finger to the right, and Jacob's eyes followed like a dog tailing its owner. The finger made a line across the hill, and the fog that settled below belched upwards, and sepearated from the base of the hill, creating a narrow path that seemed to go through the hill.

Jacob was astonished, like a boy who is fascinated by a magicians tricks, and is always wanting to know the secret, but can not. "Through there Jacob Miller, we will find my home." With that, Mr.Keener took the lead, and walked towards the path that only lay a few feet infront, and Jacob tailed behind like a dog following its master. Lost in a world all unkown to it.

Chapter Four: The Castle

As they entered the path that was surrounded by a wall of fog, on both sides; Mr.Keener would talk to himself, uttering those words that made Jacob worry, and wonder. "Fog...Sinister...Castle...Mary..." He tried to ignore it, but it always surfaced inside his mind, like drift wood that has been at the bottom of a lake for too long, and finally gave away.

Mr.Keener paused for a moment, looked back, and than looked infront of him again. He spoke two words that sent chills down Jacob's spine. "The Fog." Yet curious as to why Mr.Keener said those words, Jacob was afraid to ask, knowing that it would only bring trouble. But Mr.Keener, quick to act, spoke to Jacob in a dry tone "I sense you are worried, Jacob Miller. I sense that you fear the Fog that surrounds us. I sense that what I said disturbed you." Yes, he said to himself, yes what you said does disturb me, and yes the Fog is what I fear. But Jacob knew that he would not say these words, but simply reply "How did you know?" Charles smiled, his crooked smile and simply added "I know much of which you don't, Jacob Miller."

Looking down at the ground, than quickly looking back up, he added "There, off in the distance, my home." He was pointing at the narrow exit of the path, where the walls of fog ended. Jacob followed the outstretched arm, and his eyes fell upon an enormous castle. The turrets peirced the sky with their pointed tips. The narrow windows gave off an eerie look, as though they watched Jacob carefully. A blanket of fog surrounded the perimeter of the stony castle, climbing the sides of the walls, and entwining around the turrets. A series a lamp posts were lined up, parallel to the path. Each lamp post was covered in a sapphire blue, with its lights dimly turned on to throw a warm glow onto the ground below.

With cautious steps in the presence of the fog, Jacob took the time to admire the structure that lay before him. He read about castles like these in his books, in which he read often. Castles that you might find in the Medieval Era. He was astounded by the mere sight of Mr.Keener's home, but he was also intimidated by the sight of it all. He looked at Mr.Keener with great amazement, and wonder as to this place. Charles looked down at Jacob, smiled his usual smile, and looked back at the castle and sighed deeply. "This is my home, Jacob Miller. This castle, Jacob Miller, is the Castle of Fog. That is why the fog is always around us, it is attracted to this very place." Just than Jacob began to feel a presence, one that was all to uneasy. He could here the frightend voices of children and alduts, some screaming in his mind "Get out while you can!" He shook his head, trying to drown out the voices, but seemed inevitable. Than something grabbed a hold of his shoulder, causing him to jump in shock and fright. It was Mr.Keener, his boney fingers clutched his shoulder, his eyes looking into his with question. "What is the matter Jacob Miller?" The voices faded away into his mind, leaving him alone at the moment. "Its the voices isn't it?" Jacob was not suprised by how Charles would know what is wrong, or what he was thinking. "Yes, I can hear the many voices of children and adults..." Charles looked towards the castle, and bowed his head, staring at his black leather shoes. "Along time ago, Jacob Miller, this use to be a place of life. Thriving with it, came the dawning of a new town. There were many markets here, and parks that the children and their parents would go to every evening. One day, came the great plague that destroyed the town. It was no ordinary plague, no, it did not only attack the people, but also the buildings. The plague was the fog, Jacob Miller, the fog killed everyone who lived here long ago." He paused for a moment, looking into Jacob's eyes, he said "The Castle you see, Jacob Miller, was built to control the fog. The castle was built as a symbol of power, Jacob Miller, a symbol of hope for the future generation." The voices became stronger inside Jacob's mind, almost screaming at him "GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN!" But Mr.Keener seemed to have a grip on Jacob's will to move, his eyes stared deep into his soul, and he couldn't even move. Charles grinned, a toothy grin, and released Jacob's shoulder. "Lets get inside, Jacob Miller, before it gets chilly." The climate drastically changed from a spring warm, to a winters cold; and as they walked off towards the castle, back at the grounds at the exit of the path, entered two more kids.