Unmarked

The forest was dark and quiet, making it hard for Coltstein to navigate through the thick trees. The mist that coated the forest floor made it hard to navigate as well, seeing it didn't feel like normal mist. It was composed of something thick, and each time Coltstein touched the thick content, it made him feel weak and sick. It wasn't easy to avoid, seeing it covered most of the forest floor, so each step Coltstein took made him feel sick and uneasy.

The further he walked, he swore he could hear distant voices of children. The sounds were of screaming, begging, and at some points, sinister laughter. Coltstein remembered that the pony he had spoke with had said that Annie used past victims as a shield. More than likely, he was hearing the sounds of Annie's victims, causing him to quiver and sweat. He wiped his sweat away, walking deeper into the desolate forest, hoping to come upon something soon.

The atmosphere of the forest grew heavier, as he reached an opening. It was a small pond of what looked like water, and as much as he wanted to take a drink, he knew that the water was only a manipulation. There was no sign of life near the pond, but as he walked closer he could see something under the water. He drew closer, until he was at the edge of the pond, only to see a young pony within the water. She seemed as if she were sleeping peacefully, until her eyes suddenly burst open, revealing blank eyes.

She levitated from beneath the water, until she was floating just above the pond, staring at Coltstein. The pony remained still for a minute, until she suddenly opened her mouth, revealing sharp jagged teeth, and released a roar that caused Coltstein to panic. The pony lunged forward, colliding with Coltstein and knocking him back into a tree. Coltstein attempted to stand back up, noticing the pony lunging toward him once more.

"Think Coltstein!"

He regained his balance quickly, searching for any sort of defence against the charging pony. Coltstein couldn't spot a single thing, and immediately just moved out of the pony's line of fire, and ran around the area. The pony collided into a tree, hitting hard and knocking down the tree, which turned into dust. The pony grew angry, as Coltstein continued to ponder his options while running from the pony. So much was going on at once that he couldn't think straight, and he was running out of breath. He finally came to a stop, noticing the pony charging at him once again.

He quickly dodged the pony, causing the creature to knock over another tree, turning to dust. He couldn't just keep dodging and running. There had to be a way to kill this thing. That's when his mind spiked, looking at the small pond, realizing that was his defence.

"Water. The water works as a killing mechanism!" he said, as he ran into the water, making noises to attract the creature.

The creature caught sight of him, and immediately lunged toward him again. This time Coltstein took a deep breath, and just as the creature was just about to make contact, dove under the water. Coltstein dodged the creature again, and before it could fly out of reach, he grabbed the pony's back hoof. Coltstein quickly dunked the creature under the water, hitting the floor of the shallow water hard. The hit stunned the creature, giving Coltstein just enough time to grab the creature's head and smash it against the side of the pond.

Coltstein didn't hold back, and continued to smash the creature's head against the pond's side, until the creature went limp. The creature dissolved into nothing but a black muck, revealing an envelope. The envelope was clearly important, so Coltstein quickly grabbed the envelope, and rose above the water, taking in deep breaths. He walked onto the side of the pond, examining his newfound clue.

"I wonder what's in it," said Coltstein, using his teeth to rip open the envelope.

The envelope ripped open with ease, revealing two things; a folded up paper, and a key. He figured he should see what the paper was, seeing there was no doors around. He carefully unfolded the paper, revealing a note of some sort.

My name is Sally. I am eight years of age, and was taken from my family. All I saw was a light before I was taken. My vision was only blurred lines, a faint light, and two red eyes, before I fell into eternal darkness. All I heard was a silent scream, before my lungs were engulfed, and my body went limp. It's cold here, but I adapted after two years. I want my mommy and daddy! Somepony please save me! I want to go home!

"Our eyes are blind and manipulative. Look from a different perspective, and you'll find your way. Be warned. If you shall continue, light will be your key."

I can finally move on.

-Sally

The note had Coltstein baffled, as he read over it again, trying to come to an understanding.

"Light will be your key?" he said to himself. "If light is my key, then what does this key mean?"

The key was a gold skeleton key, much like the one he had used to enter the restricted area of the library. However, the restricted area wasn't real, only a manipulation of the mind. Coltstein's ears perked, knowing what the key represented.

"The key I used at the library was able to open a door to a manipulative dimension that didn't exist, and the note stated that our eyes are blind and manipulative. This world I'm in is a manipulation, and this key opens a new door to a new world! However, if light is my key, where can I find light?"

Coltstein thought hard about the question. If the world he was in was a manipulation, then darkness must be light.

"Bingo. Now, the rest of the statement," he said, looking over the note. "Look from a different perspective, and you'll find your way."

Once again, he was confused, scratching his head.

Think hard, Coltstein. Go back to the note.

He looked over the note, reading and examining it carefully.

"Before my lungs were engulfed," he said to himself. "Her cause of death more than likely, was drowning, so maybe if I look from Sally's perspective when she died, I'll be able to see what my eyes are blind to."

Coltstein had no other choice, so he took the key, stuck it in his pocket, and made his way into the water, trying to remember where he saw the filly lying in the water. He stood in the middle of the pond, and slowly dunked himself under the water. Under the water he settled himself into the same position as the filly, then he closed his eyes. Immediately, the sound of screaming erupted beneath the water, as he opened his eyes, only see a faint light and bubbles. Two hooves were holding him beneath the water, and he couldn't breathe. The hooves continued to hold him under the water, until he felt water enter his lungs, and the faint light fell to nothing but darkness.

Coltstein closed his eyes again, wanting this madness to end, as the silent screaming faded. Some sort of invisible force thrusted him above the water, as he opened his eyes, breathing heavy. He was surprised, noticing the dark gloomy forest he had been in before had changed into a regular forest, with a sun shining through the trees.

"What was that?!" he exclaimed, making his way out of the water. "Did I just witness Sally's death?!"

His mind was baffled, as he pulled the key out of his pocket, noticing a gem embedded within the key's grip.

"Light will be your key," he said, as he turned the tip of the key toward the sun, glowing through the gem.

Coltstein watched as the sun's beams illuminated through the gem, creating some sort of guide. The beams pointed in different directions throughout the forest.

"The key is a guide," he assured. "It's my guide to the next clue."

Coltstein noticed a beam from the gemstone directing him to go straight.

"It's not over yet. If anything, it's just begun," he said, following the beam deeper into the forest.