So... Where do I start. Well, my life has turned pretty shit, it hasn't always been like this and I hope it doesn't stay like this. For now, however, I can't see any light at the end of the tunnel.

My name is Alex Regent. Currently I'm 23 years old and about 6'3". I have dirty blonde hair that's in a fade style, so it's a medium length on top and slowly gets to a one as it goes down the sides and back, and light stubble across my face. I'm wearing a plain, light-grey hoodie with black skinny jeans and a pair of white sneakers, though they're more grey from use. I have a younger brother who is 16 at the moment and turns 17 next month. I did have a younger sister, but she died when I was 13 and I don't really like to talk about it. My mom died when I was 6, giving birth to James (my brother), and dad abandoned us when I was 10.

Let's see, so right now I'm running from a group of angry addicts who were being chased by pigs. Huh it's actually quite funny now that I think about it. I've had to make drug deals since I was fifteen so my brother could grow up in a semi-decent environment and not have to deal with the shit I had to.

So the reason I'm running is because I needed to make money. I was behind on my brother's school fees, so I was forced to use the the last of the money I had. Problem was; no money means no drugs, and no drugs means no deal, and no deal means angry boss, and angry boss means... I was in quite the pickle. I had to think and I came up with, probably the most brilliant plan in the history of brilliant plans. Instead of a brick of cocaine, I'd sell a brick of washing powder. I know right, genius.

All I can say is I'm a fucking idiot.

It wasn't too hard to make the powder look like cocaine. Just put it in a wet box, pack it down, let it dry, use a knife to pick out all the blue things, then wrap it in a paper bag. The deal was working. These buyers were already too fixed up to tell the difference, so it was going off without a hitch... However, of course I never get it that easy. I had 20 thousand big ones in my hands when the windows of the abandoned shop, were lit up with red and blue flashing lights. The pigs got out of the mud. They rushed the building and had everyone surrounded.

The buyers and myself where kneeling on the floor, hands behind our heads. We were all going in for time, until one of the cops picked up the brick with a questionable gaze before giving it a smell. My stomach jumped into my mouth when he started laughing his arse off. Everyone was so confused except me, I was really in the shit now. "Ha Ha Ha... Oh boy, this dirt bag's try'na sell washing detergent". Well fuck me, did every shit in the world just hit the fan.

Shit happened and I got the F outta dodge. It was a blur, the group I was selling to got angry and tried to jump me, but the cops stepped in and a massive fight broke out, while everyone was distracted I absolutely legged it.

I hit the first door at the back of the derelict shop and found myself in a storage room. A quick glance around showed another door to my right. I sprinted at the door with the full intent of busting it down. Movies do it, how hard can it be?

WHAM!

"Ah, fuck!"

Turns out, movies can't be trusted. Correcting myself, I flung open the door and sprinted for the nearby woodland. Ducking and dodging any and all brunches, trunks or shrubs I quickly made my way into the depth of the forest. Eventually I would come to the dome, but it was definitely a long run away. Stinging sensations became present as I crashed through a thorn bush. I stopped to quickly brush over the area. Luckily no thorns were stuck in my legs, but the cuts were there and I needed to continue. Yelling and gunshots went off like fireworks behind me. Yeah, no thanks. Not looking back.

When the only things I could hear were my footsteps and wheezing, I ran a bit further then gave myself a break. "Okay... That's it... as soon as... I get back... to James... we're so gone... Gonna go somewhere... Far... From here... A new start... That's what we need". Talking to myself in between gasps of air isn't easy.

I looked to my left and saw trees, I turned to my right and again, only trees. So I shrugged and walked off to my left. It wasn't long before came across something I didn't expect. A carnival, like the ones you see in movies with stripped tents and stuff. Only this one was in the middle of a forest and completely empty. The tents were set out in a sort of squared 'U' shape. Creepy vibes, man.

I stayed in the surrounded bush, watching out for anything suspicious... or haunted. I knew not to go in, I had seen enough movies to know this shit is haunted... whether it actually is... irrelevant.

Man, I hate curiosity. I pushed through the bush and slowly made my way to the carnival of certain doom.

"Ha, go in the carnival he said. It'll be fun he said." I whispered, giving a nervous laugh to myself.

I made my way to the closest tent and peaked around the corner. I wasn't sure if something happening would've been worse than nothing happening. Pushing on, I turned the corner and my way down the line of ominous tents. I found a split in the side and pulled it back to look inside. It was dark... very dark. Something could've been two meters in front of my face and I would've been none the wiser. With that in my head I hastily pulled my head back and walked on. All the tents on this side were the same, until I came across a very small tent. It had a corner tied to the roof to make an entrance. I cautiously took a few steps inside, knowing with this one being different... This is where shit is gonna go down. The small room was dim and empty, aside from a small, round, wooden table in the centre with two cushions that I guessed were alternative chairs.

To the right was another opening. I made the necessary movements around the small table and poked my head through the hole. This tent, much like the others, was ominously dark. A slither of light all the way around the bottom where the tent met the grass, but that could only do so much. An eerie feeling brushed past me as my eyes worked double time to see anything.

Nothing.

With my interest diminishing and with the flight response rising, I pulled my head back and turned to leave. Something stopped me mid step. There was now a crystal ball placed upon the table that ran bare moments ago. ‘Was someone behind me?’ Goosebumps ran down my body. Was *gulp* something behind me? Thoughts are bad. I scanned for anything else that could have changed.

Against all flashing red lights, I knelt down to get a closer look a the ball. It was a glassy sphere that sat atop a small metal frame. It was an incredibly detailed piece of art. Each of the four legs was the tail of a dragon that slithered around to the left, connecting with the next. I was very impressive, with how the detail went right down to the scales. I noticed that the eye of the dragon closest to me was a tiny, deep red gem. The next had a small green gem. I leaned on the table which proved there to be a blue gem furthest from me. Confusion encased me when I looked at the last dragon. There was no gem in the eye and it was covered in scratches, revealing its silver metal under the black paint.

“Aaalex.” A whisper called to me. I jumped with my sight shooting to the ball. A small grey fog was forming in the middle.

The whisper repeated and I felt the urge to reach out and touch the ball. The fog grew as my hand travelled towards it.

“It's quite lovely, isn't it?” An elderly voice pierced my trance. I shot to my feet, almost falling over in the process. An old woman was standing on the other side of the table.

She got down and sat on a cushion then continued to stare at me with her creepy unreadable eyes.

“Would you care for some tea?” She asked, pulling a tea pot and two cups from the floor. Where did they come from... Where did she come from

“Uh, no thanks.” I replied, frozen in place.

“Tell me. What brings you here?” She asked, Her raspy voice scraping at my brain.

“Uh, I'm looking for directions. To get back to Dunshore.” I answered.

She cackled at my words before returning stoic. “Don't fool yourself, boy. Take a seat and I will show you why you are here.”

I hesitantly took a seat and stared at the old woman. Her silver hair was up in a messy bun, her thick brows encroached on her eyes. Her lips were small and held tight together and her nose was nothing but large. The wrinkles that surrounded her face showed she was incredibly old.

“I've waited a long time for you, Alex Regent.” She said, stunning me.

“What?” I said, shakily. "How do you know my name?"

“Hmm?” She hummed questionably.

“You just said it... My name.”

She hummed again from my words. “So I did.” There was a heavy silence.

“What do you believe is your purpose in this life?”

“Look, I just wanna get back to Dunshore. Can you tell me where that is?” I asked, suspicion and a hint of fear dripping from my words.

It took a while for the lady to answer. “I could tell you where you wish to go, but could you just do a lonely old woman one single favour?”

I gave a deep sigh after thinking on it. “Fine. What do you want?”

“Just answer my questions truthfully and let me do a reading on you. Then I will send you to your destination.”

“Alright. Let's do this quickly, I've got places to be.” I ordered, taking a seat on the cushion.

“More than you realise… Now, What do you believe is your purpose in this life?” She asked.

I gave a small thought before coming up with my brother. “Looking after my little brother.”

“And what length would you go, to protect him?”

“Nothing is too far.”

“Would you bow to your enemy for him?” The lady asked. Her questions seemed innocent, but I could tell there was something behind them.

I gave a short pause before answering “I would.” I didn't like this question.

“Would you raise your blade in his name.”

“Of course.”

“Would you lay beneath a stone with your name for him?”

“If you’re asking if I would die for him, yes.”

The lady stayed quiet. Staring at me with her lifeless eyes. It felt like a lifetime, but she eventually placed her hand the crystal ball and held her other out towards me.

“Place your hand in mine and let your mind flow free.” She said.

“What's gonna happen?” I asked, more red warning lights flashed through my head,

“I'm going to use your essence to see what type of person you are, have been and will become.” ‘Sure, don't listen to better judgement. Give your hand to the creepy lady in the creepy carnival.’

I slowly placed my hand in hers. It was cold and bony. Suddenly the fog in the ball twisted and changed. It started swirling around before becoming erratic and violent, throwing pieces of itself against the glass, like it was trying to break out. It then died down and became calm again. It was then that I noticed the old lady’s grip on my hand. She was crushing it like I was shaking hands with Hercules before she let go. I reeled my hand back and inspected it for damage.

She was still staring at me.

“So what? Who was I, am, and will be?” I asked, looking up at her.

“…You have a great power within, boy. The type I have not seen in a many long years. The type that has not existed since before the birth of this age.”

I just sat there and looked at her. I kept looking and she returned it. ‘What? What the fuck?’

“Right. Thanks for the show and the… reading, but I really should be going. Now you said you were going to point out Dunshore.” I said, getting to my feet.

“Indeed... you do need to be on your way... But Dunshore is not where you're going.” She replied darkly.

“What? Fuck this, fuck you. I'll find my own way.” Before I turned away. the mist in the ball went red and I felt pain through my chest. Darkness surrounded my vision as I collapsed to my knees. The ground grew close as the darkness completely overtook my sight.

“You are needed elsewhere.”

Author's Note

There, first chapter of my first story. Any comment is welcomed especially ones that help me out.

Peace.