The Spirit Collection

 Prologue

 2934, 09, 11, 02:13

   That pain. It's too strong, I can't see clearly. I feel someone else near me. I think it's a man, he smells like home. Like a plum in honey. A field bathed in sunlight. It's a pretty feeling. But it ends fast.

   I'm sitting on a bench in a park. There're lots of trees around me, but no men. I wiped face and tried to get up. That was bad idea. I knew it when I felt the ground on my cheek. And that smell, again! I didn't know from where, but I know, that's not an illusion. I have to stand up and go home, I thought. I was lying on that sidewalk maybe for two hours, or for two minutes, it's hard to say. Then, "that" happend. I mean the air changed. Whispers...I heard them, but in the middle of night there was no one in the park. Suddenly, someone called me. That was my friend, but I couldn't remind myself who. He had a long coat, shirt, high boots, and jeans. Good - looking human.

    - Amelie, what're ya doing? I was looking for you for 2 hours. Come on, we have to come back home. It is too cold to talk, that's autumn. And that wind...

    - I don't know you. Can you tell me your name?  - I replied. His facial expression...he was disgusted?

     - It's not good time for jokes. Mother is worried, come.

   I didn't move. And now, irritated. He tried to look pleased, but without any effect.

    - I'm your brother, Kyle. You forgot? Something happened?

   I shook my head. I decided to trust him. I'll see what is going to happen.

 ♰ 

A tower higher than sky

2934, 09, 11, 12:43

   White ceiling. In general, ceiling is coloured in white, but that was something else. Like...maybe like a shadow? A dark existence.

   I woke up. Just opened my eyes and watched dust floating in the air. So peaceful. More than last night. What happened? Why was I in this park? Strange. Quite creepy. Perhaps I killed someone? No, that's impossible. I couldn't. I'm only a normal teenager. Not a murderer. Absolutely.

   The room was small, but pretty. Fair curtains, wooden floor, grey walls. Dark furniture. Interior design typical for...a guest room. No decorations. Just a mirror.
   I stood up and looked at it. Large, whole wall. But, including its big size, there was something weird. I noticed a different background. There was me, and a hill. On the top of hill resided a tower. A tower higher than the sky.
   Suddenly, everything disappeared. The mirror again depicted only a room. Now, when I have a moment of calmness, I can look at my own face, I thought. And that wasn't good idea. Rings around one's eyes, chapped lips, paleface...And lots of bruises. What? Have I fought with someone? Am I really...a normal teenager?
   I wore white T-shirt, jeans and a neckerchief, what I found in the wardrobe. Then I opened doors, as quiet as I could, and looked around in corridor. I heard something, like sounds of fight. And shouts. Calmly I left that room with the mirror, wanted to get out, gone to big doors forward me. On tiptoe, to make as little noise as possible. In the middle of the hall, the floor dropped down. Shocked, I waited for the dust to settle, and tried to stand up. But I couldn't. Simply, that was beyond my reach. So I was sitting here and watching the ground.
   After some time, I heard something. Then, the ground by my right side fell and a big mole appeared. I didn't care, so I sat like I sat. Mole, male I think, joined me.
    - What are you doing on my plot? I'm building right now, you know - he said.
   I looked at him. He smiled, and crossed his hands.
    - You know? I think I have to remember what I'm doing here. Not only on your plot. I'm sorry, but I really don't know how to get out of here. If you help me, I promise to stay as far as I could.
   He nod. We've gone to a long corridor. I wanted to ask him, what exactly is that strange place. But he anticipated me.

    - Perhaps you don't know who are you, what you are doing here et cetera, so I'll tell you. You awoke in a room with mirror, yeah? You saw a tower with a top above clouds? So you had to help Mrs. Kalilah with her husband! Ugh, nevermind. You are in House of Clan After - Wind. Limka, that means, Kyle was searching for you for two hours! That's extremely long. Other girls...But, you shouldn't know that.
   - Wait, what? There were other girls? Like me?
   He gave a snort of laughter.

    - Of course there were! You think you are the only one? Unusual, you have a mission? No, no, no, no, you are maybe...seventy? Yes! You feel heavy - hearted? Your life is in tatters? You...
    - No - I  broke in the middle of his sentence - I only want to have a normal life. Like everybody else.
   He fell silent. Then, he said:
    - What do you mean when say "normal life"?
    - Like going to school or work, getting married when meet someone special, buy a house, have a baby, a dog...
   Suddenly we stopped.
    - So stay in underground. You will do every of them here. There are also people, not only moles. Do you want that?
   I shook my head.
    - There's something else. I cannot live with moles as neighbours. I have to live with people, in a town full of humans.
    - So, we're here. There's the exit. I don't know where you'll appear. I hope we'll meet again some day. But now, goodbye.
   I nod and thanked him. When I was walking up on stairs made of soil, I appeared with a think. He didn't tell me what to do next. But I know I'll get along. I always do.

Nightmare Forest
2934, 09, 11, 18:15

   I couldn't tell how long I was walking for. That tunnel was longer than I thought. When I appeared on large field, I was a bit tired. Ugh, maybe more than only a bit.
   That was the biggest area I'd ever seen. Grass reached the horizon on the south, west and east. But not the north. I looked at the big, dark trees and walked to them.
   About three minutes after entering the forest, I heard noises behind me. I stopped and watched the region near me but, of course, I couldn't see anything, except leaves moving because of the wind. I shrugged my shoulders and started walking one more time. And that was one of the biggest mistakes of my life.
   Something hit my head. I felt pain and saw scotomas in front of my eyes. I looked around and I was petrified. A doll floating in the air was watching my every move with contempt in her eyes. She had sunken cheeks, long fair hair and a violet medieval dress. I turned pale and wanted to slowly go back, but she moved her sceptre and I was motionless. She brought closer and observed my face thoroughly.
    - You don't know who you are. You came from After Wind's house? Of course you did. I have to tell you something else, but I don't know what you already know. Tell me what Mole told you.
   Suddenly I could move again. I couldn't look at her, so I watched ants under my sneakers, but doll was still looking at me, making a hole in my head.
    - Nothing special...Just somethin' about an underground world, and that I'm not the first girl, who wants to get out of here, mrs...?
    - I'm the Unbreakable Doll. Im the guardian of the Enchanted Forest. Nightmare Forest. I hope you'll be safe. You have my blessing, so go, and do not be killed!

   She disappeared.     

   Night's going to be cold, I thought. I had only a thin sweater, and the temperature was getting lower and lower every single minute. I walked for a very long time, but scenery didn't change while I was walking here. I wanted to give up, just sit near tree and sleep, when I met elves. I grinned and ran to talk with them.

   Suddenly I realized, that they can be prejudiced against me. I slowly hid behind a tree and waited. When most of soldiers went into the bush, I saw their king following the column. Time stopped and Unbreakable Doll appeared again.

    - Their king, Waelesh, is the most dangerous person in my forest. Be careful, because he exactly knows that you're here. But...oh, I can't tell you everything, that will be boring.

   I waited elves to leave and went forward. Later I met only few animals and mysterious people. I felt cold, and my breath made a little cloud in front of my mouth. Doll still followed me, but she didn't want to talk.

   Finally, I found a cabin. Light's getting out from windows, and meadow around cottage, making me feel warmer. I approached the doors and knocked. I wasn't thinking at the moment, but plump women opened them and smiled. Doll giggled, but didn't say anything.

    - Hi, girl. What do you want? - women asked.

    - I on - nl-l-ly want-t-t-ted t-t-to as-sk-k, h-h-o-w I c-c-can g-g-g-et-t-t o-o... - I replied, and my teeth chatterd with the cold. She noticed that. It was hard not to do.

    - Come, it is warmer here. Maybe I can help you with your mission...

   I shook head and went into room. I sat on a fluffy carpet, and observed women. She wasn't pretty, but not ugly. Just common housekeeper.

    - So - she began the conversation - what are you doing in Enchanted Forest? I don't have many visitors here, and they are especially elves. Wait! Let me guess. You're one of the Dolls?

   Dolls? Like Unbreakable Doll? Women went to small kitchen and made tea. After few minutes she brought me a cup, and I felt warmed up. I could reply.

    - I don't know how I got there. I remember only a park and a man, he's name is Kyle. Mole said his real name is Limka. He told me that he's my brother, but it's hard to believe. Do you know him?

   She laughted and choked.

    - Of course I know him! I can betray a secret...Im one of the first Dolls. I couldn't find my real personality, so I stayed here. I can tell you a story of every Doll, that ever came to our Nightmare...But it'll be boring. Seventy girls? No, it will take too much time. I'll tell you only about three of them. And one, that woke up.

    - At first, you are in the dream. You are sleeping right now. Here comes girls with mental disorders. So yes, you are crazy. Here you can cure. But it's very hard, and you have to clash with your mind, and you can get worse. Only one girl made it. But that later.

    Once upon a time, there was girl, Invire. She was pretty, big blue eyes, fair hair, delicate like a flower. There are three hard situations, then you have to fight with your most important weakness. Her was dolls. Because of her girls who come here are called Dolls. She was the first person, who dreamt that place. She made every blade in here. But she couldn't defeat the Unbreakable Doll. And she turned into her.

   I looked at Unbreakable Doll, but she only smiled. Women continued her tale.

    - Next important Doll was Karvin. She was strong, at first sight flawless. Dark eyes, dark hair, dark clothes. But her shortcoming was overcoming the obstacles. And she had to destroy the tower. She wanted to get on the top, but that was the Tower Higher than a Sky. Elves say that she died there. I don't know.

   Last girl is the only one, who woke up. Hordo, strange name. I've never seen anyone who was so hard to understand. She was travelling the length and breadth of Nightmare Forest. Elven king told me, that she was very interesting person, however I can't confirm that. You can ask him, just tell that Jackel send you. I don't know how she defeated her weakness. I can guarantee that Waelesh knows. Tomorrow you'll visit him.
   Unbreakable Doll told me that he's dangerous, but I have no reason to trust her. That women too.

    - Okay, I think you have to recover. Then, I will give you a weapon and armour. You won't fight with anyone in T - shirt. But now, sleep. Here's a bed. Oh, you can have a shower, if you want. Pyjamas are in the wardrobe.

   She pointed out on a bunk in an angle. I nod and she left home. After shower and I fell asleep. In a dream. Such an inception.


Always happy
2934, 09, 12, 08:00


   In the morning, when I woke up, the woman gave me my new equipment. Jacket, trousers and shoes made of leather were good enough for my work. I received also a sword. The woman have been looking for him for a really long time, rummaging in the wardrobe. While she was giving me that, tears coursed doen her cheeks.