Prologue

"There's too many of them! We won't be able to keep them out much longer!"

"No! That's not an option! We have to save Bermesiah!"

Around them the fires of war consumed the land. The Infected were giving it everything they had to bring down the Wall of Bermesiah and take over. The knights looked at each other, all 17, sweaty and bloody. They were all teenagers yet when it came to protecting the continents there was no one better. Now was one of the few times they felt like children.

"We have to evacuate everyone."

"I believe Knight Master had already begun that long ago. She's sending everyone off on ships to Alcubra."

"Alcubra? The last safe continent…"
Suddenly there was a loud wisping sound.

"What's that?!"
"A CANNON! TAKE COVER!"
The knights leaped as the cannonball smashed right into the wall beside them. It was no ordinary cannonball. From the way it looked they could easily tell dark magic was present all around it.

"We have to go!"

As the knights ran down the stairs of the wall, more cannons were fired. The Infected seemed to have very complex war machines.

"Let's get to the docks!"

Reaching the bottom the knights looks up at the wall. It was at its weakest now, with one third blown off the top and a huge gaping hole in the middle.

"They'll be coming through soon! Hurry!"

Sprinting through the docks the knights took in the scenery. Everything was burning. The houses, the trees. There was no one to be seen. They must have all made it to the docks by now.

Running as they were the knights couldn't help but feel responsible for the loss of Bermesiah. So many people had called it home and now it had just slipped between their fingers.

Upon reaching the docks the knights witnessed Knight Master ushering the last group if civilians onto a ship, but she didn't get on herself.

"Knight Master?"

"Oh good, you are safe."

"Aren't we going with them?"

"No, we are staying here."

"What? But Knight Master, we can't take any more of this. At least, not today."

She looked at the sweat matted children covered with blood and dirt. They had fought well today. Every one of them, better than any other, yet it still had not been enough. "We shall not leave Bermesiah until it is cleansed. Come, we will seek safe haven at our stronghold."

"The knights were bewildered. They were staying. They still had a chance to save Bermesiah and avenge the civilians.

"Knight Master."

"Yes?"

"We can't keep going, not like this! We need help."

"You'll get your help, don't worry." Knight Master didn't know from where, though. She didn't want to worry the children. They didn't need any ordinary help, she knew. They needed help from someone who could lead them, help them fight as one. But where was she going to find someone like that?

Chapter One: Pointing Trees

It was one of those days where you felt like doing absolutely nothing because of the horrible weather outside. Sonia had been stuck in her house for the past 6 hours surrounded by her family who in her defense weren't very fun people. She was used to being outside, playing alone or with others, doing whatever she could. It sounds silly for someone her age but she never really grew up to be a normal teenager.

Now, sitting all alone in her bedroom, Sonia decided she had had enough. No rain was going to stop her from going out. She ran to her closet and grabbed her yellow raincoat and rubber boots. She swung it over her shoulder as she exited her room and skipped down the stairs. "Mom, I'm going to a friend's house, we need to finish a project ok?"

Sonia mother had been in the kitchen preparing the night's dinner which seemed to look like rice, chicken, and boiled vegetables. She turned around holding a knife and carrot in her hand. "So suddenly? And that too when it's raining outside?"

"Mom, please, I really need to finish this project," Sonia pleaded.

"Fine, whatever. But be back before it gets dark out," her mother warned her.

Sonia nodded. "Mhmm, thanks, don't worry." And with that Sonia grabbed an umbrella and jumped out the door.

It wasn't so bad outside. There was a bit of wind but it was warm. The rain wasn't falling to hard either. It felt like it might stop soon. Sonia could hear the pitter patter of the raindrops has they hit the umbrella. No one else was out, but she didn't care. All she wanted was some fresh air.

After about three blocks the rain had become a light drizzle. There was even a bit of sun peeking out from behind a cloud. Sonia closed her umbrella so she could see the sky better. Just as she had thought! There was a rainbow!

Smiling, Sonia decided to follow it. Something she'd always wanted to do. The rainbow went south. There were no cars driving on the road and no other people, which made Sonia feel completely isolated. As if she was the only person on Earth. It was a good feeling, but odd at the same time. Sonia realized she had slowed down her pace, so she hurried on. There were still no people and now that she listened closer she realized she couldn't hear any birds chirping either. There were always birds.

Sonia looked up at the trees: where the birds usually were. There was something wrong about them. It looked as if they were pointing at something, but what was so wrong about that? Trees had branches. They always looked like they were pointing, but the longer she starred the more she began to realize what was so wrong. The tips of the trees were pointing west! And there was no wind to make them do that.

Sonia shook her head. There had to be a logical explanation. There always was. Why dwell on it? Besides, she was following a rainbow! She had no time for this!

Looking up at the sky again she saw that the rainbow had faded away. "How long have I been out?" she asked herself.

Sonia looked at the trees again. Still "pointing." Maybe, just maybe, I should…follow, she thought.

And she did. The trees weren't all pointing west. After a while they began to point south, then west again, then south again, then west. They never pointed north or east though.

The sun had finally come out. Looking at the position Sonia argued whether she should turn around and go back home. She had about an hour and a half until the sun set. She debated with herself for about five minutes until she walked into a clearing that she was positive hadn't been there before.

The grass in the clearing was greener than anywhere else and the trees surrounding it taller and healthier. There were even flowers and bushes here and there. In the middle of it all was a pond. Not too big but not too small either. To Sonia, the whole clearing looked out of place.

She walked towards the pond. The water was crystal clear. She could see her reflection. It was like looking in a mirror except, her reflection was altered in some way. At first she couldn't tell how, but then she saw that the clothing on her refection was different than the clothing she had on at that moment.

Sonia leaned in closer to get a better look. As she did, she began to feel lightheaded. She backed up, but the feeling just got worse. She looked into the pond again. Her reflection was gone. The dizziness in her head worsened even further. She began to fall forward, towards the pond, and the last thing she remembered before she passed out was that she didn't know how to swim.