The first thing Farand felt was coldness. Then he observed how much his body hurt, every muscle, every inch. His throat felt like sand paper, each and every breath was hurting.
Under his fingers he felt sand, it was a struggle to open his eyes as they seemed to be caked in a crusty substance. Then finally he managed to look up and realized he was on a beach.

And that meant… He was alive. For some time Farand laid there on the beach trying to gather strength, finally he managed to push himself back up, but even then he felt dizzy and weak.
Still he was alive, he could still make it back to his dear daughter as he had promised, if only he could find other people. Slowly he walked over the beach and finally saw the first building in his path.

Except the building was worn down, one of the walls were missing and the roof fallen together, it was clearly abandoned. Slowly Farrand moved further in on land and more buildings came into view, but they were all in a similar sorry state. It was nothing but a ghost tone.

"Hallo?" Farand called. "Is anyone here? Please! I need help!"

But no answers came, only the wind that blew through the broken buildings soundings almost like whispers. Then Farand looked up, and above him saw the only building which had not fallen together.
It was a huge castle standing on a cliff top above the city, Farand bit his lip. if there were no one in this ghost town, there being anyone in the castle seemed equally unlikely. However that big building would probably be able to provide him decent shelter until he came up with a plan, perhaps it even had a food storage.

Slowly he made his way up to the grand castle, everything on his path was just as worn down and broken. Above him the sky was dark gray nearly black, blocking out any sun. It was a poor sight to behold.

Finally he made his way to the entrance of the castle and with a big struggle managed to open the door, then he glanced in at the great entrance hall.
It was as dark and dreary as the rest of the place, cobwebs and dust was covering every inch, on the walls there were tapestries but they seemed worn out and infested with mold. "Ha.. Hallo?" Farand asked. "Is there anyone here?" he asked.
It didn't seem like it, so Farand stepped in and closed the door behind him, though as he did a swush sounded from above. Wide-eyed Farand turned around. "Hallo?" he asked, but there was no answer.
Suddenly Farand got the eerie sense that he was being watched, but he didn't know from what. He swallowed as he felt himself shaking. "urhm." he tried as he turned around. "I… I didn't mean to intrude." he said. "My ship sank as it entered the dark void and I was washed up on the shore." he informed. "Is there anyway I could get some food?" he asked. "And, would it be okay if I rest here?" he asked then silenced. "Is there even anyone?" he asked.

Footsteps sounded from above and wide-eyed Farand looked up only for the steps to disappear.
Farand shook all over his body but decided to venture deeper inside the castle, he pushed open the heavy doors only to make dust clouds fly around himself, then suddenly, a certain scent filled his nose.

The scent was of roasted pork, gravy and all kinds of delicious food that made Farands stomach rumble. Slowly he made his way towards the scent and finally opened a door that revealed a gread dining hall.

Farands eyes widened as at the table was all kinds of food, the roasted pork and gravy he had smelled, but also hot potatoes, peas, chicken pie, tarts, fine whine, grapes, cheese and everything the heart could ever desire.
There was only one plate at the table though, along with one glass and one set of golden cutlery. Astounded Farand looked at it, then looked around. "Ha-Hallo?" he asked. "Is anyone there?" he asked then his stomach growled and he tried to make it stop by putting his hands over it.
Eating other peoples food without permission was not good manners!

But there was no one there, and all the food smelled so delicious it was pure torture to just stand there without eating. Then finally Farand gave in and seated himself as he helped himself to the roast, gravy and potatoes. As he began to eat his confidence grew and he even helped himself to some wine, the wine was sweet and delicious, the best wine Farand ever had. He could easily earn a ton of money on wine this good at home!
As he ate and drank his mood gradually rose until he became outright giddy, everything on the table tasted so good and wasting it seemed like such a shame so he helped himself to the tarts and the cheese as well.

Finally Farand felt rather stuffed as he sat back with a red blush over his nose and a drunken smile on his lip. "Ah! Thank you good sir!" he smiled happily.

"You're welcome." Sounded the answer from the blue.

That made Farand jump in shock so the chair fell away under him, he had not been expecting an answer. Wide-eyed he looked around. "Who said that?" he asked. There was silence around him, slowly Farand stood up and wide-eyed looked around. "Erhm…Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you good sir." he said. "I am very thankful for the food indeed."

There was an odd silence around him and warily he looked around. Then the voice sounded again, the voice was deep and made the walls rumble, yet the tone was that of curiosity. "What are you?" it asked.

"Huh?" Farand asked then blinked. "I'm a merchant." he informed. "I sail across the oceans with my boats and buy wares to sell them to a higher price in my own home country."

"Merchant?" The voice asked. "Home country? You hail from another country than this?" it asked.

"Well, yes." Farand replied. "I honestly don't even know where this place is." he admitted.

"Are there other like you at this home country?" The voice asked. "Beings like you who walks and talks?"

Farand blinked. "You mean other humans?" he asked. "Of course there is, plenty of them. You're a human to are you not?"

To that the respond was silent. "I seem to vaguely remember other beings like you, beings that walked and talked to each other. You must tell me more of that which you call your home country." he asked.

"Well sure." Farand replied a bit stunned then he yawned. "Oh you must excuse me, I must be more tired than I thought."

"Then you should rest." The voice said. "Please, take the door to your left. That will lead you to a hallway, go up the stairs and take the third door to the left, there will be a bed in there." he informed.

"Thank you good sir, truly you are very kind." Farand smiled, drowsily he walked the way as instructed and found the bed chamber as promised, it was as astonishing as the dining room, the bed was huge and soft, made from the finest of silk. And with a stomach as full as Farand's, it was only to easy to fall deeply asleep.


The next morning Farand woke to the delicious smell of bacon, egg, coffee and tea. Right next to his bed had been placed a tray with all the breakfast items you could ever ask for and happily Farand tugged in.
There was even laid fresh clothes out for him, and quite good quality clothes as well which he happily put on making a note that he would have to thank his benefactor many times!

How ever, as he walked out of the room, his benefactor was nowhere to be found! Even as he called out and tried to give his many thanks there was no reply, so instead Farand took to explore the castle itself.

It was funny though, aside from the dining hall and the bed chamber every thing else seemed as worn out and dreary as the ghost town. It made it shiver down Farands spine and he even started to question if perhaps his benefactor had been a ghost himself and that is why Farand hadn't seen him!

It took Farand an entire day to explore and yet nothing was to be found, yet again he felt like he was being watched but no one responded to his calls.
Then finally Farand found his way outside and to the garden, that's where he stopped in awe. For there, in the middle of the garden was a big rose bush filled with red roses.

So far it had been the only living thing Farand had seen at the entire place! And the only thing of beauty. The roses made him think of his dear Emily and the promise he had made her.
Truly these roses were beautiful, there was no way Emily wouldn't be pleased by this, and who would ever miss a single red rose when there were this many?

So with a smile on his lip did Farand walk towards the rose bush, he inhaled the sweet scent of the flowers and reached out his hand, plucking off one single rose.

Though the moment he did suddenly it felt like the temperature had fallen by ten degrees, the storm seemed to act up and a big roar sounded making Farands eyes widen.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DOOOONE?!" The voice of his benefactor roared, though now it sounded much more threatening and more like a animals than a humans. "I GAVE YOU FOOD! I GAVE YOU SHELTER AND THIS IS HOW YOU THANK ME?!" he roared. "BY TAKING MY PRECIOUS ROSE!?"

Frightened Farand fell to his knees. "I.. I'm sorry! I didn't realise this meant so much to you!" he exclaimed.

"You will pay for this!" The roar sounded. "You took my rose's life! NOW I SHALL TAKE YOURS!"

"NOOO STOP!" Farand shouted. "I have a daughter! If I die she'll be all alone and have nothing!" he exclaimed "I beg of you! My daughter will be destitute and all alone!" he said.

That surprisingly made the wind calm down and the voice silenced as Farand shivered.

"Very well." The voice then said. "I shall send you home carrying a chest filled with treasures." he said. "You'll give it to your daughter and she will be set for the rest of her life, however, then you must promise to come back and pay for your crime!" he stated.

Farand swallowed as he looked up. "I promise you. I give you my word!" he said. "If my daughter will be okay, then I have no regret dying."

The voice huffed. "You'll have three days, if you're not back by then both of you will be dead. Go to the room where you slept, in there you'll find the treasure chest filled with gold coins and other fineries, at the table a ring. Put the ring on your finger and you'll be transported to the place you wish, then when it's time to come back, put the ring on your finger a second time and you'll be transported back here. Then it'll be time to pay your debt!" he said. "Don't forget to take your rose you so desired."

Farand swallowed as he collected the rose and held it in his hand, and then he ran, leaving the shadow of a massive beast, the only thing visible being two round red eyes that looked like orbs, and the wind carried a voice, a female voice.

"You were much to soft my beast, you should have killed him the moment he stepped inside. I told you, I told you he would destroy you and take the things from you you treasure so. What will stop him from sending other humans now? Humans whom will only wish to hurt and destroy you?"

The beast hissed. "Quiet." he demanded. "You're nothing but a voice in the wind. He will pay for his crime, i'll make sure of it." he stated.