Author Name: Wasio Ali Khan Abbasi (Gilbert Rockhoward)

Summary: The spirit has escaped that can turn the tide of the war. It's now up to Michael to save the boy (Kevin) with The White Magician (Shawn) at his side.

Author Note: This is the story that came in my mind when I was quite young, around 11 (I'll be 18 this October). As English is my THIRD language, I just couldn't put it in words, until I began to read Harry Potter last year. It helped my Literature capabilities a lot and I am proud of how I have transferred my thoughts to page (although my English isn't good enough, I still have dialogue problems). I would love reviews, as they would help me. Please don't forget to Review (if you have time that is).

The Escape

The sky looked beautiful indeed. It was sunset and the clouds seemed to reflect golden rays from the setting sun. The atmosphere around couldn't be more romantic. The changing colours on the sky, which shifted smoothly from yellow to red and from golden to black, were spellbinding. What anyone would like to do was to drive to the shore and watch the sunset with a heavy breeze caressing the face and hair flying back, or go to a restaurant with friends and have the time of life. Some of the bright stars had started to appear on the sky alongside the moon, but there was something strange … something that didn't fit the normality of the environment.

The land couldn't be more different than we find around us. The terrain was uneven which shifted from 15 feet high hills to about 40 feet deep ditches. Wherever you see, only trees come into the sight. Shrubs and bushes were plentiful. The rays of the dying sun caste a ghostly look on the trees that felt like they are cursed. The surrounding would give anyone the feeling of unseen danger that could be lurking behind any bush, tree, upon the hill or spending time in the depths of the trenches. There was shrilling in every tree. Bats were wakening as the sun was preparing to sleep. The forest was occasionally filled with mad howling. Possibly of a dog, maybe a wolf, if not … a werewolf. The forest looked so deadly, it could knock the living daylights out of anyone. But these two men looked unimpressed with it. They were walking down the path that was in the middle of this thick forest. There was occasional shivering in the shrubs, but they took no notice. They walked for how long, even they didn't know. They both wore long black cloaks and were hooded. Their hands couldn't be seen as the openings of both the long sleeves were facing each other and it rather seems like both the hands landed in the sleeve of the opposite.

The forest was totally dark now, as the sun had set. The light from the stars and the moon wasn't enough to lighten the land, as the forest was too thick to allow the light reach the land. When it became impossible to see, they took out their hands from the sleeves and produced a wand from a deep pocket inside their cloaks. They both held it in front of them and muttered something. Instantly the tips of the wands glowed brightly, illuminating the terrain ahead. They still didn't stop but continued to travel without talking.

After sometime, they reached to the centre of the forest. There was a large, circular clearing that was filled by long grass and within the 20 feet from every direction, and no shrub or tree inhabits it. There, right in the middle of the clearing, was a stone. It rose about the waist height and resembled a tombstone. Both the wizards strode down towards it, walking past the long grass that ruffled in the air. The shrilling of bats in the trees increased at every foot the wizards took; but they still didn't cared. They reached the stone and bend down to look at it. There was something scripted upon it, something that we cannot read. It was an ancient language with symbols and strangely crisscrossing lines that made no sense. But these wizards seemed to be aware of it, as they appeared to be carefully reading it. After few moments, on of the hooded wizard looked to the other and nodded. In unison, their wands went out and they were in darkness, seeing the surrounding only due to the light of stars and the moon. One of the wizards put his wand tip on the scripture and started … to write on it, muttering an incantation as he wrote. As his wand tip passed each symbol and line, they started to glitter. When he was done writing, the whole script was shining and sending out golden rays. The wizards moved back and lowered their hoods, revealing their young faces. They were very nice and good-looking and showed signs of intelligence and humour; but at the present moment, they were extremely serious. Their eyes reflected the rays that were blazing out from the stone's script. Suddenly the entire stone began to shine and it shone so brightly, it would not have been amazing if the whole forest were lighten up. The wizards had to put their hands in front of their eyes to block the rays.

Then, without any warning, a sound rose from the rock like a gunshot; the stone was breaking into two equal halves. The pieces moved like a book that is being opened. The light generated from the stone revealed handsome, silver stairs that had emerged in between. It travelled down, into the depths of the land. The wizards began to climb down the steps. With every step, the surrounding began to darken as the light emerging from the stone diffused. After walking down considerable steps, they were again plunged into total darkness. Although they both had their wands in hand, they didn't lighten them again. They just climbed down until they reached the very end of the ladder.

As one of them put his foot on the last stair, the whole area was flooded with light. They were now in a wide tunnel that had torches on the wall. Each and every torch now had fire in it and was enlightening every bit of surrounding. The ground was rough and uneven. It resembled to an underground mine. The tunnel was very wide and seemed to have no end. The wizards gave each other a glance, and then spread their hands like a bird and jumped ahead. Instead of falling head first on the ground, they remained suspended in mid-air and with a whoosh, they began to glide ahead at high speed. The air breezed their faces and the walls blurred passed them, but the tunnel didn't ended. It took them around nearly 15 minutes before they reached to a big room at the very end of the tunnel.

This room seemed to be ancient. There was no furniture but a few tables that had bottles; some were empty and some contained potions of different colour. This room was also bright with the light released from the torches on the walls. There was a small well right in the middle which had water filled to the brim. But the water was not blue or even transparent, but it had the colour of deep, blood red. It was swirling and reflected the moon on the sky, which could be seen through a big hole in the roof. The wizards touched down the land and walked cautiously up to the well. They looked into the water as they reached. The swivelling surface was suddenly disturbed as their faces were reflected in it and small amount of it fell out. The land where the water fell turned jet-black and smoke began to rise. The wizards backed away. They had very worried faces and their heart seemed to be beating very hard against their chests. Then they looked upon the hole in the roof. The full moon outside was as handsome as ever, but it increased the worried look on their faces.

"How much time do we have" asked one of them.

"Not much jack. We have to hurry, it will change any time," replied the other.

Jack the wizard gave a look to the well, and then said, "Ok then. Hand me the blue shimmering potion and prepare the cloaking liquid."

"Right"

"And Archie, please be quick, will you?" asked Jack in a shattered tone.

Archie looked at Jack, bit his lower lip and nodded. Then both of them removed their cloaks and began to work. Jack was a little taller but much healthier than Archie. He had gorilla arms but a very finely maintained body. He had moustache and his hair were brown and silky. He wore navy blue robes, unlike Archie's green. Both of them seemed to be in their early twenties. Archie was short and slim but his young face reflected signs of great energy. He was indeed very active and moved energetically between the tables after handing him the potion, concocting a new one. He had a finely trimmed beard that seemed to be travelling around the edge of his face. He had rough black hair, which were neatly combed.

Jack took the bottle of Blue shimmering potion from Archie and removed its cork. Wafts of blue smoke began to rise from the open mouth. Jack carefully began to ooze the potion into the water and started to recite an incantation. With every drop of potion, the swivelling of the water increased and it seemed to beginning to boil. Archie was rapidly but cautiously making a potion by mixing different liquids in an empty bottle. When Jack finished his incantation and the bottle of the blue shimmering potion was empty, he said,

"How much more Archie? It's nearly time"

"Just one more drop and-" said Archie as he carefully dribbled a drop from a yellow liquid into the potion he was making. With that final drop, the liquid that was violet in colour became a clear potion and as he rotated the bottle, the liquid began to glow and began to send out silver rays. In moments the liquid became as bright as the moon outside and it enlightened the whole chamber.

At that very moment, there was a severe thunder and rumble that shook the whole forest. Jack nearly fell into the well while Archie barely caught the potion before it hit the ground. Both of them looked up at the moon. Dark clouds surrounded the moon, sending thunderbolts in every direction while the moon itself had changed colour. It was tinged in Blue.

Jack looked horrified, Archie became pale and the activity in the well increased as a whirlpool began to appear at the centre.

"Quickly … add the liquid," Jack yelled.

Archie didn't needed telling twice. He immediately ran at break neck speed towards the well. He was nearly there when suddenly; a splash of water came from the whirlpool and aimed right at his face. Archie tried his very best to get out of the way, but the water hit his elbow and he suddenly howled in pain. The robes of his left elbow caught fire along with his shirt and his skin just dissolved away, leaving behind rotting flesh and bare bone. The Cloaking Liquid that he had prepared fell from his hand and was smashed to the ground.

Seeing this, what colour was there at Jack's face, left him. He was utterly perplexed and there was a look of pure terror in his eyes. Highly terrified he looked back at the well. The whirlpool had got bigger and there was another loud thunder. Archie lay on the ground, twitching madly and still screaming in pain. The rough ground had helped him to put out the fire his robes caught, but it can't cure the pain he received.

Then suddenly, a ray of light shot out from the moon and hit exactly at the centre of the well. As it hit the surface, there was a loud bang and sparks began to fly out of it like fireworks. Then the light began to glitter, like someone had attached millions of very tiny stars with the light and then … what happened next even made Archie to forget his unbearable pain.

The water in well became transparent. With the light that brightened up the whole chamber, Jack, with his heart pounding, looked into the well. There, right at its foundation, was some sort of shadow … or was it? What ever it was, it was moving like … like a big fish, similar to a Giant Ray. It was swimming or gliding inside, Jack couldn't tell; but he didn't cared as suddenly that creature looked up. It had a shapeless mouth and two white, gleaming circles for an eye. It didn't have hands but wings similar to a Hawk. It also didn't have two legs but one that resembled to a Dragons tail. That shadow shrieked and released a very unearthly sound that made the hair of both the wizards stand. Jack stumbled back while Archie made Valiant efforts to stand up. Both of them tried to put as much distance as possible between them and Shadow. Both of them were shaking madly and their eyes reflected the ray that bridged the moon with the well.

Suddenly the Shadow rose from the well at high speed like a Jet plane and began to circle around the room. Jack and Archie were both glued to the wall and were looking at it with utmost terror, their eyes upon the creature.

The shadow stopped its deadly dance and remained suspended in the air, facing the wizards. Then it said, in a very cold and chilly voice that made them shiver with fright,

"Puny wizards, you thought you can stop me from becoming a sorcerer, didn't you?"

None of them replied. The shadow abruptly began to laugh. It laughed so loudly that even the tunnel was ringing with it. It made them shiver even more.

"You are so stupid. You think that you can stop Lord Galmont?" roared the Shadow, its voice echoing all around, "15 years I have spend in your worthless prison, you all will pay the price for it with your life. Go and tell your Magician Michael that-," the Shadow said venomly, "-prepare to die, from the hands of Lord Galmont and no one will come this time for his help."

With that, the shadow suddenly disappeared in to the thin air. The sky outside slowly became cleared of any clouds and the moon was in its usual self. The ray of light had disappeared and the water had changed back to its red colour. Every thing was back as it was before, but the wizards were still shaking. Then Jack whimpered,

"Spirit has escaped … we are in big, big trouble"

"Lets tell Michael before its too late," Archie whispered.

Then Jack, his hand trembling, used his wand to summon Archie's wand that had fallen on the ground and with one swish, both of them had disappeared.

The room was beautifully decorated with ancient artefacts and professionally crafted furniture. The pictures on the wall were of beautiful animals and natural scenarios that included Unicorns, Waterfalls, and wild life animals like Lions, Leopards and Cyber Wolfs. There was a highly attracting picture of a Stag that was standing upon a cliff on a mountain, watching the sunset, the red-coloured rays travelling throughout the land and making the Stag look very sober.

The room currently inhabited three people. Two of whom we have met, who are no other than Jack and Archie. Archie's arm was cured as he freely used it. The third person, a tall, dark wizard who was dressed in Violet robes, sitting on an armchair; he was listening intently to what they were telling him. He was in his thirties and some of his hair had started to fall. His name was Michael Hawk. With every word they told him, he turned paler. His hands gripped the chair very tightly and veins in his neck seemed to be at bursting point with fear. When they were through with telling him what had happened, he was quite in the same state as Jack and Archie were during the action pact escape of the spirit. His hands were trembling and veins began to appear on the forearms too.

"How could you let this happen?" Michael said, breathing heavily. "You know what you did. Do you understand the meaning of this?"

Both the wizards looked scared and stared the floor, clearly ashamed,

"It was all our fault sir, we shouldn't have wasted our time in talking." Jack said in a heavy voice.

Michael seemed to be too much uncomfortable. He couldn't think of anything to do at the moment. Then he suddenly stood up, went towards the nearest mirror that was as nearly as six and a half feet high from the floor. He stood in front on it, and then waved his hand in front, muttering something. Suddenly there was disturbance on the flat and shiny surface of the mirror. Then the surface started to spin, like a whirlpool in the centre. Then it stopped to spin and scenery began to appear on the surface.

Jack and Archie were watching all this very curiously. The scenery resembled to a garden; or perhaps a land filled with beautiful tress, plants, shrubs and sweet-smelling flowers. Some people were walking down here and there and children were seen running around, playing with their colleagues. Then there was breeze that can be easily heard, but miraculously Michael's robes began to levitate like he was in the way of the breeze. Then Michael lifted one of his feet and touched it with the surface. Special thing is that, it didn't collided with the mirror but passed right through it and he stepped inside the mirror, in the paradise looking world.

Michael looked around. Every face reflected happiness and humour. What would be their reaction if they found out that Lord Galmont have escaped after 15 years of imprisonment? His heart got heavier with each thought. Then he began to search someone, someone whom he wanted to meet, someone who would help him, someone who must be deeply related, to all this. Then finally, after quarter an hours search, he found him, or perhaps her.

She was sitting on a bench with a very nice looking lady. Children were running around the area, trying to catch each other and occasionally start to run around the bench. She was smiling. Michael just stood there like a statue for a moment, looking at her with dreamy eyes. She was indeed very beautiful. Her golden hairs start to fly with every breeze and whenever she smiled, dimples appeared around her clear cheeks, making her looks even more gorgeous. She was slim and was wearing a very handsome white dress that travelled all the way down to her ankles.

The lady whom she was talking was quite old and some minor scars were visible on her nice looking face that resembled to a claw of a bird. Her hairs were all white and she was wearing green robes that suited her well. Both of them were deeply in conversation and occasionally looked up, smiling gracefully to children around. How much time Michael spent there, even he didn't knew, until a voice behind him brought him back to his senses,

"What are we doing here master?" said the voice, unmistakeably of Jack.

Michael jerked his head, looked at the two wizards who had followed him and stood soundlessly behind him. He looked at them meaningfully, then turned back and walked up to the bench where the ladies were sitting, his hands clenched.

As he approached them, one boy spotted him and shouted, "Hey look, it's Michael the Magician. He's here, he's really here."

There was sudden commotion as the children around came swarming on Michael and surrounded him, all seemed eager to talk and shake hands with him. When uproar slowly died as Michael shook hands with all the children, he again looked towards the bench. Both the ladies were now standing, looking curiously at him. The golden haired girl was watching him with great interest, a cute smile travelling along her lips, her eyes shining at the sight of him and pink patches appearing on her cheeks along with dimples.

"Kids … leave Mr. Michael now, come here," The old lady called sweetly to the group of children, who immediately responded and piled around her instead. Michael took a deep breath, then walked toward approached them.

"How are you Michael? Long time no see," said the old lady, carefully examining him, "Look what have you done to your health by so much work. Take some time out and enjoy the delights of Rapture City, after all it's all because of you that this city has survived and grown in the past 12 years."

"It will be my pleasure and honour Mrs. Bond," said Michael, putting his hand on his chest and slightly bowing his head, "but the time doesn't allow me, especially now."

"Why, you haven't started to over work, or have you?" said the golden haired girl this time. Her voice was as sweet as her looks, clear and spellbinding.

Michael's heart began to pound heavily against his chest. Cold sweat began to appear on his forehead. He felt like his nerves are leaving him. He said to himself,

"Ten years, ten long years I have waited to hear … to hear her voice again. She is again speaking to me, so close, so sweetly, after so long."

Michael tried to calm himself down and tried to be as normal as possible. Even though he still felt like he can stumble anytime now, he kept himself straight and firm like he ever has been.

"No Nichole. It's not what you think," He replied as normally as possible. He also felt like he can lose his voice anytime now. "Damn to me," he said to himself. "Why does my heart go haywire around her? For God sake not in front of Mrs. Bond."

"Then what is it?" Nichole asked, her black eyes staring continuously in his green.

Michael felt he has been paralysed. Her eyes seemed to release some kind magnetism that wasn't allowing him to break the eye contact. They were magically beautiful.

"I … I … I" Michael tried to say, still goggling at her. Mrs. Bond raised her eyebrows and gave curious glances to both of them.

"I what?" asked Mrs. Bond.

Michael jerked back again to his senses. He tried to control his emotions more firmly and said,

"I want to talk to you Nichole … for a moment, alone … that is if you don't mind, Mrs. Bond."

"Oh no, not at all … not at all," She replied, her eyes still cautiously watching both of them. Nichole gave a startle look, but walked quietly with him he as he offered her to. They headed towards the high trees that closed around them.

The trees were very high and beautiful. Some kind of silver light frequently erupted from them and enlightened everything around. The sky was completely covered with clouds that gave this Paradise place a very handsome look. There were many benches around, which were filled by people who happily talked, laughed and played. They saw a pair of young boy and girl in their late teenage running close by, laughing and giggling.

"What is it you want to talk about?" Nichole asked as they reached close to the trees.

Michael was deep in his thoughts. He rolled his eyes in her direction and continued to walk until they reached the trees.

"What?" Nichole asked again.

Michael looked at her beautiful face and sighed deeply. Watching his serious face, Nichole said,

"I haven't seen you in such condition since the Bad Time. Why don't you tell me what's going on?"

"The problem is," Michael began, "that the Bad Time will come back."

His words seemed to have quite an effect on her. Her face reflected signs of confusion and amazement.

"W-what kind of a joke is that Mike?" Nichole said, "What do you mean by 'The Bad Time will come back'?"

"It's not a joke it's reality," Michael said, "It all happened because-"

"What happened?" Nichole cut him of, "What has happened? Who did it?"

Michael looked into her eyes, then helplessly turned his face to point towards the two wizards, Jack and Archie, who were standing some away, close to the mirror portal they came from, still shaking. Nichole's eyes widened at the sight of them.

"Jack Dawson and Archie Davidson." She said in disbelief, "Weren't they on the job of prison guarding this year, what are they doing here in Rapture City?"

She looked back at Michael. His face had no colour, no smile, it rather seemed he had no soul. His face was full of fear, dread, exhaustion and total defeat. Nichole's heart sank.

"They didn't let him to-to-to" she tried to say the final words, but the shock didn't allowed her. Michael understood what she meant and he slowly nodded his head. Nichole's mouth fell open. Her eyes were now full of horror, her body began to shake with fear and she had to grab a low branch of tree to prevent her from falling. Michael grabbed her arm as she staggered. He helped her to sit on the nearest empty bench as her breathings became heavier with time.

Even Nichole seemed to have lost everything. It felt like all the happiness in her life has been sucked out. She said in a weak and stammering voice,

"W-what will ha-happen now, mm-Michael?"

"Don't know. I just don't know." Michael replied, his voice also sounding very weak and weary, "we have lost everything. He will change the tide of the war in an instant, just as he is restored to his body."

"Then you-you can stop him Mike." Nichole said, sounding hopeful, "You can stop him from trying to acquire a body and can defeat him in his spirit form."

"It's not that simple Nichole." Michael replied, staring the ground, "Even without a body, he is stronger, more powerful than me. I just can't fry him with simple magic."

"But you're the youngest Magician in the History of Magic," Nichole whispered, "No one is better than you, and you're our only hope. It was you in the first place who defeated Galmont, captured him in spirit form and imprisoned him."

Hearing that, Michael's eyes began to water and his heart began to beat very fast. As promised, nobody ever knew the truth, how Michael defeated Galmont. He never told anyone, not even Nichole that what exactly happened at the "Mount of Doom". The only people who knew the truth were Michael, Lord Galmont and …

"I think its time." Michael suddenly said, his voice firm.

"Time? Time for what?" Nichole asked, totally confused.

Michael looked at her beautiful face once more and said, "Its time to save the boy and bring him into the Magical Dimension, before the others, or else the consequences will be disastrous."

Nichole looked very worried, "So you mean-you mean you will go into the Mankind Dimension."

"I have to, there is no one else."

"Yes there is." Nichole said decisively, "You are forgetting someone. Someone very close, very helpful, very powerful."

"Who?" Michael asked.

Nichole smiled, and then said, "The White Magician."

"Shawn?" Michael said in disbelief, "Shawn Schwartz. Do you believe he will return to us, after all that we did to him?"

"He will have to" Nichole said. "He has his own score to settle with the Dark Lord. He will return."

Michael stared blankly at her. Then, feeling that it might be hopeful, he nodded. "Ok… I'll send him a word. (Sighed) I just hope you're right."