Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except for those who are of my own creation.



Chapter One: Beware of shortcuts


'Grace? Grace!' I called as I hopped around on one foot trying to pull my sock over my right foot. She appeared at the top of the stairs moments later looking agitated, 'What? Jeez, can't a person get any sleep around here?' I made a face in her direction before successfully dressing my right foot with the idiot sock.

'Have you seen Slinky?' I asked her, tackling the other foot with the remaining sock.

'That stupid rodent? He's probably around in the kitchen somewhere,' she replied then turned to return to her bedroom.

'Grace! Gawddammit! Grace!'

'WHAT?!'

'Make sure to feed him and give him a walk! He needs fresh air. Oh shit… I'm late for class. Remember!'

The "yea-yea" which answered my pleas hardly reassured me of my beloved ferret's position but I was late for class. I grabbed my backpack and slung it over my shoulder, then sneaked a glance at my wrist watch.

'Ah shit… it's already 9:45,' I muttered under my breath as I burst out through the door leading to the garage. After grabbing my bike and a hasty oath to my alarm clock which chose today of all days to run out of batteries, I pedaled out of the garage and headed towards school…which happened to be a twenty minute ride away. Perhaps if I peddled faster…

'Or you could use the shortcut,' the little voice inside my head sang. Shortcut? I frowned. The shortcut would cut down the time by half and I would make it to school with five minutes to spare… but the shortcut consisted of rough undergrowth and terrain suited for a hiker or a skilled mountain biker. I glanced down at my own beaten up bike. I bit my lip... If I get another late, I'll be in deep doo-doo which would do wonders for my record.

The bad kind of wonders. I sighed before I turned towards the opening where the shortcut was.

I discovered the path quite by accident. Walking along the street, I fell and discovered a small entrance through the growth and a weary path which might have been used in the recent past. After walking, I found myself on the school's campus where a thin forest overlooked the football field. I hardly used that path however except when I found the need to be alone and away from Grace's nagging manners… or if one of her boyfriends were to come over.

The path itself was easy terrain for a mountain bike. It was a gentle slope giving in to a gradual incline and another gentle slope. The path was however, strewn with rocks and trees which fell over due to wind or the corrosion of rain. Whenever it came to a too large obstacle, I stopped, got off and wheeled my bike before getting on and starting all over again. Much to my delight, I was making excellent time. I was halfway through the shortcut and it had only been three minutes. I would be there in no time.

It was then that a familiar squeaking drew away my attention from the path.

'Slinky!' I exclaimed in surprise when I saw the furry head poke out of my backpack. My exclamation was welcomed by another squeak then the ferret ducked back in. I turned my head around and saw the fast approaching log. There was no time to scream before the front wheel of my bike made impact and I flew off seat and went sailing through the air. I quickly took off my backpack and hugged it to my chest and curled up into a fetal position, intent on protecting Slinky lest he should come to harm because of my own clumsiness.

My shoulder landed first, then I slid and hit my head.

It was then I lost all conscious thought.

It was then I found darkness invading my mind.

...

The first thing which came to mind was that my head felt like it was on fire, my back ached and there was a pressure on my chest. Slowly, I opened my eyes and struggled to a sitting position. The pressure on my chest had been Slinky, who crawled out of my backpack and settled on top of me. I bid the little ferret hello with a little kiss on the top of his head before I proceeded to inspect myself. As far as I could tell, there were no broken bones or limbs, I was perfectly alright. I felt my head and to my surprise, found blood on my fingers. I winced.

Reaching for my backpack, I pulled out a small first aid kit that I carried everywhere thanks to my scouts training. I opened the small package and pulled out a pocket mirror and examined my reflection.

It was not a wound to be overly concerned about. A rather shallow gash across my forehead. I sighed and proceeded to dress the wounds with some difficulty. After a few minutes of struggling, I managed to clean the wound and wrapped my head with a long piece of bandage. I looked at myself again and laughed. I looked positively ridiculous! In any case, it should heal up in perhaps a few days and I would more than likely have a faint scar now. I hastily packed up and stood up with Slinky resting on the top of my head.

The first thing to do was to find a way out of here. I glanced around my surroundings. Nothing looked familiar. I frowned. Surely, this was the path? My bike was on the ground but the log I hit was no where in sight. I checked my watch then cursed loudly.

The damned thing broke. I scowled at the missing glass and the hands that no longer ran.

I shuddered and drew my beige coat in. It was surprisingly chilly, especially with all these trees blocking the wind. Then, grumbling to myself at how I was being paranoid again, I heaved up my bike, got on, and started to pedal slowly down a rather beaten and overgrown path. Maybe I'll find my way back somehow.

No such luck.

As much as I hated to admit it… I was lost.

Horribly, horribly lost.

It was then I heard the distant sound of drums. I paused and I swore my heart skipped a beat. What the hell was that?

'Maybe they'll help me!' I thought and decided to make my way towards the beating of the drums.

Moments later, I found myself hidden behind bushes as I witnessed a most spectacular occurrence.

Men.

Lots and lots of men.

Not just that but lots and lots of dirty, smelly, ugly looking men. Perhaps they wouldn't be so bad if they knew a little something of hygiene…but regardless, there they were and they were marching towards a small settlement in the background. I bit my lip.

'Are they filming a movie?'

I stayed where I was and continued to observe. If that was so, their director would not appreciate me bursting in onto their set. Since they were rather far away, I presumed myself safe from notice and followed them, wheeling my bike along so as to not be heard. I made sure I hid behind the bushes in case a camera caught me in a shot they did not wish. Still, it was quite incredible. The amount of the details paid to the extras for example… but who could explain the smell?

'What the hell are they doing?'

Finally, I got onto my bike and created some distance between the marching men and I so that a layer of trees and thick bushes shielded them from me… and me from them… and of their stench.

I continued to observe and follow but stopped when I neared the small village that was built in the style of the medieval ages. I had to praise the attention to detail. This was most certainly, a high budget film.

One of the men, whom I assumed played the leader, held out a large battle axe and yelled something incoherent. Then I watched in fascination and horror at the scene which unfolded. The hundreds, no, thousands of men charged forth. The villagers, whom I assumed were peasants swarmed out of the houses, screaming and waving sickles and sticks. The women and children fled from behind but they were nothing compared to the men who were obviously trained.

A cold shiver ran down my back and I found myself asking one question.

Where was the film crew?

Surely…this isn't real?

The terrified screams of the women and crying of the children dropped me into reality. If this was actually happening… I don't want to be around to see what will result… though I could certainly guess. I got onto my bike and cast one last glance in their direction. One of the men had mounted a screaming woman. I looked away hastily.

Don't want to find out at all.

I slipped Slinky into my backpack and began pedaling away from the scene. I was drenched in cold sweat and my stomach was tightening.

I felt sick.

It was then that the same pungent aroma wafted into my nostrils. I winced. One of them must be near. My heart sank.

'Oh gawd…please don't let that be one of them…' I thought to myself as I increased power to the pedal. I was going at a gentle incline and it was gradually becoming steeper. I swore under my breath.

I fancied I heard a twig snap behind me. Letting out a small cry of fear, I pushed harder and my bike went over the slope and I rushed down the opposite slope where a gentle slope and a warm breeze took me away from the gory battlefield. I shuddered as I continued to pedal; I could still see the woman being raped and hear her cries. I could still smell those men. I could still see the final blows that decapitated some poor villager. Yet with all this, I could not help but feel as if I've seen all this before.

I must be going mad.

Regardless of whether I was going insane or not, my path was suddenly stopped by a man who appeared in front of me. I clamped down on the brakes, stopping within two meters of the strange looking man. The smell was there… it was him! I bit my lip in thought, was he following me?

'Who are you?' he asked, no, demanded, pointing his sword in my direction. I didn't reply, merely stared at him dumbly. He stood there, dressed in the same manner as the marching men except he wore more fur, lacked a helmet and grew a beard which he had braided. I reached for the small air taser my mother had bought me when I moved away from home to continue my education. I held it out, ready to fire as I watched him carefully and felt another cold shiver travel down my back.

I…know him from somewhere.

'Come boy, you must be of the village and it is not our style to leave survivors,' he sneered and advanced. Alarmed, I quickly pushed the button and approximately fifty thousand volts of power shot from the little instrument to attack my assailant. He let out a cry of surprise then a cry of pain before he sunk to the ground and curled up into a fetal position. I hastily turned the taser off and stuffed it back into the side pocket of my backpack. As I pedaled past the crumpled form of the man, I felt the need to reply to his threat.

'I'm not a boy.'

With those words, I quickly pedaled off. It was only a matter of time before he regained control of his muscles and no doubt he would come after me unless I was already long gone. As I pedaled, I could hear him let out a cry of rage and hatred and I couldn't help but grin.

Girl with ferret, one. Crazy dirty smelly man with sword, zero.

It was at this moment that Slinky decided to pop his out to survey his surroundings. I bade him welcome and he squeaked in reply before ducking back in the warmth of my backpack. I smiled. It was rather easy going from here on with the exception of a few bumps and ledges here and there. It was easy terrain.

Soon, the drums faded in the distance and my heart rate resumed their normal pace.

'Well Slinky,' I murmured to the mustela, 'looks like we're on our own.' I received a squeak in reply.

'Best put some distance,' I muttered to no one in particular. I shivered. This was real… I shivered again. Surely, it's not possible… but here I am. Back in what I presumed to be the medieval ages but I could be off by a few years. I continued to pedal in no particular direction. I was unfamiliar with anything that I saw and it was starting to worry me. This was certainly not any part of the shortcut. There was never that large of a field nor was there an existence of a village. I shuddered.

The village… I shook my head resolutely. No sense in thinking of that now.

I found my thoughts however, return to the strange man who I had attacked with the air taser. His face still haunted me and I swore I saw him somewhere before this whole thing happened.

Actually, I'm kind of surprised at how calm and reasonable I was being. I groaned.

'I am going mad.'

I started to pace myself. This was starting to get tiring but I did not feel the need to stop, lest the crazed band of men decided to come after me. So I continued. Besides, I needed to find some sort of civilization and beg them to take me in under their wings. No way in hell I'm sleeping under the stars when there's a bunch of crazed mad men running around.

Moments later, perhaps even hours later since I lacked a watch to tell the time, I found myself to be entirely exhausted. The gentle sloping of the terrain grew rocky and was starting to rise at an incline. It was really getting too much to handle but I praised myself in having placed a good distance between the strange army and familiar face. After a few minutes of searching, I found the ideal spot to take a brief rest. It was on a slightly raised ledge that looked over the gentle slopes littered the trees on both sides. Should anybody approach me, I would be able to spot them. The tree I chose to rest against was conveniently shielded by bushes so that if I were to crouch down, nobody would be able to spot me. Of course, getting the bike up there was another story.

I hefted the aluminum machinery onto my aching shoulder and started to climb up the slope. After a bit of struggling, I managed to reach the ledge but now, I was completely wasted. I slumped against the tree, panting. As if sensing my fatigue, Slinky climbed out of my backpack and settled once against on my chest. I smiled at the ferret and stroked its brown fur. Resting my head on the cushioned seat of the bike, I stared up at the sky and wondered what was to become of me.

The birds sang in a melodious voice and a breeze played, rustling the leaves of the trees and bushes not to mention the warm weight of Slinky against my chest. I ceased to worry about the future and a deep feeling of content settled upon my frame of mind. I let out a long sigh.

...

And woke up.

Wait…what?

I sat up suddenly and looked around me. Where was I? Trees…bushes… bike… Slinky, who was now awake and agitated crawled back and settled in my lap. What… Then the memory of my current situation came back.

Oh.

I glanced up at the already darkening sky then let out a growl of frustration. It was nearing evening. I sat there and decided to go over my options. I could keep going…or I could stay here in this natural shelter. I didn't feel obliged to move. Besides, this spot was perfect.

As if on cue, lightning flashed and thunder sounded and the heavens opened.

It began to fucking rain.

I groaned and quickly dragged my backpack so that the large tree shielded it from the rainwater. The air taser wouldn't work if it got fried by water. Slinky was now back into my backpack, shielding himself from the rain. I drew my coat closer to myself and thanked my mom for buying me a waterproof coat. As the skies darkened however, I grew more and more alert. The images of the massacred village were still fresh in my mind and I was suddenly thankful for the rain. At least it would hide whatever tracks I made during my escape, thus, making it harder to find me.

I drew my legs up and rested my chin against my knees. The situation went from bad to miserable. I was however, grateful for the almost full moon that lent its light. Without that, I would be sightless as well. Then… my heart froze.

From the distance, I could hear a faint thump, thump, thump.

I hastily reached for the taser then realized the risk in pulling it out in this weather. 'Damnation…where's Lady Luck when you need her?' Hastily, I looked through the bushes, trying to find the source of the noise.

'I don't like this,' came a voice through the pounding rain.

'I agree… you saw those tracks Tristan found!' another urged. Another voice answered them, 'Whatever made those tracks is not our main concern. We need to find shelter from this rain and to rest the horses.' Reluctantly, the voices murmured in agreement.

'What of those trees? They would provide suitable shelter,' someone suggested. I felt myself grow cold. The scene of the village played over and over again in my mind. I curled up into a fetal position and remained still. As if sensing my dread, Slinky crawled out of his hiding place and came to curl up against me. I stroked his fur tenderly, careful to not make a sound. The thumping grew closer and I heard a horse snort.

'Well there are plenty of trees to provide shelter,' one of them muttered.

'What of that one? I believe it would be large enough to perhaps create a fire?'

'Perhaps.'

'No... no no no. Go away. Use one of the other trees!' I thought desperately as fear gripped my heart. The thumping grew closer…then stopped in front of me. I opened my eyes to view hooves. I heard Slinky hiss menacingly.

'Why hello. What do we have here?' came a voice from above. I looked up fearfully then stared in confusion.

'…Mr. Gruffudd?'

The Welsh actor laughed, 'I beg your pardon?'


End: Chapter One
...

A/N: Hmm… well there it is. It was bound to be done and at least I could boast of being the first. Bring on the author massacre!