Chapter One

The Stranger

"Hello."

I looked up. There stood a boy, about my age, smiling at me.

I took a step back. Usually, when people smiled at me, it was to give me endless lectures on the dangers of leaving my home, compliment me on my beauty, or to scold me for a minor problem. So, I didn't answer, and was about to turn back when he spoke to me again.

"Wait," he seemed to whisper, "Don't go."

Somehow, those words were able to pull me back. It was as if an invisible force was pulling me towards him. Maybe it was because I was intrigued at the prospect of talking to a stranger, or maybe because I wasn't in any hurry to return to my stepsisters. In any case, I relented.

"Yes? What do you want?"

Usually, I was a bit more cordial with strangers, but I was in no mood for manners. The boy laughed, which angered me to the point that I could barely control myself.

"What are you doing alone in the forest?"

It was a simple question. Yet, it was one that I could not answer truthfully. In the Kingdom of Biddle, it was forbidden to visit the forest unless you were a hunter.

"I could ask the same of you." I replied, giving him my most menacing glare. He laughed again.

"I know you're lost. So admit it."

That angered me.

"I am not lost! I just snuck into Biddle forest to practice my archery!"

I realized my error too late. Now, the boy was near tears.

"Who are you anyways?" I inquired.

"Be-n-ja-mi-n-of-Kul-or-nia." He could hardly contain his laughter.

"Well then, Benjamin of Kulornia, what is your purpose in Biddle forest? Assuming that you are a foreigner running from the men of your country."

Benjamin opened his mouth to answer, but at that very moment, the bushes behind us rustled, and you could clearly hear the rough and course voices of the hunters. I ran, so blindly and recklessly that I didn't know which way to go. My only objective was to get away from the hunters. When I finally grew tired and slowed my steps, the hunters were nowhere to be seen, but I was hopelessly lost. Panicked, I searched for signs of a path to the village, but all I found was thorns, trees, and bushes. Thinking that I would never find my way home, I began to weep, but as I remembered my mother's words, I stopped. Mother always said that tears are only wetness and no comfort at all, and she was right.

As I pondered my thoughts, I felt a hand upon my shoulder and turned to see Benjamin, who was smiling down at me. I quickly composed my face and stood to face him assaulting laughter, but when he spoke, his words were comforting.

"Are you lost?"

"Yes," I mumbled.

"Follow me."

I was surprised at his lack of amusement, but I didn't argue. I only followed him through the forest.

After walking nearly two hours, there was a speck of light in the distance. Then, just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, and everything turned black.