The Thirteenth Key

Aera stood there staring at the bloody Box in her hands. Tears flowed down her cheeks as they dropped down onto the Box. A long bloody gash ran across her back. Pain screamed in her body, yet she sat still in the dark alley. She had no idea what to do.

"You must find them. T-the twelve of them will protect you. T-they’ll h-help you get the k-key. P-please Aera, be strong. W-We love you."

Those were the last words that Aera’s mother had spoken before the light left her eyes.
Aera hugged the Box close to her, ignoring the pain that struck up her back.

"Mom, dad," she whimpered.

Her parents were brutally murdered right before her eyes. The murderers wore white and blue clothing. It angered her. The white and blue clothing made her feel betrayed by her own country. It was the white and blue clothing that only the Royals wore. Her parents were killed by their own kind.

This Box, why was it so important? She once heard her mom telling her father that the Box obtained a key, but a key to what? Confusion, hate, and longing filled her body; confusion as to why her mother wanted to get a key, hate for the people whom killed her parents, and longing for her parents who were no longer part of this world.

Wind blew through the alley, making Aera shiver. She held the Box closer to her body and let more and more of her tears fall. The wind blew again, but stronger. Aera's hair whipped in multiple places. The wind dissipated, leaving Aera looking like a mess. She leaned her back against the brick wall behind her, only to be reminded that she had an injury on her back by the pain that shot throughout her entire body.

"Argh," she grunted as she shut her eyes closed tight.

For the third time the wind blew again, even stronger than the last gust of wind.

"Go, now."

Goosebumps popped up on Aera's arms and legs. The tiny hairs on the nape of her neck rose. Fear and confusion rushed through her body.

The wind, it seemed like the wind had just whispered those two words to her. It scared her, yet she knew that the voice was not threatening her in any way.

"Go, now," the wind repeated.

Aera forced herself to stand up and nodded.

"You don't have to tell me twice," she said determined.

She was determined to avenge her parent's terrible death. She was determined to do what her mother had asked of her on her death bed. She was going to find those twelve people whether it put her on the verge of death or not.

Aera used the brick wall that she tried to rest her back on, for support as she made her way out of the alley. Her legs shook as she forced one in front of the other. She looked up at the dark sky and saw the bright moon beaming down on her. She looked forward again towards the Dark Forest that led to the outskirts of the city and the untamed lands of the Beyond.

I'll avenge you, mother and father. Just wait.

~~~

Aera looked around at her surroundings, not sure what was West or East anymore. She was trying to go west, towards the shores of the seas that bordered the West side of Korea. Every single tree looked the same. The dark and eerie feeling surrounded her. Cold mist clouded the ground. Howls, bird cries, and crickets were heard throughout the entire forest, The tree's bark was so dark that it was almost a black color, the leaves, however, were. The canopy blocked out parts of the moonlight that seemed to fight its way through the leaves. The moonlight was her only hope of seeing the way out of this creepy place. It wasn't called the Dark Forest for nothing.

The further and further that she walked, the darker it seemed to get. Aera was afraid. She had no clue what was in these woods. A man-eating beast could be watching her thinking of how to kill her for his next meal. The Royals could be watching her every move waiting for the right moment to attack.

Aera held onto the Box tight with her left arm as she used her right arm to wipe off the sweat forming on her forehead.

"Where am I?" she whispered quietly.

Step. Step. Step. She took quiet and careful steps forward.

“Give me,” a creepy voice spoke.

Chills went down Aera’s back.

“Necklace, give me. Give me Box. GIVE ME!”

Suddenly black engulfed the forest. Aera's eyes widened in alert and fear. Her adrenaline was running. Without a second thought Aera sprinted forwards not caring if she was going the wrong way or not. The pendant around her neck, bounced against her stomach. She hid the pendant that was attached to the long necklace under her shirt. The necklace...the pendant...it was another important thing in which her mother gave her.

She ran for hours. Her legs burned and her lungs screamed for air. She pushed through the pain and ignore the screams as she forced herself to run even faster. She had to get out of this forest as soon as possible. Nothing good came out of staying in the Dark Forest too long. Aera's fast and loud footsteps zoomed through the forest. Her eyes sparkled with hope when she saw light coming in her view. Her heart beat raced as she tried running faster. Her clutch on the Box tightened. A smile made its way onto her lips as she inched closer and closer towards the light.

The area where light shined had green grass, a blue and cloudy sky, a rather large water fall, and a pool where the water fell into. Aera felt relief rush through her. She ran and ran.

THUMP.

She tripped on a log and rolled out into the light. She landed on her back. White spots clouded her vision. She had not notice how hurt and exhausted she was until now. She let the pain overtake her as she fell unconscious.

Notes

I will be posting all of my stories up again. Enjoy~
<3 Nubci