Valor sits by the fire. The flame lights up his face as it flickers. I scan the map. Our next stop is the abandoned city of Raven'sFlight. It once was a thriving community. Little is known about why it was abandoned. I look up from the map. Hazel and Marina are sound asleep.

  "Was I too harsh earlier?" I ask Valor.

  "No, I would have done the same," he replies.

  "He was going to kill me...what else could I do?" I say.

  "You don't have to explain yourself to me. I trust you. If I didn't then I wouldn't be here," he tells me.

  "I better sleep. We have a big day tomorrow," I say before lying down and pulling a blanket over me.

  I stare at the fire before drifting off to sleep. I awake hours later at dawn. The sun is just starting to rise over the mountains.

  Valor is the next to awaken. It's not too long before the whole group is up and ready to take on the day.

  "Where are we headed next?" Marina asks.

  "Raven'sFlight," Valor replies.

  "This might be the most dangerous stop yet," Hazel adds.

  Once we reach the top of the hill I can see the city. The stone buildings are in ruins. A castle at the end of the city is the worst of all. It's just a pile of debris. A thick layer of fog has settled on the ground. Not one soul is seen in the city.

  "Are we ready for this?" Hazel asks.

  "We have to be," I reply before pushing forward.

  An eerie feeling hangs over me as I move through Raven'sFlight. Everyone is on edge. A rustling sound from one of the fallen houses catches my attention. I approach it with my hand on the hilt of my sword. I'm ready to draw it if necessary. In one quick motion, I pull vines out of the way. Something comes at me so fast that I can't tell what it is. I step back and trip over a rock. A flock of ravens flew out at me.

  "Are you okay?" Valor asks me as he extends a hand to help me up. I accept it.

  "Yeah, I'm fine," I reply.

  "Can we move faster? This place is just...weird," Hazel says.

  I agree. All of us pick up the pace. I can't shake this feeling of unease or the feeling that we're being watched...maybe because we are being watched.

  Calm down there, Luna. You're just being paranoid. That's all. One of the stone cottages is well preserved. I put my hand on the door handle.

  "Luna! Don't!" Marina whispers to me.

  "I want to know what happened here. Maybe we can find some clues," I say.

  "Sometimes it's best to leave the past alone," Hazel says.

  "Let me go first," Valor says.

  He opens the door. A skeleton is slumped over the dining table. In his hands is a book. I tread carefully towards him. I slide the leather journal out from underneath the skeleton. I open it's dusty, yellowed pages.

  "What's that?" Valor says as he leans over my shoulder. Hazel and Marina then do the same. I start at the first entry.

  "Day one.

  It's our first day in Raven'sFlight. It's an energetic city with lots of visitors coming and going. I love it here and so do the kids. My wife still hasn't settled in. I'm sure she'll come to love it soon enough. I think I'll take up some work in the local tavern. Plenty of coins to be made there."

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  I flip the page which causes an explosion of dust to fly in our faces.

  "Day two

  I got a job at the tavern yesterday. Late last night I was pouring drinks for the customers and a man came in. He began to rave about people stalking him at night. I didn't listen to a word he said. I just kept pouring drinks.

  Day ten                                              Six people went missing last night. People are theorizing that there is a murderer in the city. I'm starting to think that man at the tavern was telling the truth.

  Day fifty                                              I lost my wife and kids two nights ago. I can't fathom what is happening. Each night another disappears. Something is wrong. I need to leave as fast as possible. I'll have enough coins to get out of this place soon.

  Day fifty-three

  I should have left when I had the chance. I know I should have and I'm really kicking myself for not taking the opportunity. I'm a dead man now. I was exploring the forest surrounding the area when I found it. I don't know what it was, but I know it was purely evil. There are dozens of them.                                               I ran back to the city I warned everyone. Most of them laughed at me. A smart few decided to pack up and leave. The creatures have taken everyone except for me. In fact, I'm scribbling this as they pound on my door.                                     If any traveler is to see this, I have one warning for you...get out while you still can! Don't waste time here. The proof is all around you. Don't laugh, don't scowl, just run. Don't let them take another life."

  I slam the book shut and stuff it in my bag.

  "We need to move!" I say.

  I open the front door. I freeze as I see dozens of hideous creatures standing there. Their skin is pale white, their eyes are a murky dark green. Claws as sharp as knives are growing from the tips of their fingers. Some stand upright while others crouch. Valor wraps his arm around me, drags me inside, and slams the door.

  "What do we do here?" Hazel asks her voice cracking with panic.

  "We're not dying here. We will find a way out," I say.

  The pounding begins on all sides of the house.

  "If those things destroyed a whole city what makes you think we'll make it out alive?" Marina asks.

  "Do you really want the truth? I don't think we'll make it. I'm just hoping. I kept a brave face on so no one would panic," I say. "We have to have faith in each other. Trust is something that has been missing from this group. If we want to make it all the way we have to start trusting each other."

  "Sounds like you have a plan. Mind sharing it with us?" Hazel replies.

  "It isn't the greatest of plans, but it will have to work. I say we open that door and fight our way out of here," I say.

  "Let's do it," Marina says.

  I wrap my left hand around the door knob. My sword is tightly held in my right hand.

  "One...two...three," I say.

  On three I swing the door open and rush out of the place. The creatures have gathered on the roof of the house. They leap off and chase us. More of the damned things climb out of the piles of debris.

  I plunge my sword into the abdomen of the one in front of me. It hisses and screeches as it falls to its demise. One wraps its hands around my throat. As it tightens its grip the creature's claws dig into my skin. The others are too preoccupied to help me. I swing my blade in an upward motion toward the monster's neck. The creature knocks the sword from my hands.

  "Help...me," I say.

  I scratch at the creature's face in a desperate attempt to escape. I can feel my life slowly slipping away. I lift my legs up before pressing them against the monster's chest. It takes all of the strength I have left to kick my feet. The kick knocks the creature back. I escape from its grasp. I crawl backward gasping for air. I touch my neck and feel fresh blood. I'm okay! I survived! The others are running in my direction. Valor pulls me to my feet and practically drags me along.

  "I can walk," I say as I pull my hand away from his.

  "You looked pretty banged up back there," he replies.

  "It takes a lot to kill me," I say.

  A stone bridge is up ahead. Underneath it is a large chasm.

  "Valor, I'm going to need your strength for this," I say to him.

  We run across the bridge. Once we're all safe on the other side I turn to Valor.

  "Knock it down!"

  "On it, Luna," he replies.

  He rips a large branch of a tree. He raises the branch over his head and then slams it down as hard as he can. Cracks in the stone start to form. He takes a deep breath, raises it over his head, and slams it down again. The cracks spread to the other side of the bridge. Three of the creatures step onto it. The bridge crumbles and falls into the chasm.