Chapter 1

I still remember that day like it was yesterday. Journeying into the unknown and how it all happened, I still don't know. It was at first all like a dream, then it became a nightmare, but it seemed very real and how things went that day was way beyond anyone's imagination. Here's how it went.

In through the portal we went and on landing, I found myself on the ground. I stood up wondering where Dave was.

"I'm right here"

Dave emerged from the tall grasses to my right.

"Oh, Dave," I said giggling while picking some leaves off him.

"What kind of teleporter does that?" Dave asked in mock annoyance. "Where are we anyway?"

We landed on a peninsula. The sight before us was magnificent! Right there was a beautiful waterfall, its water sparkling in the evening light. The grass so green, the flowers so vivid, the trees so high, their leaves so fresh and there we stood on the meadow, Oh! What a heavenly sight! I honestly began to think this was all a dream.

At the corner of my eye, I could see something glowing, then it came to us. A neon light blue glowing butterfly! It flew round us then stopped, seemingly staring at us. I stretched out my right index finger and on it the creature rested.

"Aww, Lily, I think it likes you," Dave said.

"Oh Dave, don't be silly," I said. The butterfly flew over to perch on Dave's shoulder.

"See, it likes you too".

The butterfly had flown some distance back from us, then stopped, seemingly staring at us again.

"I think it's trying to tell us something," Dave said.

"I think, to follow it," I replied.

We followed the butterfly through the forest pathway. Some few minutes later, we reached a foot bridge and over it we went, adoring the beautiful sight of the sparkling water, the waterlilies and the trees. Maybe the plan wasn't a bad idea after all.

It had become night-time, and the moonlight cast a beautiful scene. There was a river, the blue-white moon which cast its rays on the water and there, was the beautiful glowing butterfly perched on a leaf of the water grass. There I was enjoying the cool breeze and the beautiful scenery, my head on Dave's shoulder, sitting comfortably on a log of wood.

It all gave me a drawing idea and I was up to the challenge, so I took out my phone and took some shots. I also took some mental shots, paying attention to every detail and that was when I noticed; the butterfly was fading away! It also seemed to me that there was a shadow moving in the water.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see a shadow in the trees, and I could hear a subdued eerie whistling sound in the breeze which sent chills down my spine; literally. The breeze was beginning to feel awkwardly cold, my heart was racing, weird nauseous feelings in my stomach, I shuddered. This was all creeping me out.

Dave was clearly still charmed by the scenery. Maybe I'm just imagining things, I thought, so I tried to keep calm, but Dave always had a way of knowing when something was wrong with me.

"Lily, is everything alright? I mean you're all pale and your lips...".

He stroked my cheeks with his thumb, staring into my eyes, searching for answers. I stared back into his worried yet calm light brown eyes, trying to force back the hot tears coming to my eyes, but before I could say anything something huge and black had emerged from the river and jumped at us! I screamed.

"Lily! What on earth is the matter?" Dave exclaimed, then found my hand.

"I...the...," I stammered taking in gasps of air. I had never been so scared in my entire life. Where was the tom-boy me?

"It's just an eclipse, I believe. It would soon be over"

"But...,"

"Shhh..."

A few minutes later, the moonlight was shining bright again, and the scenery was back to normal except for the fact that; the butterfly still hadn't re-appeared.

My mind was still not at rest, I couldn't understand why, and Dave was still quite calm.

"Lily, I'm here and I'll always be here for you, okay?"

"Mhmm," I nodded. That was somewhat comforting. I knew I could always feel safe in my best friend's arms and gradually, my confidence started returning but, I think I'd thought too soon.

It all happened so fast. Something neon green slithered past us.

"What was that?" I asked, horrified.

"I...I don't know," Dave replied, astonished himself.

My heart was pounding, and my mind was racing. The breeze was getting awkwardly cold again. What was happening?

Suddenly, a twig snapped. My whole body froze. I knew Dave had squeezed my hand, but I almost couldn't feel it. It was like my whole body had suddenly gone numb.

Then, I saw something dark. I could have sworn, I really did see a shadow in trees and Dave saw it too. Then, we heard a splash from the river.

We turned to see an enormous glowing creature. She was dressed in a light green ruched mermaid tail dress with off-shoulder cape sleeves. Her hair was bundled into a long ponytail which laid on one of her shoulders with a live snake head at the end. And then there were her intimidating green eyes which felt like they were penetrating solidly right into yours, Gosh! Could things have gotten any creepier?

"Hello dears," the creature said, a mysterious tone in her voice.