D – Darkness

D – Darkness

This continues the story Back to Selat. You may want to read that first if you haven’t already. 

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It was easy to find my way back to Selat, for I had used the portal numerous times while trying to help all the captured and freed characters remember their stories. I landed in the center of the main street in front of a storefront. I noticed that there was no light inside or outside the store. The sky was dark—no sun or moon, no stars, just darkness. 

I used my flashlight to look at the sign over the door that read, “ASK YOUR QUESTIONS HERE. LIMITED SUPPLY” This was where I first met the Caretaker of Selat. It was the right place, but what was going on? 

I entered the store and went to the front counter. I rang the bell on the countertop. Its sound rang pure and echoed through the room. 

A familiar voice called out, “Ask your question.”

I shined my flashlight on my face and asked, “Do you remember me?”

Usually, when one went to the caretaker, they were only allowed to ask three questions and had to pay for the answers. I had to make sure that the caretaker knew who I was since he had waived all limits and costs for me as a reward for all the help I had given saving Selat the last time. If he didn’t remember me, I only had two questions left to find out anything and would have to find a way to pay for the answers. Hopefully, I hadn’t just wasted a question.

After a moment, he responded, “You are the teller of tales, the savior of stories, the loved of Selat. Your visit was not foretold this time; however, your presence is needed. What brought you to our kingdom?”

I explained to the caretaker the events that preceded my arrival: the meeting with the mystic, the cryptic message that help was needed, that I was supposed to seek out the caretaker, and that something had happened to Red Riding Hood. 

The caretaker verified everything that I said. Red Riding Hood was indeed missing. Since then, darkness had covered the kingdom with what was assumed to be an evil spell. 

“Has Necroma returned?” I asked. 

“Not to our knowledge,” the caretaker said, “However, it would appear her dark magic has.”

“What do you expect me to do? Are there any clues?”

“Your task is whatever you feel is right. You might want to discover what happened to Red, why we live in darkness, and restore what was. Without light, all living things eventually die.”

According to the laws of Selat, the caretaker is not allowed to give direct help to anyone. He does have to oversee its inhabitants and ensure that the life of story continues, so he couldn’t summon me to be there himself. So even if he knew where Red was or how the darkness came, he could only give me hints, similar to what transpired between the Mystic and me. 

He continued, “There are creatures in Selat that are directly involved in all the events that have transpired. One might want to look into stories containing a missing character or causes of a darkened world. Time is short.”

Before I could respond, the caretaker was gone. I could no longer feel his presence.

Again, I was given truthful information—at least, I assumed it was since I trusted the caretaker—but not enough information to solve what I was called here to do.  At least it was a start.

I decided that the first thing I would do was go to Red’s grandmother’s house. Maybe there was a clue there that would help. 

To be continued in F – Fox