New Years Story -- Revenge of the Unwritten Part One

Kalleb Chyr-Ja bounded though the blustery air toward an open glade. Somewhere behind him, Perpetua was probably yelling at him to slow down, but he didn't care.

He needed this moment alone to run free.

After a minute, he was out of the creaking trees and in the open spot he had hoped to reach. There was a thin layer of ice in some patches in the grass, but after only seeing mud and dead sticks everywhere for sixteen years, he didn't mind the little dusting of frost. Actually, the world had been dead for closer to six hundred years, hadn't it?

Kalleb flopped down on the grass, closed his eyes, and released a loud, contented sigh. It was nice to catch a break from saving the world. Maybe he could catch a nap while waiting for Perpetua to catch up. That sounded nice. She had the food, after all.

Just as he started to drift off, though, a stray thought from an unfamiliar mind scrapped across his conscience. He jerked up, instantly reaching for the knife Perpetua had recently started to insist he wear.

"Calm down, feisty pants, I'm not gonna hurt you." A short girl with long blond hair and a flowing purple dress stepped out from behind a tree. "If I was, I wouldn't have alerted you to my presence."

Kalleb frowned as he tried to place her accent. It wasn't anything he'd ever heard before, but it was familiar in a sense to. "You know about my telepathy?" He was bad at keeping secrets, but she already seemed to know.

"I also know that you can shape-shift but can't right now because of your injured arm, so you rely mostly on turning invisible, but you've never let Pet Ar-Kan know."

Kalleb blinked twice and lowered his hand from his knife. "How do you know so much about me?"

"I was told all that," she responded, still leaning casually against the tree, "by your author."

"My... what?" Kalleb didn't think he'd ever been more confused than he was now. Was Perpetua secretly writing stuff? She wasn't really his... yet.

"Your author." The girl pushed away from her tree and stepped closer to him. "The Castle Lands are in danger, you are needed to help immediately."

Kalleb had never heard the term 'Castle Lands' before, but he somehow understood what he had to do. "How do we get there?" 

There was a strange urging to get to these Castle Lands, as if he always knew what they were and now was dying to get back. 

The girl nodded, as if she understood his thought process. "I'll take you through. To be honest, you've been the fastest to accept so far. The girl tried to shoot me and one of the boys set my hair on fire." She shifted her braid so Kalleb could see the scorched ends. "The third one just didn't believe me."

"I've been told I'm very trusting." Kalleb glanced back over his shoulder. He could see Perpetua in the distance, but something told him this was much more important than a picnic. Then he walked over to the girl. "Alright, let's go."

The girl nodded and thrust her hand into a circular motion, creating a whirlpool of light floating in the air. 

Kalleb felt his mouth drop open. "Well... that's quite the ability."

The girl laughed and pointed him toward the portal. "After you."

He hesitated one second, then stepped into the swirling light and felt himself get swept away from the small glade.

Audra Lodren had seen the portal open in the middle of her room, but she remained where she was in her hammock, pretending to be asleep. It was something she had perfected over the years.

As the girl approached her, Audra kept her breathing even but started channeling magic down into her hands. The girl stood over her, hesitated, then reached out to touch her shoulder.

Now Audra jumped into action, sending out a burst of magic that slammed the girl against the wall and leapt after her. Before she could react, Audra had her by the throat pressed against the throat. 

"What do you want?" she hissed through her teeth, trying to stay quiet so she didn't wake anyone else. The girl let out a choking grunt. Audra relented her hold a little so she could speak. "Stay quiet. What is your business with me? Did Greyfell send you?"

"I have no association with Greyfell," the new girl grunted. "Is this how you always make new friends?"

"I don't do friends." Audra studied the girl, her gaze falling on her eyes. They had little orange flecks in them, symbolizing she was an Atolly. "I know you, don't I?"

"I don't think you know me, specifically. Maybe a different me." The girl breathed a sigh of relief as Audra let go of her throat and gave her some breathing space.

Audra sighed. "Oh, yes. Let me guess, you're Lara Siskly, the first Atolly created in my dimension, but you're actually a different Lara from a different dimension."

The girl --Lara-- blinked twice. "You figured that out faster than I thought."

"I'm an inter dimensional walker. I'm kind of an expert on this kind of thing." Audra sat back on her heels to examine her visitor. "So, what happened that warranted me a visit from a different dimension?"

"Well... it's a long story, and I don't really want to tell you and then repeat it to everyone else, so come with me and I'll explain everything." Lara flicked her wrist, creating another portal. She offered an uncertain grin.

Audra shifted away from her. She tried not to kill people anymore, not after the clone incident, but injuring wasn't off the table. "Where are we going?"

"No where that will kill you." Lara tilted her head. "You heard of the Castle Lands?"

"Who hasn't?" Audra shrugged. "I've heard at least thirty people in the Rift mention it."

"Great, because we're going to its source." Lara rose to her feet and gestured toward the portal again. "After you."

"Um, no thank you." Audra flourished her own hand, tearing open her entry into the Rift. She couldn't make portals, but this was a good way to escape. "See ya." She stepped forward into her world, but just before she entered the Rift, another portal opened under her, making the ground dissolve.

She shot Lara a look and caught the Atolly's smirk. Lara shrugged as Audra spun into the light and followed her. "Sorry."

The only reason Wilson Tomas was here was because he knew there wasn't a good way to evade someone who can conjure portals to anywhere. She had said he could help, but that had to be a mistake.

He just made everything worse. 

His other two companions in this strange, misty new world were busy getting acquainted. Every time he glanced at them, Gemma was showing off some new deadly gadget that was straight out of his favorite Star Wars movies while the nameless red-head attempted to set the mist on fire for no reason.

Wilson sighed. He didn't want to know the fiery boy's name or really anything about him. The late evening sun kept shining through his red hair, reminding him of--

Another portal opened next to him, cutting off his depressed train of thought while ejecting an older teenage boy with messy blond hair and an easy grin. The newbie shook his head to clear it and directed his smirk on Wilson. "Whoo! That was quite the trip. You have any trouble?"

"Um, no, not really." For some reason, this guy instantly made Wilson imagine a male version of Sienna. He glanced back over at the rambunctious two and winced as the boy's red hair flashed again. He quickly turned away and held his hand out to the newcomer. "I'm Wilson."

The blond boy blinked once at his hand before taking it and shaking firmly. "I'm Kalleb. Pardon my hesitation and intrusion, I didn't think you wanted me to kiss it."

"Um, no, I'll pass." Wilson tried to figure out what Kalleb meant by intrusion, but decided to pass it off as this guy's weirdness. He felt out of place with all these fantasy warriors. He was a simple smuggler trying to make his country a better place, and now... he was way out of his league. 

Another portal opened above their heads, spitting a girl toward the ground. She somehow managed to land in a cat-like crouch, glaring at the world in general. "I demand to know where you brought me."

"I told you where." The portal girl appeared and sighed. "I think that's everyone." She surveyed the group. "Shall we make introductions?"

"Not until you explain what's happening." The new girl stalked over to the portal girl, her hands lighting up silver. "I don't care who you are, if you actually are a version of Lara or someone else, explanations start now."

Lara --if that was her name-- held up her hands in a surrendering position. "Look, Audra, there's a lot to explain, and there's someone who'll do it better, so if you can wait one more second-"

"So, basically, you're not needed anymore." Audra lifted a hand and shot a blast of silvery magic at Lara, who opened a portal in front of her that sent it back at Audra, making an infinite circle.

Wilson glanced at Kalleb. "Should we stop them?"

"Probably." Kalleb focused on Audra, his eyes clouding briefly. "I don't know how without getting killed ourselves."

Just then, the red-head boy stepped forward and shot a burst of fire between the two of them. "Seriously, princess, cool your jets. We want to get home at some point, don't we?"

A new voice broke in. "Rian's right. Audra, I don't really want any of y'all killing each other, so if you'll please stop..." A figure emerged through the mist, smiling awkwardly at everyone. 

I knew how goofy I probably looked, beaming at all of my own characters like this, but I couldn't help it. I mean, c'mon. How many authors get to meet their own characters? I felt like Fenoglio from Inkheart when he first learned Dustfinger and his other characters were right in front of him.

I nodded thankfully as Audra and Rian both lowered their hands and stopped the bombardment of poor Lara, who hesitantly also closed her portal. 

I turned to the other three, slightly surprised but also grateful that Gemma didn't join the fight. "I'm Kal Tomson, also known as..." I paused for a second, not for suspense but because I had no idea how they'd react to meeting their creator. "I'm your author."

Kalleb's eyebrows instantly shot upward. "You?" His forehead wrinkled as he surveyed me. "I'm taller than you."

"I'm used to stuff like that," I informed him. I glanced at Wilson, feeling giddy like a kid meeting her middle school crush. "You're probably all wondering why we're here."

"Uh, Miss Silver-Everything just tried to kill our portal girl to figure that out," Gemma pointed out.

For a second I wish I hadn't made her so snarky and headstrong. But of course, that's my favorite kind of person to write. "Well, I'm going to answer now, hopefully without getting killed. Because then no one will get any answers, and you'll still have to sort this mess out. By yourselves." I crossed my arms and glared at each of them, except Wilson of course. He'd be fine.

Kalleb felt around behind him for something to lean on but found nothing, so instead he found a drier spot on the ground and sat on that. "Can I start by asking for a brief introduction to everyone?"

"Alright." I turned and pointed to each in turn. "Gemma. Rian. Audra. Kalleb. Wilson." I smiled at each of them. "Everyone good?"

Gemma raised her hand. "Who's the most dangerous?"

I blinked at her. They were really asking about each other? We didn't really have time for that. "Er, the Enkylopathme," I finally answered, deciding to jump ahead to the reason I had my five favorite characters clustered around me.

"The Enky-whats?" Rian snorted. A small puff of flame burst from his hand and dissipated immediately. 

I sighed. "I'm going to launch into extensive explanation mode, and no interruptions until the end, okay?"

Audra crossed her arms. "I give no promises."

I frowned at her. She was basically Lyra in Jedi form. "Remind me why you're my favorite again?"

"I never asked to be your favorite." She tossed her hair over her shoulder, although she made certain there was one strand draped over her eyes. "I have enough issues already."

Oh yes. That's why. 

I sighed again. "Alright, so as an author, I have loads of stories I'm constantly working on. You three-" I point to Wilson, Kalleb, and Rian- "are from books I have finished. The girls are in books currently in progress in terms of written on paper but are basically done in my head." I tap my temple for emphasis. "I also have loads of other stories that have been started but I quit because they weren't working. The characters in those are now running amok through their world and causing trouble and all that. Most of them are pretty unstable."

Wilson nodded slowly, understanding. "So I'm guessing this Enkylomein is from one of those unfinished stories?"

"Yes. And it's Enkylopathme," I corrected. I still don't know why I came up with such a long difficult name for my villain's gang. It just sounded fun.

"Mmmm... Lo mein," Rian said, his eyes going distant and dreamy as he imagined something far away. I wondered for a moment if he'd gone on a date with Ellysa to an Asian restaurant without telling me.

"We're not talking about lo mein!" Lara said angrily. "The thing is, somehow an Enkylopathme escaped from his story and is headed here to get revenge on Kal for quitting his story."

Kalleb's mouth opened and closed a few times, but all he managed to say was, "Oh, no."

"Why don't we let him?" Audra placed her hands on her hips. "She dragged us all here without a please or thank you, why should we care?"

"Because no one knows what happens to the unwritten characters if the author dies before they get written." I sighed as Audra and Gemma pale. "I love all my characters, and I don't want any of y'all to vanish."

"What about the ones who's stories you had to quit?" Kalleb challenged.

"Most of them are pretty hard to stop," I whispered, my mind jumping back around to Tanny and Krever chilling in their worlds waiting to be written.

Suddenly, Wilson jumped toward me. "If you're the author, does that mean you were the one who technically killed--"

I held up my hand to stop him. "I might be recording this, and I don't want any spoilers to your story, please and thank you."

All of my characters exchanged glances. Finally Gemma muttered, "Are any of us gonna die."

I found myself peeking at Kalleb, hoping he upholds his code to not read minds. "Some of you might."

Audra, of course, had a very different question. "Do I kill Greyfell?"

I stared at her. "Possibly." I shook my head. "This is against the point."

"One last question," Rian broke in. "No one in my group dies, right?"

I found myself staring at him now. I decided not to tell him how many times they'll almost die. "My writing friend Hannah insisted that none of you died, although I did try to convince her otherwise. Especially about you."

Rian grinned. "Awesome."

"About what?" Kalleb sounded very confused.

"That she wanted to kill me! It means I must be important." Rian's grin was proud.

I needed to stop sighing, but maybe it wasn't the best idea to bring all of the chaotic bunch into one mission. "We're getting off point. The thing is, the Enkylopathme is coming here to try and do... something. We don't know." I glanced uncertainly at Lara. She's somehow better at explaining this kind of thing, probably because she's an unfinished character too.

She caught my look and took up the explanation. "If he's still here in the Ruins by midnight, there will be five words to describe it."

I held up my fingers to count them. "Things will be real bad."

"This is the 'Ruins'?" Gemma asked, looking around unimpressed. "From the tiny bit that Lara told me, this is where all of your story worlds converge."

"Yes." I was thankful Lara had explained at least something to one of them. It was getting kind of boring being the only one who knew anything.

Wilson gasped and ran a hand through his hair. "What if that's what the Enky whatever wants? To access all of the other unfinished stories and create an army of unstable, vengeful villains?"

"If he wanted that, he wouldn't have far to look," I told him. "This Enkylopathme isn't the only one. There was an army in their story. But thankfully only one managed to escape."

Kalleb was chewing on his lip thoughtfully. "I'm guessing there're portals here to each story, right? So which one leads to, uh, ya know, his?"

"The story was called Rangers of the West Haven." I felt a pang of sadness. I had been so proud of that story idea. 

"So this was a book of experimenting with mouthful names?" Gemma sighed. "My dear author, less is more, or so I've heard."

"My dear Mando girl, if less was more you wouldn't have half your crew." I raised an eyebrow. "I'm pretty notorious for large amounts of characters and letters in names."

"We need to stop getting sidetracked," Kalleb broke in. "Which portal leads to the Rangers?"

These guys were getting too good at shortening everything. I pointed through the mist toward the shadowiest archway. We all trouped over to it. 

Rian peered inside. "It's... a fireplace."

Lara tapped a brick above his head, which crumbled into a flurry of specks that sparked a whirl of light to appear. "It's a disguise."

A sudden, shrill whoop sounded from just outside the ruins. 

"It's him." I calculated quickly, guessing he was climbing the dry moat. "We have about ten minutes. Everybody needs to-"

"Cool your jets, Miss Author Lady, ma'am." Audra placed her icy hand on my arm, sending a shiver up my skin. "If the Enky is after you, you need to leave. We can handle everything here. But I want to be able to fight knowing my author can write me back to life if anything happens."

I blinked hard at her. "That's not how it works."

"It is now." She pointed away from the portal and nodded at Lara. "You go with her in case we..." she hesitated. "In case we fail."

"Which we won't!" Rian added confidently. "We can do this!"

"We can?" Wilson muttered uncertainly. He was elbowed on either side, very sharply by Gemma and a bit more teasingly by Kalleb. "Yep, we can!"

Finally, I relented and hurried away with Lara. 

What has the world come to, that an author needs to be protected by her own characters?

Rian had never liked pulling off ambushes. Which was hard, since that was Ellysa's favorite thing to do, and she was the strategist of the team. So he was fairly good at them... when the team could actually sit still long enough for it to work.

Anyways, now that Kal and Lara were gone, it appeared Audra had chosen to take over. Both Kalleb and Wilson had seemed to be fine with that, but Rian and Gemma wanted to take the lead for once.

Sadly, when they were faced by this girl who deadpanned that she could kill them, they were stuck hiding against different parts of the Ruins to ambush the Enky-whatever the rest was.

His foot had just finished falling asleep when the villain appeared. It looked like it was entirely composed of shadow, but there was a heavy solidness to the way it moved. Every step seemed to shake the ruins. 

It stopped right before it reached the spot Audra was hidden behind. I am your greatest fear, it bellowed in an inaudible voice. Face me like a man.