Chapter One - A New Life

Evermore

Elswyth Forest.

Where am I?

I look around my new surroundings. I'm standing in a vast, dark, yet beautiful forest. Trees as big as mountains, a river so long there's simply no end to it, flowers of every shade hide themselves in the shadows of gigantic shrubs. I can feel that the forest is a dark, and dangerous place, yet it is also gorgeous. But the question remains...

How did I end up in this massive, mythical-looking forest?

The last thing I remember was lying in my bathtub. Was I successful? Did I die? Am I dead? But then how am I standing here? Where is here?

Is this my new life?

I go to take a step only to pause as I stare down at my feet. My tiny feet. A child's foot. My head suddenly aches, a pulsing pain starting from my forehead. Lifting my hand, I gently press the area that hurts, wincing at the stinging feeling before pulling my hand away. I stare at my hand, watching as dark red liquid drips from the tips of my fingers, sliding down my inner wrist, and leaving a trail of dark red streaks.

Blood? My blood?

Using my other hand I lightly graze my fingers against the area again, only for even more dark blood to stain my fingertips. What is happening? I think to myself as I look around. My eyes spot the long river just a few feet away from me.

Slowly I stumble towards it, my bare feet getting dirtied by the mud and tiny rocks stabbing the soles of my feet. Why is walking such a struggle? It's not like I'm learning to walk. Reaching the river I look at myself through the clear rippling water.

My eyes widen. Holy shit!

I stare at the distorted image of a young child, maybe around three years old. She has soft pastel green hair that barely reaches her shoulders and bright sapphire blue eyes. She has bruises and cuts covering her skin and wears nothing but a small white dress that stops just at her knees. The dress is stained with dirt and blood and is ripped in many places. Blood drops down the side of her face from a large wound just above her right ear.

I blink.

The image of the child blinks.

I open my mouth.

The image repeats my movement.

Is this me!?

Gasping I stagger backwards, the back of my heels hits a fallen tree branch causing me to stumble and hit the ground. Oh my god. Oh my god! I think as I grip my soft pastel pastel-green hair in confusion. 

What the hell happened?! I was a sixteen-year-old teenager only a few moments ago! How is it possible to suddenly become an infant!?

I glance around the forest, my heart twists with fear and anxiety. Maybe I'm just dreaming, Yes that is it, just a very realistic dream. I didn't die and I'm in some sort of coma dream. I repeat, trying my best not to lose my mind. 

I open my mouth to speak a word only for a cry to come out.  No, no no. Why can't I speak?! What is happening to me?! I suddenly felt the urge to cry, No! No! Don't cry you aren't a child who can't handle her emotions! 

I try my best to fight the urge, but another jolt of pain spreads throughout my body and I no longer can fight it. Tears begin to fall and loud cries escape me, which soon turn into infant wails as my sobs of pain echo throughout the darkening forest.

Unknowingly, drawing in creatures and beasts.

A rustling sound catches my attention and I turn to look at some bushes nearby. The bushes shake and I can make out movement between the branches. Hesitantly I climb to my feet, my body heavy as my eyes stay focused on the bushes. 

DING!

My eyes widen as a large translucent screen appears in front of me. This looks like the same one I saw after I closed my eyes. Only this one has a red hue instead of the blue hue. My eyes glance across the screen as words start appearing.

{MAIN QUEST ONE!}
{ESCAPE ELSWYTH FOREST PART ONE}
{Your cries attracted the attention of the monsters hidden inside Elswyth forest. You must escape them. If you are caught your life ends. You have 20 seconds before the monsters find your location!}
20...
19...
18...
17...

Howls echo all around me causing me to jump to my feet. My heart begins to beat faster as fear sets in. What is going on?! What is this? Main quest? Another howl fills the cold air causing goosebumps to form on my skin. Within seconds the once beautiful forest turns dark, giving off a deadly aura. 

Whatever those things are, they're getting closer. I glance around the forest that surrounds me, before turning and running. Being inside the body of a three-year-old Is more difficult than I'd imagine. I'm not able to run fast or far. my body feels heavy and every step sends pain through my leg. 

My body aches too much, I've lost too much blood for a three-year-old's body.

My breathing felt heavy and my vision blurred, suddenly I tripped over a rock and hit my head against the ground. The howls sound closer and I let more tears fall, curling into a ball on the forest floor I close my eyes waiting for my life to end, once again. 

Is this my life? Do I exist only to suffer? If that is true I don't wish to live this life any longer. Is this supposed to be my new life? A second chance? Will I get a better life in my next life? Or will I suffer again? 

DING!

I open my eyes at the familiar sound. Through my blurry vision, I can see the screen above me, this time the screen has a yellow hue to it.  

{HIDDEN OBJECTIVE!}
{THE BEJEWELED BEAST!}
{Some monsters appear scary, but some can benefit you in many ways. Find the creature with jewelled skin hidden in your area!}
{Rewards upon completion:
-1000XP
-A mystery reward}
   {Accept Quest}     {Do Not Accept}

I stare at the screen with teary eyes. What's this? Another quest? I look behind me as the howls turn into low growls. The monsters or creatures-whatever they are, are getting closer. The twenty seconds are no doubt over by now which means the monsters found me. 

I turn back to the screen in front of me. How am I even supposed to find such a creature? And if I do will it turn on me? No, I'll just sit here and let the monster, creatures-whatever they are, kill me. I'm tired of struggling to live. 

I'm tired of it all. 

Maybe I'll be lucky in my new life. 

DING!

The sound catches my attention and I look up at the screen. 

{Accept Quest Selected}
{You've Accepted the hidden objective}{
Hidden Objective activated; THE BEJEWELED BEAST}