Prologue

A still, beautiful lake can be a peaceful thing. And this one seems to be. But, it is not. Let’s get in closer and see why, shall we?

As we fly over the treetops let me point something out. See over there? No, off there, to the north. Back there, that old dilapidated-looking shack. The one with the trickle of smoke coming from the chimney. Remember that, it’ll be important for later. But wait, there’s a trickle of smoke? That place’s been abandoned for years... It’s probably just some young lovers experimenting, or some high school kids getting drunk, or high, or God know what else... Probably. Hopefully.

We alight by the shore on invisible eagle’s talons. Look there, intrigued reader. That’s the reason we’re here on this south shore. That’s also the reason why this lake may never be truly peaceful. In fact, that is one of the reasons this lake could become terrible beyond belief.

As we watch, the glassy surface of the water seems to ripple as if a stone was cast into it. But, as we saw when we flew in, there was no one around for miles. And of course we, even with our phantom talons, are here to chronicle the events to come, not to interfere. This spectacle is to prepare you to remember every detail, however seemingly insignificant. So watch, and be patient.

The ripples seem to defy physics; they converge in, instead of spreading outward. When the outer ring is fully retracted, it is formed. The Rift. The Great Divide, Undivided. A Gateway between the Multiversal Borders. We are in deep shit here.

A Rift is not necessarily a bad thing, when it’s controlled. But a controlled Rift wouldn’t stay opened this long. The Crossers would move whomever or whatever needs to be moved, and then close the Rift, so as to not disrupt the Balance.

This Rift is not good, but neither is it large. Hopefully not large enough to let anything through that would create Unbalance. But it is a risk. Sometimes the most power comes from something seemingly insignificant.

As we watch, a small tentacle-like… thing pokes its way through the Rift. It is black, with the sickly rainbow colour and texture of gasoline spilled in a puddle.

It probes the still, pre-dawn coolness. Then, impossibly, it seems to spot us. Don’t worry though. We’re just a hallucination of a dream’s imagination in this place. No more real than a breeze on the moon.

Even so, let’s blow this pop stand. As the anomaly-Rift closes, bringing the gasoline-hued creature with it, back to whatever hellish border-land it came from, we fly. Up and away, and while we’re Upping and Awaying let me fill you in.

Skimming above the trees towards an as-yet unidentified location I need to explain to you quite a few things. But only what you absolutely need to know, any more and I’d spoil it for you, not to mention changing your reaction to the chain of events that will be set into action very soon.

First of all, the lake. The lake is a thin place. Not because it is shallow or for any other physical reasons. It is thin because it is a thin place between the fabric of space and time, which allows people with the right abilities and talents to cross or more aptly to Cross over into a different one of these different worlds. These places exist all over the world and are nearly undetectable to regular people. The ones without the abilities. The ones who cannot become Crossers.

The only sign ever exhibited is strange phenomenon, such as the UFO sightings at Roswell, Nessie in Loch Ness, plus numerous Sasquatch sightings all over the world. One such place had a monument raised in honour of its power, although in modern times, people do not know what the monument was for. That place is called Stonehenge.

The place here is called Lake Utopia. And the phenomenon is the Lake Utopia Mud Monster. But don’t worry. It won’t be popping into our story anytime soon. It’s just a sort of multi-dimensional cow. Hey, I didn’t say all the Crossers were people.

But if I say anymore it will, as I said, undoubtedly ruin the surprise to come. So on to civilization, where our story truly begins.

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a/n:
Yeah, I kinda wrote this at like.. 4AM one night when my insomnia was really bad. It only vaguely links up with anything else in the rest of it. Sue me. It might connect up more later, I'm not sure. I haven't gone through the whole thing in my head yet, it's up there, I just haven't found it all.