The Seratian Chronicles

Chapter 1

Aya and Ella discovered a hidden world in the forest near their homes. At first it's all fun, until they discover they're apart of an ancient prophecy to save the kingdom of Seratia from the Dark, the Nothing, and the Empty.

Aya was sitting in her school desk and was staring at the clock.

'Five...four...three...two...one.' She thought just as the bell rang. Aya brushed her blond hair over her shoulder and grabbed her stuff before exiting the classroom.

"Hey Ella." She greeted the red head that was opening the locker next to hers.

"Oh, hello Aya." She said. "How was math today?"

"Great, I just love all the number stuff." Aya replied, smiling as she shoved her things into her backpack.

"I don't know how you can stand that." Ella was shaking her head slowly.

"Be quiet and come on, my mom is waiting for us." They closed their lockers and left the building.

When the car came to a halt at the corner the girls piled out of the car.

"See you later mom." Aya said before she started walking up the hill with Ella.

They approached a forest and walked onto a small beaten trail. After a while the trail widened to a clearing. In the center was a huge oak tree with many branches that stretched out in different directions. There was a ramshackle shed built on it and a knotted rope leading up to it. All over the oak were ropes and ladders leading to small platforms.

"Ella, quit dawdling." Aya said, shaking her friend's shoulders. Ella quit staring at the tree house.

"I still can't believe we built that." She walked over to the rope and swiftly climbed up it, followed by Aya. They pushed open the door and set their bags down before sitting on the dusty bean bags.

"Well believe it, because we did." Aya said.

"Yeah yeah. Now help me with my algebra!" Ella unzipped her backpack and pulled out the heavy algebra book. Aya sighed and began the tutoring.

"Finally!" Ella exclaimed when they had finished her homework. "I thought my head was going to explode!"

"Honestly, it's simple stuff." Aya shook her head sadly.

"Oh come on!" Ella pulled her friend up from the bean bag and out of the shack. They climbed up one of the ladders, crawled across a rope, and up another ladder to the highest platform.

"So which trail should we take this time?" Aya asked. She shrugged.

"We took the river trail yesterday-"

"And the valley trail the day before." Aya finished. They were silent in thought as they leaned their backs against the railing.

"How about the grove trail?" Ella suggested.

"Sure!" They climbed back down to the ground and walked confidently through the trees until they reached a wall of trees.

Ella whistled. "Man, has the entrance overgrown? I didn't think it was that long ago we came here."

Aya ignored her and looked around. "Oh! It's right there." She pointed at a narrow gap almost hidden by branches and tall grass.

"Are you sure?" Ella asked. "This doesn't seem right, somehow."

"You're just acting paranoid." Aya scoffed. She bit her lip, but followed her friend through the small opening. They didn't notice the invisible and almost shimmering veil the passed through.

"This is not the grove." Aya stated.

Ooooh, suspense. This story probably sucks. Eh, you tell me. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Then PM me or review! Till next time!

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