"The Lost Empire VIII: The Eye of the Tiger"

James, Walter, and now Lenora continue on their quest when they run into an unexpected ally.

“The Eye of the Tiger: A Lost Empire Story”

By Cody Williams

 

            Walter, James, and now Lenora, continued on the path of the red dirt road for the quest to the Lost Empire. James began to roll his eyes as Lenora continued to complain about walking while Walter smiled with glee.

            “Okay, who the hell are you guys? And what the hell are you doing? Who the hell are the Lowlanders?” Lenora continued to ask the two men. James ignored her continued to walk the path. Walter turned to her and smiled.

            “He is James Thomas of the Kingdom of Dillon!” Walter explained pointing to his friend. Lenora looked at him strangely for a moment.

            “Dillon? Where the hell is that?” She asked him. He just grinned at her for a moment.

            “Dillon is a medieval kingdom in a parallel universe.” Walter explained to her. Lenora looked at him strangely and laughed.

            “Okay. Where are you from? You seem to be the man with all the answers!” She said as she folded her arms and awaited an answer. He looked at her for a moment before finally smiling back. He turned his back to her and continued to follow James on the path.

            “My story’s not as simple as that.” Walter began to explain. “My name is Walter Bing. I come from a different time and place entirely.” He began. Lenora gave him an intrigued look. He had her attention. “I come from the year 1958.” He continued to explain. “I come New York City where I used to be a librarian at the New York Public Library.” He continued. Lenora looked at him amazed as she followed him.

            “Then how did you get here?” She asked him. He shrugged his shoulders and answered.

            “I came through what we call thin spots.” Walter answered. She gave him a strange look for a moment.

            “Thin spots? What’s that?” Lenora asked him.

            “You know. Thin spots! It’s where different dimensions over lap with one another. They are secret doorways that suck you in if you want to think of it that way.” Walter explained.

            “Well, how many thin spots are there?” Lenora asked him intrigued.

            “Too many to list. Honestly, I only know of three.” Walter stated. “In the state of Tennessee on Exit 58 on the interstate, there is a rest stop that contains a thin spot. I’ve never been to that dimension and I have no desire to ever got there.” Walter said.

            “Where does it lead to?” Lenora asked him.

            “The one in Tennessee? It leads to some sort of world that is ruled by apes. Apes are the dominant species in that parallel universe and humans are their slaves.” Walter explained.

            “Oh.” Lenora said. “What are the other two that you know of?” She asked him.

            “Well, of course the one that I came through.” He answered. “One day I was working at the library. I got a book return that belonged in the fantasy section of the library. So naturally I did my job. I took the book, walked it back to the far corner of the library where the fantasy section of the library was. When I got back there I noticed a large book that was lying on the floor open. It was The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien and it was open to page 555.” He explained. “As soon as I picked up the book and saw the page number, I saw a bright white flash and ended up here.” Walter explained. Lenora, now hanging on his every word, continued to follow the two me.

            “What about the third one? How did you hear about that?” Lenora asked him.

            “I have heard about it. But that’s the strangest one of all.” He began to explain. “The third one that I heard of was not originally there. It was created in the minds of children.” He began to explain. “These two kids who were scared from their abusive father built a place inside their minds. They called it The Happy Place. A place where they could escape from the pain that there drunken father brought to them.” He stated.

            “Where is this ‘Happy Place’” Lenora asked him.

            “I don’t know. I’ve only heard of it. But I’ve heard that when Bloody Mary and her Lowlanders heard of it, they took it over!” Walter said.

            “Who is Bloody Mary?” Lenora asked. Walter and James stopped in their tracks and looked at each other. James motioned for him to tell her about him.

            “If you’ve ever doubted that evil existed, you won’t ever again after meet Bloody Mary. She is an evil overload who reins supreme in the land of Lowland. It is her goal to take over the all universes.” Walter explained.

            “Is there anybody trying to stop her?” She asked him.

            “Yes. There is one! They call him the Man In Black…but honestly he is not better. While Bloody Mary wants to rule everything, The Man in Black wants to destroy everything. He used to be a Lowlander. He was Bloody Mary’s right hand man…until he decided he didn’t want to work under her agenda any longer. He fled from Lowland never to return as he plotted to take it over while causing terror and destruction everywhere he went.” Walter explained. “That’s where James comes in. He’s the only one who can stop them! He is the chosen one!” Walter explained.

            “If he’s the chosen one, what does that make you?” Lenora asked him.

            “I’m just his messenger. I’m here to make sure that he fulfills his prophecy!” Walter said patting James on the back. James gave him a nasty look, as he did not care too much for that kind of attention. The three continued to walk the path of the red dirt road when all of a sudden something stopped James in his tracks.

            “Something’s not right here!” James declared. He reached and grabbed his sword from his sheath and held it out in front of him. Lenora hid behind him and Walter stood beside him.

            “What’s the matter mate? What did you see?” Walter asked him.

            “Something’s moving in the woods!” James said. The three stood in silence for a moment and listened to the twigs and sticks break as somebody, or something, stepped on them. “Halt! Who goes there!”? James shouted holding the sword out in front of them. The creature let out a loud roar and leaped from behind the bushes. It was tiger. The tiger was as about as tall as James. It let out a large and threatening roar before lying down on the ground.

            “Put that thing away! I mean you no harm!” The tiger told him. The three of them looked amazed at the tiger.

            “You can talk?” Walter asked in amazement. The tiger nodded.

            “Yes! And I’m here to help!” the tiger stated.

            “What do you know about this?” James asked him still holding up his sword.

            “Put that thing away! I’m not going to hurt you!” The tiger said.

            “My name is Cain! I once served Bloody Marry and the Lowlanders. I used to be feared by all. My roar was heard throughout Lowland…but then…I got too close to something she didn’t want me to know. Some sort of key that she needed to use in order to take over all universes. So she decided to get rid of me. She kicked me out of Lowland and locked me in a cage here in the woods. I was finally able to new myself free.” Cain explained to them. “Now, I just want to help you. I want to help you take Lowland away from that b***h! Most noble and brave warrior.” Cain said as he bowed to James. James rolled his eyes and slid the sword back into the sheath. He looked annoyed at Walter and continued to walk the path.

            “Look’s like you’re in!” Walter said with a grin on his face. Walter, Lenora, and Cain followed James along the path. The Man in Black the steppes out of the shadows of the forest.

            “Damn it! They got Cain! He vital for this mission! They’re always one step ahead of me! Well, they wont’ be for long!” He stated. “I know what I got to do! I have to get something important to them…or one of them.” The Man in Black stated with a wicked grin. His eyes began to glow red as he disappeared into the darkness. The quest for the Lost Empire continues.

Copyright 2014 by Cody Williams

Courtesy of The Enchanted Press

A division of TTP Entertainment

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Author's Note

Finally, I have the eighth installment of my ongoing epic fantasy series, 'The Lost Empire'. Sorry for the wait! I know it's been a while! James' and Walter's stories are far from over! I hope you all enjoy it!

Other Lost Empire stories:

1. The Lost Empire I: The Twister
2. The Lost Empire II: The Man In Black
3. The Lost Empire III: The Road To Avon
4. The Lost Empire IV: The Flea Market
5. The Lost Empire V: The Shapeshifter
6. The Lost Empire VI: Prophecy
7. The Lost Empire VII: Lenora

Stories with connections to The Lost Empire:
-"The Rest Stop"
-"The Happy Place"
-"The Rabbit's Foot" (written with Joe Price)
-"Wilma"

Reviews

[NoelHC]

A very interesting read, well written, and I like the way you handled dialogue, it seemed realistic, and as I would expect these characters to talk in the real world.

[Cody Williams]

Thanks for reading Noel!

-CW

[Stephanie M]

I love your story. I hung on to every word. It kind of reminds me of a mixture of Star Wars, and the Lion, the
Witch, and the Wardrobe. Great job!

[Cody Williams]

Thanks for reading Stephanie!

-CW

[Sami Khalil]

Unique, amazing, splendid as the mystery and intrigue of the parallel worlds you share with us. I love how your imagination travels to faraway places. Bravo...:)..........

[Cody Williams]

Many thanks Sami!

-CW

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome muchly...:).......