Prologue: Arche Smith, Boy Wonder

Enjoy.

Archie slumped into his dimly lit bedroom. The light from the full moon streamed in through his bedroom window, casting long and ominous shadows across the cracked floor and faded walls. Archie sighed and collapsed in his bed and immediately fell fast asleep, exhausted. It had been a long day.

            The night crept on, hours passed by like seconds, lasting only a heartbeat before fading away into the silent darkness. The clouds blanketed the stars, hiding their secrets.

            A dim light twinkled behind the dark clouds, becoming brighter and brighter as it came closer and closer. Another one followed close behind the first. They were stars, drifting down from the dark, watery sky.

            The spirits drifted down to the cracked, white sill and through the open window and stared down at the exhausted Archie.

            “Is he the one?” The first spirit asked the second in a tiny voice.

            “Indeed, he is the key to unlocking first of the seven gates. He is the first key to unlocking the power of the Abyssar. We must have it!”

            “Of course, master,” the first spirit agreed half-heartedly. He knew all too well about the power of the Abyssar, and its consequences.

Author's Note

The bolded words are the captions for the illustrations of the Mysteries of Harris Burdick. Be honest, what do you think?