The story begins…

For the eighth time, Kelly checked the maps. Those would be essential. If nothing else, Kelly was sure of that.

The message last night had been vague. "I miss you. Are you coming back?" It had taken Kelly a sleepless night of tossing and turning to come up with the answer.

"Yes," Kelly thought. "Yes, I'm going back. Hang on."

The old green backpack couldn't hold much more and still be manageable. It even included some water and a little food. And Kelly had the maps, of course.

"Will we even recognize each other when I get there?" thought Kelly. "It's been three years."

"Pep-talk time," Kelly whispered. "You can do this. You're ready." Kelly frowned, not believing the whisper for an instant.

Leaving a quick note next to the oven – "I can't say where I've gone and I don't know when I'll be back" – Kelly headed to the door and paused. There was one more thing. Doctor Van Holt. Kelly could make a quick visit, just to get it over with, or skip it.

"Which is scarier, I wonder," thought Kelly. "Hearing what Doctor Van Holt has to say, or worrying that I'll find out later?"

When she knocked on the door, it swung open, exposing Van Holt, sitting on the floor playing with toy army vehicles. He looked a bit surprised, pushed his toys to the side and greeted Kelly, "yes, yes, I'm glad you could keep your appointment, Kelly. Sorry about the toys, I sometimes play army to relieve stress."

Meanwhile, Perry adjusted the video camera to look at the visitor. He was curious as it was the first time he had seen anyone in Dr. Van Holt's office, other than Van Holt himself.

"As I was telling you earlier, Perry wanted to meet you before his travels. I can see he is watching us now as the video camera light is on. Knowing you are his travel agent, he wants to ask you about his journey. I think he is a bit nervous as it will be the first time he has ever left the building. Do you think you could answer a few questions for him?"

"That's fine, Perry," said Kelly. "What do you want to know?"

Perry's first question was blunt. "Why me?"

Kelly shrugged. "I have no idea. Davin asked for you by name."

"He knows I'm crazy, right?" asked Perry. Perry looked at Dr. Van Holt. "I am crazy, right, Doc?"

Van Holt straightened his tie. "Well, that is the diagnosis, Perry. We've been over that lots of times. Now if you still think there is something wrong with..."

Kelly interrupted the doctor without even a glance. "Perry," she continued. "This is going to be hard. For both of us. But I'm certain Davin knows the diagnosis. And I'm certain he thinks your fighting skill are going to be key to the revolution."

Van Holt asked "Perry, you were a soldier?"

"Well," said Perry. "Let's just say I was something between a full-fledged soldier and a guy who plays with army trucks on the floor of his office."

"What do I need to do to get Perry out of here and take him with me?" asked Kelly.

"As his ... uh ... travel agent?" asked the doctor.

Kelly smiled sweetly. "As whatever it is that will get him out of here and onto the road with me."

"You don't have to do anything," said Van Holt. "Perry can leave any time he wants."

Perry thought for a few seconds. "Then that time is now."

It was mere minutes before Perry and Kelly were in the sunlight.

"Are you ready for this?" asked Kelly.

Perry just looked at her.

"Yeah. Me neither," said Kelly.

"Kelly," Perry said. "Am I supposed to go ... you know ... armed?"

Kelly paused. "I'm not sure."

"It might come in handy. Once we get there. And on the road. It's a kilometer to a storage unit I still rent. We can get supplied there.

Kelly checked the sky as she considered. An hour before sunset and miles to go before they reached the relative safety of the forest. And there, in the East, rainclouds. "No, Perry, I don't think any supplies we could bring would be worth heavier load and the delay. It's time to get going now." She stepped off briskly. After a short hesitation, Perry shambled after her.

"Am I up to this?" he wondered. Open air, blustery wind, hard leather shoes - quite a change from his carpet slippers and dressing gown. And how much brighter and multidimensional the world was after a lifetime interpreted by the two-dimensional video screen. "Davin asked for me." He knew Davin's reputation. He decided he could trust his judgement. "I will make it!" he vowed.

Kelly had come to a similar conclusion. "Davin asked for him, and I will bring him." She reviewed the items in her backpack as they continued in silence. She had not expected a fellow traveler, and the dried meat and small leather canteen would not suffice. By evening tomorrow she would have to secure food and water. If they reached the forest before the rain they would have some shelter, but no stars for navigating. She patted the rolled maps and quickened her step.

An hour later they could see the border of trees in the shade of the mountain. "Another quarter mile," she thought, and they would be safely hidden by the trees. Looking ahead, some movement caught her eye. Four huge crows flapped and cawed around a bundle on the roadside. "What's that?" Kelly asked, but she shushed him. She didn't know, but her suspicions were high. It could be someone in need, but it could be a trap. "I don't know."

Kelly and Perry went towards the crows. It was almost as if they had entered another world, as the crows scattered from the bundle on their approach. This world was one from which all color seemed to have drained.

"Are you sure we should do this?" Perry said, strangely unnerved in this place far from the safety of a hospital ward. "We have enough problems, without creating more."

"You can only find out by looking" Kelly said, "Have courage" She then opened the bundle and looked inside. For Perry's sake, she maintained an impression of calm, although the pounding of her heart floated upon nauseating waves when she saw what was inside the bundle.

Within the bundle were severed human arms and legs, below the knees, hairy and caked with blood. The only other thing in the bundle was a pendant, also caked with blood. Upon the pendant was an unusual design; a wave with a trident, like a political or religious symbol she had never seen before.

"It's human body parts" she said, finally.

"That means we are witnesses. If this is found, people will suspect us. Maybe this is already a trap, and these parts have been planted here." Perry said.

"It's too late now. I really am interested to know what this symbol means." Kelly said. "It could be important"

She was about to search for the meaning of her symbol on her phone when Perry interupted.

"If you search for the meaning of the symbol online, this will make you seem suspicious. Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Yeah. Let's just leave it alone." Kelly knew that if Perry said something as serious as that, he had a dang good reason for it. "Good." Perry said. "I wouldn't want you to get hurt." Kelly was confused, but didn't ask questions.

"Maybe someone in the forest knows about that symbol." Kelly tried to think of a reason the body parts could be there, but came up with no possible reason for it. "Well, then what are we waiting for?" Kelly had just noticed that Perry was rather impatient. "Ok, then."

As Kelly and Perry walked deeper into the forest, Kelly noticed that it was starting to get foggier as she went along. Suddenly, Kelly stopped. What she had just seen had horrified her. Kelly tried to say something, but couldn't. "Oh...My...God. Was that thing ALIVE once?!" Perry exclaimed.

On the floor lay Michael, or at least what was left of him. His body was mangled, blood stained the nearby grass, his bones crushed, and an odd wound in his chest. It was as if someone had shot him three times, in a perfect distance from each other. Near the body was a note, that appeared to be written in blood. Kelly tried not to throw up as she read.

To whoever is reading,

I have felt that someone has been watching me for a long time, but now I have proof that my suspicions were not for nothing. I feel like I am running out of time, so I will make this short. In this note is a key. That key should allow you into my house in the centaur village, where you will find a weapon you can use against them. The way to the village is in the direction of the pocket this note is in.

Kelly began to sob. As she began to feel better, a new wave of agony flew over her. "The note fell of the pocket." Kelly whispered. "We're lost."