With its uneven surface and loose terrain, hiking up the moonlit path proved harder than Jane anticipated. All around, unknown things chirped, grunted, and croaked in the shadowy void of a darkened forest.

  What am I doing? She thought, shaking her head.

  Jane soon came to another clearing in a small valley filled with abandoned houses left to crumble on the hillside. Access to the first house was through a single sliding door, with every inch of floor buried under a sea of broken furniture and packed earth. The place smelt of mould, while wooden beams creaked like an old ship. Jane saw how one wall had been taken out by a landslide, leaving her with the obvious question:

  Where did everybody go?

  To the left was a small kitchen minus a couple of walls. Cupboards were torn away, and whatever passed for utensils lay scattered on the dirty tiles. In the corner, a drawer was rattling on its own.

  ~ Nope. Nope. ~

  Now on edge, the girl nearly slipped on a piece of paper. Upon examination, she found the writing to be some code which resembled Domino dots and twirly Pasta. Flipping it over, she could make out some kid's drawing of a large figure with no head. Jane let the paper fall from her hands.

  I have to get out of here.

  Through a gap in the wall, she caught sight of someone hurrying out from a nearby house. A faint tingle crawled up her spine. Maybe it was a coincidence? No one knew she was here. Even so, she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Looking around, Jane used a collapsed staircase, half-filled with mud and climbed up to the second floor. It didn't help that all but one entrance had caved in, leaving an empty room with a double bed on its side, in front of a six-door wardrobe. With no other choice, Jane slid back the wardrobe door and hoped nothing was alive. Making herself comfortable, she began to think that whatever spooked her was just an overreaction.

  Stupid stupid.

  Peering through the gap between slats, she caught sight of an outline. It appeared to be tall, human-like, with wide shoulders. The girl shrank back, making herself as small as possible.

  Don't come in, don't come in.

  Suddenly, the thing presented itself in the doorway. Searching around, it tossed a heavy wooden dresser with one muscular arm. Jane remained still, hoping it would give up, but luck was not on her side. Hugging herself, she trembled as its silhouette drew near, before stopping just short. For a moment, she swore it was looking straight at her. The creature slowly advanced, pushing the double bed to one side. Lit by pale moonlight, Jane could see parts of its body fused with tree vines. She could smell the wet, coppery tang of fresh meat wrapped around like a sash.

  Dear God, it knows where I am.

  The door of the wardrobe was suddenly wrenched open. Nothing. Empty.

  Enraged, a fist smashed against the back wall, barely missing Jane, who was curled up behind doors three and four. In that moment, a blinding flash blossomed over the village, filling the area in a harsh light.

  Fiizzzzz! Crack!

  A firework exploded with an ear-splitting riot of sound. Enraged, the monster leapt out of a window before racing toward chaos. After counting to a hundred, Jane felt brave enough to sneak out from her hiding place. She made her way back down, landing in front of a tall, dark figure, filling the doorway.

  ***

  "Greetings!" The Old Knight said. "My name is Isaac." He used fingers to spell his name. Jane could only stare back, unsure and afraid. "I understand you're nervous, but we must leave before that thing returns." Silence. "Look, even you must know it's not a good idea to stick around."

  ~How do I know you won't hurt me? ~ Jane signed.

  "That's the trust part," Isaac said. "And I guarantee that thing will not be as accommodating." No response. "I estimate less than a minute before it returns.” The girl looked around, searching for an answer. "Fifty seconds" She was starting to panic. "Forty..." Out of options, Jane nodded reluctantly. "Come on, we'll use the tunnel." They tracked back to the kitchen, where a trapdoor had been opened. "You first," The girl glared at him. "It's perfectly safe, just dark."

  She descended into the gloom, closely followed by Isaac. Using a flint, he sparked up a torch. Soft amber light spread out to catch nearby brickwork. "This way." The Old Knight hurried on, only pausing to hear the sound of a kitchen being smashed to bits. "It seems you chose well. Good job!"

  Jane gave him a cold look, but continued to stick close by. Upon reaching the exit, he unlocked a gate. "There are worse monsters in the village, I can tell you." He gestured to follow, but Jane froze. "This again? Feel free to run off, but I must warn you that thing is relentless."

  ~How do you know sign language? ~

  "You're not the only deaf person around these parts. As a warden, it's my job to familiarise myself with all kinds of people."

  ~You are a visitor?~

  "Something in that vein," Isaac said. "The villagers call me the 'Guard-at-Sea'. You'll have to ask them why, I never bothered to."

  ~What was that thing?~

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  "It's known as: 'The Headless-Nameless'."

  ~The what?~

  "Headless-Nameless. Its body is held up with vines and things we won't go into. Other than that, no one else knows much about it, except to run as fast as you can."

  ~ Yeah, but calling it nameless gives it a name.~

  "I am aware," Isaac said. "I don't really pick others' brains over such matters. Speaking of which, what might your name be?" Jane wrote her name in the dirt. "Well met. Shall we continue?"

  ***

  Isaac kept his horse steady while Jane looked around for any sign of danger. The forest seemed smaller come morning light, as if all eyes were watching them. The girl was not sure what to think. She knew about 'Stranger Danger,' so why was this the better option? Her Mother always said that if adults make you uncomfortable or try to trick you with something you know is wrong, your first action should always be to resist. Except now, Jane was truly alone in a world that hated her.

  On the road back to the castle, Jane became distracted by the sight of a Snail-like thing, with a giant brain in place of its shell and searching black balls at the base. Its head was a yellow upside-down pyramid, allowing for a large single eye. Three green tentacles acted as feelers, on every side of a translucent neck filled with excited bubbles. It made her feel sad more than afraid, for reasons she could not fathom.

  "Ah, Biscuit Brain," Isaac said. “Out for a morning meal.”

  After dismounting, he helped Jane down onto a patch of wet grass.

  ~Where are we?~ She signed.

  "Craven Keep. A once-proud fortress, until it was reduced to ruins. Nowadays, we linger around and deter the odd monster; such is our lot in life." Once the gate was lowered, they ascended the staircase to a great hall. The burnt, broken roof resembled claws reaching a cherry amber sky. "Yeah, not the happiest sight, but safer than anywhere else."

  Jane looked around.

  ~Is this an Alien planet? ~

  "Not sure. I only know that the land is called 'Perdita: The Blind Kingdom'. For now, let's get you fed."

  ~I am not hungry.~

  "Not hungry? After all that?" Isaac said. Jane shook her head. “I wonder why."

  "I think we both know." The Sundered Knight said, wandering over to a nearby campfire. He still had a short sword poking out of his chest.

  “It's a bit too early for teasing the newcomer."

  "Is it early? Time never seems to pass around here.

  "You know what I mean," Isaac said, poking the flames. He watched them hiss and grow brighter.

  Jane shot him a look. ~Who is that? ~

  "A friend. He's got a mouth on him, but perfectly harmless."

  "I can speak for myself, Boy-o." The young knight said and splashed coffee out. "Name's Rufus; charmed, I'm sure. At least now we can have ourselves a proper lad's night."

  "For your information, she’s a girl. Her name is Jane."

  Rufus tugged at his fringe.

  "Begging yer pardon, Miss. Hard to tell with all them bandages."

  Jane signed off on a response.

  "She says: 'You are forgiven, kind sir.' “

  The Sundered Knight let out a dry laugh. "Ha! A cheeky beggar this one is. You're gonna fit in just fine."

  Isaac waited for the girl to finish her sentence.

  "She wants to know why you have a sword in your chest? Why don't you take it out?"

  Rufus tapped the end.

  "Long story short, I wasn't quick enough." He said. "As to why I don't take it out. It would certainly kill me, but it wouldn't be a warrior's death, so that I won't be accepted into the Great Feast."

  "The Great Feast is where warriors enjoy an eternal banquet," Isaac said. "And if you believe the tales, Barbarian princesses."

  "The best kind if you ask me," Rufus said, with a sly grin. "They have an appetite of their own." The girl signed her disapproval. "What does that mean?"

  "Something about T.M.I? I'm not sure."

  Jane turned to Isaac.

  ~So what is wrong with me? ~

  The Old Knight gazed at his coffee.

  "In short: You are dead." He said. Jane froze, feeling a prickling sensation run through her body. "That – I fear - is the least of your concerns."

  ~Dead?~

  "Yes, it's a bit of a pickle."

  Jane patted her body.

  ~I am alive, I can feel!~

  "What you are feeling is merely a projection; your mind's way of filling a void."

  "I told you she wouldn't get it," Rufus said. "Ignorance is definitely bliss."

  ~Dead.~

  "Best not to dwell on it, eh?"

  ~So I don't have to be afraid or run away?~

  "It's not as simple as you might think. You can still be torn apart, so imagine spending eternity as a head, inside the belly of some beast."

  ~I wouldn't like that.~

  'Indeed."

  "Although," Rufus said. "If I were hanging off some barbarian princess, I wouldn't be complaining."

  Jane looked at Isaac.

  ~Please take the sword out when he is asleep.~

  ~I have been so tempted.~ Isaac signed back. They giggled as Rufus eyed them suspiciously.

  ***

  When morning came, the Old Knight awoke to the smell of charcoal drifting from a pile of burning embers. Trying to move, his body felt stiff and heavy, until he realised it was so much worse; he was stuck.

  "You slept in your armour again," Rufus said, obscured by morning shade. “I keep telling you.”

  "I was too tired," Isaac said, struggling with the weight of metal. "This is quite the annoyance."

  "Not for me, mate. I'm having a ball watching you flail around."

  "Enough. Where's Jane?"

  "She wandered off."

  "Where to?"

  "How would I know? She can't have gone far, there's not much else around."

  "She might have returned to the forest."

  "And try her luck with all them monsters?" Rufus said. "Doesn't make much sense to me." Isaac rolled onto all fours, awkwardly using a nearby wall to pull himself up. "The grace of a Tiger."

  "It's still a big castle, where would she go?"

  "Someone her age? I'd look for the comfiest room in the gaff."

  Isaac nodded and headed off toward the Keep.

  ***

  Upon reaching the Royal bedroom, Isaac found signs of a struggle, with pieces of mirror scattered around. He was now more concerned than ever.

  Checking underneath the four-poster bed and inside wardrobes, he realised Jane was nowhere to be found. Half-tempted to search every inch of the Castle, his instincts led him to the gate’s door, which stood unbolted and swinging in the breeze.