The Lost Key

The wind whipped around me and the temperature plunged, my body began to freeze as the night had long been upon me. The deep laceration on my leg burned with every movement and I tried to forget the thick trail of blood running behind me. I’ve travelled this far already, I can’t give up now. Not for The King, not for myself.

With the box clutched closely underneath my cloak, the presence of the king’s words inscribed on its lid being my only company on this lonely dirt road. I passed many shops and buildings on my town hoping, praying that just one of them would still be open, but it was no avail. Many buildings, taverns, libraries, their windows all dark. I was too late. The town was deserted.

I had reached the edge of town when a light appeared in front of me. Impossible, I thought. The town was empty, no other shops were open, no one else was here. I continued on slowly, each step bringing the light closer. My movements began to falter and my breath came in ragged gasps. My vison began to blur and the light began to consume me. One. Two. One. Two. I counted each step in my head, pushing myself farther forward. Looking up, I stumbled. I was nearly there. One more time I fell as my head finally hit the wall. My legs gave out and I tumbled forward. The box rolled out of my arms falling too far ahead for me to reach.

Is this the end?