The Pool: A MYST series short story

By E McAuslan

Hello there prospective reader. 'The Pool' is a short story designed to introduce you to the Myst dark fantasy series. To allay any fears as to the quality of this work I would direct you to the following completely true and not written by me quotes:-

"Mesmerising" - anon;
"Fascinating" - random guy;
"Eh?" - some dude;
"I was paid to read it and still didn't like it" - paid reader;
"Drivel of the highest calibre" - vocal hater.

The above 'quotes' should help to outline the fact that reading is subjective. There will be some who will love my style, others for whom it is ordinary and some will hate it. It is my hope however that most would fall in the 'like it' category. For those who persevere and enjoy, an entire series could follow wherein we will be able to experience Alice's struggles in a world wracked by madness, greed and violence. There is much, much more in store...

• Language: English
• Publisher: E McAuslan
• Release date: Dec 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311273123

Book preview

The Pool- A MYST Short Story

E. McAuslan

Published by E. McAuslan at Smashwords

Copyright 2014 E. McAuslan

Prologue

‘Don’t look back, just keep running’.

Sprinting through the darkened trees, Eliza had no time to think of anything else. The rest of her friends were already dead, murdered by the crazed denizens of wherever it was she now found herself. Stumbling over a log, she glanced back briefly. Through the shadows between the trees she could make them out; several squat figures dashing after her as fast as their short legs could carry them, and they could carry them much faster than they had any right to. Panicking, she charged through the bracken which impeded her, every noise a clue to her pursuers as to where she was.

‘Keep going, find the pool, jump in and this nightmare will be over’ she urged herself, tears stinging her eyes. A branch whipped across her face, elongated thorns scratching the skin. Shielding herself with her hands she glanced up, spotting the shattered moon silhouetted against the night sky by a corona of white; an indication of the chill which had clawed at them from the moment they had arrived. Puffing, she heard a metallic ‘twang’ followed by a whistle as a crossbow bolt sailed past, lodging itself firmly in a tree trunk.

Shit, I bloody missed ‘er! called a deep voice from behind. Another responded.

Stop using that stupid crossbow then, how are ‘yer meant to hit anything wit’ it, you shit? it mocked. The sound of the imminent argument was stopped by the roaring boom of a gun. Instinctively she ducked, covering her head with her hands as the sound of pellets cracking against hard bark rang throughout the gloom.

Ah ha ha ‘yer missed ‘er too, ya daft fool the owner of the bolt taunted his companion. The sound of a scuffle broke out.

She had no idea where she was going, not in the dark. Her pursuers however seemed to have absolutely no problem seeing as another bolt shot past.

On instinct she turned left, entering a group of rocks which provided some concealment. Gasping, she rested her arm upon one. Despite the cold it was strangely warm to the touch. A sudden realisation shot through her, she had seen these rocks before. Which direction had they come from? If only she could remember! The cold which clung to her seemed to dissipate for a moment and she saw it, off in the distance, a split tree, its branches gnarled and warped from some long distant lightning strike. They had walked past it when they had arrived. Desperate, she ran to it. Immediately a voice cried out.

Oi I see ‘er! She’s getting away! it shouted from close by.