The Voice From the Well: The Velessar Saga, #1

By Nathan Whalen

Stranded in a foreign world, Jay must fight to reclaim his stolen memories as mysterious forces conspire!

Soon-to-be seventh grader, Jay was on a nature walk with his family. The next moment he's tumbling through a dark void, landing in an overcast forest completely alone. Taking shelter for the night in an old lighthouse, Jay encounters something in the deep darkness that hovers in the corner of the room.

The following day, Jay wakes to find he can only remember small fragments of the day before. Everything about the lighthouse and the small nearby village is wholly different than the few things he can remember, almost as if he'd stepped back in time.

When Jay encounters a strange whispery voice that offers him help at a price, he begins an adventure fraught with peril.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nathan Whalen
• Release date: Dec 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9798986057002

Book preview

Chapter 1

Jay squinted against the sunlight as he followed his parents up the nature trail. He sighed. The last day of summer break before seventh grade and I’m seriously spending it out here. He trembled as a cold shiver moved over his body. What was that? Another wave of icy tingles moved down his spine. I hope I’m not sick. The trail ahead blurred, and wooziness fell over him. Jay reached out and grabbed the wooden guard rail, steadying himself. His eyesight returned to normal as he blinked.

Jay! Would you hurry it up! his dad’s angry voice cut through the woods. He looked up to see his dad glaring back. Gritting his teeth, Jay stared back. Neither broke eye contact. With a look of disgust, his dad turned back and continued up the trail.

Jay took a shaky step forward. Wham! Something like a solid wave slammed against his back. He tumbled forward, reaching out his hands to stop his fall, but there was nothing but darkness before him. It felt like he was tumbling through empty air, his eyes darting around trying to find something. There was nothing around him, but utter darkness.

Thud! Jay landed harshly on the ground, knocking the wind out of his lungs. He lay on the ground gasping. After a moment, he noticed thick damp vegetation against his face. Jay rolled over. Through the canopy of trees, a dark cloudy grey sky greeted him. Blinking, he tried to take it all in. He rubbed his eyes, nothing changed. What’s going on? He lay there for a long minute catching his breath. Sitting up, Jay looked around. The trail, his parents, and everyone else was gone. In their place, tall pines and maples loomed over his head. Ferns and other underbrush grew densely around the trees.

Mom! Evan! Jay desperately shouted, Hello! Anybody?

Nothing. The only sound was the wind rustling through the trees. He stood up looking around. He was starting to shake. Where am I? This isn’t right... Jay looked down at himself, concerned that he might have broken something. He patted down his legs but there didn’t seem to be anything wrong. Surprisingly, whatever had hit him had not seriously hurt him. That’s a relief, but seriously where am I?

I could just stay here for a bit...maybe they’re looking for me. No, no one would be looking. It’d be just like last summer when his older brother Evan ran away. Jay’s parents told them not to tell anyone that Evan was gone. He had shown up three weeks later and...

Jay shook his head, he didn’t want to think about what had happened afterwards. I gotta find help, I don’t know where I’m at. Surely there’s got to be someone that’ll help. Looking around, he weighed his options. There were not any obvious openings in the foliage. Shakily, he set off, putting one foot in front of the other. Jay pushed past tree limbs and scrambled through the dense foliage. He slipped and fell into a fern bush. Jay pushed the leafy fronds away as he got back on his feet. It wasn’t long before he spotted a clearing through the underbrush. He set forward earnestly. Once he was out of this forest, he would find someone, and they could help him get back home. What was that? Jay quickly turned to the left. He thought he had seen something in the patch of trees. He stood still, eyes darting around. I know I saw something. There were plenty of trees and dense underbrush for someone to hide behind. Maybe it was nothing...however, the thought didn’t quite sit right with him. Jay couldn’t shake the feeling that someone or something was watching him. He turned, surveying the area, but didn’t see anyone. The feeling of being watched seemed to come from everywhere, as if the trees themselves were observing his movements or serving as allies to darker shadows watching him. Eyes darting around, Jay didn’t find anything. He hoped that he was just being paranoid. Jay started rubbing his arms, noticing how cold it was. The dark gray storm clouds overhead looked ready to unleash a torrent of rain at any moment.

I’ve got to keep moving towards the clearing and get out of the forest. He pushed through the ferns and other shrubbery out into a grassy plain. It stretched out as far as he could see in front of him. Off to his right, a way off, stood a tall lighthouse. It was made from stone, every facet of it looked ancient. The first story of the lighthouse had a wooden structure buttressed against it. That has to be someone’s home.

Jay took a step forward towards the lighthouse when he caught something from the corner of his eye. Turning, he saw a thick gray cloud, like a tornado, standing in place. It stood over two meters tall. Though the cloud moved like a tornado, the flow was not affected by the wind. Nor was there any wind coming from it. Something about the cloud felt alive to Jay. It was crazy. There was no way this was real. He tried to look at it directly, but the grey cloud was incredibly hard to focus on. A feeling of wrongness settled in the pit of his stomach. It felt as if the dark grey cloud was staring at him. There came a deep scraping of metal upon metal from within the moving cloud. That’s not possible. Then from every corner of Jay’s senses, the uncanny feeling of being watched intensified. It was like being on a soccer field and having a crowd of thousands observing him, but they were not there to cheer him on. Whatever this thing was, it wasn’t right, it shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be here.

Jay started backing away and something inside the cloud moved, the cloud cover moving with it. Turning around, Jay broke out into a full sprint away from the cloud and towards the lighthouse. A sound like thunder rumbled in the sky and Jay heard the rattle of metal behind him. Fear struck his heart. It was after him! Jay pushed himself to run as fast as he could. Ominous low tones crashed and rumbled above him. The dark clouds above him let loose a heavy torrent of rain. Jay kept running as the rain pelted down upon him.

Jay reached the lighthouse. He screeched to a halt by the front door. The rain continued to beat down as Jay pounded on the front door. Please! Let me in! he yelled between breaths, desperate. He continued pounding on the door, but there was no answer. Jay turned around looking to see if the dark tower of fog was still out there. Squinting, he did not see it through the downpour. He turned back, maybe there was an overhang that he could use as shelter. Anything that he could use to hide and get out of the rain. Just as he started moving away, the door opened. Who is it? An older man’s voice greeted him. Jay turned to meet the stranger. The older man stared at Jay for a moment, What are you doing out in this storm? Come inside. Beckoning Jay to come in.

Jay quickly rushed inside. The door slammed shut behind him. Inside, the light of the candles and fireplace greeting Jay as he caught his breath. The stranger looked Jay over for a moment and then gestured to the chair and said, Make yourself comfortable and warm yourself next to the fire, I’ll fetch you a towel to dry yourself with. The stranger went off down the small hallway to Jay’s right into a side room through a wooden door. Will I be safe from that pillar of fog, what was that thing? What do I do? Jay looked around the room. It was a small room with candle holders on the walls, a small wooden table that could be used by two people on the other side along with a cupboard. On this side of the room there were a few wooden chairs next to a lit fireplace. All the furnishings seemed old, like antiques. The room had a musty smell about it.

Jay made his way over to the fireplace and sat down shivering. It was so nice and warm, Jay sat watching the fire flicker. A moment later the stranger came back with a towel and some clothing. This should warm you up! While these... the stranger gestured toward the clothing, might not be your size they’d be better than those soaked... the stranger studied Jay’s clothing for a moment, that’s some very odd attire you’re wearing. Jay looked down, he was wearing a pair of blue jeans, t-shirt, and shoes. Nothing out of the ordinary here. Jay looked up at the stranger. The older man was dressed in a worn-out monk’s robe. The stranger had a friendly face, with short brownish hair. The man went over and pulled out the chair from the table and sat down. I’d better be polite at least.

Thank you, Jay said through chattering teeth.

What are you doing all the way out here? In the middle of a storm no less. Did you come from town? the stranger said in a concerned haste then took a breath, I guess I should introduce myself. I’m Ernest Mhyrson.

J-Jay.

Nice to meet you Jay, Ernest said.

Where am I?

You really are quite lost. For starters, you’re at my lighthouse, that I watch over. Just like my father and his father before him...

Ernest continued talking, but Jay was having a hard time focusing. He just wanted to wake up back home. This cannot be real, what happened to everyone?

Ernest paused, looking at Jay, Goodness, you must be exhausted. I have a spare room here, though it hasn’t been used in years...who knows how long it’s been... Ernest walked off to the table and grabbed two candles. I’ll show you to the room.

Do I really want to stay here? What choice do I have? It’ll be just for the night, and I’ll get to a town tomorrow and figure out...something? Jay slowly got up, accepting the candlestick Ernest was holding out. He followed Ernest down towards the hall. The candlelight illuminated the discolored wood as they passed down the hallway. Ernest stopped in front of an old lopsided door. He twisted the door handle and with a loud squeak the door creaked open.

It’s probably quite dusty, my apologies, but there’s a bed with clean bedding.

Thanks, Jay said, going into the room.

He closed the door and waited next to it. He listened as Ernest’s footsteps faded away down the hallway. Jay peered around by the candlelight. Cobwebs were everywhere. And I thought that my parents were messy. This was different, their neglect usually consisted of empty frozen meal containers and beer cans stacking up.

A web strung out from the corner of the ceiling to a chest of drawers. That must have been made by a huge spider! I’m going to be covered in bites when I wake up tomorrow.

Maybe I should just run for it? No, not in this storm, especially not with that thing out there. Jay pushed the small bedside stand in front of the door. It’s not much, but at least it’ll block the door and make some noise if it’s moved. Jay put down the candle and started getting out of his wet clothes. He held up the pants and shirt Ernest had given him. Am I dressing up for some historical reenactment? He had watched a few during his school trips. The shows were really cool, seeing the knights dueling and jousting. I could be up on the stage wearing this, as a peasant maybe. The shirt felt rough and had small holes throughout. Still, it felt good getting out of his wet clothes and into something dry. Even if it was a few sizes too large. There was a separate hood that extended out over the shoulders. I don’t need that. Jay pulled back the blankets. No spiders. Nothing under the pillow either. Setting the pillow back down, he got into bed. Jay pulled the covers up around him. Click. His eyes widened at the sound. A low creaking noise sounded somewhere in the house. What was that? He sat up and looked around the room. Maybe it’s just the house making noises; I mean it’s super old after all. There was a harsh snapping noise and the room fell into darkness. Jay looked at the candle still sitting on the nightstand. It had been snuffed out. His eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. Maybe I should... His eyes were drawn to the far corner of the room, it was wholly and utterly dark. He stared at the darkness that rested in the corner for a minute. Jay couldn’t take his eyes off it. Creeeek. There was something there! He knew there was something. Jay wanted to yell, Help! Get away from me! but the words wouldn’t come out of his mouth. A low scraping noise emanated from the darkness.

Chapter 2

Jay awoke. He blinked. Something was off. Quickly sitting up, he looked around the room. Sunlight streaked in through gaps in the curtain, illuminating the layers of cobwebs. How long has it been since I cleaned my room? His room was generally messy, but nothing like this. As Jay looked around, he noticed the few pieces of old wooden furniture. They were all covered in a grey sheen. Something is wrong about all of this, shouldn’t the color of the wood be more vibrant? Where’s my... His brow furrowed. On the fringes of his thoughts was the idea of something that he had in his room, something important. Try as he might, he couldn’t remember what it was.

Wait...this isn’t my room! Where am I? The memory of yesterday’s events crashed into him. He was completely lost. I’ve got to get back, back to...Home obviously, but for some reason he was forgetting the details. Jay shook his head. I’m probably too tired to remember. He got up out of bed and stretched. His wet clothes were splayed out on the dusty wooden floor. Jay looked down at the clothes he had slept in. The plain beige shirt hung down to his knees. There was also a hood that Jay hadn’t put on lying on the floor. Definitely not my normal attire. I wonder... This guy...Ernest must be some old hermit. Living off the land. He certainly looks the part with the unkempt beard and all. It didn’t seem like a bad life to Jay. He liked the outdoors and being by himself. Hopefully Ernest can get me back to civilization. With this thought, Jay walked out to the dining room. He found Ernest eating some bread and jam.

Hey, you’re awake, Ernest said, there’s some food here for you if you’d like.

Thanks, Jay said sitting down. He scooped up some bread and some dried pieces of fish onto a wooden plate. After smearing some of the red jam, he tore into the bread. This is really good!

Thanks again for the food, Jay said after his plate was completely bare. He hadn’t realized just how hungry he was.

You’re welcome, you were certainly quite hungry, Ernest said with a smile, Now that you’re rested up, would you mind telling me what you were doing out in such a storm?

Oh, Jay said. How much do I want to tell him? I didn’t mean to be out that late. I got lost after getting separated from my parents.

I’d say, you’re on the edge of the kingdom, the only thing close to here is the small hamlet of Leflavik. Though I don’t know why anyone would travel out here.

Jay shook his head confused, I don’t know where that is.

It’s the only town anywhere near here without crossing the border. Where were your parents headed?

I don’t know, I’m not good with directions. It wasn’t exactly true, but he was lost, and this seemed like the safe answer.

You might recognize some of the major towns of Velessar: There’s the trade port of Søghammer, the capital Varsand, or maybe Lysager?

Jay shook his head, none of those names sounded remotely familiar.

Maybe you’re from the Empire, it is only a day or two trek from here... Ernest again listed off some foreign sounding names. None of these names sounded remotely familiar. What do you remember? I’d like to get you back to your parents. Ernest continued.

Jay opened his mouth to speak but found a lack