“I’m here.” I spoke into the watch on my wrist, “At the haunted palace. Or castle. Whatever you call it. It looks more like a castle. It’s covered with a layer of fog.”
I looked up. Behind the gate, I could make out a small figure. Was it a statue?
“Vivian!” A voice barked from my watch. “Are you at the gate yet?”
“Yes,” I said. “I just told you.”
He spoke again, but his voice was muffled, and I couldn’t hear him well. The watch was malfunctioning again.
“Stupid watch.” I muttered.

I was sent on a journey to retrieve a special jewel from the Castle of Daunting, a haunted castle that had a ton of rumors spreading about it.
Some people would make up their own stories about the castle, about heroes that died while trying to rescue the princess that lived in it, or about the princess herself. Some said she was like Sleeping Beauty, sleeping inside the castle while thorns or something else sharp and protective kept her safe. Nothing made sense about those stories. Where was the queen and king? The servants? The cook that was pulling that little boy’s hair in the kitchen before they both fell asleep?
An old woman once told everyone who wanted to listen that whoever could save the princess who supposedly “slept” in the castle would gain riches and receive whatever they wanted, or even marry the princess. Of course, the people who believed what the old woman said and actually followed her directions didn’t make it out alive.
And what about me? I didn’t believe a word anyone said. Just ridiculous stories that could make people think they’d be a hero in this boring town for once.
I was only here because I was working for a secret organization that promised to give me proof if I were to do what they said. Proof? What proof? Proof that I was strong enough. Proof that if I’d been in a battle right now, I’d win. Proof to other people that I deserve fame, that I deserve glory. Some proof that would set my life right, for once.
I’d dropped out of school, thinking all the years of studying wasn’t worth it. So here I was, in full armor, staring at the gray castle that used to be decorated with diamonds and paintings, and filled with cake and people and kings and queens and happiness.

“Hey, Vivian! Can you hear me?” The voice yelled again from the watch, as it was working again, “Listen up here! If you can’t get that jewel I’ll get someone stronger to-”
The watch was out of battery. I sighed in relief, since I didn’t want to hear that old man’s shouting and screaming here and there.

TO BE CONTINUED…