text: A campfire of green flames burned in secret under the stars. It was hidden by the deep woods where prying eyes were unlikely to see. A young woman in a black dress with long, dark hair stared into the flickering green light with rage in her eyes. She had been betrayed. Scorned. Made jealous by a woman more beautiful than her. The young woman did not fear the shadow that sprung forth from the fire. It was tall, twice her height, and had two glowing red jewels where its eyes should be. It was the Shadow King, Master of Shadows and one of the spiteful lords of Hell. No one had ever managed to summon him before, though many had tried. He came only when he pleased, not bound by the spells of witches nor the will or any man. “Speak the name of your enemy,” the Shadow King said to the young woman. His voice was deep and raspy. Like a thousand souls crying out in pain, their voices stolen from them and used for evil. &#x200B; “Phoebe Mitchell.” The young woman’s face contorted to an expression of hate as she spoke the name. Her jealous rage burning her soul before its time. In her hand was a note and she tossed into the fire from which she summoned the Shadow King. The Shadow King disappeared as quickly as he came, and the fire went out. The young woman struck a match and lit a candle before inspecting the ashes. A wooden music box sat where the flames had just been, and she knew what she must do. Sherry traveled through the abyss a second time and found herself in the same place as before in her dream. The familiar smell of death filled her nose again. Rick had arrived ahead of her. She could hear his screams coming from the dark caverns in front of her as the shadowy demons tore him apart before stitching him back together with rusty needles and thin barbed thread just so they could do it again. The bastard was getting what he deserved. She picked herself up from ground and wobbled. Her legs were weak, and balancing was hard to do. The shadows moved in on her, creeping along the wall and moving from rock to rock. They meant to tear her apart just as they were doing to Rick. So, she ran fast as she could. The weakness in her legs was unforgiving and Sherry tripped over herself repeatedly but somehow managed to keep from falling over. The shadows followed but kept their distance. They were enjoying her fear and cackled with wicked, hissing laughter. “Leave me alone!” Sherry said loud as she could when she didn’t have the strength to go any farther. Inside she knew what this was it for her. This is the place where she would spend the rest of forever being tormented by the shadows. They moved in, encircling her in a ring of black mass. Then something happened that should not be. A great peace came over Sherry and her heart was comforted. A voice was speaking to her but not using words. “Go forward. Do not be afraid,” she felt it say to her though she did not hear anything. The black circle grew tighter, and she was scared but Sherry did what she felt was being said to her. “Save him,” she felt the voice say to her again. It was speaking directly to her heart and giving her courage. Part of her wasn’t sure this wasn’t her own mind playing tricks on her, a defense mechanism in a time of peril. But doing what was being spoken to her heart was one of only two options. The second being that she would give in and accept her fate. That was not Sherry’s style. She was stubborn and thick of skin and refused to go down without a fight. She approached the edge of the circle, the shadows joined together to close in on her, and spoke. “Get out of my way.” Sherry did not expect them to move, nor did she expect anything to happen at all. The evil intentions of the shadows radiated from the circle, and she felt them on her heart as loud as the voice that she could not hear. But the circle broke, and shadows scattered, retreating to the walls of the caverns that they slithered from. They watched as she stood stunned by how they listened to her command and obeyed. Their shapeless eyes never left her. Sherry walked on with her head held high. It was posturing at its best. Her bravery nothing but desperation. She knew that she was no match for the shadows should they want to turn back and drag her away. What she didn’t know was there was a light that she couldn’t see shining brightly behind her. But the shadows could, and darkness must always flee in the presence of light. An angel sent to guide her and speaking words of encouragement to her heart as she made her way through this portion of Hell. Her time on Earth was over but her purpose had not been served yet. She still had work left to do. There was an innocent man who did not deserve to be here but was stolen before his time by the shadows. Sherry knew exactly what she was meant to do here. “Call the Shadow King.” The angel was speaking to her heart again. So, she did, and the Shadow King appeared before her. It was only the second time he had come when summoned and the first against his own will. The powers from above commanded it and he was powerless to disobey. “Speak the name of your enemy,” the Shadow King said. His red eyes glowed. “The Shadow King,” Sherry said. “You. You’re my enemy.” He stared at her, and they stood in silence. It felt like forever though it could have only been a moment. Time had no meaning here. Then he spoke. “What do you want?” “You cannot have who you took in my place. My family’s curse ends here.” Then she saw the light as the angel made itself visible to her. Its wings surrounded her like the shadows and the Shadow King fled at the light’s command. Helga never escaped her bonds that night. In her struggle, she fell into the grave Rick had dug for her and died there like he intended her to do. Three bodies lay lost in the woods, and it would be years before their skeletons were found. As for Billy, he woke up in his bed not knowing that he had been missing for three years. During the moment Sherry and the Shadow King stood in silence time had slipped by in the place where it had no meaning. The Shadow King knew his reign of terror on Sherry’s family was over and held onto his moment as long as he could before letting go. Billy never knew he was gone and did not remember where he had been. He was spared the torments of Hell that were never meant for him. His life had been lived valiantly and true and now he was returned to the Earth to continue his good works. Had Billy never been taken then the Shadow King wouldn’t have been stopped. But the moment he took an innocent soul a plan was put into motion. But maybe that was the plan all along.