In a mysterious village called Lumenfield, life seemed ordinary on the surface. The villagers went about their lives, blissfully unaware of the underlying unease lurking within their quaint settlement. However, not everyone believed in this supposed normalcy. A teenager named Garnet, who lived with his father, often felt the unsettling weight of something sinister about the village.
Garnet's father, a blacksmith by trade, was far from kind. Though Garnet was calm and polite, his father constantly berated and tormented him. Despite everything, Garnet tried to remain cheerful, longing to belong to a society that rarely gave him a chance. A 6th-grader, he attended school like any other child, but his days were far from carefree.
One morning, Garnet trudged to school, dreading what awaited him. Upon arriving late, as he often did, he hesitated before entering the classroom.
Garnet: "May I come in, ma'am?"
Elisha (his teacher): "You're late again, Garnet. Why are you always late? This is your final warning—come late again, and you'll be suspended!"
A snicker erupted from the back of the room. Davis, the class bully, seized the opportunity.
Davis (mocking): "Garnet the late boy!"
The whole class broke into laughter, and Garnet, humiliated, sank into his seat, trying to focus on the lesson. But Davis wasn't finished. He whispered taunts, poked Garnet with his pencil, and made it impossible for him to concentrate.
Finally, Garnet snapped.
Garnet: "Davis, stop!"
His shout silenced the class, but it brought a furious glare from Miss Elisha.
Elisha: "Garnet! Out of my classroom!"
Garnet (pleading): "But I didn't do anything!"
Elisha: "Enough! I'll be speaking with your father about this."
Dejected, Garnet left the room. Standing outside the class, he muttered to himself.
Garnet: "Why do I bother? Being too nice just makes me an easy target."
The bell eventually rang, marking the end of the day. As Garnet gathered his belongings, Miss Elisha approached him with one last instruction.
Elisha: "Bring your father to school tomorrow morning, Garnet. If not, I'll escalate this to the principal."
Garnet: "Yes, ma'am," he replied with a heavy heart.
Walking home that evening, Garnet's thoughts were interrupted when he passed the edge of the forest. A strange, haunting voice called out to him.
Mysterious Voice: "Garnet… Garnet… Come to me. Where are you going?"
Fear gripped him, and he broke into a sprint, running faster than he ever had until he reached home, breathless and shaken. But there was no solace there.
Father: "Why are you late? I told you to be back before 6!"
Garnet: "Sorry, teacher kept me back to talk about class."
Father: "Did she have any complaints?"
Garnet (hesitant): "Yes, but I didn't do anything wrong."
His father's face darkened.
Father: "You've let me down again."
He grabbed a stick and began to beat Garnet mercilessly.
Garnet (crying): "I'm sorry! I'll never let you down again!"
After what felt like an eternity, his father finally stopped. Drained and in tears, Garnet retreated to his room. As he lay in bed, the mysterious voice returned.
Mysterious Voice: "Come to me, Garnet… Come to me!"
Garnet (whispering): "Who are you?"
Mysterious Voice: "I am the Heaven Inviter. I've come to guide you to heaven."
Garnet (terrified): "Am I going to die?"
Heaven Inviter: "No, but I will lead you to the truth. There, you will meet someone powerful—an angel who knows everything."
Garnet: "Why me? Why am I chosen?"
Heaven Inviter: "Because it is your destiny. But if you're afraid, you don't have to come."
With that, the voice faded, leaving Garnet to wrestle with his thoughts. Should he follow the voice? Should he trust it? His doubts lingered as he drifted into an uneasy sleep.
That night, he dreamed of the Heaven Inviter leading him across a glowing bridge.
Garnet: "Can I bring a friend with me?"
Heaven Inviter: "Yes, but if anything happens to them, it will be your fault."
The next morning, Garnet awoke under the pale light of dawn. As he made his way to school, Miss Elisha greeted his father at the door.
Elisha: "Mr. Grubb, you need to take better care of Garnet. He's always late and disruptive in class."
Mr. Grubb: "He's not my son. His mother died and left him with me, but I'm just his neighbor. I'm only here because I have no choice."
Elisha: "Well, you're his legal guardian now. Start acting like it."
Inside the classroom, Garnet sat next to his only friend, Lessie, who noticed his downcast mood.
Lessie: "I'm sorry you have to go through all this."
Garnet: "It's okay. But Lessie, there's something I need to tell you."
He recounted the events of the night before—the mysterious voice, the Heaven Inviter, and the offer to guide him to heaven.
Lessie: "Are you going to go?"
Garnet: "I don't know. But if I do, I want you to come with me."
Lessie: "Me? Are you sure?"
Garnet: "I asked, and the voice said yes. But if anything happens to you, it'll be my responsibility."
Lessie: "Don't worry. I'll be fine. Let's do this."
They agreed to leave at dawn the next day. But first, they needed answers. After class, they headed to the library.
Librarian: "Hello, Lessie. Hello, Garnet. What are you looking for?"
Lessie: "Books about heaven."
Garnet: "And demons, too."
The librarian directed them to the respective shelves, and they began their search. Among the dusty tomes, Lessie found part of a map labeled with a riddle about the sun, and Garnet discovered chilling stories about cursed humans turned into demons.
As they read, a sudden gust of wind extinguished the library's lights. A shadowy presence attacked Garnet, hurling him across the room. Terrified, Lessie hid, but the creature pursued her. In desperation, Garnet chanted a protection spell he had found in the book, driving the entity away.
Lessie: "What was that?"
Garnet: "A curse. The book warned that anyone who reads it would be cursed. Luckily, it also had a protection spell."
The librarian returned, restoring the lights and offering more guidance. With the map fragments and critical books in hand, Garnet and Lessie pieced together the path to the woods. Despite her fear, Lessie agreed to accompany him.
Lessie: "Tomorrow, 5 a.m., in front of the woods."
Garnet: "Be ready."
As they parted ways, the weight of their decision loomed.