The Death Bridge

~~Author's note~~

Thank you for taking an interest in my novel. This is my first novel, and my native language isn’t English. This novel is currently only available here on Inkitt. If you see it somewhere else, I didn’t upload it there.

This book is still in early access. I have begun the editing process.

I’d love some constructive criticism, please!

*This book contains violence and dark themes. *

Enjoy :)

~~~~~

A scream echoed through the cool night air.

Cowering behind a tree, the hunter clutched his axe tightly. His heart beat wildly in his throat, ready to jump out. In the darkness of the moonless night, he had seen them. The ghostly figures. Oh, and how cold his blood had flowed through his veins as they came running across the bridge! He did not expect this. None of them did. We should’ve believed that woman!

He let out a shaky breath and willed himself to peer around the tree. His eyes widened, for where he had expected bodies to lie, there was nothing. How could that be? What is this cursed place!? Nothing could have prepared him for this night. He had hunted many times before, many dangerous beasts. But never had he experienced something like this. He drew in a shaky breath. They’re all gone…all of them. In the blink of an eye, everything had gone wrong. What was supposed to be a simple hunting job…oh, if only they had listened to every warning!

And warned they were. But they chalked it up to hearsay and old wives’ tales. For all the talk of the seven-foot-tall creature seemed farcical to them. Oh, what fools we have been! He dragged his hand down his face, defeat threatening to overcome him. But he knew he needed to get away.

He took a deep breath, gathering his courage, and walked out from behind the tree. His steps were steady and deliberate, his hands trembling around his axe. He held his breath for every step he took, fearing a sound would arise.

A hiss made the blood drain from his face, and a wave of cold washed over him. The hunter swirled around, axe ready, though he knew mere steel wouldn’t serve him much. Then he saw it, on the other side of the bridge, the creature stood. And gazing upon it, the hunter suddenly realised why the people had taken to calling it the Blue Death. The sight of the ghost-like creature sent a shiver down his spine. His gaze swept over its dark blue body, finally meeting the creature’s fiery red eyes. His mouth felt dry, and he shuddered when he remembered the stories of hunters who were driven mad by its gaze.

The creature let out a low growl and turned around, walking away.

For a moment the hunter just stared at the disappearing Beast. Is that it? Is it just going to leave me be?

But a hollow, wheezing groan made the hunter’s eyes flick to the bridge. He saw a flash of white, and then it was in front of him, reaching for him. He knew the ghosts had come for him, and fear overcame him. He screamed, swinging his axe wildly through the air, his heart racing and his feet carrying him desperately backwards.

But there was nothing he could do. His screams stopped and the axe slipped from his hands…

***

The sun slowly rose in the east.

Its rays danced merrily through the air, colouring branches and leaves alike in a splendour of gold. The crickets ended their choir, and birds sang in the distance, their song reaching the sleeping woman lying high in a massive old tree. Raven groaned and opened her dark brown eyes. She loosened the whip around her waist and stood up, stretching with a yawn. She glanced around at the new day and plucked a dry leaf out of her long dark hair.

She looked down, and a sigh escaped her lips. She climbed down and at last her feet touched the moist ground. Tying the whip around her body, she grabbed her bow and quiver hanging on a thick branch and started towards the middle of the forest. The further she walked, the quieter the birds became. The eerie atmosphere hung thick in the shadow-filled forest, making her rest her hand on the hilt of the sword dangling by her side.

The Shadow Forest was known throughout the kingdom. To some it was a myth, others a legend, and to some the bringer of misery. For its lore had beckoned many a hunter. A deer or two earned one some respect; killing a Shadow Beast would be a symbol of one’s ability and prowess. But slaying the fabled Blue Death, that was the true trophy. And many had tried. But those who came close enough to see it never found their way home.

But Raven called the Shadow Forest home, ever since it had claimed her parents, twelve years ago. She had taught herself how to survive in the harsh forest with its many dangers. And she had finally become skilled enough to hunt Shadow Beasts. Their dog-like bodies and heads like that of a horse were an odd and frightening sight. The scent of death always followed them, and their pitch-black skin was thick and difficult to penetrate, but she had found its weak spot.

As she looked up at the ever-thickening canopy of trees overhead, she thought about where she was heading. She knew she had to go to the Inner Ring. The night before, she yet again halted a group of hunters, warning them of the dangers ahead, and now, like with so many before them, she’d go and clean up the aftermath. She had tried so many times to warn people, to protect them from the dangers within the forest. But they never listened.

They all thought she was crazy and would carry on. Because to them, the Blue Death is just another dangerous creature worth a fortune in gold if slain. She would always go after them, trying to protect them, yet she failed every time. But she had learned her lesson well. Now she would warn them, and if they did not listen, she would leave them to continue following their foolish path.

She let out a breath that she hadn’t realised she had been holding. Before her lay the Inner Ring, and she halted, fighting back a shiver that threatened to run down her spine.

“I really hate hunters…”, she mumbled before walking further.

As she arrived at the scene, she could tell that it was a terrible battle. Torn-up bits of armour and clothes were scattered around. Weapons lay around, either broken or badly damaged.

And yet, as always, their bodies were gone. Even their blood, which should be sprayed everywhere, disappeared along with them.

She felt that strange feeling in her body again, and her eyes moved towards the bridge.

Her gaze traveled over the magical tree that grew in such a manner to form the bridge. At the end of the bridge, the tree’s roots formed a beautiful gate. Spiraling between the roots was the river’s water, flowing gently. An awesome sight indeed.

Raven’s eyes followed the spiralling water to its source: a beautiful river with crystal-clear, shimmering water, flowing around the swamp. She glanced at the sharp rocks rising from its depths before her gaze shifted towards the gloomy swamp beyond the bridge. The Death Swamp. A muddy place filled with shadows and dead trees; where few people entered and even fewer left alive. And those who did leave didn’t live long. For they had all met the Blue Death, and its gaze left them mad. What stories they managed to tell only turned into myth and folklore in the ears of those who listened. But even so, the Death Swamp gained its reputation, and it became a feared place. But no one had ever seen it entirely.

If the stories are to be believed…Raven shook her head and pulled her gaze away. No time to gawk at that cursed place, Raven. She took a determined breath and ignored the strange feeling. She pushed her thoughts away, continuing to clean the battlefield.

She was nearly done when she saw a big bag at the border between the Inner Ring and the Death Swamp. It was kept from tumbling into the river by just a thin branch of a tree standing close to the bridge. Raven looked at it with mixed feelings.

There could be something valuable inside the bag…But it’s so close to the bridge…

After giving it some thought, Raven decided to retrieve the bag. She realised that coiling her whip around the bag wouldn’t work. It was too far away. But climbing the tree would work, as long as she was careful. She looked around for something to reach the bag and found a thick, strong branch lying on the ground.

She looked at the tree for a few moments. “I am going to hate myself for this…”, she mumbled. She breathed out through her nose and pressed her lips together before climbing up the tree and onto the thickest part of the branch.

She reached for the bag with the stick, feeling the bark from the branch biting into her palm. It took a few tries to reach it, but she finally managed to get it off the branch. She threw the stick in her hand away with a relieved sigh and grabbed the bag, ready to climb back down.

Just as she was turning around on the branch, a sudden searing pain ripped through her entire body. Her grip on the branch faltered, and she slipped, a cry flooding over her lips.

But she managed to grab hold of the branch again just in time. As she clung to the branch for dear life, the searing pain suddenly turned into an even stranger feeling. Warm, almost soothingly burning through her veins.

She lost her grip again, but the bag got caught by a sharp piece of wood, piercing the bag and keeping her from falling.

And then, just as quick as it came, the burning feeling was gone.

Panting, Raven weighed her options as she clutched the fabric of the bag in her hand. Trying to climb back up was risky. The bag could tear further, and glancing down at the sharp rocks below, Raven knew she’d rather not chance it. But then again, trying the leap to the ground, the bag could tear, and the branch could break before she even had enough momentum to clear the gully. Raven groaned. Oh well, I’m in hot water either way.

She eyed the branch. “Climbing it is.”

She started to climb back up, every movement slow and calculated. A laugh of relief escaped her throat when she sat safely on the branch. She reached for the bag and carefully tossed it behind her. Just as the fabric left her touch, the branch beneath her broke with a loud crack.

A scream flooded over her lips as plain air surrounded her. Her eyes fixed on the sharp rocks beneath her, and shock filled her entire being. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the inevitable impact…