THE PORTAL

Chapter 1: The Spider's Nest

Pain was the first reaction Nathan had. His body ached from head to toe as he slowly opened his eyes.

Where… am I? The air was damp and mildewy, and an eerie scuttling noise enveloped him.

He struggled—only to discover he couldn't. His arms and legs were restrained by sticky, gooey webbing.

His breathing was restricted.

It was webbing.

Panic set in.

"What the hell—?!" He struggled, but the more he struggled, the tighter the silk bound around him. Then he heard it. A soft click-click noise.

Something was approaching. He slowly turned his head. And froze.

A Giant spider emerged from the darkness, its eight shiny red eyes fixed on it. Its poisonous fangs trembling as it crept nearer and nearer. Nathan's brain was yelling at him to leave— but he was frozen. His breath came in shorter gasps. No. No, no, no—SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME!" he yelled, his voice echoing through the cave.

The spider lunged.

BOOM!

A huge explosion of flame shot out of the mouth of the cave. Nathan coughed violently as a team of figures charged in, their arms aflame with magical power.

"Target acquired!" a great voice bellowed. A warrior in silver armor stepped backward and thrust down his sword.

"Holy Lance!"

Golden power flashed out and pinned the spider's leg. The beast shrieked in blood-curdling terror and drew back in pain. A redheaded woman ran forward, moving as quickly as the mortals who comprised humanity could. Her twin daggers flared with blue fire.

"Flame Strike!"

She carved into the shell of the spider, searing locks of flesh. The spider convulsed and fell.

Silence.

Nathan was breathing heavily by the time that the warriors closed in. The man in armor stepped forward. "You alright, kid?" Nathan gazed at them, his head reeling. -Who were these individuals? What in the world had just happened?

"I—" His voice shook. "Where am I?"

The redhead woman crossed her arms. "That's what we're trying to determine. How'd you get here?" Nathan swallowed. "I—I don't know."

"But that's not possible," said the hooded figure, who had been silent until now. "He doesn't seem to be a native." Nathan frowned. "Native?" The silver-armored man winced and raised his hand.

"Later. We'll talk about this later." Nathan didn't want to go—but he did. As they dragged him off, his head spun around in circles. He had no idea where he was. But something made him sense. his life would never be the same again