Next step 1.5

Read Sample Chapters *Optional

Trigger Warnings

This is a dark fantasy story and contains mature themes. You do not need to read the sample chapters to enter the competition. All necessary information for creating a cover is provided in the sections above.

If you choose to read the chapters, you must be 18 or older. By continuing, you are choosing to engage with this material.

If at any point you feel uncomfortable or triggered, stop reading and prioritise your wellbeing.

Trigger Warnings: Suicidal ideation, domestic violence, including against women and children, gore and mutilation, references to dismembered body parts and excessive profanity.

Please do not copy, share, or reproduce this material.

Chapters

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 “Is that a fucking foot?” I asked incredulously, and someone turned away to retch noisily over his bent knees. The foot still in its boot was lying on its side, blood having pooled into the sand, turning it black. We stood at a crossroads. One path led to the entrance of the farmstead, and the other led back into the dense forest. The heavy, misty air felt smothering, blanketing all noises except Rodric's vomit hitting his shoes, and the hairs on the back of my ne

poppyharrows

Apr 315 min read

Chapter 2

The sun was gone, leaving us to travel the last half hour in near dark. Never had I looked at the sinking sun and felt such a cold fear of the night. Every snapped branch, every owl's cry, had my dagger in hand. No one spoke; maybe if we breathed too loudly, whatever the fuck was in the forest would follow us, and we didn’t stop until the old castle wall finally appeared. The guard on duty saw us approaching, waved a torch, and raised the portcullis. It creaked open with a l

poppyharrows

Apr 316 min read

Chapter 3

I had known many types of darkness. The cave felt nurturing and ancient, like it was somehow the start and end and the very heart of life itself, and I was not afraid. We had been brought here with a purpose. There was a name I had to find in my soul and say it out loud. The name belonged to a boy, and I could feel him moving in the darkness, looking for me. It felt like half of myself had taken a walk outside my body, and I needed to call it back, but only if I could find

poppyharrows

Apr 312 min read

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