By
Kym-Maree

The ancient town sat high on the exposed hill. A rider approached from the east. It was late in the evening; the sun was lowering over the horizon. The rider quickened his pace. Suddenly he stopped and looked around.

After all the trials and trouble he had on his way, he had finally arrived!

Isaiah was his name; he was in his 50s, dark hair slightly graying, blue eyes. Why was he here? For many years he had been trying to find his young daughter, whom he had lost so long ago. Taken from him by the marauders when they invaded his village many years ago. He wondered if he would ever see her again
It was a small town; about 200 hectares in size, covered with little tent-like buildings sprawled randomly across the landscape. There were small almost communal type gardens with trees, and plants growing in profusion. There were smells of exotic foods coming from what looked to be a communal cooking area, the aromas were overpowering. There was a central tower, which looked as though it went up forever, covered in dust and old dying vines. It seemed to be drawing him. Why? He did not understand.

Heading toward the tower, suddenly Isaiah could hear a distant voice singing a sweet song that reminded him of the songs his wife used to sing to his baby girl. He followed the sound; it came closer and was more obvious now. Who was singing this sweet song? The song had him in a trance, following, wondering, and drawing him ever closer.

Isaiah had arrived at the tower. There was an old frail man, sitting by a table at the bottom of the tower, dressed in old rags, and looking very ill. The old man held in one hand a cup filled with coins, and in the other hand he held what seemed to look like an old lamp. Who was this stranger? Was he a messenger, sent to help him? Or was he there to confuse him and send him on his way? Isaiah went up and asked the old man if he knew where the singing had come from. The old man just pointed upwards with a mischievous grin. What did this mean? Was the singing coming from the top of the tower? He had to look. The voice was so exotic and soothing he had to find its owner.

As Isaiah went to the base of the tower, the old man jumped up and barred his way. He knew he had to proceed. Pushing the old man to one side Isaiah entered the tower; the steps seemed to climb up endlessly. They just went on and on, around the inside of the tower spiralling upwards. There was a noxious smell of rotten wood. The old man was cursing at him, laughing at him, almost like he knew what was at the top. Isaiah started to climb. It seemed to take forever. His legs were beginning to ache.

Halfway, Isaiah stopped for a moment to catch his breath and heard not a sound. All was still and quiet. What had happened to the voice? He looked back down; the old man was still below him, laughing at him. He felt deep in his heart he had to continue on, something else was pulling him now, the urge to quench his curiosity to find what was at the top.

Breathing heavily and sweating with exhaustion from heaving himself up the stairs, Isaiah had finally reached the top of the tower. There was a door. Heavy, wooden, with a brass lamp knocker.
Slowly he opened the door. And there sitting on a chair, rocking back and forth was a figure. As the door opened more he realized that it was a girl, young, beautiful and very frightened. Staring at him, she began to sing again. It was more glorious singing now, louder and clearer than he had heard it before.

Isaiah moved closer and the voice stopped. She jumped up. What a glorious site his eyes could see before him. This was his daughter, the one whom he had been searching for. She ran to Isaiah, arms wide-open, tears welling up in her eyes. Her father had come. They held each other tight for what seemed an eternity. He then noticed her touch was so cold, almost ice-like. He beckoned her to follow him, to return with him, back to her home, safe and sound.

She drew back, and shook her head. The air around her seemed to become colder. Isaiah realized then that she could not leave this forsaken place. Death's shadow hung over the tower. Death had taken his daughter, and locked her in this forsaken place, where she must live forever. If she ever steps outside, her soul will be lost, lost for all eternity.