Hike to the castle
From Create Your Own Story
You decide to walk to the castle this afternoon. You did want to get out and enjoy the countryside, after all.
You start up the trail toward the castle. The trail's in bad condition. In fact, you're not sure a car could get up here at all. There was clearly never any pavement, and weeds have grown up between the ruts. It's also steeper than it looked from the bottom. It's definitely a hike.
The trees are getting thicker, and it's hard to tell how far you've gone. You're starting to wonder if you've taken the wrong path entirely, or if you should turn back and wait for Hans tomorrow, when you come to a clearing.
In front of you stands the castle. The forest is pulled back from it like it doesn't want to get too close. Or perhaps that's just your imagination. It's in better condition than it looked like from the highway. The walls in this section are still intact, and most of the turrets still whole and upright. One of the towers has caved in and knocked down some of the stonework. The setting sun lights everything up quite brilliantly, and lends a bit of life to this desolate place. It's all rather beautiful. You wonder why no one has kept it up. Wait, the setting sun?
You turn and look. The sun is low on the horizon. The walk up must have taken longer than you thought. You're not going to make it back before dark. You pull out your mini flashlight and flick it on. Nothing. No light. You open it up and discover that it has no batteries.
You should really get back to the town before nightfall. But what if you don't make it? What if you're stuck hiking through the woods in the pitch dark?
Or, you could spend the night in the castle. There should be enough light to find a suitable place to sleep.
Suddenly, the castle takes on a much more foreboding look, and the shadows in the forest seem much deeper and darker.
