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Ever since that stupid portal showed up in my room, life has been nothing but hard. As a kid that has waited his whole life for an adventure, I didn’t think before I stepped in to the mysterious, dark puddle rimmed with light. How was I supposed to know that it led to the deadliest place in the world, Nekiman, the realm of monsters?

I can’t even remember how long I’ve been here. A year, maybe? More? I’ve almost gotten used to this way of life. Slaying monster creeps that want to suck the flesh off your bones, breathlessly running for your life . . . being alone. The monsters are blind, but certainly not deaf. They hear everything. That’s why I made new shoes out of the softest moss and the thinnest vines, then got rid of my clunky boots.

As I walked stealthily through the dark forest, trying to find the place she had described, I clutched the colorful crystal that the Queen of Lies had given me. Would it really create a portal to bring me back home? Why would I trust her? She is the Queen of Lies after all. I kept going, counting my steps. Suddenly, a bat-like creature flew by my face. I barely kept myself from crying out. The monsters feed on screams, I reminded myself.

Then I saw it—the glowing pond. I paddled to the middle of the frigid pool, heart pounding. I dove down to the bottom and placed the crystal into the hollow of a flat, shining stone. As I came to the surface, I saw a portal a few feet away from the bank. The inside of it was dark, so I couldn’t tell what lay on the other side. A million thoughts swarmed around my head, but the one that kept repeating was: Am I really going home?

I had to try.