• Jacob Lewis Rosse was incredibly unhappy, he was tired of going to work in his little cubicle for pay that barely kept his apartment in his name. Jacob hated that apartment, well not really, he simply hated that every morning he went into the bathroom with the over sized mirror and that every morning Jacob had to see what he had become. His once Army toughened body had now softened into a shadow of it old self, and the paunch made him sick. There in the mirror, Jacob would stare with a frown at his balding black hair silvering slowly even though he was only thirty-three and at the depressed grey eyes that had once held such spark set in his pale, flabby face.
    After this ritual of self hating, Jacob would place on his drab business attire. Just another hamster. He would think to himself as he put on his clip on tie every morning, walking slouched to the door he would see his little potted cactus. A fake potted catus, I can't even take care of something that will grow in Satan's arse. Into his little compact car he would go, ignoring the screeching of the tires as he left his parking complex to drive the same route to work. Five days a week, every week of the year; Jacob didn't take vacations, vacation were spent with loved ones so he didn't take them.
    Jacob was happy with this routine, he told himself every day. This was obviously a lie so it was no surprise when the opportunity arose, that he detoured. This opportunity came in the form of a giant, hallow square made of what seemed to be polished sandstone with veins of silver running through it.
    What the hell is this thing? Jacob wondered, looking around for someone to ask this question but no one was to be had. Staring at the stone he found it strangely beautiful. I wonder if it's as smooth as it looks. He thought as his hand touched the stone and everything went black.
    When Jacob awoke he first felt what seemed to be sand touching his neck. Opening his eyes, saw a blue light in the corner of his eye close to the horizon. Jacob jumped up quickly and looked around. He saw the square and a pedestal of the same substances but what really grabbed his attention was the setting; sand, nothing but sand as far as the eye could see. Jacob turned full circle, attempting to rub away the vision and then chuckled to himself. "What an odd dream I'm having."
    "No, this is most certainly real, Mr. Rosse."
    Jacob looked around again. "Very odd dream."
    "I can assure it's not a dream, Mr. Rosse. Dreams usually aren't this hot to my understanding."
    He's right, it is very hot. I thought you couldn't feel- "So, if I'm not dreaming then where am I?"
    "Your in the Forgotten Lands and the only way out is in the direction of that setting sun. I suggest you get a move on, you only have so much time."
    ". . . Very funny, what the hell is going on here? Where are you hiding." Jacob responded, looking for the speaker.
    "You looking right at me, silly. Haven't you ever met a talking stone before."
    Jacob stepped closer to the stone and place he ear next to it, just to jump back as the stone spoke again. "I'm not lying."
    "What ARE you?!"
    "I'm a stone, what does it look like I am?"
    ". . . A rock?"
    "A stone thank you, now that we have that settled I suggest you take my advice and start moving. I cannot stress the time limit thing."
    "What time limit?"
    "The one before you become permanently lost like the other ones." The Stone responded.
    ". . . What ones?"
    "Oh I haven't given you the run through yet? I must apologize, I haven't done this in a while. Let's see, I told you of the other gate?"
    "That's about all you've told me!"
    "No reason to be snippy, the Lost will do that for you and while we're on the subject. The Lost are individuals like yourself that have by an act of. . . fate?, been sent to this world. They, though have been here to long and have turned decidedly nasty apparently."
    "Nasty."
    "Yes, one of you people used that word to describe them after I mentioned they became cannibals after they mutated all the way, another person used the words 'cliche' and 'zombies'. I'm not sure what the last one meant and he didn't last long enough to answer it."
    Jacob's pants began to wet.
    "I wouldn't do that, liquids are precious here. Moving past biology, or more correctly new factors of it, you currently have some ability that is what you people term 'unnatural'. If you'll lay your hand atop me I can tell you what it is and about how long you have till you transform."
    Jacob complied, if only to do something other than shake.
    "Hmmm, you feel like your tuned with the sands, Been to a desert before have we?"
    "Uh-uh, yes sir. Gulf war."
    "What's a gulf? Never mind, you'll powers will show when you see a Lost; they always do. . . . Oh, and you have a month. Goodbye."
    "WHAT!?" Jacob screamed. "What do you mean I have a month? Til I become a CANNIBAL?! ANSWER ME!"
    The Stone was quiet and remained so long after Jacob had passed out, horse and foot sore from kicking and screaming at the pomp a** stone.


    ((Please post opinions or I can't improve on the next part of the Chronicle.))