[ WP ] A modern teenager is transported into a fantasy world , where they are forced into a quest with young witches and wizards their age . Fortunately , they 've got a backpack full of high-tech gizmos to help them along .

I stared at the wizened old man in front of me. I did n't even know how I had gotten here - wherever *here* was. I remembered opening my notebook for Chemistry, only instead of yesterday's notes about covalent bonds there was a bright purple portal that sucked me to friggin' Narnia or whatever. 
 
 `` A noble quest? Seriously?'' I rolled my eyes. `` How cliche can you get? Wait, wait, do n't tell me, there's an ancient prophecy saying that some unknown hero will come from a far-off land and defeat the ancient evil and bring a new era of peace and prosperity to the land?'' 
 
 The old man paused with his mouth open for several seconds. Yeah, that confirms that. Stupid prophecies, never liked the things. 
 
 `` It does n't matter if there's a prophecy, Taylor!'' he finally snapped. `` If nothing else, do it for the knowledge that you're helping us, that you're bettering yourself!'' 
 
 `` Blah blah,'' I said, rolling my eyes again. `` Whatever. I'll do it. Now I've seen how these stories work, you've probably got a group to help me already picked out, right?'' 
 
 `` You.... You have helped other lands from evils such as this?'' The man laughed with joy. `` Then perhaps we have hope after all! Come, come meet your fellow adventurers!'' 
 
 He grabbed my by the hand, and I almost tripped over my backpack, which I suddenly realized had been dragged through the portal with me by snagging on my leg. I bent down and threw it over my shoulder. It would probably be more comfortable than whatever packs these people had. And besides, my iPod and my Kindle were in there. Wherever the `` ancient evil'' was, we were n't going to be getting there any time soon, and I had no intention of getting bored. 
 
 We reached the back of his cabin and I saw two other children around my own age, sparring. One was a tall handsome boy wearing heavy armor and twirling a sword as though it were a natural extension of his body, and the other was a scrawny girl with long flowing robes who was deflecting his blows using some form of magic. I could n't help but laugh at the cliche-ness of the whole situation, which drew their attention to us. They approached us, both glancing me over before turning to the old man. 
 
 `` Is this the best you could bring us?'' the boy asked haughtily. `` She does n't look like she could last a minute in a fight!'' 
 
 `` Hush, Thomas,'' the girl said quietly. `` You can not see her aura as I can. There is something different about her, an aspect to her aura I have never before seen.'' 
 
 `` Yeah, yeah, we start off disliking each other until the first accident on our little quest, at which point we realize that everyone needs everyone else and we all hold hands and sing Kumbaya,'' I muttered. `` So what's this quest all about, anyway?'Ancient evil' does n't exactly narrow it down. What're we dealing with? World-eating dragon? Immortal demigod? A boy band?'' 
 
 The old man gestured us to a table, where a map had been laid out. Pointing to a fortress shaped like a skull - I swear, I could not make this up - and said `` Here is the stronghold of the Necromancer of Rek'shan. He has held the world in his grip for generations, only pockets of resistance capable of -'' 
 
 I interrupted him. ``... Capable of standing against him, surviving in secret until true heroes can yadda yadda yadda. Great. Does he have a weakness or anything?'' 
 
 The old man pointed at the boy. `` His sword is forged from star-metal, from the star that fell when the Necromancer rose to power. The planets shall align in mere weeks. Should he be stabbed with this sword in this time, he will be defenseless.'' 
 
 Typical. 
 
 _____________________ 
 
 It took us two weeks to get to the fortress. Two weeks of living outside, not even making a fire so as to hide from... whatever they called the legions of doom or whatever, it was awful. There was a part of me that was glad to be about to fight the Necromancer, if only because it meant we would be inside. 
 
 `` There are three doors, tests, barriers to entry,'' said Athgar, the witch-girl, as we slowly approached the main gate. `` Legend says that the first door is opened by a test of magic, so I'll be the one to do that. The second door is opened by a test of resolve, so that will probably be Thomas. The third door is a test of knowledge, so... We'll see who can deal with that.'' 
 
 `` What, you do n't think it'll be one test for each of us?'' I asked sarcastically. 
 
 `` Need I remind you of three days ago,'' asked Thomas, `` when you mistook poison elm for maple when relieving yourself? I hardly think you can be counted on for a test of knowledge.'' 
 
 My retort was cut short by movement at the gate. We had arrived, and the test was beginning. Two large gargoyles flanking the gate came to life at our approach. One opened its mouth to speak. 
 
 *If ye seek entry, a test you must pass. Only those strong in magic can succeed. * 
 
 Agathar stepped forward. `` Let my magic be tested!'' she said loudly. The second gargoyle responded. 
 
 *Make ye a light to shine into my eyes. But be warned: if the light doth enter my brother's eye, ye shall fail. * 
 
 Agathar paled. Turning to us, she whispered `` Guys.... I do n't know if I can do that... They're so close, anything I do to one would be seen by the other... The only option I'm seeing -'' 
 
 `` Oh for crying out loud, get out of the way,'' I snapped, bending down to dig through my backpack. Why is it that everything you need falls down to the bottom when you need it? 
 
 Standing up, I turned to the gargoyles and aimed my laser pointer directly into the statue's eye. Magic, photon receptor, it's all the same deal. The gargoyles stirred, then returned to their positions alongside the gate. 
 
 *Your magic is strong. You may pass. * 
 
 The gate swung open. 
 
 __________________________ 
 
 `` Okay, the test of resolve,'' said Thomas. `` Seems to be something behind this door, can you hear it?'' 
 
 I could. It was like a faint screaming. Stepping forward, I put my hand flat against the door. 
 
 `` Definitely a lot of noise in there. You can feel the vibrations.'' 
 
 `` The Hall of Wailing!'' Agathar exclaimed. `` It's full of banshees.... I thought it was a myth! Supposedly they'll only stop their wailing if someone can open the door at the other end of the hall. They usually drive people insane before then though.'' 
 
 `` How do we get me through?'' Thomas asked. 
 
 `` Well, in the stories an ancient druid got through by filling his ears with beeswax, but we do n't exactly have any of that... We could try making do with cotton, but... Taylor! What are you do- AAAGGGGHHHH!'' 
 
 I opened the door and slipped through. Apparently the noise was deafening, even outside. I hoped they would be okay, but for the time being I had bigger things to worry about. 
 
 The hall was bigger than I had expected. Must have been two football fields across. Above me I could see the spectral banshees, mouths agape, screaming endless screams. When I finally reached the opposite side and threw open the door, they and their screams vanished into nothingness. 
 
 I turned and began to walk back, but my companions were already entering. Apparently their hearing was n't gone permanently, that was good. I leaned against the doorway and waited for them to reach me. 
 
 `` By the gods, what were you thinking?'' Agathar shouted at me. `` You could have been killed!'' 
 
 `` More importantly,'' said Thomas slowly, `` how did n't you?'' 
 
 I pulled my headphones out of my ears, and reaching into my pocket, turned off my iPod. 
 
 `` I went through a Scene phase when I was younger. Never cleared this thing off. So I threw on some Evanescence. I figured if you're already listening to one wailing banshee, what're a few more?''
