Keeper

Over the past millennium, science and medicine has advanced so far as to put miracles in the hands of men. Many of the diseases that were fatal merely five hundred years ago now have cures or at least treatments thanks to the brilliant minds of man. That being so, there's still one fatal infirmity humanity has yet to overcome, and that's mortality. For those devoted enough, however, there is yet a way. Located just off the East Coast of North America somewhere is a shrine dating as far back as the earliest recorded civilizations. Lost to the ages now, there is but one path to this shrine, and it still sends its call, as if daring the hardiest of man to make that perilous voyage. If you find yourself in Savannah, GA someday and think you'd like to play your hand at immortality, simply hop in your car and continue east out of town along E President Street and continue along it until it turns into Islands Expressway. If the forces deem you worthy, or if they're simply in the mood to watch in amusement as you throw your life away, the sky will darken with rainclouds-even if it was clear and blue only moments before-and the forest about you will seem to glow. Keep your eyes peeled and you should see a turn-off into the woods a few minutes after this happens. Now if you're carrying a map you'll probably notice this path is not indicated anywhere on it, but pay that no heed. Continue along the tight and densely overgrown path at a slow pace, for if you go off the road here, you'll have no hope of ever finding your way out of this forest, and no tow-truck will ever find the turn-off to come retrieve you. Simply follow the path before you-for while there are many bends, there are no turn-offs from this one. The trees will only grow denser as you progress, until the limbs scrape like fingers along the top of your vehicle (you should probably note that it would be a very bad idea to undergo this journey in a convertible). Eventually, after approximately forty-five minutes to an hour of driving, you should come to a dead end, where the trees tighten about you like a noose around a doomed man's neck. If you have a GPS system in your car it will proclaim that you're about fifteen miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Do not attempt to reverse at this point, for you'll find that the path is no longer there. Check your watch, or your phone, or your car's read-out for the time, for regardless of the time of day not a single ray of light will spill through these densely packed trees. If it is dark out, or if it will be dark out within the next few hours do not open your door, and do not turn off your headlights. You may turn off your car every so often to save gas, but you'll want to crank it up again periodically to keep your battery from dying. If you let down your guard in this forest at night, you're as good as dead. If you were wise enough to start this trip early enough, and it's still light out, you may exit the car at this point. You'll notice the trees around you leaning in your direction, as if peering down at you curiously. In a loud assertive voice proclaim, 'I am here to claim my fate, and none here shall stand in my way.' You'll hear a sound behind you. When you turn to look you'll notice a small path that hadn't been there before. Do not hesitate, do not question it, simply walk purposefully forward and start down the path before you're trapped in that clearing indefinitely. The path may wind drastically, depending on which way you were facing when it was created, simply continue walking and do not look back, no matter how loud the rustling gets behind you. You'll soon find yourself ankle-deep in a swamp, and you may find the sound of frogs croaking a soothing change from the forest's lively rustling. It would be most wise at this point to find the longest thickest branch you can, for the marshes of Georgia can hide the nastiest creatures in only a foot of water, so you'll need to feel your way along like a blind man. Only about 10 yards from the forest-line the land drops off into the ocean, and unless the forces are feeling part