Darkmoor
Page 4
While Catherine held her breath, (remembering the last bird that she and Matthew had helped), the dove brushed her soft, silk feathers along Matthew’s hand.
“Come on it’s ok. I won’t hurt you,” Matthew spoke softly, reassuring the bird.
Trustingly, the dove stepped into Matthew’s muddy hand. Slowly he took his hand out of the silver cage and lowered her to the ground.
Free from Matthew’s grip, she opened up her pure white wings. They sparkled with the light of the moon and lifting herself up into the dark sky, the dove took to the air.
Dancing in the strips of moonlight, her beautiful wings twinkled like fairy dust. Awakened by the dove’s presence, tiny stars scattered across the sky line. An overwhelming feeling of comfort filled Matthew and Catherine, as together they watched her silhouette gracing the night sky.
Finally, the dove hovered above Matthew and Catherine. Sprinkling what appeared to be fairy dust upon them both, she guided them along the muddy paths. They followed trustingly behind her, hoping she was leading them to shelter, or better still, home.
Suddenly, from out of the darkness, sounded a didgeridoo. It caused the ground to shudder.
“What is that?” Catherine asked as her eyes bulged.
“I don’t know,” Matthew replied.
Just then, flaming arrows shot over the woodlands and started to set alight the dark sky.
The dove started to flap her wings faster and the two youngsters jogged on behind her.
Leading them off the river side and through a break in the trees, the bird began to coo. Another low tone rumbled and a dozen more fiery arrows blazed overhead.
“It’s ok, I can see them, they’re with Dove.”
“Seize fire!”
Pushing their way through the broken branches, Matthew and Catherine finally managed to follow the dove deeper into the woodlands. Dove began to flap rapidly forcing herself up high into the sky, until eventually she was out of sight.
Feeling completely alone, Matthew and Catherine tiptoed further into the forest. It wasn’t long before they discovered the true reason the dove had brought them into the forest.
Towering high into the sky were two thick wooden gates, held in place by two solid pillars which stood tall like candlesticks. Dazzling, fiery bright amber light flickered out from the tops of the pillars.
“Oh my,” Matthew gasped.
“What the,” Catherine stuttered.
Stepping closer, Catherine noticed something was engraved in the withered wooden gates. Nervously, Catherine placed her finger onto the etchings. At first she flinched and pulled her hand back, but then regaining her original stance, Catherine once again placed her fingers back into the carved out wood.
Twirling them around, she spelt out the letters in her head.
“What is it, Catherine?” Matthew asked.
“There’s writing on the gate,” Catherine answered pointing towards it, offering Matthew to read it for himself.
Intriguingly, Matthew started to slither his fingers across the slimy, moist surface, before sounding out the words.
“The forgotten”
“What do you think that means?” Matthew asked Catherine, wiping the slimy goo on his jeans.
But just then, the heavy wooden gates started to creak. Taking a step back Catherine whispered, “I think we’re going to find out.”
As the doors began to open, a burning light filtered out through the narrow gap and an aroma of burning logs surrounded them. Matthew and Catherine basked in the heat of the fiery warmth. The didgeridoo rumbled once more and finally the gates opened wide.
Orange, red and yellow flames climbed up into the night sky, accompanied by the sound of the wood cracking under the fires intense heat. Together they walked towards the giant camp fire, and anxiously entered the land of ‘The forgotten.’
Chapter Six
The Forgotten – Part 1
The heavy wooden gates slammed shut. A shadow emerged from the smoke of the fire, and excitedly trotted towards them.
“Hi, you made it,” said the young man who was approaching them.
Matthew and Catherine stood there bewildered as the young man continued, “I’m Nathan and you are?” he asked trying to engage them into conversation.
“Oh sorry, I’m Catherine and this is Matthew.”
“Well we’re all glad you’re here, follow me,” Nathan smiled.
Nathan’s sandy blonde hair rested upon his shoulders. A thick wavy beard came to a point off the end of his chin, and his piercing blue eyes smiled comfortingly towards Matthew and Catherine.
Surrounding the fire was a carpet of mud, and piles of wood were scattered around. Five circular shelters surrounded the camp fire in a horseshoe shape, and each one appeared to be hand made out of hardened mud. Individual wooden doors and small gaps had been created to allow some light in. Broken tree branches entwined together sat on top of the mud huts, acting as roofs. Raindrops dripped down from the roofs and formed puddles, which ran around the huts like moats.
High upon the perimeter wall, which encapsulated the camp, sat three human figures. All three were armed with bows and flaming arrows, apparently guarding the ‘forgotten.’
“There are ten of us here now,” Nathan commented in a matter of fact manner. Nathan continued by rhyming their names off, “Andrew, Claire, Jasmine, and not forgetting our most recent, Thomas and Isabella...”
“Wait, who?” Catherine asked interrupting Nathan.
Nathan slowly repeated, “Thomas and Isabella. They arrived about-”
“Two weeks ago,” Catherine said quickly finishing Nathan’s sentence.
Catherine stared into the fire. She watched the flames dancing to the tune of the wood crackling. Her legs turned to jelly causing her to fall down onto her knees. Placing her head into her hands, Catherine wept.
Shrugging his shoulders, Matthew turned to a bewildered Nathan.
“How do you know that?” Nathan asked Catherine calmly kneeling down next to her.
“Because, I know them,” Catherine sobbed.
Nathan stood up, scratching his overgrown beard he turned and walked towards the muddy shelters.
“Please,” Matthew spoke grabbing Nathan’s arm, “please tell us what this place is and how we can get home?”
Turning back to face Matthew, Nathan’s eyes softened, placing his hand upon Matthew’s shoulders he said, “I will, I promise, but first I have to tell the others you’re here.”
With that, Nathan walked off into the mud huts reassuring the others that it was safe to come out. One by one the camper’s emerged, reluctantly at first, but eventually they made their way towards the two new arrivals.
Nathan looked up towards the three soldiers and shouted, “Olli! Claude! Reuben! Come down and meet our latest recruits!”
Upon hearing Nathan’s orders, the three soldiers’ gave him the thumbs up in unison. Dipping their flaming arrows into buckets of water, they began making their way down towards the centre of the camp.
Matthew helped Catherine up from the dirt. She had just about managed to stop herself from crying, when out of the first mud hut two small children charged towards her.
“Cathy! Cathy is that you?”
“Cathy! Cathy!”
Immediately Catherine recognised those tiny voices. Opening her arms wide she called back, “Thomas, Isabella!”
Rushing into Catherine’s open arms, Isabella and Thomas giggled with glee. Catherine’s eyes filled with tears of joy.
“It’s so good to see you both, how did you end up here?” Catherine asked pulling herself away from their warm hug.
“Come and sit next to the fire,” Isabella said holding Catherine’s hand. Pulling her closer to the roaring fire, Matthew followed. Catherine and Matthew sat down on a couple of tree stumps which circled the fire.
“Well everyone, this is Matthew and Catherine,” Nathan introduced them and a bunch of
strangers smiled sympathetically towards them.
“Hi,” they said in return, shyly waving their hands.
Nathan asked every one to take to their stumps, “Ok, so you already know Isabella and Thomas.”
“Get off Nath Nath,” Isabella chuckled as Nathan squeezed her chubby rosy red cheeks. Isabella had beautiful golden curls which flopped wildly around her face and as her big brown eyes looked up towards Nathan, he couldn’t resist bending down and hugging her. Isabella chuckled even more, which soon became an infectious laugh around the camp.
“Oh you are a cutie Issy busy!” Nathan gave her a final squeeze then, as he walked past Thomas, ruffled his hair which caused Matthew to reminisce.
“It’s ok” Dad said as he ruffled his fingers through my hair, “lots of girls giggle at our Matty, don’t they son!”
“Give over Dad!” I said shoving my Dad’s hand away...
“Matthew! Matthew! Are you ok?” Catherine’s faded voice brought Matthew round from his daydream.
“Yeah, yeah I’m fine,” Matthew whispered as he brought his attention back to Nathan.
Thomas grinned. Placing his tongue between the gap, where two front teeth were missing, Thomas wiggled his tongue towards Nathan.
“Oh you cheeky monkey, I’ll have that Tommy tongue next time,” Nathan said snipping his fingers like pincers towards Thomas.
Next to Thomas was another young man, probably in his late twenties.
“Hi I’m Andrew,” Andrew stood up and walked over to shake Matthew and Catherine’s hand. Then he returned to sit back on his stump.
Next to Andrew was Claire and Jasmine. Nathan smoothly kissed the back of their hands whilst introducing them.
“Oh Nathan! Get off,” Jasmine said wiping the back of her hand down her pants.
Claire didn’t seem to mind his affection. Her eyes lit up to his tender touch. Winking towards her, Nathan then carried on around the circle.
The three soldiers had now taken to their stumps.
“And these three,” Nathan said as he pointed towards the three African boys, “are Olli, Claude and Reuben.”
“Hi I’m Reuben,” the oldest of the three said and lent over to greet Matthew and Catherine, “this is my brother, Olli-”
“Hi,” Olli said and waved towards them.
“And this is my other brother, Claude.”
“Hi,” Matthew and Catherine said in unison.
Catherine asked, “Are you triplets?”
“No!” Claude said abruptly.
“Oh I’m sorry, it’s just you all look so alike.”
“It’s ok, Catherine,” Reuben said, “I am the oldest, then Claude, then our Olli.”
Catherine couldn’t help but stare at their amazing hair styles. They all had the biggest Afros she had ever seen.
“Our hair wasn’t like this when we arrived,” Reuben commented.
“I didn’t mean to stare,” Catherine quickly spoke.
“Ha, don’t worry about it. Being in here you forget about looking good and of course, there are no hairdressers!” Reuben smiled at Catherine.
“Right then, I think that’s everyone,” Nathan said.
At that moment, a booming knock at the wooden doors silenced them all. The fire flickered frantically as the atmosphere chilled around the camp.
Crash, boom, bang, the sound once more echoed throughout.
“Darkmoor,” Matthew whispered under his breath. Matthew’s heart began thumping hard, as the knocking became more persistent.
Matthew could feel himself becoming increasingly agitated. Catherine fixed her eyes upon him and both Nathan and Andrew gave the order for Jasmine and Claire to take everyone into their shelters.
“Quickly, to the shelters now,” Jasmine said calmly, not wanting to frighten Isabella and Thomas, who were innocently watching everyone rushing around. Catherine picked Thomas up and Claude quickly scooped Isabella up into his arms.
“Matthew! Matthew! Come on!” Catherine called down to Matthew, who was transfixed with the dancing flames of the fire.
Darkmoor’s eyes burnt into mine, as across the white misty river, we faced each other. His deep grinding voice shouted, “Matthew! Catherine! I look forward to seeing you both again soon!”
“Matthew…”Jasmine crouched down at his side. Placing her arms around his shoulders, she softly spoke, “Look at me, Matthew.”
Vacantly, Matthew looked up into Jasmine’s eyes.
“Come on, come with me,” Jasmine said gently easing Matthew to his feet.
“It’s me he wants, Jasmine,” Matthew blurted out.
Jasmine quizzed “Who?”
“Darkmoor!”
Just saying his name drained Matthew’s body of colour and energy. His eyes rolled back in his head and his heavy body flopped lifelessly into Jasmine’s arms.
“No!” Jasmine called, “Reuben help!!”
Chapter Seven
The Forgotten – Part 2
Together, Reuben and Jasmine carried Matthew’s limp body into one of the shelters. Placing him slowly onto the floor, Reuben whispered, “Poor kid.”
“I know,” agreed Jasmine, “but you know Reuben, he spoke of Darkmoor.”
“So,” Reuben murmured as he stood peering through the tiny gaps.
“So, how does he know about him?” Jasmine asked.
“I don’t know,” shrugged Reuben.
“Look,” Jasmine started, “when we arrived here we didn’t know where we were, or who Darkmoor was, right?”
“Right,” Reuben said in agreement.
“So....”Jasmine held her arms open, anxiously waiting for Reuben to answer. “Come on Reuben!” Jasmine shouted impatiently, “how does he know!?”
Reuben looked sharply at Jasmine, “You think he’s actually met Darkmoor?”
Clapping sarcastically Jasmine grinned, “Yes, finally, flipping heck Reuben.”
“Alright,” Reuben accepted, with a somewhat vacant look.
Squatting down in a separate mud hut, Catherine and Claude clung tightly to Thomas and Isabella. Catherine didn’t know what to say, without Matthew she felt vulnerable and alone.
“So, you and Matthew,” Claude started, “are you brother and sister?”
“No, we hardly know each other,” Catherine smiled nervously, “we are sort of, well you know.”
“Friends?” Claude asked.
“Yeah I suppose so,” Catherine swallowed hard. “You see he moved in across the road and I had to go and see, even though my Mum didn’t want me too, but the crow. Well I had to know if he was ok,” Catherine paused for breath, not making sense as she spoke, “and anyway here we are.”
Claude shuffled closer to Catherine. Isabella was fast asleep in Claude’s arms, Thomas tried his hardest to stay awake, but finally gave into temptation.
Claude gently placed Isabella into one of the handmade beds. Each one consisting of green vines interwoven together and tree stumps were used to elevate the beds up, out of the mud. Isabella opened her eyes as Claude covered her little body with a smelly old blanket.
“Goodnight little cutie,” Claude whispered gently.
“Goodnight Claude,” Isabella responded in her angelic voice.
Then bending down, Claude kissed her forehead. Isabella closed her eyes once more and fell fast asleep.
“Here, give me Thomas,” Claude whispered taking Thomas’ sleepy body from Catherine. Thomas flopped effortlessly into Claude’s arms, then just had he had done with Isabella, Claude covered Thomas’ sleeping body. Catherine smiled.
Suddenly, Nathan’s voiced echoed throughout the mud huts, “It’s ok, it’s only Sam.”
“Who’s Sam?” Catherine asked Claude.
“She’s in charge.”
“Oh,” Catherine said puzzled, “I thought Nathan was.”
“Yeah, that’s what Nathan thinks too!” Claude laughed as he strolled back out towards the fire.
“So, where are the new comers?” Sam’s Scottish voice boomed.
Catherine watched and waited for Matthew to step forward, but nothing.
The crowd in front of Catherine parted, as she walked uneasily through the camp towards Sam.
“I’m here Miss,” Catherine bowed her head. ‘Where was Matthew?’ she thought.
“You must be Catherine?” Sam asked.
Slowly Catherine lifted her head. Standing straight in front of her was a small stocky woman, whose hair was braided and pulled back from her face allowing her emerald eyes to shine.
Handing her bow and arrow to Nathan, Sam introduced herself, “I’m Sam, you didn’t come alone did you, Catherine?”
“No,” Catherine stuttered, “I came with Matthew.”
“Hum,” said Sam moving away from Catherine, “well, where is he?”
Sam stared past Catherine, noticing that a young man was standing in the doorway of the hut. Catherine quickly turned her head, glad that Matthew was at last present.
Stepping past Catherine, Sam headed towards Matthew.
Placing her arm across his shoulder she whispered, “So, Matthew, Jasmine tells me you have met Darkmoor?”
Matthew looked into Sam’s eyes. A shiver shot down his spine as she mentioned Darkmoor’s name. Opening his mouth to speak, his throat became dry.
“Listen to me, Matthew,” Sam’s soft voice turned stern, “I don’t want anymore talk of Darkmoor, we will talk afterwards, just me and you, is that clear?” Sam’s word’s sounded more like an ordered than a request. Unsure of what to say, Matthew said nothing, and giving Sam a crooked grin, he followed her down to the camp fire.
Perching himself next to Catherine, Matthew asked, “Are you ok?”
“I am now, what did Sam want with you?” Catherine lowered her voice, not wanting Sam, or the others to hear her.
“She just said she wanted to talk to me after supper that’s all,” Matthew replied casually, not wanting to unnerve Catherine.