A pebbled path weaved around the grave stones, an old rotten railing barricaded the graveyard and the ever present fog circled slowly around the outer wall.
Bowing his head, Matthew’s eyes were drawn to a name chiselled onto one of the solid headstones. He began to read them aloud, “Robert Peterson, Annabel Barrie, Sophie Mason-”
Sam abruptly interrupted, “Matthew, stop it, we don’t need a running commentary!”
“No, no of course not, sorry” Matthew replied apologetically.
Visible across the graveyard was a metal rusty gate, which was swinging loosely on its hinges. This (as Sam had informed them) was the gateway to Darkmoor’s castle, and although a huge volume of thick fog was keeping the castle from view, Matthew and Catherine trustingly followed her. Trudging along the path, Matthew couldn’t avoid his eyes being drawn to the headstones, and quietly to himself he started reading the names again.
Coming to a sudden halt, he paused for a moment in disbelief. Then stepping off the path, he moved closer to one of the graves.
Reaching out his hand, he placed it onto the hard, cold slab and weaved his finger along the chiselled letters. A look of disbelief drew across his face, his heart sank and stomach turned. He repeated the same motion over and over again.
Glancing up towards the girls, who had now both stopped, Matthew slowly read the name out loud, “Samantha Harris.”
Again Matthew repeated the name, “Samantha Harris.”
Sam froze, but Matthew continued to read aloud the name.
“Stop it Matthew, just stop it!” Sam instructed, her voice bouncing off the headstone and rattling the railings. “Just stop!”
“That can’t be you, Sam?” Matthew asked bewildered.
Without words, Sam sighed before nodding reluctantly.
“What!” Catherine gasped. “You’re dead!”
“How can this be?” Matthew’s anger filled voice boomed through the graveyard.
“You have a grave, you’re dead,” Catherine repeated shaking her head, vacantly looking at Matthew.
Ignoring Catherine’s words, Sam stepped towards Matthew, but he moved away, “Don’t touch me, don’t come anywhere near me!”
“Look, I know this must look odd, but please Matthew, you have to trust me.” Sam said softly trying to defuse the situation.
“Trust you! Who are you? This is your grave!!” Matthew shouted. His voice disturbed the calm fog as it arose from its pit.
“Matthew, look over there out of the fog, look!” Catherine called pointing towards the outer walls of the graveyard.
An eruption of wailing, screaming, and crying all blended into one depressing noise from within the fog.
Then one by one, out of the fog they crawled, like scavenging dogs hunting the next feast: zombie like creatures began to pursue the two youngsters. Covered in torn white rags which scraped along the mud, their empty hollow eyes stared intently towards them. Each blood hunting zombie growled with gnashing fang- like teeth. Droplets of blood dripped from their mouths. An uncountable number of them lined up on the other side before clambering over the rotten railings.
“What is this place?” Matthew said throwing Sam a killer look.
“I really want to go home now Matthew,” a tearful Catherine said.
“You two need to get out of here!” Sam ordered them whilst positioning an arrow onto her bow, “I will keep them here, Darkmoor wants you Matthew, so go!”
Suddenly, just the mention of his name made Matthew feel dizzy, and the torturous sounds of the graveyard began to fade away.
I am standing here, at the river bank, trying to find somewhere to cross. The fog is all around me, and it’s making my body cold. I can hear her voice calling for me, “Catherine, I’m coming” I shout in the hope of reassuring her, but I can still hear her cries.
He’s here. Darkmoor’s here. Standing in front of me looking down at me, then he lifts his head up towards the sky and lets out a caw!
I have to save Catherine, I have to defeat him, I have to...
“Matthew, run!” Sam ordered again bringing Matthew back round from his trance. Not needing to be told a third time, Matthew grabbed Catherine’s arm and headed for the exit gate.
“Come on, we’re not dying here today!” Matthew promised.
Running past the headstones they eventually reached the castle’s gateway. Matthew took one more glance across the now living graveyard as Sam fired piercing arrows from her bow.
Like a battle field, only with sinister zombies, Sam stood like a soldier on the front line, ready for battle.
“We can’t just leave her Catherine,” Mathew said.
“Yes we can, you heard her and besides she’s already dead, remember!”
Sensing Matthew and Catherine were still watching, Sam barked another order, “You two get out of here… now!!”
“Well you heard her Matthew, let’s go,” Catherine said gripping tightly hold of Matthew’s hand. Together they turned and forced open the crooked gate.
They leapt into the swirling fog, which wrapped , as quickly as it had formed, the fog rapidly evaporated.
“Oh my,” Catherine gasped, her jaw dropped and her eyes widened.
The graveyard had completely vanished and silence had fallen. They stood completely alone on the moors of Darkmoor’s land.
Stretched upwards before them, were about a hundred stone steps which sank into the climbing hillside. Nervously, Matthew looked up towards the top of the hill. Perched high in top was a medieval castle.
“Well I’m guessing this is it?” Matthew said looking down at Catherine, who looked amazed at the medieval palace.
“Yeah I think your right,” Catherine replied.
The steps in front of them led up to the entrance which was a stone archway, situated centrally on the front wall. The castle was battered, weathered and worn. Tiny pieces of stone occasionally broke free, bouncing off the walls before crashing down the hillside. Small rectangular stone windows were scattered randomly around the castle, each one aglow with what seemed like flickering candlelight.
Four protruding circle stone towers hugged the outer crumbling walls. Bats darted in between the turrets and around the castle’s flagpole. At first glance the flag looked completely black, but as the wind died, the flag hung still, and its picture was that of a crow.
The air around them grew colder, and overhead a thumping thunder clattered and crashed, followed shortly by ripples of lightning, which shot down around the hillside, highlighting the castles battle scars.
“Caw, caw,” that call sent a shiver down Matthew’s spine. Protectively he grabbed Catherine. Crow called again.
Matthew breathed heavy and gazed up towards the top of the castle. Proudly perched perfectly on top of the flagpole, was the all too Clever Crow.
“There you are,” Matthew uttered under his breath.
His smooth coat sparkled majestically in the stormy moonlight. His beady eyes eagerly watched his two tiny intruders below. This was Crow’s castle, Crow’s home, and no one was moving in uninvited.
Crow opened up his powerful wings and effortlessly hopped up into the raging sky. Wonderfully he camouflaged himself against the black backdrop of the night sky. Only glimmers of moonlight gave away his splendour.
Letting out a caw, the crow spiralled above his castle, all the while watching Matthew and Catherine. Knowing he had their full attention, he swooped down momentarily out of sight behind the castle’s walls. Then, gathering speed, Crow shot back up into the sky and disappeared. Crow was gone.
“Where do you think he’s gone?” Catherine asked nervously.
“Probably in the castle waiting,” Matthew replied. “Are you ready?” Matthew added confidentially without looking at Catherine, but keeping his eye’s fixed on the castle.
She swallowed hard and just about managed to answer, “I think so.”
This was it, it was now or never. Knowing t
hat he must face whatever was hidden behind the castle walls, bravely they started to climb the long stone steps, ever closer, towards Darkmoor’s castle.
Chapter Thirteen
Darkmoor revealed
With every step, Matthew could feel his heart drumming inside his chest.
“You ok, Catherine?” Matthew asked, as Catherine walked nervously behind him breathing heavily. All the while they watched anxiously for Crow to reappear.
“Yeah,” she replied. Clearly she was petrified, but she’d gotten use to getting on with things.
When they had almost reached the top step, the hillside seemed to drift further and further away.
Finally, they reached the open archway. Walking through the cobbled alley way, the smell of damp drifted in the air, and at the far end of the alley shone a bright blinding light. Allowing the light to lead them, they continued.
Upon reaching the end of the alley, the glowing light brightened, revealing more and more of this dangerous place.
Before long, Matthew and Catherine found themselves stood centre stage in an open aired Roman-like theatre. Above them a roof of night spanned across.
“What the!” Matthew gasped.
“I don’t like this Matthew,” Catherine shivered.
Just then, the theatre became aglow with fierce candlelight, only this time it wasn’t a warming glow, but an angry flicker. As the light reflected off the surrounding walls, it truly revealed how vast the space around them was.
“What is this place?” Matthew muttered darting his eyes around the theatre.
Dotted around were thick stone pillars, each one reaching up into the sky. Surrounding Matthew and Catherine, in a horse shoe shape, stone tiers climbed several hundred feet, until the dark sky swallowed the tops of them.
“I think we should leave, we should never have come here without Sam,” Catherine warned, looking desperately at Matthew.
He looked down at her fear filled eyes. He knew, deep down, that this was an almost impossible mission, but also deep down he knew that it would have to be made possible. An inward battle took place in Matthew’s head. The wiser appeared to be cautious as Matthew agreed with Catherine.
Turning to run back down the alley, a ruffled croaky voice spoke out of the darkness, “Don’t forget me.”
A long thin dark shadow accompanied that somewhat familiar voice. From within the alley emerged a figure and the candlelight lit up her face. Lifting her hand to wave towards them, she silently mouthed, “Hello.”
“Sam!” Catherine called, and before Matthew had chance to stop her, she rushed over towards a weary Sam. Managing to find the energy, she embraced Catherine tightly.
“Hi Matthew, don’t I get a hug from you?” Sam asked her voice still sounding raw. “Are you not glad to see me?” Sam asked whilst squeezing Catherine harder.
“Ok Sam,” Catherine began, trying to pull herself away from Sam’s hold, “you can let go now, please you’re hurting me!”
Sam didn’t respond, rather she was focusing her burning eyes deep into Matthew.
“Sam, let her go!” Matthew ordered sternly. He could feel his hand starting to throb, but this time he would not let the pain overcome him.
“I said let her go!” Matthew shouted again.
Upon raising his voice, Sam’s eyes flashed black. Her voice grew deeper, “You fool Matthew. Did you really think it would be this easy?” Looking up towards the stormy sky, Sam threw her head back and out of her roared an evil laughter.
As Sam released Catherine from her grip, Matthew rushed over to her and protectively hunched over her.
The castle began to shake violently, Sam’s laughter filled the theatre and above them an almighty storm broke out, sending rain hammering into the arena.
The white fog awakened and crawled its way through the alleyway, wrapping itself around Sam, cocooning her body and lifting her up into the sky.
Letting out another evil bellow of laughter, the thunder roared in approval and gave out an electric bolt which battered the castle walls.
“Let’s get out,” Matthew shouted trying to help Catherine to her feet. “Come on!”
Dragging Catherine to her feet, they sprinted with all their might towards the exit.
The storm came to an abrupt halt and retreated. Catherine and Matthew’s relentless misery continued, as the sound of howls rang throughout Darkmoor. Gradually getting louder, the howls echoed off the storm damaged walls. Then one by one, marching through the alleyway came Darkmoor’s monstrous army.
“We’re dead this time!” Catherine cried, nodding towards the wolf-lizards.
“Catherine, come here,” Matthew spoke quietly reaching out for her hand.
The wolf-lizards circled a petrified Matthew and Catherine. They slammed their fiery tongues down onto the slab floor and the theatre shuddered. Their rotten stale breath breathed onto the youngsters, and salvia dripped uncontrollably from their jaws. Their bulging black eyes filled with delight as they eagerly anticipated their long over due feast. Then another bout of howls erupted around the theatre as the wolf-lizards grew in excitement.
“Silentium!” a voice ordered, immediately causing the wolf-lizards to stand upright. Matthew recognised that all too familiar voice. It had tortured him, caused him pain; it had been a constant voice inside his head and now it was more real than ever. The blood underneath Matthew’s skin bubbled up with anger. The wolf-lizards looked at each other. Matthew knew exactly who that deep, smooth raw voice belonged to.
A deafening silence fell, without instruction the wolf-lizard’s parted. A tall slim shadow stretched over the theatre floor. Matthew looked up, firstly seeing black boots coated with mud, then a long black coat swaying from side to side. Matthew looked further up the figure, his heart racing, his throat closing, sensing those black steely eyes fixed firmly upon him. Matthew rose to his feet, ready to face the man of his nightmares.
Not being disappointed, there he stood. His face was narrow and gaunt, his long black sleek hair cascading freely down over his broad shoulders.
“Darkmoor,” Matthew whispered.
Stepping through the mesmerised monsters, Darkmoor spoke arrogantly, “So Matthew, we do meet again.”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Matthew spoke.
“And Catherine, my beautiful Catherine, the one I watched grow up,” Darkmoor spoke more calmly and smoothly now, and he reached out his hand to stroke Catherine’s face. Matthew quickly smacked it away.
“Don’t touch her!” he said assertively.
Tilting his head, Darkmoor narrowed his gaze upon Matthew, “Did you really think you could defeat me? Do you know how long I have been waiting for you?”
“Who are you? What do you want with us?” Matthew demanded.
“Well,” Darkmoor began whilst lifting his hands up into the air, “I am Darkmoor, master of the dark, master of all tricks and master of my land.” His words sent a shiver down Matthew’s spine.
“Where is Sam, what have you done with her?” Catherine asked.
“My darling Catherine, are you really that stupid? Have you not worked it out?” Then looking back at Catherine and Matthew, Darkmoor continued, “I am Sam, did you really think she was capable of talking to my beautiful angels in the river, or stopping my monsters from killing you both in the woods?”
“No! It was all you!” Catherine cried in disbelief.
“Yes my dear, it was all me. I am the crow, I am the old man and yes I am Sam. It’s all very clever don’t you think?”
“When you were the old man, you said you knew my mother. How do you know her?” Matthew puzzled.
“Your mother,” Darkmoor voice filled with anger at the mention of her name, “your mother boy is the one who put me here, wel,l she the one that made me get so angry that I created this place. I loved her, but she, she tricked me into believing she loved me, do you see!?” Darkmoor stated expecting Matthew to understand.
“No,
my mother was a good person she would never have done this!” Matthew shouted as he could feel his temper bubbling up inside.
“Your mother, ha, you didn’t even know her. She played us both, but I loved her not him, not Jack-”
“Wait my dad, you mean my dad?” Matthew asked.
Darkmoor aimed his fiery stare towards Matthew.
“You boy, you will never understand!” His voice was raw, steely and cold. Angry flashed in his eyes and lifting his hands up into the air, Darkmoor clapped them twice.
Automatically the wolf-lizards began to circle Matthew and Catherine once more.
“Kill the girl, but the boy...the boy is mine!” Darkmoor ordered, his eyes furiously burning through Matthew.
The wolf-lizards grunted, rejoicing at the command.
“No!” Catherine screamed.
Chapter Fourteen
It’s only just begun
“No Catherine!!” Matthew shouted, however his words were drowned out by the sound of the roaring beasts.
Catherine’s scream screeched throughout the theatre, “No, I don’t want to die! Matthew!”
Looking towards Darkmoor, Matthew pleaded, “Kill me instead, it’s me you want!”
Darkmoor’s deadly black eyes darted towards him.
“Don’t you understand, Matthew? I need you alive, Catherine was the bait to get you here.” Then Darkmoor let out a roar of laughter before continuing, “Master of tricks, I tell you fool.”
Stepping closer to Mathew, Darkmoor looked at the wolf-lizards and smiled, “They’re hungry you see, I couldn’t let them eat you in the forest, I wanted you alive, but Catherine,” tilting his head, Darkmoor looked at her then back at Matthew, “she looks tasty don’t you think?”
“Please Darkmoor, please!” Again Matthew pleaded, but his words were ignored. “Please I’m begging you, she doesn’t deserve to die!” Matthew shouted.
“Believe me Matthew, to have you killed as well would give me great pleasure, but after waiting ten years for you to come, I’m not going to let you go that easy,” Darkmoor said wickedly.
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