The Academy of Darkness

Chapter 1 - Shadows and Ravens

PROLOGUE

"Mummy, look at my drawing!" I pled.

"Sweetheart that's beautiful" she said adoringly.

"Daddy! Look!"

"Honey, daddy needs to watch the road"

I rolled down the window letting the breeze blow in, resting my drawing book on the ground and taking in the lavender fields. Our family day out had been a fun one; tacos, milkshakes and the beach - what could be better? We had been driving for over half an hour now, leaving the picture perfect countryside behind. Dad turned up the 70's rock, filling the car. Mum continued to read her magazine. I drew.

In the drawing stood three people, my dad and mum side by side, me in the middle with my to-be baby sister in my arms - and a puppy at our feet, even though we didn't have a dog at the time - dad had promised one.

Taking a break from drawing, I let the panorama before me inspire.

Life was easy. Life was good. I was Hayley age ten - carefree and outgoing, never shy and always bubbly. I was normal. I was average, yet everything but.

The last scene of my family alive and happy was one that I'll never forget.

Dad had graciously turned the music down as we discussed baby names. We went through so many but they just couldn't choose.

"How about Ebony?" I had suggested.

A short silence followed, they were mulling it over.

"Actually, I quite like Ebony" said mum.

Dad agreed and I think it would have been official.

We all looked at each other with love filled eyes and excitement.

I watched my dad's eyes in the mirror; he pulled a funny face at me. I laughed.

Then it happened fast.

My dad's eyes changed from joking to shock in an instance. The car swerved around the corner, he hit the brakes but they wouldn't work. Screams filled the car as we hit a tree. Dad's arms outstretched toward me, holding me down in my seat to stop the impact. I saw the fear in his eyes; he knew he was going to die.

A big smash jolted the car, but I felt no pain.

 And then it was all over...

Smoke poured out the hood of the car. Blood covered my vision, my dad's hands still clasped around me in his last effort to save me. The sight was so bloody and horrific.

People came running, gas filled the air and I was out of it.

Death, darkness. The end had come too quickly, my life was disheavled too fast, I was too young and the beginning was just starting - the world an unfair, cruel place.

My family was gone forever and there was nothing I could do to change that.

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1. Shadows and Ravens

It was happening again; my knees gave way and I was gasping on the bed, my eyes watered and my vision blurred - taking on a red haze. My head pounded and a high pitched ringing filled my ears. I muffled a scream before falling to the abyss bellow that I now knew way too well... 

                                                             * * * *     

The darkness collapsed around me as shadows converged. The moon filtered through the hazy clouds creating a gauzy looking, dimly lit forest. The dusky Silverlight, the moon's aura, shone down on the lake's still surface. The breeze picked up causing small ripples to overtake it; breaking its perfect stillness and making it glisten as if thousands of uncut diamonds were encrusted upon the surface. It was a beautiful sight, but the silent questions still lingered in the air. Where was I? Why was I here? What was happening now?