The Book of Darkness

Part Two - The Dark Prophet

Chapter One

1

When Emma finally opened her eyes the forest looked very different from the one she had just been in. The trees had no leaves and looked older than life itself. She pushed herself up from the ground carefully and looked around. The earth was black. Poisoned by the darkness of this world. She couldn't see her sisters anywhere and started to worry. The evil girl Wendy must have sent her to this cruel world. As she started to wander between the dead trees she felt the first drops of rain falling on her as a storm began to approach. The sound of thunder moved closer toward her and she started to run. Emma didn't know why she was running from a storm but something within the rain struck fear into her heart that almost paralysed her. She sprinted through the woods searching for a place to hide until it passed.

2

As the storm followed her a giant monster moved with it. The monster towered above the trees, shattering them as it made its way toward Emma. Its footsteps thundered against the ground and Emma could feel it getting closer. She turned for a moment to see what the storm had brought with it and screamed. The monster reminded her of the dinosaurs that once roamed the lands of earth. Its huge legs moved slowly as it tracked her. She watched its claws digging up the dirt with each step. Emma began to run hopelessly through the trees. The monster scanned the terrain with its lifeless black eyes. Hundreds of tongues slithered from its mouth and began to taste the area beneath it. Its clawed arms pushed the trees away like grass as it closed in on her. Emma started to panic as the monster moved closer toward her.
Emma ran through the woods, gaining some distance on the monster but she could still hear it thundering toward her. Too busy listening for the monster, her foot snagged a trip wire and she was lifted into the air. She hung there for a moment trying to turn around to see who had caught her. After a while she began to hear voices moving closer. She realised the voice must belong to the people who set this trap. They had been hoping to catch an animal but instead they'd caught a much better prize. As she looked toward the sound of the voices she saw two men coming toward her.
"Your trap better have worked this time. The last two were fucking useless." Dave, a skinny looking man with sun burnt skin said to his brother.
"Shut up. My traps work." Frank, the taller of the brothers, said pushing his little brother into the dirt. Dave jumped up and tried to hit his brother but was only thrown back down to the ground.
"Stop it you twat." Dave said as he dragged himself back off the ground.
"Grow up. You can't run off to mum anymore so you better start dealing with me yourself." Frank looked down at his brother with cruel eyes. His brother went silent and they continued onward toward the last of their traps. "Looks like we've actually caught something."
Both the brothers ran toward Emma as she dangled in the tree. She didn't like the look of them as they approached her. She could see a hungry look in their eyes that she had often seen in the eyes of the boys at school. Emma tried to wriggle but the wire around her foot only got tighter.
"What have we here little brother." Frank smiled a toothless grin up at Emma. She tried to turn away but he reached out a thin hand and turned her face toward him. "You look very tasty. But don't worry I'm definitely not going to eat you."
"You promised I could have a go on the next one." Dave tried to push his brother out the way so he could have a look at Emma but Frank just threw him into the dirt again.
"Back off, you pussy. I always go first. You can have the scraps." Frank pulled a knife from his belt and cut the rope holding Emma. She fell to the ground and tried to scramble away but Dave grabbed the rope around her leg and pulled her back.
"Where are you going darling? We haven't finished with you yet."
"Please. I just want to go home." Emma started to cry.
"Oh don't do that babe. You look so ugly when you cry." Frank leaned in closely. She could smell the rot drifting from his mouth. She held her breath as she tried not to gag.
"Don't break her like the last one." Dave said to his brother as the two of them examined Emma. As she watched them looking down at her she could hear the sound of the storm growing closer.
"We have to go. There's a monster in the storm."
"You frightened of a little thunder?" The brothers laughed. The storm drew closer and soon they started to feel the ground shaking. Rain began to pour down on them as the storm moved above them.
"What the hell is that?" Dave asked his brother, looking toward the storm.
"Probably an earthquake somewhere else. Now shut up and let me have my fun." Frank started to unbutton his trousers and leaned over Emma. She knew what they were planning to do. As Frank pulled out the monster between his legs a tree splintered nearby and the brothers both looked up.
"What the fuck." Dave saw the monster looking down at them and wet himself instantly. Frank pulled his trousers back up. He stood up and looked at the monster. Emma saw her chance and pulled the rope from her foot. She crawled away while the brothers were distracted. Sprinting off into the unknown forest.
"Jesus, fucking christ that must be the devil." Frank felt fear crawling over his skin. They watched as the monster leaned down toward them. It roared a horrible sound. Bits of bone and flesh flying from its mouth covered the two brothers in moments. The monster reached out with one hand and grabbed Frank.
"Dave. Fucking help me you idiot." Frank tried to struggle free as his brother watched but before he could even respond the monster had thrown Frank into the nest of tongues around its mouth. Dave screamed and the monster looked at him. He could feel the hatred in its eyes. Turning to run Dave tried to make his escape but he felt one of the tongues wrap around his leg.
"Let me go you fucking monster." He pulled out a knife. Crazily stabbing at the tongue but the monster wouldn't let go. It pulled him closer as he tried to get free but with little effort. Dave watched as the monster lifted him into the air. He started to scream but before the sound could leave his mouth the monster had already thrown him down its dark throat. He could feel the muscles in the monster's throat slowly crushing him before he blacked out.