Dracula

Chapter I, pg. 4

    We seemed to fly on the gravelly road, going at rapid speed to the castle. I looked out the window, watching as we passed green hills, flowers dotting them. We passed small farmhouses, cattle were grazing and chickens were running about. Dogs barked as we passed and one even tried to chase us but quickly stopped as we ascended down the trail. The hills were soon covered by thick trees and little streams. We inclined up the mountain, walls of rocks and trees towered over us, animals dashed across the road and the birds sang. There was a faint smell of pine and I inhaled the nice scent.

    As we got closer to the castle, I felt a knot of dread in my stomach. The trees got thicker, blocking the light of the sun. The wind did not blow and the birds did not sing, it was completely silent. The walls of rocks only seemed to get taller and more narrow, leaving me to worry we would not make it to the castle. My ears popped as we got higher, and the dread in my stomach grew stronger. The sun was soon to set, leaving us in the light of the moon. Wolves howled in hunger and they only seemed to get closer with each howell. Clouds formed in the sky and rumbled with anguish, ready to spill rain on top of us, which they did.

The rain started as a light trickle but intensified rapidly, pelting the backs of the horses that pulled us, encouraging the horses to walk faster. Water started to leak into the carriage and we had to put our feet on the seat to avoid getting wet. The shadow of a wolf walked with the carriage, its glowing eyes meeting mine. I tapped Jonathan on the shoulder to show him the wolf that was stalking us. Jonathan said that there was no wolf and the dark was playing tricks on me. Perhaps it was because when I looked out the window once again, there was no wolf in sight.

    The light from the moon stopped coming through the trees and the lantern would not stay lit, leaving us with only our eyes to see. The carriage started to rock from the bumpiness of the road and I hung on to Jonathan for dear life. There was a faint glow of orange ahead and as we came closer it got brighter. We got close enough to where I could make out what it was. To my surprise, it was a torch and many more were lining the road fully lit. I could not understand how they were staying lit in such horrible weather, rain pelted them but the flame did not falter. The dreadful feeling in my gut came back, something I did not notice went away.

    The carriage followed the torches along the trail, picking up speed. The trees became crooked and bent, their branches twisting and turning in every direction, some scratching the side of the carriage. Up ahead there was a clearing and a long road that led to a magnificent castle.