Dark Sunlight - The Shadow Series (Book 1) ONGOING

Chapter One

"It was a lie. All of it."

I was walking down the wind-blown street, silently watching the sky, as the pale sun set on the horizon.

I quickened my pace as darkness fell, wrapping the night air with a coat of glittering stars. I reached the end of the empty street, taking a minute to lean on a crumbling wall and catch my breath, my heart racing beneath my skin. I shivered, pulled my coat tightly around my shoulders and looked around, waiting.

When, finally, I heard a faint whistle blow in the distance, I ran to the other side of the street, crossed a deserted park, and disappeared in the reassuring darkness of an abandoned shack. Dust covered my shoes, and the wooden roof creaked in the whirling wind.

I steadily walked over two old planks that served as a bridge above a five foot pit, and jumped over a pile of metal sheets, left in a corner to rust.

I melted in the shadows, my fingers fumbling for an old wardrobe standing proudly against the wall. It must have been beautifully carved in the past. I imagined myself opening it's grand doors to see silk gowns, beautiful dresses and expensive suits hanging there, waiting to be worn to a royal ball.

I pushed those thoughts away as I touched the hard and moldy wood. I ran my hand on its walls, finding a tight grip. I placed my palms on the rigged material and pushed with all my might.

Ever since our country's allies has taken over the government, things had gone downwards. A civil war had started, opposing citizens to the new president's army.

Every day, a moaning sound would resonate in cities, causing fires, mild earthquakes and destructive explosions. No one knew what it was, or what caused it. Ever since, people have deserted cities, leaving everything behind, never to return. The people left find themselves fighting for the scarce resources left in houses and shops.

The wardrobe slowly revealed a hidden door, red with rust. I grabbed the handle and violently twisted it, pushing the door open. I ran in, turned around to pull the wardrobe back in place, and slammed the metal door shut behind me.

I swiftly walked down the faintly lit hallway, thinking.

What if we found that place? The one I heard about? It would change everything...

I abruptly stopped. Someone was standing behind me.

"Well, hello, little thief..."

I swiftly turned around.

"Thad! Stop it! You know I hate when you creep on me like that!" I shouted, angrily pushing him away.

He grinned in the shadows and burst out laughing. I giggled too, and he playfully punched my arm, saying:

"So what has my favorite adventurer brought us today? Another dead frog and a few cockroaches?"

I tilted my head and rolled my eyes. I reached for my backpack and showed him what I had found during my scavenger hunt. He frowned at the objects I had found: a sack of old potatoes, leeks, tomatoes and a loaf of old bread; some peanuts and dried raisins, a few hairpins, a pink hairbrush, a bag of mint sweets and a rather dirty blanket.

"I know, I know", I said, seeing his concerned expression, "but it's the only things that were the least damaged in yesterday's Sound..."

The "Sound" was the name we had given the disasters caused by that particular weapon, that killed more and more people every day, making the survivors hide in sewers and live off scraps.

"... and look, the girls will love the hairbrush! I couldn't have missed it with that color. It was lying untouched on a pile of rubble. I guess someone threw it away. At least, the potatoes are pretty edible. Plus, we have a new blanket if anyone new shows up."

I stared at him, but he didn't look convinced. He grunted.

"Well, all we can do with that is feed the rats, they must be starving!" Thad said, ironically.

I mimicked myself being shot thought the heart and fell on the floor.

"Oh no, you murdered me!" I groaned, holding back my laugh.

It made his dim face light up with a smile. He helped me put the things back in my bag, gently took my arm and said,

"How could I ever survive without my little adventurer?"

I punched him, hard.

"I told you, stop calling me that!"

He jokingly poked me with a finger, and we slowly walked down the hall.