Within Darkness

Within Darkness - Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve: “I couldn’t think of anything else to do”

Alexander leaned casually on the wall outside Bronwen’s cell. Bronwen ignored his determinedly. Alex sighed loudly.

“I do hope this won’t negatively affect our friendship.” Bronwen’s jaw clenched. “Ahh, I thought it might.”

“J'espère que vous brûlerez en enfer, démon!”

“Oh, well, that’s nice. Whatever happened to our centuries of friendship and trust?”

“They started to dwindle when you attacked me and they reached nothing when you chained me up here to starve.”

“Yes, I can see where you’re coming from…” Alexander turned and began to walk away. Bronwen shouted after him,

“Starting to have regrets, dear Alex? After all, you have gone against your House and your Family. You’re all alone, Alex. You’re just a monster! And you’re going to die horribly and I’ll be there to laugh while you do!” Alexander paused.

“Oh, Bronwen. You stupid idealistic fool. You wish I were like a villain from one of those books you love so much. Willing to leave you in a death trap, as I go about with my evil plan. No. You will remain, chained to this wall, while I destroy everyone and everything you've ever loved before your eyes. Then, I will kill you. Slowly.” Alexander turned to look at him. “This is not a fairy tale. I am not the Villain and you are not the Hero.” He smiled. “And you will not win this.” He walked away to the sounds of Bronwen’s screams of anger.

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Mary shifted the bag higher on her shoulder as she paused to take a deep breath. With a last glace back at the gothic mansion behind her, she took out the map and set off for the circled fortress.

2 hours later, Mary could be found staring at a dark castle, thinking that maybe she had been a bit rash. Surely she could have told the trio (evil, conniving sons of bitches) that she had heard them and that if they made her stay in the mansion, she would learn all the skills Kassandra could teach her and turn them on the entire House. Yeah, ‘cause that would go well, I’d be the next body. She took one last look at the sun and ducked into the drain tunnel. The circle of pale yellow light from her torch merely helped highlight the darkness that had come down around her, but she began walking slowly forward, footsteps causing loud splashes. She shivered at the cold water that seeped into her shoes and socks.

Eventually, Mary stepped into an illuminated area, under a hole in the roof of the drain. Climbing up, and determinedly ignoring the grime that covered her hands as she placed then on the ladder steps, she peered over the edge of the hole. She could see a large courtyard that had what seemed to be an abandoned stable to the north, the keep to the west and a well preserved wall encircling the rest. More important was what she couldn’t see; dead people. She spared a moment to smile belatedly then crept out of the hole and sprinted to the open door of the keep. She moved inside and stared at the dark and unpleasant interior. She could see a polished golden throne in the centre of the room.

A sudden sound made her freeze and she could make out the unmistakable shambling and stumbling step of a zombie, heading straight to her. Her face morphed into a look of horror and she looked around frantically for a hiding place. She spotted a door, locked with a bolt, half hidden behind a torn and singed tapestry. Hurriedly releasing the bolt and yanking the door open, she raced inside and slammed the door shut. The utter darkness that met her made her regret her decision and she was about to open the door again, when she heard that the zombie was now in the main hall, outside the door. She rested her ear against the door. The zombie steps moved nearer… and moved past towards the entrance. Mary sighed with relief and stifled a scream at the voice that spoke,