The Dark Ones

Prologue

                Ding. Ding. Ding. You could hear the dinging of the clock as it struck midnight. The sky was unusually dark and the mist from the dark green water was thick. A small blonde woman was sat at her desk writing vigorously; Katherine Hews. She was finishing up her paperwork. Being a caseworker and all was hard work when you dealt with disrespectful children, unqualified foster parents, and loads of paperwork.

                "Finally, I'm done." She said with a grin, her voice clearly showing how tired she was. She pushed back her chair and began to close down the office building. The sounds of ticking were the only things to be heard, considering she was the only person left in the building. Many people would be afraid but not Katherine; she rather enjoyed her time alone. This was because dealing with her job and coming home to a jobless drunk was stressful, so her time alone was crucial to her sanity.

                Katherine was finishing her closing routine, something she performed plenty of times, when a loud knock sounded at the door. She awkwardly raced to the door, for this has been the first visit the small administration had experienced for weeks. Most things were done by phone, and at this hour a visitor was the last thing she expected.

                She peeked through the peephole at the top of the door and noticed no one was there. She flung the door open anyways and said quite loudly, "Um, hello, sorry, we're closed!

                She saw a sudden flash, the light so powerful she had to close her eyes tightly. Once the sky returned to its normal dark hue, she convinced herself it was a car's headlights. Katherine looked down and saw a small black basket. It's sticks were intertwined in intricate ways, a delicacy about them she had never seen before. Inside the basket, something writhed under the white linens. She lifted the fabrics and to her surprise she saw a small child. The tiny human was a nice shade of bronze with dark hair.

                "What is a beautiful little, " Katherine took a peek under the linens. "Girl like you doing here all alone?" She picked up the small girl and brought her inside. By the front of the building near a tall maple tree stood a dark figure.

                "It begins." The figure said darkly, and then vanished into the shadows.