The Kingdom Of Eternal Darkness

Chapter - 2

Rachel's POV The previous day what happened?

‘This is weird. It is such a big line. We have been standing here for 1 hour and they are not even letting us in.’ my friend Lisa said. ‘This is so darn bad.’

‘Hey don’t be upset. Just imagine it’s our best friend’s birthday next week.’ Katy piped in.

I don’t like to be reminded about my birthday. Just before Lisa could come up with a comment the shop opened and the line surged forward. We got our favourite book, “The Hidden Lies”. It's the second book of “The Despaired Truth” series. My friends were in love with William and I liked the daring, dark, handsome, cruel with villains, Richard. We were lucky because, we were the ones who got the last copies. We paid for or purchases and left the shop. My friends went straight to the bus leading downtown. I went home. I opened the door and closed it casually and leaned against the wall beside it and watched my brother. He looked up at me and said ‘Hey’.

‘Hi, aren’t you going somewhere?’ I asked.

‘No’

‘Anyways, I brought you your copy of the book.’ I threw the book to him.

He caught it, sighed and said ‘Oh! Thanks.’

I sighed, stood up straight and strolled towards my room. I closed the door and changed into a white shirt, black jeans and a brown coat. I tied my curly hair into a ponytail. I saw my hair in the mirror. It has become so damn thick in volume. I think I have to cut it.

‘You ready sis.’ My brother asked me from outside.

‘Yeah, I am ready.’ I opened the door and stepped outside. My brother pointed his finger to the door and I nodded. We went towards door and took out our separate cards. My brother swiped his card in. The monitor’s voice floated in the air as it said ‘Welcome Mast. Grace, you are now on the third floor. Please step aside for the retina scan.’ After that a blue light flashed on his eyes the voice said ‘Scanning complete. You may now proceed forward.’ The door slid open. He turned around and nodded at me. I shrugged and mouthed ‘Good Luck’. He mouthed back ‘Thanks.’ He went in through the door and the door slid close. I swiped my card and stepped aside when the same voice came floating from the speakers ‘Welcome Miss. Grace, you are now on the Second floor. Please step aside for the retina scan.’ After that, the blue light flashed on my eyes, the voice said ‘Scanning complete. You may now proceed forward.’ The door slid open. I took a deep breath and stepped inside. The door slid close. I looked around trying to remember the last time I came here. I snapped my fingers and the lights switched on. I took in all the technologies in here. I smiled to myself. I never thought that I will return here again. A red light caught my attention. I went towards it and the monitor sensed me and a message opened with a small beep. My lips twitched as I suppressed a smile. At front of me was a picture of someone I never thought I would see again much less talk to. I thought I was done with my past and I guess I spoke too soon. I checked my reflection on the glass and fixed my hair. I touched the picture with my finger. As if sensing my motion the picture changed into video and out of nowhere a chair appeared behind me for me to sit. I sat down on the chair and focused on the screen, on a particular person and I spoke up with a cold face ‘To what do I owe such a wonderful and surprising visit. Sorry, my bad. It should be wonderful and surprising video chat.’ Notice the sarcasm, people. With a tight smile I added ‘Though it doesn’t make any sense.’

‘Shut up. It’s not like I wanted to have small chat with you, so cut the sarcasm.’ He said to me.

‘I am hurt you know.’ I said by keeping my hand on my chest and feigning hurt.

‘Lets cut to the chase, honey.’ He said ignoring my comment earlier. ‘My father practically asked me to talk to you.’
‘More like gambled you, honey.’ I muttered under my breath. He took out a paper and started reading it completely ignoring me.

‘“You are requested to come back and join the institution. We will be very glad to recruit you back on our agency.” Though I won’t be. But nobody cares. “You can come to headquarters anytime you want. From Aggilus Maximus Moore.” That is what the letter says and your parents will be informed too.’

‘What about my brother? And what if I don’t want to go?’

‘You really don’t have any choice. You either come or you don’t. And as for your brother, lets just say he got the same letter.’

‘Okay.’ I said slowly because it was too much to process.
‘You have two days to pack your bags, furniture and your other belongings.’ He continued on as if I had not even spoken.

‘Only two days? Shouldn’t I get more days for preparing myself? I thought that is what you do before taking on new recruits.’

‘That is where you are wrong. You are not one of the new recruits. You will be informed about where you will stay this afternoon. Be prepared.’ He smiled at me in a cruel way and then the video vanished. A voice came floating ‘The message is completed. You may now proceed for the next message.’ I stood up and waved my hand over the sensor. The message popped open. My mother’s picture came up and the video started playing itself.

‘Honey, are you alright. I got their message about you and your brother being recruited again.’ My mother said this in one breath. She took a deep breath and sighed.
‘Mom, it’s alright. I am fine.’ I assured her. ‘How are you coping? Where is dad?’ I asked her.

‘I am fine, honey. Your dad is talking with your brother.’ She said to me.

Then, I asked her something I never thought I would ask anyone. ‘Mom, would you come over tomorrow and go to shopping with me.’

A tear fell from her eye down her face and she said, ‘I thought you were never going to ask me. Well then bye, honey. Meet you tomorrow and honey, please be careful.’
I nodded at her not trusting myself to speak and at last after trying I added, ‘Bye Mum, take care.’ The message vanished leaving me to my thoughts. I stood up not bothering myself to complete any other work and waved my hand over the right sensor. The voice said ‘Task complete. Preparing to turn off.’ The whole computer room turned off. I turned around and walked back to the door. I swiped my card and the door slid open. I stepped out of the room and before the door slid close a voice came from the room, ‘Thank you, Miss Grace.’ I did not pay any notice to it and went to sit on the sofa. I started reading a magazine which was kept on the centre table. The door slid open and I looked up to my brother stepping out of his room. The voice came from his room, ‘Thank you, Mast. Grace.’ He nodded at me and went straight to his bedroom.