ALMIRA THORN- Knowledge of Another Kind. [Editing]

Chapter 9- The start of something never to end.

The side doors led out onto a balcony that had large stone steps leading down into the acres of garden. A fountain placed in the center with a maze leading off into the night to the left just behind it, only the sound of the water flowing and the distant chatter of guests kept the garden alive and without silence. I ignored the stares of being alone among the gardens, away from my escort and made my way through the garden, walking along the maze and hesitating.

Is this a good idea? Am I walking into a trap?

I shook the thoughts away as quickly as they appeared, determined not to let the doubt fill my mind and make me lose this chance to put an end to it all, to find answers. I took a deep breath and exhaled, my warm breath coming out in a fog as the bitter night crept in. I began to walk through the maze entrance, moving to the left and following the path into the heart of this forest of garden walls. The sounds of the party begun to fade and I knew now that I was far, so very far away from safety. The thought had my heart jumping and my breath coming out fast and clipped. My footsteps sounded like waterfalls as they hit the pebbles, but I continued going. I turned right and found myself staring at a wall. Dead end. I turned left and continued down the path, feeling the sides of the wall as the darkness moved in. Turned left again, dead end. Moved straight on, dead end. I began to turn right and heard cobblestones crunching underfoot behind me, my heart rose to my throat and for a moment, everything froze, only the sound of my heart thumping in my ears and the distant noise of music filled the silence. I lifted my skirts and began to run. Running with everything I have, turning corners, praying that I would not reach another dead end, I turned left and caught torchlight and the sound of running water. The center of the maze. I headed into the direction and sprinted through the clearing.

 A fountain filled the center and had torches lit around the outside walls, high above to light the way with stone benches beneath, so old and fragile, they looked barely able to support the weight of a child. Different paths led off around the walls, only a meter or so visible until the torchlight lost it’s blaze and the rest of the maze went into darkness. Cobblestones sounded to my right, I slowly turned to face the direction, grabbing a torch from the wall and holding it in front of the path. The darkness ate at the flame and only a few feet were alight from the torch, the rest of the path enveloped by the night. But still the sound of the cobblestones grew louder, instead now it was sounding behind me. I spun and faced the other way and caught a flash of a figure before it vanished back into the darkness. The sound of cobblestones sounded again, to my left. I caught movement in the corner of my eye and spun, but knew I was too late.

The figure struck me down and knocked the air out of my lungs. For a moment all I could do was stare open mouthed before my breath came returning and I jumped up, but was suddenly alone in the clearing, the torch lying on the ground with the flame sizzling out from the cold of the cobblestones.

“WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?” I screamed into the night. The sound of my voice felt strained and frightened as the clearing looked empty and alone.

“As the night laid waist to the day, the stars shone with grace, but the shimmer of their blaze darkened, as the darkness consumed the haunted face.” The voice sounded deep, as if it came straight from the center of the chest, it confirmed the figure to be male, but it came from everywhere yet nowhere.

“Show yourself! Coward! At least let me look into the eyes of my killer!” I shouted back. If I am to die then at least let it be the right way. The reply was silence, even the fountain stopped flowing water and all that was heard, was the distant beat of my jumping heart. Minutes went by and I thought he’d gone, only come to give me a pointless riddle but then he appeared to my left, walking into the clearing and revealing himself to me.