Locatum

Prologue

France, 1490

Her blood pooled from under her empty hand. From the tips of her fingers.

Four men observed from around her, examining every change, every spectrum of colour and lack of life that was noticeably unnatural: every last jittery shake her body displayed. She had passed, but not because of the gruesome death. Her body was dormant, but her spirit was gone.

"Who did this?" Three muttered in silent horror, kicking up the body of the girl to reveal the horrific scars carved into her back. They didn't flinch, or gag, they just stared.

"More importantly..." His brother grumbled, "who is she?"

"A girl we knew, was it not, Four?" Another began. Presuming he was addressing his brother beside him, therefore the titles from line were One, Two, Three and Four.

"It was Five!" Hissed One, a snarl lingering in his voice.

"...We don't know who Five is," Two calmed his brother down. Three grasped the photo from the girl's blood free hand at his fingertips, glancing from the old film photo to the body, comparing any likeness he could find. He couldn't believe there was no distinction, but he knew it was her.

"It's her." He stated, pressing the photo against the chest of Two, walking away from the scene with no intention of returning.

"What shall we do with the body, Two?" Four asked, leaning down to touch the blood, "her back is gashed but does not bleed, only from the fingertips is so. We will be suspected!"

"A message from Five, is it?" Two glanced to the photo then back to the girl, "a message? A warning?"

FIVE IS COMING

The scars became legible to their bored eyes. Cut down to the bone, and under the skin. The blood reversed from her muscles and was expelled through her hand. Only one hand. Only five fingers.

The mysteriously transformed girl that was the love of Three, was lost. The only one that could help them, was lost. Their mothers and fathers... lost. They now had no one.

"Dark magic be upon Three, afflicted by this pain," sighed One.

"Was that his plan, Four? Five's plan?" Two huffed, feeling the loss of the girl hit him just as hard.

"Indeed it was," Four nodded, "but the Loctum will never be broken."

The photo was kept away from sight, the body of the girl disappearing. Every trace of evidence disintegrated and the ashes gone, with just a flick of a finger. Not even the cobblestones were scratched, nor was there any sign of people witnessing.

The girl lies dead without a care. Except for the Brother who knew her.

The girl loved no one not even her family.

Except for the Brother who knew her.

They were to marry and be together. But now that reality was nothing but a fantasy.

Never can she love another, not ever.

Except for the Brother that knew her.