Running From Darkness

Premonition

At about 9 o'clock a lot of his friends said that they were going to sleep. Lexi drew a tune on the ground in front of each of them and a small shelter appeared in front of them. After she had done that, she went and sat down with her back to some trees and crossed her legs. After a couple of minutes she said,
"Did you want something James?" Sheepishly, he looked at her leaf green eyes and said,
"I was just wondering why you hadn't gone to sleep?"
"I could ask you the same question," she laughed, raising an eyebrow. James laughed as well and she patted the ground next to her, moving over so that James had space to sit down. "Elves don't need much sleep at all, we can sometimes go days without sleeping before our reflexes begin to slow,"
"You don't need much do you?" James laughed.
"No, not really," she told him. They looked at each other for a minute, sharing an understanding before James got up and said,
"Can you do me one of those 'shelter' runes, Lexi?" She smiled at him as walked over. Placing her finger on the ground she drew an intricate pattern of overlapping circles and lines and another of the shelters appeared. They both reached out for the handle at the same time and try both jerked their hands back when they brushed on the door knob.
"Well, uh, have a good night!" James said before rushing into his cabin and closing the door. He took a deep breath and lay down on the bed provided. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

There were flames and rubble all around and people were running towards him. He heard an explosion in the distance and a torrent of flame lit up the night sky. A shadow emerged from the destruction in front of James, slowly raising itself up on what looked like huge wings. The shadow was huge and blotted out the stars as far as the eye could see and it was quickly moving towards James and the running people. The shadow began to become substantial and James could see red and gold scaly skin, glistening spikes crowning a domed head and two black as oil eyes set into a skull about half the size of James. The thing opened it's mouth and inside James could see the creature's throat lighting up from a light source inside of it's stomach. No. Bloody. Way. James thought as the dragon blew a billow of flame straight at James' face.

James opened his eyes and jumped out of his skin. Sam was standing over him with a bucket of cold water. He threw his hand out and touched the bucket. It blew apart with a wrenching sound, drenching Sam and leaving James extremely pleased with himself.
"Morning Sam! I didn't realise there were showers down here!" He laughed as Sam left his cabin, shouting some choice words back at James. He quickly dressed, throwing on a green t-shirt, army combat trousers and some hiking boots. He shrugged on a jacket and stepped outside. Outside, the sky was peppered with stars against the midnight blue sky and a brisk breeze blew through the trees. Lexi arranged them all into a loose circle and before he could explain what he had seen she began to chant in a language that none of them understood. She spoke slowly at first but then began to speed up as runes fizzled in the air and then dissipated. Slowly, as if some invisible hand were drawing them, a rune began to take shape at each of their feet. Lexi continued chanting a the runes took shape and then suddenly, when they were finished, a hole opened up in the ground in the middle of their circle. Lexi stopped talking and pointed at the hole, indicating that they were meant to go down it.
"We've come this far, why stop now?" James muttered to himself, and he jumped into the gaping pit.
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Sorry this chapter took so long guys, I'm not writing as much anymore so don't expect regular updates. I hope you're till enjoying the book and if you are a vote or comment is much appreciated! Thanks!
P.S While writing this chapter we got over 200 reads! Thank you!