Into the Darkness

Chapter 3

The night progressed slowly. I knew that it was beginning to get close to midnight, the witching hour. We didn't have long left.

Emily had fallen into a painful sleep. Her bindings were the only thing holding her upright. The villagers had not taken any pity on the poor child and bound her as if she were standing. I could see that her arms were turning white and deep red around the ropes, showing the beginning of painful bruises. Her brave face fell as she slept. Instead it was replaced by an expression of pain and terror. My heart went out to her, but I could do nothing.

The rope burned and cut deeply. Blood began to slowly drip down my hands from my unsuccessful attempts to rescue little Emily. Now I was paying the price. My legs began to ache from standing in one place with no relief. I began to wish that the Shadows would come so that I would be free of the slowly increasing pain.

With nothing to do but wait until my death came, I began to think. What fault with me did the villagers find that made them choose me for the offering? For years I had been left to myself. Was it because I didn't show an interest in marriage? I had been called upon before but I was only concerned with my home and Joana's care.

Thinking of Joana made my heart break. Why couldn't he tell me what was happening? I wouldn't have yelled or fought with him to leave. I would've been kinder to him. Was someone acting as a spy? That was a logical explanation. That would've been the only way that Id be found. The trees grew tall and strong, and should you wish, no one could find you the higher you climb. Who would take care of Joana now that I was gone? He was considered marriageable because of his leg. No woman would want a man that could not work to give her the things she wants and needs.

This village disgusted me. There was no one that you could trust. Everyone was always looking for faults in others, judging them. I used to think that it was because of the Shadows demands, but the older I got, the more that I saw that this was not the case. Almost everyone was naturally nasty and vindictive towards each other. There were of course some that were kind to all that came to them, but their number was small compared to those that wished to be the best. Maybe this was why my parents had built their cottage outside of the town.

Ding, dong. Ding, dong. The bell in the bell tower struck. It rang only in certain instances. If the town was called to a meeting, if someone had died, or if midnight had come on the night of the offerings.

Almost immediately after the bell silenced, a mist began to cover the own. It creeped through the streets, creating a thick curtain. Wolves began to howl, an eerie sound against the dismal night. Emily awoke to their song and began to tremble. She knew that it was time.

Through the mist, I could make out shapes moving towards us. The closer they came, the clearer they became. My heart stopped. Wolves. Wolves began to stalk us. Their eyes the same as the ones from my dream, the same alpha leading the pack. Once Emily caught sight of them, she began to sob once again. I wanted to calm her, tell her that everything would be fine, but my words were stuck in my throat. Behind the wolves stood a figure. There was no other way to describe him. There was a shadow like robe that covered him from head to toe. The only indication that he was male being his size and build. He stepped forward, his strides covering the distance between him and the platform quickly.

For a moment there wasn't and sound. It was as if time had frozen in this moment. No one spoke, no one moved, no one breathed. The Shadow turned to look at me, as if appraising my worth. Then he turned to Emily. I knew he could see that her legs were useless. It would be hard to miss since her legs were horribly thin.

I finally found my voice. "Who are you?" I asked. He turned to look at me again, saying nothing. "Well? Answer me. I wish to know who you are!"

"Gwen, please. Please stop." Emily begged. She feared that I was angering him, hastening our inevitable death.