The Dark Path (Part 1/2)

The Dark Path

St. John's Riverside Hospital, Yonkers, New York

Mr. Brian Steele was leaping with joy. After 9 months, he was finally a father to baby boy. As he looked at his newly-born son who looked back at him.

"Isn't he just beautiful, Brian?" his wife Charlotte asked.

"He's takes after his mother then" Brian said as he smiled at his wife.

"Well, he does have his father's charms." Charlotte replied.

It was the most special day for Brian and Charlotte Steele. 9 months of sticking together through all the pain of Charlotte's pregnancy has brought a bundle of joy for the Steeles.

After a while, a nurse came into Mrs. Steele's ward.

"Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Steele. We need to place your infant in the nursery for safe watching.

"Okay." they both said in union. Brian and Charlotte Steele watched as the nurse picked up their baby with care and carried him away not aware that this was their last night of seeing their little boy the way they used to since he was born.

When the nurse was away, Charlotte broke the silence between them. "Are you sure about it?"

"Sure? About what?" Brian asked, not very certain what his wife was talking about.

"You know...his name? Garth? I'm not very comfortable with that name. Archer is nicer. It's a really manly name, in my opinion."

"I like the name Garth. It's so...unique. He might get a lot friends with that cool name of his."

"Brian, please. Let's call him Archer."

Brian sighed. Mr. Steele walked to the window and looked outside. After a moment, he turned around looking rather happy which surprised his wife.

When he told his wife what he thought, she looked ecstatic. "That's a lovely name, Brian!"

"I knew you would love it. Now we're both happy. I just know he will be special boy. Everybody will know of the name Archer Garth Steele."

[Later that night...]

The nursery was quiet. Baby Archer slept soundly in his cot dreaming of the new world he was in. But his sweet dreams were about to be cut short.

Two shadows emerged from a dark corner of the corridor outside the nursery.

"Come quietly. Do not make any noise." the first one said in snake-like voice.

"Maybe you should shut your mouth. Then no noise will sound." the second replied in a slow, whispering voice.

The shadowy figures moved without a noise. Not a footstep was heard from them. They sank down on the floor and moved under the door of the nursery like a puddle of liquid that had a conscience.

Once they passed the door, both figures returned to their faceless, humanoid shapes.

"That one." the second one said as it pointed at baby Archer.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes...yes. I'm sure. No hurry. The nurse should be back soon."

The two shadowy figures stood on the left and right of baby Archer's cot.

"At long last, we have a master that has arrived in this world." the first one said without waking up baby Archer.

"Yes. Hopefully he will not fail like the last one. The power of darkness and shadows is a thin line between life and death. The last one got to full of himself with the power that his own foolishness killed him. A pity, I might say."

"Agreed. We must act quickly. Darkness and shadow needs a master. Without one, they will only unleash unbiased chaos to all including our race."

The first one lifted his hand to place it on baby Archer's arm. Suddenly, the first shadowed figure's hand began to sizzle.

The first one screamed but not very loud. "Arghh!!!"

"What is it?" the second one asked as he stepped back from the cot.

"His...his soul! It's pure!"

"What?!" the second one said shockingly. "Darkness and shadows do not have purity! Only light has purity!"

"I know that!" the first one snapped. "We can't have this! We must return and tell the master."

As they were about to go, the second one noticed something on baby Archer's right arm. "Fool! You left a marking on him!" the second one said loudly. A bit too loud. Another baby woke up and began crying loudly. Her crying woke up the other babies who also began crying. Soon, all the babies were crying. All the babies except baby Archer.

As he opened his eyes, he saw two shadowy figures leave the nursery in a rush.

It will not be the last time he will see these creatures of the shadows. Unknowingly, one day, he will be their master.