Inside Evil

Chapter 12 - Part III

*Inside Evil and its sequels are available on Amazon, Kobo, B&N, Smashwords and iBooks*     

The moon was as full as she'd even seen it, and where as there'd only been one lonely beam lighting up the figures in the forest clearings, out here, where there was nothing but sky to stop it, the moon shone down over the landscape casting its silver light across the hills and trees. It was incredibly beautiful and for a few, fleeting seconds, Roberta felt relieved, happy and amazed at the calming effect that the moon could have. Once again she felt so small in such a big world that her fears seemed to wither in the comprehended vastness of the universe. She knew that something terrible was happening to her, but she was only one soul being affected. What concern was that to the universe?

The moths had continued to spread themselves out along the precipice so that now they stretched off for what looked like a mile in both directions. They glowed brightly for such small creatures, and from the air it would have looked like a giant yellow semi circle, lighting up the dark cliff face like a lighthouse warning ships away from treacherous rocks.

To her right, towards where the bell rose above the forest, Roberta noticed a different light, a faint whitish glow moving slowly past the yellow moths towards where she stood. It was about half a mile away, and only a tiny distinctive ball about one metre from the ground, but it moved gradually and steadily towards her, hovering through the air. As it grew nearer, Roberta was able to distinguish it in a little more detail and saw that it was indeed a ball of light, but more a pale yellow than the white that she had initially thought. The light seemed to be surrounding an object contained within, a glass sphere of some kind.

Gliding through the air towards her, the light stopped about a foot away and without making a sound, started to rotate on the spot. Roberta stepped forward to approach it, causing the illuminated globe to move back, as if fearful of her. Gently, she removed one hand from her pocket and put it out towards the globe of light, palm up and slowly beckoned it forward. It moved towards her and landed in her hand, continuing to rotate and giving out an extraordinary amount of heat which was hot to the touch. Roberta moved her hand away from the increasing pain and discovered that the ball was now stuck fast to her palm. She shook her hand, trying to dislodge the sphere and fearful that should she put her other hand onto the globe, that it too would become stuck within the sizzling heat.

Grimacing in pain as the searing heat melted through her flesh, Roberta watched as the light inside of the globe swirled faster and faster. Now in agony and crying out in pain, she threw and twisted her arm around more forcefully, trying anything to get the globe to withdraw. A sudden crack appeared on the surface of the object, whilst the light inside span faster and faster until, suddenly, the entire thing split open. Roberta saw that the light was some form of liquid, and it gushed out, burning and blistering her hand as it dripped onto the floor. Screaming as she felt pain sear through her arm, she looked in amazement as the liquid dripped and disappeared away, leaving only the container within which it had been held and a small piece of parchment. The ball had loosened itself now and she shook her hand ferociously so that the shards fell to the ground, leaving only the parchment gripped in her fingers. It was scorched slightly around the edges, most likely by the burning liquid, and Roberta carefully turned it over with her free hand.

Find the opening to the door you must

To stop your fate foretold

From eight days hence the moon is brightest

Will your time become one of old

No key, no rhyme, no secret words

Just follow the path you're set

Follow the shape of the quarter moon

Or hereby meet your death

Roberta read the riddle repeatedly, trying desperately to understand what it meant. There was no clue at all in the words that she saw, nothing that could save her from the curse which Mrs Peacock had unveiled. Roberta already knew that she only had eight days left, the tree of death had shown her that, and the rest of the riddle didn't actually seem to suggest anything. Mrs Peacock had said that the only way to survive was to enter the gates of Gathin, but looking at the parchment Roberta could see no indication of where they were, or even how to find them. Follow the path your set. Roberta had no path, there was nothing set for her to follow, other than an elderly woman who had led her to this precipice. Mrs Peacock, who was so eager to help her avoid an untimely death, had given her no real information at all. Mrs Peacock, who kept reminding her of the urgency of time, but who kept any helpful details few and far between.

Squinting to once again look at the words, Roberta realised that the soft yellow light from the moths had vanished. While studying the piece of parchment, the glowing creatures had gradually fluttered back into a ball and turned around; heading back into the forest where they'd originally emerged from. Only the tail end of the yellow line was now visible through the darkening trees. Then, without any prior warning, an enormous ringing filled Roberta's head. Still clutching the note, Roberta looked up towards the peak and saw that the huge bell was now swaying back and forth, its toll ringing out across the landscape and filling the air with its deathly chime. A voice in her head whispered "When the bell of Gathin starts to ring you must come back, if you don't you will be trapped."

*I will be posting one or two scenes a week as the story builds. However, if you can't wait that long, Inside Evil is available on Amazon, Kobo, B&N, Smashwords and iBooks.

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