The Darkest Rising

CHAPTER 4

We sprinted through the streets, desperately trying to out run what ever that thing was. " Wait, i cant run anymore " , Mary slowed and came to a breathless halt.

" What the hell was that ?, " Marcus rushed the words out as he scanned the area surrounding us.

" I dont know. But whatever it was, wanted to hurt me " . I tried to catch my breath as I bent down with my hands on my knees. " Something horrible just happened up in there, i know it. This agonizing scream came from up the stairs, " i shuddered at the memory. The nameless women behind me let out a muffled cry. I'd totally forgotten about her, huddled in the corner. She looked worse than i felt, like she was about to have a heart attack. The horror was etched deep in the lines around her eye's.

Clasping her hand over her mouth, she cried out. " No, no. He can't be. " She looked in her early sixties, grey hair thinning with age.

" Sorry.Who's he... ?, " i asked, as i made my way over to where she stood.

" My husband. He's the caretaker at the apartments where you ran from, " she sobbed, nervously biting her bottom lip. You could see that her mind was working over time, going through all the bad things that could have happened to him.

" Bob. Your bob's wife. He always talks about you. I live up on the tenth floor. Look, i'm sure he's fine. We don't know that anything has happened to him or anyone else for that matter. He might not have even gone in to work yet, he could be anywhere. Just try to stay calm. I'm sure everything will be fine, " i tried to look calm myself, but sure didn't feel it. I wasn't sure whether i pulled it off or not. " How did you have his key's anyway, doesn't he need them to get in ?. "

" No, he's got his keys with him but he forgot his spare set.I'd been trying to ring him to let him know that he hasn't lost them, because he will only worry.He's like that you see, but his phone was dead.So i came down here to see what was wrong, and heard your cries for help coming from behind the door.Oh my god.What if something bad has happened.He will be OK won't he ?, " she looked to me for support.

" I'm sure he will be.We'll go back.If he is in there, we'll find him.And thanks for opening that door by the way.You saved my life.What's your name ?.I'm Selene, that's Marcus " , " i told her, tilting my head towards my friend.He nodded once and smiled in her direction, carrying on with his search of the road we had just ran down. Making sure we were still alone.

I walked over to the woman and held out my hand. Trying to cokes her away from her make shift sanctuary as gently as i could. She did take it, reluctantly though." So....what's your name? ," i asked her again.

" Mary ," her voice quivered as she spoke.She looked white as a ghost.

Marcus popped his head round into the alleyway we were both still hiding in. " Well....whatever it was seems to be gone. Did i hear you right, bob's your husband ? . He's a nice fella. Right well.... we'll have to go an check it out. If he is in there, we cant leave him, " his expression was grim. He knew that if her husband was where he was meant to be, then we'll.... we both knew what we were going to find. It wouldn't be good, but we had to stay positive for his wife.

" Come on then girl's. It's now or never. Can't hang around here all day. We need to go back, " he told us. He walked off in the direction that we ran from, and we hurried behind him.

" Shouldn't we phone somebody. The police maybe, an ambulance, anyone. We can't go in there alone, " Mary called after him.

" They would laugh at us. Nobody would believe a word of it. An anyway, they would take too long to get here. It will be quicker our way, " he told us in his stubborn tone. I didn't want to go back in there. I don't know if i could when the time came. What if it was waiting for us. " What if, what if ?, kept going through my mind.

Both me and Mary tried to walk as slowly as possible, hoping it would prolong the experience that we were about to witness. But he would only glance back and tell us to hurry, so i took Mary's trembling hand again and quickened our pace so we were right behind him. After that it didn't take us long to get to our destination.

We stood in-front of the entrance doors. From the look on his face, me and Mary weren't the only ones who didn't want to go in. He took a deep breath and went first, hesitating as he yanked on the handle. The lights down here were now out too.He stepped inside and searched around for the switch. No luck, the electricity had shut down completly. When he came back out, he shot me an expression that i knew wasn't good. He looked down into his palm, i followed his gaze. Instantly understanding what the sad expression was about, something was wrong. Fresh blood covered the inside of his hand, and dripped down onto his white trainers. Mary shoved me out of the way, aiming for the stairs. She screamed to her husband.

" Wait, " i shouted after her. Marcus got there before her foot even touched the first step. She hysterically kicked and screamed in his tight grip. " Let me go. My husband could need our help. Please, let go of me, " she pleaded as she fought with him. He never loosened his hold. Just held on and spoke softly into her ear. " Shhh, take it easy. " Her rapid body movements finally eased off, and she relaxed into his chest. " I am calm. Please. Let's just get this over with, " she told him as she pushed bits of damp hair from her face.

Standing strong, she glared directly at the door. As if focusing for long enough would make her husband appear in- front of us and intact. Which i'm gathering that he wasn't. Marcus walked through the open door and began to make his way up the stairs. We reluctantly followed. My legs became weaker and felt heavier with each step i took. They seemed to drag behind me, not wanting to follow. My pores felt like they were literally opening up and seeping hot sweat. Which rolled down my temples, stopping at the lobes of my ear's.