Electus

Prelogue

Prelogue

Heather gripped the steering wheel tighter as she braces for the long road ahead. It was her second driving lesson and her instructor, Mitch, had already chosen one of the most difficult roads in Sydney. Keeping one eye on the road, one on her speed and an ear to Mitch, Heather couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed.

“Can we pull up for a minute?” She asks, brushing her blonde hair away from her face.

“I’m afraid we can’t, Heather. The road is too narrow where we are to be able to stop.”

There was something that annoyed her about his overly smooth, coaxing voice. She wished he taught like her dad did – loud; then at least she could wake up a bit.

None the less, Mitch was a nice guy, and quite good looking too. His blue eyes and short brown hair, styled in an up-do, made his already young twenty-seven year old face look at least twenty-three.

“…And a left at the first-exit of the round-about.”

Heather checked the time – five forty-five. She was relieved that she only had fifteen minutes left of her lesson, but knew that they were much further away from her house. In fact, she wasn’t quite sure where she was.

Finally, after a couple more winding turns, Heather spoke up,

“Mitch, I think we should start heading home. The lesson finishes at six and…”

“Now, take another left.”

Stumped and frustrated, Heather followed the direction in which Mitch was pointing.

The road changed from two lanes to one within the span of a turn. The further she drove, the higher the stone walls around her became, until the sky was barely visible. Although it was practically enclosed, Heather felt more unsafe with the sudden turns than she did on the main roads. With each turn, her heart would beat faster and faster, until she took her foot off the gas petal, and stopped the car.

“I’m not comfortable. I don’t think I’m ready to be driving this.”

Mitch’s face remained unchanged, as he spoke in the same hushed tone he has been using since he entered the car.

“Heather, you can do it. Confidence is the key to driving.”

“I-I-I can’t. I want to leave.”

Pulling the handle to release the door, she pushed it open, but was stopped. The road had become so narrow, that she couldn’t get her door open more than a small wedge.

Mitch placed an hand on Heather’s.

“Just keep driving.” He coaxed.

Even though she was scared and upset, there was something about Mitch’s tone that gave her a bit of confidence and silenced her fluttered heart. Heather pulls her seatbelt over her lap and continues to drive. She starts to realize how much she was over-reacting (her anxiety can do that sometimes) as the road becomes wider; not yet two lanes, but enough to open a door.

It was almost six o’clock before the car slows to a stop again – this time, not from Heather’s doing. The red light near the fuel gauge suddenly lights up and starts flashing. Panicked, she looks over at Mitch, who is stepping out of the car.

“Wait a second!” She calls to him, but he shuts the door.

Heather undoes the seat belt and jumps out of the driver’s seat, watching in shock as Mitch starts walking towards some sort of entrance, almost as though he is in a trance.

“Mitch!” She calls, “Mitch!”

He turns to her with excited eyes, all the colour rushing back to his face.

“Heather, don’t panic.” His words weren’t as reassuring as they should have been, “Follow me.”

Holding out his hand, Heather runs towards him and clings on. Although Mitch’s erratic behavior was scary, the thought of being alone in the dark was even scarier.

“Please, I want to go home.” She begs.

“And I will take you there. C’mon, I saw a cave right around this corner. You can stay here, whilst I look for help.” Just as he was describing where it was, Heather saw it too. It was magnificent in size, but looked cold and damp and very uncomfortable.

Heather grabbed Mitch’s arm tighter, before he slipped away.

“Don’t leave me.”

But he already had.

With tired eyes, Heather looked for a place that seemed comfortable. Around the cave, there were many stone walls put up, not too much bigger than the average person, chiseled to perfection, as though someone had been here.

    It wasn’t long before she spotted some movement behind the walls – an arm.

“Mitch? Is that you?”

Moving closer to the wall, she leant over it to examine the other side. Backing away slowly, Heather suppresses a scream, before tripping on something and falling over.

Another one. But this one saw her.

Grabbing her leg, Heather screams as she tries to break free.

“Mitch!”