Dawn of Death

Weary Travellers

"What did you say your names were again?" Asked the kind stranger who had offered them a ride - a small, happy looking man of 25 with big, golden eyes and fair, curly brown locks.

"Kevin Thatcher. The boy's Marley Curtis, sir." Kevin replied, gazing out of the window, sitting in the front seat of the small red car.

"Not your son, then? You can call me Darius, mate. It's Darius Banks." Said the man with a bright smile.

"Nice to meet you, Darius." Kevin said quietly, eyes beginning to droop. He was really sleepy. He glanced to the backseat of the car and noticed Marley looking glum.

"You hungry, kid?" Asked Darius, grabbing an apple and tossing it to Marley.

"Thanks." Marley said, and he instantly bit into it.

"Hey, don't look so miserable," Darius then laughed. "I've got something for you too, mate." He then handed a thankful looking Kevin a packet of peanuts. "It's not much, but it'll keep you going 'till we get to Leo's house." Kevin looked at him curiously.

"Leo?" He asked.

"Oh, yeah, that's where we're going. Leo Young - he's a family friend. He might have a few guests over, just to warn you."

" 'Kay."

Once they arrived, the house looked normal. Not overrun but not overprotected either. Darius led Marley and Kevin inside, and he was right - the house was full.

Leo Young and his wife, Lizzy, were sitting anxiously on the sofa. Leo was a baker, and so was his wife. Adam Mullins, a journalist, and his sister, Emily Mullins, a librarian, were eating something from two plates, hunched over a table. Finn Clarkson, a shy, timid artist, was sitting by a window silently.  A lifeguard called Jack Gray was pacing around the room anxiously. Last but not least, there was Dawes Marshall, an FBI agent, who was flipping through an old storybook. And, of course, Kevin, Marley and Darius.

"I"m going outside for a cigar." Lizzy sighed, and she stood up. Everyone stared at her as she walked out, but soon, everyone got back to their own business. Kevin sat Marley, who was now shivering, infront of the fireplace in the freezing cold room. They heard a muffled noise, but nobody thought anything of it.

Then a scream.