The Rise of the Songbird

Chapter 4: The Secrets of the Dark

   Fifty-seven, fifty-eight, fifty-nine, sixty. One, two, Rose counted, her fingers tapping anxiously on the arm of the chair she was sitting in. The moon was gone from her sight. And they weren't back. Why aren't they back? She pulled the blanket tighter around her, trying to take deep breaths. They aren't lost. They can't be. She whipped her head around, eyes searching the darkness.

    "They're always late for everything, except for a meal. This is normal, right?" Her voice echoed eerily through the empty house, sending the icy feeling of fear over her. Ok, so I won't talk out loud anymore.

    To distract her mind, she decided to pull out her sketchbook and finish the picture of her mom. It was her mother smiling up at her, but something wasn't... right. Her cheekbones were angled perfectly, her hair a beautiful mess and her smile filled with pure happiness. But it still felt off. Like something crucial was missing. To her right, in the darkness, a loud clang rang out, the flame from her candle disappearing into thin air, leaving only a wisp of smoke. Rose felt her body shake, dread grabbing hold. She felt paralyzed, stuck cowering underneath a thin blanket.

    Ssssongbird, a voice hissed, sending prickling goosebumps down her arms. Her breath was being dispensed in short gasps. She searched the darkness frantically but could see nothing. She felt a presence growing closer to her, the air around her turning frigid cold. Ssssongbird. Her heart beat faster and faster. Ssssongbird. An ice-cold touch, breath on her neck. Rose felt the voice calling to her, drawing her in. Every sensation was soft. She felt light– like she was free.

    Rose feet pounded on the pavement. In a daze, her eyes darted to scan around her, legs still pumping. When did I leave the house? Clouds hung low and thick, the moon casting eerie shadows. Spinning around, she frantically searched for where she had come from. Fog obscured her sight, letting only shadows be seen. Something besides her surroundings felt off. Rose gasped for breath, searching for the answer. Then it came to her. Silence. There was only silence. No whistle of the wind, no rustling of branches, no crunching of leaves, no chirping crickets or singing insects. Her thoughts were muddled, her head feeling as though it was caught in a fishbowl. 

    Shadows surrounded her in the fog, and she could see her own breath. The temperature dropped lower and lower, her body turning numb with the chill. Tiny ice particles formed around her, the cold spreading inside of her. A sigh of air sounded to her right. She turned around sluggishly around to see a shadow growing bigger and bigger, coming closer to her. The cold was taking over, her legs barely able to hold her up. Her eyes grew heavy as small droplets came to rest on her eyelashes and froze.

    Her knees banged against something hard. She opened her eyes to see she had fallen to her knees. Mind slipping, she sat down on her knees, exhaustion creeping over her. Her eyes fluttered, trying to stay open but losing the battle.

    Jacob. Noah. Her eyes flew open, remembering her brothers. They could be counting on me. She pushed herself to a kneeling position. Jacob and Noah. The dark shadow began to loom over her. Jacob and Noah. She urged her muscles to awaken. Jacob and Noah. The figure stretched out its hand. Jacob- Jacob and- Gasping, she tried to pull free of its control. Jacob and Noah. Rose shot up from the ground, her body screaming. Feet pounding against the road, she tried to get past the fog surrounding her. The presence was still trailing behind her, reaching invisible hands, trying to grasp her mind. Despite everything her body was telling her, she forced herself to keep going. A tingly, numb feeling pierced the back of her neck. She began to slip out of control. Her legs shook, her mind weak.

    The glow of the moon had never made her happier as she burst through the last of the frigid fog, warmth hitting her. Heat slowly spread through her body as she kept running, the pain and tingle subsiding. The exhaustion only grew, however. She scanned her surroundings, but she saw nothing. No shadow, no fog. The howl of wind had returned as well, along with the chirp of crickets. Her eyes heavy, she collapsed to the ground and scooted backward into a clump of bushes. As she pushed herself farther into the thicket, sharp branches were thrust into her bare skin, making her wince. 

    The ground felt pleasantly cool against her head as she laid down, staring up at the tangled leaves. A strange sense of calm came over her as her eyes fluttered shut. No, stay awake. But she couldn't stop the peaceful darkness from slipping over her mind, guiding her into a dreamless sleep.