Coming from the Shadows Series
1908 A.D.
Australia
The air of the abandoned chapel was thick with the scent of damp stone and decay, the moonlight, fractured by the arches of the windows painted skeletal fingers across the dusty floor; Lydia lay huddled in the shadow of the alter, each breath a shallow rasp, her body throbbed with a constant pulsating pain “I’ll be back” she heard her sister say, she shifted her eyes in her direction
“Just rest here; I will go and find mother” she told her
Lydia slowly nodded, watching as Elizabeth took her leave; she stared for what felt like a long time before everything went dark; sleep was all she could do in this moment, hours would tick by unnoticed to Lydia.
When her position shifted, it sent a jolt of pain through her forcing her awake, she let out a groan of pain, though she could hear a strange subtle whispering in her ear, it brought her to a more alert state, turning her head there wasn’t anywhere there; but the subtle whispering persisted.
Outside though the Cultists had arrived; the twisted zealots that had been hunting the twins down; they were well aware of who Elizabeth and Lydia were, some had worked alongside Elizabeth before she joined with her sister after Greece, having come to the conclusion the chapel would be a perfect place to hide, the Cultists decided it would be best to search there before moving elsewhere.
As they entered, the boards of the old building creaked; within the silence it echoed, and it echoed loudly; Lydia knew there was someone entering the building, at first she remained in place, she wasn’t sure if it would be a the help she needed, or, if it would turn out to be a threat.
Silence. Lydia rose her eyebrow a moment, she held her breath as she listened intently, the only sound was the subtle whispering within her ear, it was beginning to feel like a warning, when she finally heard another creak, this time sounding much closer, she knew it was not Elizabeth or her mother.
A surge of adrenaline momentarily eclipsed her pain, she forced herself to move, her breathing slow as she maintained her calm state; her strength would be limited, her mobility compromised, she couldn’t afford a direct confrontation, she needed to be smart; the use the shadows, to be one with the darkness that usually acted as an ally.
Shifting her weight, wincing as a searing pain coursed through her body, she had to move to a better position; slowly, painstakingly, she moved further into the darkness; then she heard the voices as they grew louder, getting closer to where she was; the sounds of their boots on the stone floor; the clink of metal against metal; they were searching; their movements were methodical, relentless.
Lydia reached the sacristy of a small cramped space filled with debris and fallen masonry; the only light came from a window high in the wall, castling long, distorted shadows across the floor, it was perfect.
Pressing herself against the cold stone, her body trembled in pain and exertion, she moved her hand to the hilt of the sword that hung on her back that was held across her body from her shoulder; she gripped its hilt tightly, her knuckles white; she would not hesitate when the moment came.
Once the Cultists burst into the main chapel, they brought in the flickering light of the torches they held; casting grotesque light that danced with shadow; there was only three of them though, their eyes gleamed with an unholy fervour “She’s here” one of them hissed, taking notice of a disturbance that indicated to recent movement
Lydia closed her eyes for a moment as she breathed slowly; calming; the Cultists spread out, their torches probing the darkness, they moved with a disturbing confidence as if they knew that they had already won.
One of them approached sacristy, his torch held high; Lydia opened her eyes, she could see his face now; gaunt, deeply lined with eyes that burned with nothing but evil “Come out little mouse” he sneered “Your suffering will soon be over”
Lydia didn’t move; she waited, her senses were on high alert, her body coiled like a spring; as the Cultist stepped into the sacristy, his torch illuminating the space, he paused, his eyes scanning the shadows; he didn’t see her.
That was her chance.
With a speed the belied her injuries, Lydia launched from the shadows, the sword flashed within the dim light as it speared the unsuspecting man on an angle; he wasn’t even given a chance to react before he felt the sword spear directly through his throat, he couldn’t make a sound as his eyes finally met Lydia’s; they stared at him, those Silvery-Grey eyes gave her the look of a predator as she simply watched him, what was only a brief moment seemed like an eternity between them before Lydia pulled the sword back; his body crumbled to the ground with a heavy thud.
The thud drew the attention of the other two Cultists “She’s in there!” one of them shouted, his voice crackling with fury “Kill her!”
The two charged with weapon’s drawn; Lydia knew she was to weak for a direct confrontation; she moved back, back into the shadows and darkness, intent to turn their own fears against them; her movement was fluid and silent, she may not have had long within this chapel, but she was quick to learn its layout, she could use every hiding spot to her advantage; the darkness was her best chance of survival in this encounter, moving like a ghost, she appeared and disappeared at will.
The Cultists stumbled through the sacristy, their torches casting wild erratic shadows, their were disoriented, their confidence shaken.
Lydia struck again; she emerged from the darkness like a wraith, she targeted the Cultist on the left, striking with her sword at his leg, he let out a pained scream as the sword sliced through his flesh, severing the tendon; he fell to the ground writhing in pain; but instead of finishing him off, she vanished into the darkness as the sound of a revolver went off; the ‘bang’ ringing out in the silence; the remaining Cultist, his nervous eyes darted from shadow to shadow, he was alone, vulnerable.
Lydia felt her strength waning; pain was surging, it was becoming unbearable, a constant throbbing ache that was threatening to overwhelm her; she needed to end this, and end it quickly.
Once again she emerged from the shadows behind the Cultist; thrusting her sword upwards on an angle; just as the man turned, his eyes met hers as the sword speared at the base of his throat; her eyes were cold; her breathing ragged as she felt the surging pain overwhelming her, as she struggled to pull her sword back, she stumbled away a moment, her eyes landing on the Cultists she struck in the leg as the body of the man she just dealt with lands onto the ground with a heavy thud; limping, she made her way forwards.
The injured cultists tried to crawl away, pleading as she approached him slowly, despite her obvious pain and injuries, she seemed to be a picture of death to him; her slow movement was just menacing; when she finally reached him, he looked up at her with desperate pleading eyes “Please…., don’t”
“Would you offer me that kind of mercy?” she questioned; her eyes locked onto his, the sword was low, but would be used any moment now
The Cultists hesitated, he didn’t know how to answer her; would he, if she had been the one at his mercy, most likely not; his eyes betrayed what he was thinking as Lydia stared at him “I…”
“I didn’t think so” she said coldly; bringing the sword up, she pointed the tip at his throat, she stared at him; their eyes locked, but something held her back; she had won, she could end his life, but she wasn’t him; he could see the hesitation present
Needing to make a decision; she closed her eyes a moment; then reopened them, she moved the sword, the swing was fluid; but she hit nothing, it made the Cultist flinch, his life seemed to flash before him, but he was still alive; his eyes landed back onto Lydia as she limped away from him
“Weak…, no; Mercy” she whispered to herself “I’ll come to regret this” she told herself, she moved her back so that she could position the scabbard, returning her sword back into leathery confine; leaving it to dangle as she limped slowly away
Written By: Westley H.
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