Coming From the Shadows Series
Coming From the Shadows: Lydia
The Growing Shadows of Uncertainty
Part 4
Related Stories:
- Eliza Wright – Youth Empowerment in Martial Arts: Eliza’s Tae-Kwon Do Match
- A Friend in Need – Silent Screams for Help: A Friend in Need
- Eliza and Tyler 1 – A Playful Romance: Eliza and Tyler’s Journey
- Eliza and Tyler 2 – Eliza and Tyler: A Tale of Love and Vulnerability
Previous Instalments:
- The Growing Shadows of Uncertainty: Part 1 – Unraveling the Shadows: A Tale of Darkness and Courage
- The Growing Shadows of Uncertainty: Part 2 – Unraveling Uncertainty: A Tale of Shadows and Cultists
- The Growing Shadows of Uncertainty: Part 3 – Secrets and Struggles: The Darkness Unfolds
Chapter 8:
1942
The wind howled a mournful dirge along the jagged peaks of the Himalayan mountains; a sound that was somehow muted by the presence of Nicon – Within a small, ice-carved chamber.
He stood as if hewn from the mountain itself – a figure of raw power and timeless authority.
His broad shoulders filled the space, casting long, dancing shadows from the flickering light cast from a nearby oil lamp which fought against the encroaching darkness.
Akaterine and Gallus stood before him, their faces etched with a disquiet that even their celestial origins couldn’t mask; Akaterine, her long dark hair pulled back delivered the news; her amber eyes reflecting the lamplight with an unsettling intensity “The prison in Crete…, it.., it has been breached Nicon”
A muscled twitched in Nicon’s jaw; he didn’t speak, but the air around him seemed to thicken, the very temperature dropping; Gallus usually radiated an aura of serene calm shifted uncomfortably
“’He’ has escaped” Gallus confirms, his voice a low rumble
Nicon’s silence was far more terrifying than any outburst; he shifted his gaze slowly, deliberately from Akaterine to Gallus; his amber eyes burned “How?” he questioned
Gallus hesitated, his eyes fell to Akaterine for a moment then towards Nicon “A Cultist” Gallus said “A British soldier named; Stanley”
The effect was instantaneous; a crackle of raw energy, outside the turbulent clouds churned faster, gathering like a malevolent storm, responding to the rising fury within Nicon.
“A Mortal breached the temple?” Nicon’s voice was a low growl, laced with a hint of disbelief and barely contained rage “That temple has survived for thousands of years; its protections were undone by…, a mortal?”
Gallus slowly nodded; Akaterine interjected “He was…, guided” she attempted to diffuse the growing situation “One of our own…”
Nicon turned away, his eyes closing for a moment; when he reopened them, the storm within him was barely leashed “Yet again; betrayal amongst our own people” he shook his head “We must find him; return him to his prison; if we fail, humanity will suffer”
“With all due respect; why are we protecting the mortals?” Gallus questions, a genuine uncertainty present in his voice
“As Elpis once stated; our place is to guide, not destroy” he made his way to the entrance of the chamber “Find and capture him; before he can do what he plans”
Chapter 9:
2016
Blackpool
The air in the college was think with the combined scent of cheap coffee and stale textbooks; an air of teenage angst filled the classroom; Raven however was oblivious to it all, or rather, she was trying to be – she was attempting to focus on what the tutor was saying, the intricacies of what the course would entail, and what progress he hopes his students will achieve by the end of the year.
For Raven though, there was a bussing sensation building in the back of her mind.
Beside her, Yasmin was listening intensely; her brow furrowed in concentration; this was the second course she had taken up, previously the last year she had taken up a computing course, now, she had opted to take the sports course along with Raven – Raven had failed to get into the college the previous year which had greatly upset her, but now, being in her first term, Yasmin gladly took on the sports course to support her.
As the buzzing intensified, Raven felt as though she was being swarmed by invisible insects; then, the whispering came; faint at first, but it grew louder, more insistent, sinister in nature; attacking her already waning confidence.
“You will fail….”
“We…., shall find you….”
“You’ll suffer…”
She tried to block it out; but as more sinister thoughts invaded her head; the tutor voice started to seem more monotone while the whispering in her head was more relentless; clawing at her attention, pulling her from the present, dragging her into a swirling vortex.
She became aware of a prickling sensation along her skin, a strange stillness falling over the classroom; the babble of voices replaced by a ringing silence, she looked around, the world seemed to shimmer around the edges, her breathing slowly began to increase, her chest rising and falling faster – shadows flickered in the periphery of her vision, just beyond the reach of her sight.
Terry, one of her classmates moved up trying to get her attention offering a goofy grin; he’d taken a liking to her since he first saw her and attempted to impress her with useless knowledge before trying to being a conversation.
Raven, when she shifted her gaze to him just stared at him blankly; her words sounded garbled, foreign – the shadows seemed to dance more wildly now, it drew her eyes towards the outside of the classroom window.
Yasmin, noticing Raven’s vacant expression raised her eyebrow, she gently nudged her arm “Hey…, are you alright Raven?”
Raven didn’t respond though; her eyes now fixated on something beyond Yasmin; beyond the classroom – the shadows she stared at coalesced, forming indistinct shapes, hinting at something vast and malevolent.
Yasmin’s concern deepened; she reached out, gently cupping Raven’s face in her hands forcing Raven to meet her gaze “Raven?; talk to me?”
The touch, the familiar warmth of Yasmin’s hands seemed tog round Raven, pulling her attention and bringing her back from the brink; she blinked and the shadows seemed to recede; the whispering voices faded and the buzzing subsided.
She looked at Yasmin, her eyes wide and confused “What…, what happened?; what were we talking about?”
Yasmin maintained a concerned expression “You spaced out for a minute there; you looked…, scared; are you alright?”
Raven shook her head trying to clear the fog from her mind “I…, I don’t know; I just.., felt weird, like I wasn’t really here”
Moving her hands, Yasmin gave Raven’s hand a gentle squeeze “Well.., you’re here now; and I am not letting you out of my sight”
Chapter 10
The stark white walls of the waiting room seemed to amplify Eliza’s nausea; she lay on the hard plastic bench; her head resting on Tyler’s lap, she was barely awake, and keeping her breathing under control – she could feel Tyler’s hand gently stroking against her head.
She had progressively been feeling worse all through the morning – the nausea, once again gnawing at her, not yielding, now, it coupled with a dizzying sense of disorientation, she didn’t want to move at all.
An hour had passed since their arrival; she could feel the calm breeze from the nearby window – Tyler, ever watchful kept his attention fixed on her, his touch was gentle and reassuring.
Eliza managed a weak smile; ‘Relax?’ she thought, she didn’t really have much of an option, every fibre of her being was screaming at her, the world just felt so wrong, distorted, as if she was viewing it through a warped lens.
Finally, a voice called out; “Eliza Wright”
Tyler, gently moved his hand, stroking his fingers along her cheek “That’s you love” he carefully eased Eliza upwards; he saw how pale she had become “Easy does it”
Supporting her; he guided Eliza to the doctors office, there they met with a woman waiting in the room; Dr. Davies, she greeted them with a warm, professional smile “Eliza; please.., take a seat” she said softly; her eyes landing onto Tyler “And…”
“Tyler” he answered “I’m her boyfriend” he smiled
Eliza sank down into the chair; she felt utterly drained; Davies’ smile faltered slightly, she took in Eliza’s appearance “You’re looking a little under the weather there Eliza” she said “What brings you in today?”
Eliza begins to mumble at first, not making much sense; Tyler leaned forwards a moment, seeing her struggling, he spoke for her; his voice laced with concern “She’s been feeling rough all morning; nausea, dizziness; and, I am assuming she’s been struggling with keeping things down” he began describing what had happened earlier in the morning in detail, then described what Sarah had told him “It’s all just came out of nowhere”
As he spoke Dr. Davies listened to everything he says intently; her expression thoughtful, when Tyler reaches the end of his explanation, a tiny hint of a smile touched the corner of her lips “Well…” she began, leaning back in her chair “What you’re describing…., it sounds like morning sickness”
Eliza raised her head; her eyes shifted to Tyler as he looked towards her; they exchanged a stunned look, Eliza’s immediate reaction was disbelief ‘Impossible’ she thought
The doctor though quickly clarified sensing confusion “Now, I am not saying that is definitely what it is; but, we need to rule that out, I would like to order a blood test, check your hormone levels Eliza; in the meantime, I would like you to rest and avoid any strenuous activities”
Eliza nodded her head weakly; still reeling from the implication, the Doctor’s words echoed inside her head; ‘Morning Sickness’ she thought ‘Pregnant?’ she felt waves of confusion flood her mind ‘No.., that is absurd’ she thought – but, that thought was now present, it started to cause a building fear within her; she felt the nausea building again, moving her hand up to her mouth.
She wasn’t going to reach any toilet in time; the Doctor could see what was about to happen, shifting her position she could only provide the bin nearest in the moment of emergency; soon, Eliza once again found herself retching.
Tyler looked to the doctor; she simply gave a soft smile in response.
Written By: Westley H.
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