Coming From the Shadows Series
Coming From the Shadows: Lydia
The Growing Shadows of Uncertainty
Part 5
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
- The Growing Shadows of Uncertainty: Part 4 – Whispers from Shadows: A Young Woman’s Struggle
Chapter 11:
The Blackpool sky was a bruised purples pressing down on the town like a heavy hand as the rain began to lash against the windows of the college, it blurred the already grim landscape of the impressionistic mess of greys and blacks; Raven shivered, pulling her jacket closed and zips it before pulling a second jacket; her denim jacket over the top of her black hooded jacket; she pulled the denim closed around her to button it up.
Yasmin came up behind her, leaning forwards and putting her arms around her, making Raven jump a little “You okay Ravie?” Yasmin lased, her tone laced with concern “You’ve been miles away all day”
Raven thought for a moment; she didn’t know how to explain; the shadows she spotted out the corner of her eye, the eerie whispering that had been following – she didn’t understand any of it, but, that also left her unable to explain it “I’m…, not sure” she admitted “I might just be tired…”
Yasmin thought; she gently squeezed her arms around her as she leaned her chin against Raven’s shoulder “We’ll go to your house instead of waiting around for the bus multiple times; your house is closer than us going back to the flat” she reasoned, smiling; letting go, she moved around and held her hand out; Raven smiled as she took a hold, their fingers intertwining
The walk from the college was like a blur; Raven struggled to keep pace, her legs felt heavy and unresponsive; the whispering had begun again – a faint, sibilant susurrus that seemed to emanate from the very air around her, she caught fleeting glimpses of movement in her peripheral vision – they were dark, shapeless figures flitting between houses, disappearing as soon as she tried to focus on them.
By the time they reached the Wright household; Raven had begun trembling, there was no so much more rushing through her head, she felt as though what had been a strange whispering, that now, it felt as though someone was deliberately trying to bring all her fears and terrors to the surface; she had started thinking of things she had been trying so hard to push away – memories of the pain she felt the previous year, they now resurfaced, and they came flooding into her head as if they had happened again – the memories bullying in school when she first began her relationship with Yasmin two-years previous, but the most damaging memories to come rushing to the forefront of her mind, were of what Daniel had done to her – the spiked drink and waking up to discover she’d been assaulted.
Everything felt raw; Yasmin looked at Raven carefully as she steered Raven into the living room; she gently eased her down, she could see terror in her eyes “Raven; Raven look at me”
Raven however couldn’t hear Yasmin; she sounded like a distant echo as voices inside her heard screamed at her; she moved her hand upwards to her head, it wasn’t just one voice; there were many, and they were hurting – it began to feel physical, like something was hitting her head nonstop.
Panic clawed at her throat as she squeezed her eyes shut; Yasmin, seeing words were not getting through, moved her hands up; cusping Raven’s face gently – it came as a sudden shock to Raven when she felt Yasmin’s hands on her face, her eyes snapped open and locked onto Yasmin “Raven; what’s wrong, you are shaking, talk to me please”
Yasmin’s voice finally seeped to break through the madness going on in her head “I…, I don’t know” Raven whispered, her voice trembling; eyes welling as she stared, she felt as though she hadn’t moved an inch since the previous year
“Come here” Yasmin said softly; wrapping her arms around her, and holding her tightly in an embrace as she gently rocked back and forth
Unseen, Lydia observed from the afterlife; she watched her great-granddaughter carefully – eyes laced with concern.
Chapter 12
Tyler watches as Eliza sleeps; the evening light barely penetrating the curtains of he darkened room; a soft glow cast gently over her face; it highlighted some of the delicate features of her face; he couldn’t help but smile.
The day had been a difficult one; from the morning when Eliza had been struck by a sudden sickness, to her struggles up until they went to college; she’d struggled with illness a second time, it led to the decision to take her to the walkin-centre; and now, there had been a suggestion made of what her symptoms seemed to be – it was only a suggestion and did not fully confirmed anything; that it simply sounded it could potentially be ‘Morning Sickness’
The very idea of it though had struck something in Eliza – Tyler saw hope flicker in her eyes, but it was quickly followed by a wave of raw fear.
When they had returned to the house; they took the chance to speak; he remembered her words when he carried her to the bed – the vulnerability is something he had very rarely ever seen from her; “If I am, I am scared…, but I am also overjoyed at that possibility; we would have made something special…, together” she told him, ‘Something Special’ he thought, he maintained his smile as he kept his eyes locked on her sleeping form.
He understood Eliza’s fear and panic; they were young, they still had no place to call their own yet; a baby would change everything – the competitions they would take part in, the carefully laid out plans for the future they had made; it would all be thrown into dissary.
Beneath the fear he saw the flicker of warmth and quiet joy that surprised him – Eliza had always been a fierce competitor, the independent spirit; but it seemed that he underestimated just how much she really loved him – she wanted to be a mother, and it was with him she wanted that to happen with.
He felt his smile widen; it was genuine love he felt for her, and, as was clear; genuine from her too; while he’d had moment he’d imagine them together with a family, if the blood test the doctor had taken does confirm it; that imagined scenario would become a reality.
Stroking her head gently, he ran his fingers through her hair; no matter what happened, he’d be there for her, to support and protect.
Eliza stirred in her sleep, a faint murmur escaping her lips; he leaned closer, listening intently as she said “Tyler…”
He checked a moment to see if she was awake; she wasn’t; she was still clearly sleeping, but she had a softened expression present, a hint of a smile playing on her lips; he watched her for a long moment, lost in the beauty of her presence.
Chapter 13
The air hung thick with a strange electricity; an unease that hummed beneath the surface – within Raven’s bedroom in the wardrobe hidden away was a strange puzzle box, it was unlike any other box; it was small, n large than a mans fist, crafted with an intricate design made of what looked to be wood, it seemed to absorb what little light penetrated into the room from the window, there were no hinges, no seams betrayed its construction, no obvious mechanism hinted how to open it and yet; from within, a faint, almost imperceptible whispering emanated, a sibilant susurrus that spoke of secrets best left undisturbed.
Suddenly, the bedroom light flicked on; bathing the entire room in a bright light and completely silencing the whispering as Yasmin walked a heavily distraught Raven into the room, her eyes red, her skin pallid – she looked haunted, her body trembled from her barely supressed fear “Come on” Yasmin said gently “Just breathe; you’re safe, I promise Raven; you’re safe”
Raven moved to sit on the bed as Yasmin eased her down; her breath hitched in her throat “I…, I don’t understand…, why is it so fresh…, why is it right there like it just happened” she questioned, her voice trembling – she felt as though she had just gone through everything again, she felt violated as she sat on the bed
Yasmin wrapped her arms around her to pull her close “I don’t know; maybe something in the college triggered you?” she wasn’t sure what else to really say, they’d made so much progress, and something had brought it all back to the surface “But I am right here; and like I have said to you; I will always be here for you” she told her softly
She continued to hold onto Raven, maintaining a warm, gentle embrace around her – but, she noticed her body beginning to stop trembling, to but her arms seemed to start slipping down along her waist as she stood in front of Raven; hugging her head against her stomach “Raven?” she asked gently; turning her head, her gaze dropped and she watched Raven for a moment
Raven simply mumbled in response; she seemed to calm down,
It takes a few minutes longer before Yasmin realises that Raven seems to have drifted off; she raise’s her eyebrow, somewhat confused for a moment, but a smile forms as she eases Raven down; taking off both her own shoes and Raven’s before moving to properly close the door and turn the light off before joining Raven in bed; as she lays down, Raven’s unconscious movement brings her closer to Yasmin as she quietly and softly embraces her.
Chapter 14
On the opposite side of England; to the east along the Yorkshire coat; the wind whipped off the North sea, carrying the scent of salt; a small, isolated port of Staithes, usually picturesque.
Tonight though, it was different; tonight it became a stage for something far more sinister.
A group of hooded figures, cloaked against the wind and rain, moved around the edge of the pier; what little of them that could be seen were etched with anticipation and a nervous energy; these were loyalists for the Cult of the Minotaur; long fallen since the days of the superior position that had once been held in the late Victorian and early Twentieth Centuries – this had been caused by the interference of Lydia Langdon, her work to dismantle them had been successful in the early twentieth century; they had never truly recovered their strength after the nineteen forties.
With the loss of so much, they’d lost their influence and power; wealth no longer kept their operations going alone, they required cooperation with other cultists factions, and, where at the control of the Imperium itself – were once the Cult of the Minotaur reigned over the Imperium; the Imperium now controlled them.
A rust-bucket freighter, barely seaworthy, bobbed in the inky blackness; from its hold, Cultists began to unload its cargo; various boxes which bore cryptic symbols, but it wasn’t just boxes, there were prisoners being escorted off – there terrified expressions signalled that they had been forced against their will.
One Cultists; a man named Vincent, stepped forwards he was leading this operation, seeing such innocents brought to him caused him a sadistic sense of glee; he could use these prisoners as human sacrifice to appease the dark gods that the Imperium swore loyalty too; he intended to be the first to bring it into the modern age – despite no such practise ever being done previously, Vincent, being such a cruel and sadistic man, saw this as a new direction, and those under his command, being so fanatical only agreed with the new direction.
He hoped that this would ensure such practises would be adopted by the entire Imperium, that he would lead the future of their movement.
The silence, broken by the creaking the ship and the mournful cry of gulls was shattered by a new sound; footsteps – they were slow, deliberate, but, they were undeniably wrong; Vincent’s hand instinctively moved to grip the knife hidden beneath his jacket.
As Vincent turned, he shifted his gaze; the darkness seemed to writhe and coalesce, forming a figure that emerged from the shadows like a nightmare made of flesh.
The figure was tall; cloaked with his face hidden beneath a hood and scarf; but, there was something unease about his presence that made the Cultists present instinctively uneasy – they prepared themselves, ready to defend their territory.
Then it hit them; a feeling of dread, it snuck up along their spines the feeling of such a primal terror radiated around them; the air grew icy; misting their breath.
As the figure stopped in front of Vincent; there was a flash of crimson from beneath the hood; it was a glimpse at eyes, they burned with an ancient, terrible power; the cultists recoiled as they realised just who was in front of them.
“You…” Vincent said in a panic; he dropped down to the floor, down to his knee’s; others soon followed, they pressed their forehead against the damp ground, no one dared move.
They all knew this was no man; this was a monstrosity that stood before them; the being they intended to sacrifice their prisoners for, the wind seemed to swirl around him like a malevolent spirit; the sensation of terror continued to permeate the atmosphere as his eyes fixed onto the huddled prisoners “These are your offerings” the voice was low, icy – resonating with a chilling disdain “You force them to the alter; you think that this pleases me?”
Vincent, still prostrate trembled “We…, we believed this would be a great honour to you”
The air crackled with an unnatural energy; they could all sense the shift in the mood; their fear, already palpable, grew further, terror just seemed to fill every space around them “You insult me; you defiled the ritual; you perverted the path” his voice, while quiet carried the weight of millennia “True power is not born of coerced sacrifice; it comes from the willing offering, the devout heart”
There was a silence that followed.
“You humans disgust me” he said with icy disdain “You have not once changed your ways, I may have always held your species in poor regard, but a small part wanted Elpis’ desire to be true; her belief in your species; but no, you are a stain of existence”
Vincent dared to move finally; raising his head for a brief moment before sinking his head back against the floor “But….”
“Silence!” the icy voice suddenly boomed out; his rage had built up rapidly “She died believing in your species; this, this can’t be forgiven, your kind are cruel, barbaric creatures”
Then he moved; he moved with a speed that defied human comprehension; one moment he had been stood still; the next, this monster was a blur of motion; a scream pierced the night, followed by a sickening crunch; Vincent raising his head barely had any time to register what was going on before he felt the grip latch around his head.
The attack was brutal; efficient and horrifyingly swift; bones snapped, blood sprayed and screams abruptly ceased – the other Cultists, finally found their legs and scattered; they ran blindly, desperately seeking escape – but it was futile, one by one they found themselves victims of this monstrous predator that moved as if he was everywhere at once, appearing and disappearing with supernatural speed; their cries of terror, pleas for mercy; they were all meaningless against this monster.
When the last of the screams died away; he stood amidst the carnage; his cloak fluttering around him, his attention returned to the prisoners who were huddled together, their eyes wide with terror “Leave this place; forget what you saw” he simply told them
Turning his back to them; this creature of shadow finally departed, disappearing into the darkness from whence he had come from, the wind seemed to sigh as the stench of death was carried away by the window, whispers of forgotten gods.
The prisoners daring to breath, finally found their feet and fled; leaving behind the carnage.
Written By: Westley H.
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