Darkness Falling

End of Days: Chapter Three

Chapter 3

Elias bolted, gripping the basket tightly as he raced to the tree line. Rustling sounds from fallen brush echoed alongside him as he watched the blurry trees get closer. Suddenly, everything was silent except for his feet hitting the forest floor, as if time had slowed.

Eleanor woke suddenly, her eyes wide as she gasped. Hollis was enduring a nightmare, and it was leaving her haunted.

It doesn’t matter if it’s an imaginary place.

That werewolf was scaring the hell out of her! It must have frightened Elias to death. How horrible it must’ve been in the dark woods as the beast attacked.

My heart would’ve beaten out of my chest!

She rolled over and looked at the alarm clock.

4:15 a.m.

Eleanor closed her eyes, relaxing her breathing and asking her mind to quiet. She rolled to the other side, feeling her eyes creep open.

Shit. Might as well get up. I’m awake anyway.

She sat up and rubbed her eyes, rising from the bed, feeling drowsy.

I absolutely need to get some sleep at some point. What does it even feel like to sleep?

She yawned and walked to the bathroom, not bothering to turn the lights on.

Probably just blind my ass and make me fall…That’s all I need.

Eleanor turned the faucet on, running her hands under the water as she leaned forward, and washed her face. She squinted, yawning as filled a glass from the counter. She grabbed her toothbrush and put some paste on it. Eleanor looked into the mirror, noticing dark rings under her eyes.

This is what Mrs. Evans was talking about. I need more sleep.

She brushed her teeth.

After dressing, Eleanor fixed a bowl of cereal. That was one food item her mother always spent lavishly on: name brand cereals. She poured milk over the sugary flakes and dipped her spoon into the bowl.

Maybe Mom isn’t splurging. She’s just making sure I won’t fuss over the options.

Eleanor finished breakfast, walked back into her room, and sat on the bed, opening her drawer. She looked down at her headset.

I wanna put the damn thing on. Go back to the kingdom.

“You know,” she said aloud, “it’s not like I’m NOT learning about history…”

She grabbed the case and opened it up, putting the headset on. She pressed the power button…

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2
The old castle on the mountain.
A faint glow from candles near the doorway illuminated the small dining area. Magnus stood at an old, rickety table in the castle’s kitchen on the lower level. He was naked, save for a robe he had draped over his lower half. Magnus was still covered with random patches of dried blood. He stood before a deer kill from the previous night, devouring shreds of flesh from the carcass.