Darkness Falling

Book One: End of Days - Chapter Five

1
Col and Sabina looked around, confused. The castle basement was gone, and they were outside a very odd-looking structure with exceptionally straight walls. It was unlike anything they’d ever seen. Sabina knew Col was uneasy, which made her upset.

“Where on God’s green earth?” he started.

Sabina shook her head, “We’re not in the castle. We’re not at home…”

“Come,” Col interrupted her, “Hurry!”

He grabbed her wrist and dragged her along as he moved to a large tree on the opposite side of the building. He knelt behind the tree, carefully watching as a massive machine approached, traveling along a smooth road. Col pushed her behind him.

“We must keep this tree between ourselves and whatever that…machine is,” Col declared, “This is unreal. I cannot even fathom the danger we must be in.”

Sabina was silent as she watched the strange carriage approach. It was red and rolled on top of black wheels that looked soft, almost like a gummy material. They both noticed someone inside the machine, behind what appeared to be a transparent sheet of glass.

Col knelt, pulling Sabina’s hand down. She knelt and leaned against his powerful body. She closed her eyelids, shutting them tight.

At least the man was a powerful fighter, she thought.

The vehicle rolled past them, powerful light beams emitted from bright circles in the front of the machine.

The car hurried away, its driver unaware that there was anyone behind the tree, her attention on the cell phone at her ear while its screen glowed.

Col watched as the red lights on the back of the carriage grew smaller, leaving the immediate area at a rate he’d never imagined.

“It’s transportation,” he said, “Self-driven…some sort of…passenger carriage…with no horses.”

“Do you think the…” Sabina opened her eyes. “The driver was a warlock?”

“She was a female,” Col replied, “That can’t be.”

“That she was a witch?”

“No, that she was driving.”

“Your words are like a pig’s grunt,” Sabina pushed herself off him and looked around, realizing she still held her sword. She quickly resheathed it and turned to him.

“We must determine exactly what happened…” Sabina said, “And where we are. I feel Vosco is behind this. Whatever this circumstance might mean. I know is hand is in it.”

Col nodded. “Undoubtedly. Look,” he pointed to the windows on the side of the building. “This…unit. It is some kind of a…flat…a large block of flats.”

They walked to the window and bent low, creeping along to see the other side of the impossibly clear glass. If it weren’t for the moon’s glare along its surface, they wouldn’t recognize what it was.

They looked into the window and noticed a young girl, maybe fifteen, sleeping soundly in a cozy bed. There was a small bedside cabinet with an odd box on top of it, emitting a ghostly blue glow.

“What is that curious thing on the dresser near her bed?” Sabina asked.

Col shook his head, “I’m unsure. Though it could be what we’re looking for. Look. Its glow is diminishing.”