Chapter 34: Darkening

The air in Eldridge Falls became thick now, darker; as if the town itself held some kind of collective breath. Everything was humming with something unseen and dangerous at every corner and every alleyway. Nobody dared leave his house after the sun went down any longer. Something was going on - windows broke without warning, animals disappeared, moving shadows at night appeared, or so the wild whispers spread. She watched from her window as the fog crawled across the streets. "It's getting worse, Nathaniel. With each passing day, the fear grows stronger." He paced the room in tableau motions, his hand running through his hair, his face knotted with tension. "The town is divided, and in that division, the secret society feeds. She turned to him then, her tone tight with apprehension. "If we do nothing soon, they'll tear this town apart." At that moment, a loud knock came at the door. The fast look that passed between Emma and Nathaniel spoke volumes before Nathaniel went to the door, pulling it open an inch. Olivia was ashen-white in front of her, the look of terror wide in her eyes. "You have to come with me," she whispered urgently, "something is happening." They followed Olivia down fog-shrouded deserted streets, the mist swirling at their feet. The town was silent, a ghost of itself, save that one echo in the distance of something unsettling. Olivia led them deeper inland toward the old church at the edge of the town, one site where the society was known to meet. "I overheard them," Olivia said, shaking. "They're planning something. Tonight. Emma's heart was racing. "What is happening?" "I'm not exactly sure," Olivia said. "But it's bad. They're going to make a play soon, and unless we stop them." Nathaniel cut her off. "We will stop them. The air inside the church was damp and cold; candles, weakly flickering along the walls, cast long shadows that to Emma seemed to twist and reach, like living things. Her skin prickled as they made their way down the narrow aisle toward the front. "Look, Olivia whispered, her finger pointed into the dark. Emma squinted, and then she saw a symbol, another one, carved deep into the stone wall and glowing faintly into the dim light. It was the same symbol from her dreams, the one she had seen burned into the side of the town hall. "What does it mean? Emma breathed, barely loud enough to hear. Nathaniel shook his head. "Whatever it is, it's a warning." Then, sans warning, out of the clear blue sky, the shrill crack of breaking resounded around the church, sending chills down their spines. A figure flickered across the far corner and then disappeared. "We are not alone," Olivia stammered. Nathaniel stepped forward, his hand instinctively going to the small knife he was carrying on him. "Stay behind me." Then, a figure emerged from the shadows, far too well-known to them. "Marcus?" Emma panted, and her heart was already racing. Standing in front of them was Marcus, the same historian they trusted enough to lead them this time, his eyes were cold and calculating, and not sharp and wary as previously known to them. "I see you finally figured it out," he spoke in his low, almost mocking voice. Nathaniel frowned. "What are you talking about? Marcus took another step closer, that cruel smile starting to split across his face. "The society doesn't only control this town. They control everything. And I've been helping them all along." Emma's blood ran cold. "You. You were working with them?" Marcus smiled wider. "Of course. Why do you think I knew so much about society? I've been guiding you right where we needed you to be. Olivia did not take a full step closer, but her face screwed up into an incredulous mask. "You betrayed us." Marcus shrugged. "Betrayed? No, I have always been on the winning side. And now it's time for society to take back what rightfully belongs to them." Emma's fists curled and her chest heaved upwards in anger. "You lied to us! You're no historian-you're a traitor! Marcus let out a low, mirthless chuckle. "Call it what you like, Emma. But you can't stay, it's coming. And with that, Marcus turned and disappeared into the night, leaving them to fend for themselves in the cold, dark church. Dazed, Emma came out of the church as if her mind still could not fathom what was real and what was an illusion-all this time everything they had believed in was mere fabrication. All this time he, Marcus, had been manipulating them right from day one, and at this juncture he would strike at any given chance. "Something which we must do right now," exclaimed Nathaniel, strain in his voice with an effort of resolution. "We cannot let them get away with this." Olivia had wide eyes of fear. "But how? We do not even know what they are up to." Emma looked around; her heart pounding in her chest. The walls were closing in on her. The town was in peril, and time was running out. "We have to warn the rest," she said, "we can try, in time, to stop them." Nathaniel nodded, and just then they were turning to leave when a deafening explosion shook them right to the soles of their feet. Wide-eyed shock wafted upwards in the nighttime sky from the direction of the town centre as they froze. "They have begun," Olivia whispered, shaking. None had any problem running towards the source of that explosion, their hearts practically leaping in their chests, with not one instance of hesitation. Entering the town square was like going right into chaos; buildings were on fire and people running all over screaming in terror. The very sight of that symbol again, this time burning on the side of the mayor's office aglow with an ominous tone, caught Emma's breath in her throat. We're too late, Nathaniel muttered. His face was a shade pale in the light of the moon. Emma shook her head. Nein. We can still stop them. Now there was a figure coming out of the smoke - a man in a long mantle, his face hidden in its folds. He was moving with the purpose of a man who knew exactly where he was going, his steps slow and sure. In an instant, she knew him: one of the secret society's leaders, the man who'd headlined her dreams. She launched herself at him, heedless. Her heart pounded against her chest. "Stop!" she cried. "This has to stop!" He faced her then, perilous eyes, cold, meeting hers. "You can't stop what's already begun," he said calmly, coolly. Emma's hands shook as she faced him. "I won't let you destroy this town." He grinned again, in a cold, twisted grin. "You're too late, Emma. The darkness is here. The earth suddenly bucked violently beneath their feet, the air turning colder with every passing second, and a deep rumbling noise filling the sky. Nathaniel yanked her arm, spinning her around. "We gotta go, now! But Emma was at the same spot, her gaze fixed on the man as the darkness, now starting to swallow him whole, thickened before her eyes within mere seconds. "This is only the beginning," he whispered, his voice travelling with the night as if its whispers would echo through all eternity. "The prophecy is being fulfilled." Then, all of a sudden, in a flash of blinding light, he vanished. Fire raged, people shrieked, and the very sky above them pulsed like a living thing with some alien energy. The town had been reduced to utter bedlam. Emma's mind was racing, trying to fit together what had just happened. We have to stop it, she whispered, shaking. Nathaniel nodded grimly. How? Emma took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. "We found the artefact. It's the only way. The town was silent the next morning; the fires had gone off, and people tried to try and win their lives back to normal. Still, the fear lingered, though, upon the feeling of something worse yet to happen. Emma stood at the edge of town, staring outwards as the heavyweight set upon her chest. The secret society wasn't done, and neither were they. "We need to get ready," Nathaniel said, coming up beside her. Emma nodded, eyes narrowing into determination. "We will. But first, we need to find out who's behind it for real. And somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew the worst of all was yet to come.