A high school senior heads to Boston to visit his sister for Halloween. A twist of fate reveals something they would never have admited alone... and it proves to be the one thing that may keep them alive when the best laid plans of a group of college students are lain waste by a force of terrible evil and corruption that has thrived for centuries... Can Charlie Kane be strong enough to live? or will the River of Shadows claim yet another victim...?
A high school senior heads to Boston to visit his sister for Halloween. A twist of fate reveals something they would never have admited alone... and it proves to be the one thing that may keep them alive when the best laid plans of a group of college students are lain waste by a force of terrible evil and corruption that has thrived for centuries... Can Charlie Kane be strong enough to live? or will the River of Shadows claim yet another victim...?
I looked out of the train window as we drew into Boston: True to form, I could see little beyond the rain lashing against the glass, mercifully obscuring my view of South Boston’s crumbling industrial cadavers that lined the tracks. It always seemed to rain when I came to this city…
Stretching after the lengthy journey, I began, slowly, to collect my belongings as the train began to slow for Boston South Station. I was in town visiting my big sister for the weekend, and an excuse to party college style… I, Charlie Kane, was seventeen, and in my senior year of high school back home in Fairfield, Connecticut; I was roughly five and a half feet of scrawny geek stereotype with long dark hair that I refused to cut as if it may hide the scrawniness and make me look cooler… somehow. My sister Hannah, three years my senior, was a sophomore at the University of Massachusetts. Hannah was, I suppose, quite pretty; she was relatively slim and stood a statuesque five foot nine inches tall with her Sandy blonde hair falling down to her shoulder blades. We were polar opposites…
Stepping down onto the platform I took my first lungful of cold, fresh air in nearly ten hours. Navigating my way through the crowds, I made my way towards the main hall of the station where I would collect my suitcase and meet Hannah. The crowd swirling around me, I clutched the strap of my pack tighter as the bustling mass jostled me too and fro. Finally emerging into the bright expansive main hall of the station the crowds seemed to dilute somewhat in the vast atrium; I began my search for the baggage collection carousels.
Before long, I found them located in an area off the main hall of the station. Reaching the rotating conveyor belts, I scanned the electronic board for the one belonging to my train. Spotting it over to my left, I walked over and began searching the circling luggage for my case.
I heard my phone ring as I was scanning the passing cases. Flipping it open, I recognised my sister’s name on the screen and answered.
“Hello Hannah.” I answered with a smile. “I’m here; just collecting my case.”
“Finally!” Hannah sighed in mock frustration. “I’ve been waiting for that train for ages! Where are you?”
“At the baggage lounge, next to the check in desks.” I replied, “See you in five?”
“Sure,” Hannah replied before hanging up.
I was still searching five minutes later when my sister arrived. The first clue I had of her presence was a pair of arms encircling me, making me jump with fright; her trademark.
“Hey there baby brother.” She giggled squeezing me tight. “It’s been too long.”
“Good to see you Hannah,” I smiled turning to face my sister. “How are you?”
“I’m good,” she shrugged non comittally, “Class’s a drag, but this weekend’s gonna be a blast,” she grinned.
“What exactly do you have planned?” I asked curiously, acutely aware of the lack of information I’d been privy to.
“Nothing much.” She grinned sheepishly. “Just a small party with some friends: You brought a costume like I asked right?” she asked cocking her head to one side.
Rolling my eyes I nodded. “It’s in my case, if it ever arrives.”
Hannah frowned, “Not come off yet? They don’t seem to be sending any more out.” She added nodding at the conveyor with 5 remaining bags circling waiting for their owners.
“Ugh, just what I need.” I moaned, “Mom’s gonna kill me if I’ve lost my stuff.”
Turning, I sought out the bored looking attendant.
“Excuse me.” I asked approaching the desk. “I was on the 1800 Train… My bag isn’t here.” I informed the disinterested woman.
Without responding, she tapped on her computer keyboard for a moment before looking up finally. “All the bags from that train were unloaded sir,” she droned mechanically. “If it’s not on the carousel, someone must have taken it,” she offered unhelpfully.
“Yeah thanks.” I muttered feeling a pang of disappointment, as I turned and walked away. It was a bummer really… I had my changes of clothes and my costume in that bag… thankfully all the important stuff like my laptop and my Ipod had been in my rucksack on the train itself… small mercies I suppose.
I walked back over to Hannah with my hands in my pockets. “What did she say?” Hannah asked expectantly.
I shrugged, “Nothing helpful. What am I gonna do for clothes and stuff this weekend?”
Hannah looked thoughtful for a moment. “Well you’re good for tonight right? We can stop off at a drugstore and grab you a toothbrush and whatever… we’ll go shopping in the morning for some stuff ok? We’ll need to get you a new costume,” she chuckled, “You aren’t getting off that easily.”
We walked out of the station and found Hannah’s old beaten up hatchback before joining the rush-hour traffic and making our way back to her apartment. She lived in a very student orientated part of town just off the campus, It was relatively nice to my inexperienced eye, and clearly quite popular. Making a quick dive into a drug store round the corner from her place, I followed my sister up to her third floor apartment and the final promise of rest.
Retrieving her keys from her bag, Hannah unlocked the door to the apartment and let us in. I hadn’t seen her place since she had moved in over the summer months; I was mildly impressed. The apartment was small but nicely furnished and clean. A modern looking kitchen with a breakfast bar dividing it from the living room made the place feel more spacious despite its size.
I slumped down on the sofa and kicked off my shoes. “It feels good to have finally stopped moving.” I sighed happily.
“How are mom and dad?” Hannah called from the kitchen.
“They’re fine.” I replied absent mindedly, “Dad’s snowed under with that new contract, and mom’s working on another book.”
“That’s good,” Hannah agreed, “I miss them loads.”
She walked back from the kitchen carrying two steaming mugs of hot chocolate which she placed down on the coffee table before joining me on the sofa in typical Hannah fashion; she plopped.
“So this party...” I began slowly. “What’s the plan?” I asked casually sipping the steaming liquid and eyeing her carefully.
Hannah grinned. “Oh it’s totally cool… I mean, I told mom and dad it was like this thing on campus… no alcohol allowed with chaperones right? But its not…” she grinned triumphantly.
“Go on.” I pressed cautious of Hannah’s legendary powers of understatement.
“Well…. My friend Claire’s dad is in real estate right?” She prompted despite my total lack of knowledge of anyone called Claire, never mind their father. “He buys and sells places… fixes them up and sells them on… He got this big old place out of town recently, and he’s agreed to let her use it for a Halloween party.” She finished with an expectant grin.
“So we’re going to be all alone in the middle of nowhere, with alcohol, and a big house…” I muttered to myself letting the idea filter through my brain. I watched Hannah’s expression slowly begin to turn to one of concern before I grinned broadly. “Thank fuck you didn’t tell mom and dad that… they would have chained me to a wall back home to stop me coming.”
“Cool.” Hannah smiled. “I was thinking you were going to be all geeky about it and not want to take part.”
I frowned. “Im not a geek by choice; it’s not very easy to make cool friends when most people pick on you.” I admitted sheepishly. “I’m left with those that can’t find anyone else, and my computer and stuff.”
Hannah reached over and hugged me warmly. “Don’t let em get you down ok?” She whispered into my ear as she squeezed me tight. “High school is just plain evil, anyway, nobody knows you here… so we can have a good time and forget all that clique crap.”
I sniffed and rubbed my eyes to mask the fact I’d shed tears, and grunted non comittally. “Not without a costume I won’t.”
“Ah we’ll sort that out tomorrow.” Hannah snorted waving her hand dismissively. “There’s plenty of fancy dress stores around here… we’re in a college neighbourhood remember?”
“Anyway,” she continued looking at her watch. “Its late, why don’t we grab some takeout and get an early night? Tomorrow’s a long day…”
We ordered pizza, and spent time catching up while we waited for the food to arrive. I missed my big sister; she was always role model of mine… She was popular, strong, confident… The things I wanted to be.
The doorbell rang as we were yelling each other down about music genres. Hannah pulled herself to her feet and walked over to answer the door. A snippet of muffled conversation and she closed it again, and returned bearing the fruit of our wait…
Diving into the boxes on the table, we returned to our catching up.
“So you got a girlfriend yet little brother?” Hannah asked conspiratorially while reaching for another slice. “Or are you still pure and innocent?”
I looked away for a moment and felt myself blushing. “Not really, no.” I admitted in a small voice. “I’ve never really known what to do.”
Hannah looked at me with concern as she chewed her pizza. “I’m sorry Charlie.” She frowned. “I didn’t mean to pry… I was just interested… I mean… sorry,” she added.
I shrugged for want of a suitable verbal response. I really trusted my sister, but it was a subject I had never really fully admitted to myself or anyone…
Hannah placed her hand on my arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “What’s up?” she asked breaking my concentration. “You look awful thoughtful in there…”
I looked up at my sister, without bothering to hide the wetness in my eyes. “I guess I was.” I admitted quietly.
Hannah lent forwards and hugged me tightly for several moments, rocking us back and forth while I cried quietly to myself. Why couldn’t I toughen up? Why was a guy crying because he couldn’t get a date, and having to be consoled by his sister? It felt wrong somehow… Although for once I didn’t care.
From the Author:
Hey Folks... This is part one of my Halloween Horror thing entry. Its one of 8 parts, and I'll be releasing them every few days from now on. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you dont get too scared when this reaches that point... I'm going to pull no punches... She wanted Terror... you will get it :)
Lots of Love
Alyssa
A high school senior heads to Boston to visit his sister for Halloween. A twist of fate reveals something they would never have admited alone... and it proves to be the one thing that may keep them alive when the best laid plans of a group of college students are lain waste by a force of terrible evil and corruption that has thrived for centuries... Can Charlie Kane be strong enough to live? or will the River of Shadows claim yet another victim...?
The next morning I woke around seven am. It was just getting light outside the window. I could hear my sister snoring softly. It made me smile in my sleep clouded state; it brought back fond memories of our bunk bed sharing childhood.
I rolled off the air mattress and tiptoed quietly out of the room into the dark corridor. Locating the bathroom, I did my business, and began to brush my teeth. I caught my reflection in the mirror over the sink and mentally rolled my eyes at the image reflected. My rubber band had gotten lost in the night, and my slept in hair went in every direction. My main concern was the fact my face was still smooth… It was silly expecting to have gone from baby face smooth to stubbly man overnight, but some part of me almost expected it to happen. I finished up and left the bathroom in search of morning sustenance; my stomach called.
I was fixing myself a pot of coffee and toast when I heard a noise behind me. As I turned, I came face to face with a red haired girl around my height. She looked as sleepy as I felt.
“Um, hi,” she said curiously, “I’m Heather.” She added with a lopsided grin. “You must be Hannah’s… friend? That’s coming up this weekend?”
I was stunned momentarily. “Mm, she’s my sister… I’m Charlie.” I replied awkwardly. “I didn’t wake you did I? I tried to be quiet…”
Heather shook her head. “Oh no,” she admitted with a coy smile, “The smell of coffee wakes me from the deepest of slumbers… no better way to wake up… I thought Hannah was up for a moment till I saw you in here…”
I turned back to the coffee maker and pulled the pot off the boil before filling two cups with the dark liquid. “Here.” I offered handing her one. “So you’re Hannah’s housemate?” I asked trying to fill the awkward silence that had descended.
“Yep,” nodded Heather as she sipped the steaming coffee, “sophomore majoring in American Literature… What about you?”
“Uh, I’m in my senior year of high school back home.”
Heather’s eyebrows rose, “High school?” she asked with surprise, “I mean, you are a bit… skinny.” She added looking me up and down, “But I had you pegged for at least a freshman…
I blushed, “uh, thanks.”
“So are you coming tonight?” Heather continued, getting more animated as the level of coffee in her mug lowered. “I’m going as a vampire princess.” She grinned. “I borrowed this corset off my friend Amy who’s a goth… it’s totally sexy.” She admitted conspiratorially. “It doesn’t half make my boobs itch after though.” She added with a chuckle.
I turned red and muttered something incoherent in response.
“What are you going to wear?” she asked curiously.
“Uh, I was going to go as a Vampire too.” I admitted sheepishly, realising it was probably a massive Halloween cliché. “But I lost my case at the station… so I’m going to get something else today when I get clothes and stuff.” I added.
“Oh you poor thing!” Heather sympathised. “I hate it when that happens… and they never want to help.”
“I know.” I agreed, “It’s like they just don’t give a shit once you pay for your ticket and get off the train… Still… I don’t know what to go as now… It seems like you’re all very into this.” I smiled.
“Oh we are.” Heather nodded. “It’s an excuse to have fun, and with the location we have…. It’s going to rock! She laughed. “Mm, I think there’s a place down on Adams that has some neat costumes… What were you thinking?”
I sipped my coffee and thought for a moment… original…. Something original…. “Well I guess I could go as something undead?” I offered lamely.
Heather scrunched up her face and shook her head. “Nah, that’s a bit lame… anyway it will look all icky… this isn’t that sort of party… a whooole different sort of ‘good looking costume.” She giggled. “Okay… Lets go get dressed, and we can go down to the store and see what we can sort you out with huh?” she offered with a smile. “Your sister doesn’t like to wake up before mid day… and this isn’t going to be a quick job.” She chuckled playfully. “Hey, you got anything to wear since you lost your case?”
I shrugged. “Uh, I hadn’t thought about that really.” I admitted.
“It’s ok.” Heather smiled, “I’m sure I’ve got something you can wear, we’re about the same size. Well… Almost…” she grinned hefting her considerable bosom.
It was about then when the penny finally dropped and I realised what she had been thinking all along… I was sat here… in one of Hannah’s old sleep shirts… admittedly, a plain one, I had hairless legs… I didn’t shave… I had long hair… She thought I was a girl!
“I’m a boy.” I blurted quickly.
Heather cocked her head to one side and looked at me for a moment. “You are?” she asked with something approaching surprise. Then her hands flew to her mouth in shock.
“Oh my god!” She breathed. “I’m so sorry.” “I… I don’t know what got into my head… and I mean… I should have… but you …. I mean… I’m sorry.” She added a second time. “Well I guess that explains why you’re flat up top.” She chuckled softly. “I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.” She added again, “I’m such a dolt; I guess I was tired, then I didn’t really look harder… “She trailed off before looking down at her lap.
I sat for a moment confused. I didn’t look like a girl… I thought… But apparently I did? It was a strange thought. The even stranger thought rattling around in my head was that it wasn’t such a bad thing… or was it? Should I be ashamed? I wasn’t sure… But an odd idea was kicking around in my head that refused to leave. It would sure be funny… That she had thought I was a girl was oddly not offensive in my mind…. Did that mean I? I mean, we had talked… like equals… I’d enjoyed that… was this what it was like being popular? Having friends? Would she still like me if I was a guy? What was I thinking? Of course I was a guy… I… It was really the first time I’d thought about it frankly. And Thinking back, I couldn’t really think of any reason I liked it… Being a guy I mean… I’d always been so… safe… so cautious about everything… A part of me wanted to run from something I didn’t think was normal… yet another part was saying what’s to loose? I couldn’t describe it…
“Heather?” I asked snapping out of my inner monologue. She looked up with a questioning expression on her face.
“The costume for tonight?” I prompted slowly, “Well… what if I was to go as a girl?”
She looked confused for a moment, but a sly grin crept onto her lips. “You’re serious?” she asked slowly. “Well I guess it would be one hell of a costume… I guess you could pull it off? But why? I mean… you’re a boy…”
It was my turn to stare at my lap before I could form the words. “Well… I… Before… Thinking about it, I sort of liked that you thought I was a girl, I think.” I admitted sheepishly. “And… I guess… I was wondering what it was like?”
She was quiet for a moment; eventually I picked up the courage to look at her. She didn’t seem mad…
“You’re serious.” She said quietly. “I don’t mean to pry… she began. “I mean… are you? I mean… would you like to be a girl?” she asked cautiously.
I sat for a long moment wondering what my answer was. “I don’t know.” I said so softly it was almost a whisper. “I…. Maybe.”
Heather got down from the kitchen stool she was sat on and walked over to me and placing a hand on my chin, tilted my face till I was looking in hers. “Have you told Hannah any of this?” she asked softly.
I shook my head and felt my eyes getting moist again. Heather frowned sympathetically and hugged me gently. “Well why don’t we find out before you do huh?” she offered gently.
“I was going to lend you some of my stuff so we could go look for a costume… well… It still stands.” She added looking me in the eyes. “Lets go find you a costume.” She smiled.
Why I agreed to her idea, and why I even said the things I did in the first place… I won’t ever know… Something made me feel like trusting her, even before I trusted myself. Was this what having a friend was like?
I followed Heather back to her bedroom, and we sat down on her bed. It was a little tense at first, but she gave me a quick hug and bounced to her feet.
“Right.” She announced in a business like manner. “What do you want to start with? Uh, It’s like… Not too cold out… how about a skirt, a sweater and leggings? Something simple and not too frilly…”
I shrugged non comittally, “I guess so.” I offered. “I haven’t really thought about it.”
Heather turned to her dresser, and started going through drawers. “Here.” She announced handing me a handful of silk and lace. “Scoot on over to the bathroom and put these on, then we can get to work.” She grinned.
I looked down at my hands and blushed at the pair of panties I was holding. “Is this necessary?” I asked cautiously.
“Sure it is,” she smiled, “If you want to test something, you do it right… now git.” She giggled pushing me out of the door and across the hallway.
Closing the bathroom door behind me, I looked at the panties in my hand. They were pink silk and lace… so very feminine… I frowned to myself. Why had I said that? Why was I here now about to do this? I wasn’t sure of the answer, and I was more sure that I didn’t really want to know right now. With a shrug, I dropped my boxer shorts, and pulled the panties up my legs and let the sleep shirt drop back down again.
I stood for a second wondering if I was supposed to feel anything… I didn’t… they just felt like softer briefs… luxuriously soft… I shook my head and unlocked the door before tiptoeing back across the hallway to Heather’s room.
I knocked softly on the open door to get her attention. I was blushing something aweful, “Ok.” I offered by way of confirmation. “I’m done.”
Heather chuckled. “Well I’d have thought so… its not rocket science. Come on in here and take off that shirt.”
Closing the door, I stepped into the room and gripped the hem of the shirt. After a second or two’s pause, I lifted the shirt over my head and stood clutching it to my chest, nervous at being semi nude.
Heather cocked her head to one side and smiled slightly. “You behave like a girl you know.”
I frowned, “How do you mean?”
“Well…” she began, “you’re more embarrassed about being topless than you are about me seeing you in pink panties.” She giggled.
I blushed a deeper shade than I thought possible. “Uh.” I added intelligently.
Heather smiled warmly. “It’s ok sweetie,” she cooed softly, “now come on, pop that shirt down and let me put this on you.” She said dangling a bra from her finger.
“Won’t that be a bit big for me?” I asked cautiously looking between the bra and her expansive chest.
Heather shook her head and grinned. “Well, I guess it’s ok to tell you that I got a boob job in my freshman year…” she explained, blushing herself. “I was quite small, I never developed much… up top.” She gestured, “It caused me a lot of issues… and my parents paid for me to get the surgery so I could be more self-confident.”
“Oh, I see.” I replied looking intently at my toes.
“So… This is one of the ones I had before…” she continued, “I didn’t get round to throwing them out, and I was sort of attached to a few.” She added. “Come here.” She gestured.
Slowly I stepped over towards her and tossed the tee shirt on the bed. Lifting my arms as instructed, she talked me through putting the bra on. It was one of those experiences I had never expected to have in my lifetime.
Once she had fitted the bra, she began pulling tissues from a box on her vanity and started to gently stuff them into the cups. Before long, I was surprised to see two small mounds protruding from my chest. I felt a very odd flutter in my stomach at that moment.
Heather stepped back to survey her work. Her eyebrows shot up.
“What’s wrong?” I asked nervously. Wondering how much weird I must have looked at that moment.
“Nothing.” She replied shaking her head. “I’m just surprised that I can’t actually tell that you aren’t a girl anymore. Still a skinny bitch thought.” She chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.
I looked at my feet again; I wasn’t sure if I was upset or pleased by her words. It was a very odd time indeed.
Heather broke the silence by handing me a pair of black leggings that she told me, went on like pants, and sitting on the bed, I pulled them up my legs, and seated them around my waist. They ended half way down my calves, and seemed to make my legs look thinner and longer. Standing up, I stepped into the skirt she handed me. It was short and denim, like a pair of jeans cut off just bellow the crotch… it was quite short, but I was adequately covered… I hoped. I pulled on the Umass sweater that Heather handed me and put my hands behind my head to pull my hair out of the top. I earned myself another funny look from Heather.
“What?” I asked self-consciously.
Heather shook her head, “nothing.” She replied. “It just looks like you’ve been doing that all your life.”
I rolled my eyes and wrapped my finger around my hair, “I have.” I grinned sarcastically.
“Oh you know what I mean.” She snapped back with a frustrated grin. “I guess I was right this morning.”
I frowned again, unsure of her meaning.
“When I thought you were a girl.” She added. “It’s just your movements and actions are all so… natural.”
I blushed, wondering where all the spare blood I had for it came from. Sitting down on the bed heavily I rested my head in my hands and sighed. “I don’t know Heather.” I admitted. “Before today, I really hadn’t thought about this… It’s… I…” I clammed up before I could finish. The words and feelings were too strong. Before I knew it, Heather had wrapped her arms around me and was squeezing me gently. It was reassuring.
“Just take it as it comes.” She advised. “Don’t think, just live… ok? We’re going to have a busy day, and an awesome night… so think about all this shit tomorrow ok?”
I nodded weakly and gave her a quick squeeze before slipping my feet into the sandals she had offered me and stood up.
I walked over to the mirror on her wall and looked at my reflection. I don’t know what I had expected to see… But it wasn’t me… at least not the me I had seen so often… aside from two bumps… the only real difference was the waist down, but the whole image… I… I saw a young girl staring back at me… I never realised just how like my sister I really looked. We were different in our ways, but we shared a common genetics, and it showed. I wanted to hate to admit it, but I liked what I saw…
Heather brushed my hair, and added a touch of makeup… I wasn’t sure what it was… to my eyelashes and lips before pronouncing me ready. The girl I saw looking back at me in the hallway mirror was pretty… she looked like any other girl I might see in the street. She was dressed casually, a student… but she was me. I tried to feel some sort of guilt… or embarrassment, but the only thing I felt, was calm…
Heather let us out of the apartment and locked the door behind us. A part of me wanted to run… wanted to hide… I must be mad…
From the author:
Part deux of The River of Shadows... Sure... I admit, this is pretty standard fair, for now... please bear with me... it will all make sense eventually.
Please keep commenting... The ones on the last part were quite helpful, and I love to hear your views and opinions... I write for you guys... the reader, not for me...
many autumnal thanks
Alyssa P(rincess of darkness)
A high school senior heads to Boston to visit his sister for Halloween. A twist of fate reveals something they would never have admited alone... and it proves to be the one thing that may keep them alive when the best laid plans of a group of college students are lain waste by a force of terrible evil and corruption that has thrived for centuries... Can Charlie Kane be strong enough to live? or will the River of Shadows claim yet another victim...?
It turned out the costume store was around three blocks away from the apartment building. I can safely say that it was the longest three blocks of my life: I walked quietly by Heather’s side for the duration, unable to fully lift my head to see where I was going. Part of me expected people to point and laugh, or to stare… But I knew they wouldn’t when faced with the girl in the mirror… my mind still told me I ought to look like a football player in his girlfriend’s prom dress, and that people must see the truth… That I ought to be ashamed
“We’re here.” Heather said quietly as we abruptly drew to a halt in the middle of the busy street. “Come on, let’s go inside.” She urged gently pushing me towards the door. As we entered, the chime of a bell made me jump slightly, I was so on edge that I could have snapped at the slightest thing. The store was warm, not hot, but pleasantly warm after the cool fall air of the street outside. The interior was lined with bright costumes, accessories, glitter and balloons; typical costume store…
Heather turned to me and smiled. “That wasn’t so hard was it?” she grinned impishly.
I shrugged. “Not for you… But I was terrified.” I admitted, rubbing my hands together. “I expected everyone to laugh.” I added quietly.
Heather sighed quietly. “Now come on you…” she said with a stern look, “This morning, you managed it without trying, and here, you look a whole lot better… nobody will know, I know… and I can’t tell.” She urged softly. “Come on, lets get you sorted out.” She offered taking my hand and dragging me into the store proper.
“Hello Ladies, how can I help?” called the middle aged man behind the counter merrily. “Is there anything in particular you’re looking for?”
I clammed up for a second, unsure how to respond; thankfully Heather wasn’t so vacant.
“Hey there... my friend here’s looking for a costume for a Halloween party tonight. What do you have?”
The man looked thoughtful for a moment. “Well it’s a little late…I think I sold out most of my stuff…” he offered with an apologetic shrug, “I’m sure we have something left.” He offered brightly. “Come with me.” He gestured walking back into the aisles of costumes.
Stopping in front of a row of costumes, he turned to me and spoke, “So Miss, what are you looking for? Anything in particular?”
I swallowed hard and fought back the urge to run. “I… um, something for a party tonight.” I offered weakly. “Uh, but not too cheesy.”
The man looked thoughtful for a moment and began thumbing through the rack of costumes muttering to himself. With the look of an epiphany, he unhooked a garment bag and slipped it off the shelf.
“Here we go.” He announced like a proud father, “This will suit you down to the ground.” He smiled removing the costume from the bag and displaying it for me.
The dress was brief, but elegant. Black translucent fabric hung over a black silky off the shoulder sweater dress.
“I like it.” I murmured quietly without realising that I’d spoken. “Uh, what’s it meant to be?” I asked cautiously.
“It’s for a vampire princess.” Smiled the owner, “it’s pretty much all I have left in your size.” He smiled apologetically.
“That won’t do,” piped in Heather, “I’m going as a vampire princess… unless…” she murmured looking around the store. “Hang on.” She added wandering off.
I looked at the owner and grinned sheepishly, “Can I try it on?” I asked cautiously, the dress drew my eye quite strangely. I wanted to feel it on me…
“Sure, come with me,” smiled the owner leading the way back towards a changing booth at the rear of the store. “Just pop in there and give me a call if you need anything.” He added handing me the dress.
I pulled the curtain closed and stood looking at the dress for a moment. It was inviting… it was so feminine and different that I was overawed for a moment. Despite my current apparel I still felt unworthy.
Raising my arms, I pulled the sweater off and began to unbutton my skirt before slipping it from my hips and folding both carefully to one side. Rolling down the leggings, I stood before the dress in just my bra and panties. My self consciousness returned. I felt ridiculous stood there in girls’ underwear, and a flash of embarrassment swept across me.
I shook my head clearing the negativity from my mind. For the very first time in my life, I was doing something because I wanted to… no other reason, and not for anyone else… Standing there in that changing room in my bra and panties, I had an enlightening moment: For the first time in my life I was standing up for myself; even if I was the aggressor in this case too. For once, I cared about who I was, and what I did with my life… a slow smile spread across my lips and without embarrassment, I reached up and removed the hanger from the dress, before slipping it over my head.
I settled the dress about my hips and ran my hands over the fabric, smoothing it out. The dress was clingy in places, but also had an airiness that took away a little of my skinniness without making me frumpy looking. I chuckled to myself that I’d been dressing as a girl for at most, two hours, and I was already trying to avoid looking fat…
I turned to face the mirror in the corner of the booth and looked at myself. The airy billowing sleeves that tapered up to being fitted on my upper arms, and the exposure of my shoulders was an interesting sight. The skirt settled roughly around my mid thigh, and the material was loose and slightly poofy: The overall impression would not have looked out of place in the wardrobe of an evil sexy princess… Fluffing my hair into a more unruly and vampy style that I’d seen girls do, I pulled back the curtain and peered outside.
Heather was stood talking to the shop owner when I stepped out of the changing booth. Both of them turned to look at me when they heard movement.
“Wow.” Heather breathed quietly. “Not bad.” She added with raised eyebrows. The shop owner just smiled knowingly and nodded; I could see the dollar signs in his eyes.
“It looks good on you.” Heather said approaching me and circling around like a clothing vulture. “It’s very you,” she chuckled. “I had some ideas.” She added holding up a few items she had been obviously unearthing for my costume. One, was a pointed witches hat.
I looked at her and grinned. “I’m not wearing that.” I said firmly. “I’m not six.”
“Oh come on” she pleaded, “It would suit you.”
“I suppose I get a black cat and a broomstick too?” I added with a smile, “What happened to your ‘good looking’ concept?”
Heather shrugged. “Well how else can we say you’re a witch? I mean… it’s just a gothic black dress as it is… not that it doesn’t look awesome,” she added with a sly grin.
I was silent for a moment before I took the hat from her hands and placed it on my head: I’d never seen myself in fancy dress before and been happy about it… I twisted the hat till it sat at a more rakish angle and examined my reflection in the mirror; I actually thought I looked cute… I shook my head slowly and turned to Heather. “Okay,” I said slowly, “Witch it is.”
Heather nodded to herself, as if knowing what I’d say. “I took the liberty of acquiring some …. Extras,” she offered with a grin holding out a pair of spidery fishnet stockings, and a pentagram necklace.
I shook my head to myself before throwing the hat at her, which she narrowly avoided with an indignant squeak before sticking her tongue out at me in retaliation.
I changed back to my street clothes, and paid the extortionate bill before we left the store, my precious costume in hand.
“Told you it wasn’t hard.” Heather announced to nobody in particular as we walked.
“I guess.” I admitted, surprising myself more than anyone else, “I guess it’s almost begun to feel a bit less weird.”
Heather looked over at me as we moved through the now busy streets. “You do look a little more relaxed,” she observed.
“So who’s going tonight?” I asked her, hoping to extract the key secrets to the evening’s sordid plans from someone that wasn’t my cunning sister.
Heather shrugged. “Some friends of ours, a few classmates, and some guys that me and Hannah know from hockey.” She said ticking off fingers on her hand.
“Jocks…” I muttered mournfully, “Why does there always have to be jocks?”
“Aw come on you spoil sport,” chided Hannah playfully, “They’re cute… and funny, and a lot of them are single…” she grinned wiggling her eyebrows at me in a way that shouldn’t be humanly possible.
I frowned, “Perhaps you’ve forgotten, but to date, my experience with Jocks has been very different to yours.” I replied quietly, looking away.
Hannah sighed, realising her mistake and slipped her hand into mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “I’m sorry Charlie…” she offered biting her lip, “It’s hard to imagine that… but it must have been aweful…” she said softly.
We walked on in silence for several moments before I squeezed Heather’s hand back. “It wasn’t fun… but it was life… is life…” I admitted, correcting myself. “I go back to it on Monday, back to being mister invisible.”
“You need to talk to Hannah.” Heather said quietly, telling me what I already knew. It was strange… such a short space of time, and such a dramatic change in my life had made me so much happier. I still couldn’t believe I’d agreed to this…Hadn’t I suggested it?
Before long, we reached the apartment building, and made our way back up to their place. We were talking with such animation that I’d forgotten how I was dressed… It didn’t last long…
Heather opened the door to the apartment, and the pair of us continued our conversation as we walked in and put our bags down. It was then I caught sight of my sister sat cross legged on the sofa in her pyjamas, halfway through a bowl of cereal: She was frozen with the spoon midway to her mouth.
“Uh, hi,” I offered sheepishly.
Hannah managed to complete her spoon to mouth action and sat munching quietly for a moment, her eyes never leaving me. “That’s a different look little brother,” she observed.
“Uh, I can explain….” I began sheepishly.
“He had no clothes to wear… and we wanted to go get him a costume.” Heather spoke up coming to my defence. “You always get up late… I figured we’d go get something before they sold out.”
“You realise that’s my brother? not my sister right?” Hannah added cocking an eyebrow in Heather’s direction.
“Yes, but…” Heather began opening her mouth to continue, but closing it again at the look she got from Hannah.
“So whose idea was this…?” she asked slowly, her eyes flicking between the two of us.
After the longest time, I found my voice, “I…”
Heather cut me off abruptly putting her hand out, “It was my idea Hannah.” She said with a defiant expression that worried me.
“Was this your idea of a joke?” Hannah asked with a hint of venom. “Or did you just want a little fuck toy that satisfies all your needs in one?”
A high school senior heads to Boston to visit his sister for Halloween. A twist of fate reveals something they would never have admited alone... and it proves to be the one thing that may keep them alive when the best laid plans of a group of college students are lain waste by a force of terrible evil and corruption that has thrived for centuries... Can Charlie Kane be strong enough to live? or will the River of Shadows claim yet another victim...?
“A fuck toy?” repeated Heather in surprise. “You ignorant bitch.” She said slowly, a look of scorn spreading across her face.
Hannah placed her cereal bowl down on the table top and stood up. “You’re using my brother,” she hissed, “We’re meant to be friends…”
“We are!” screamed Heather, “For fucks sake Hannah, I’m doing nothing… And it wasn’t like that.” she added faltering.
I swallowed to stop the bile from rising in my throat… It hadn’t been my number one choice of times… but after what Heather had done for me… She didn’t deserve this…
“Hannah.” I called as they reached a lull in their verbal jousting.
“Stay out of this Charlie.” Hannah snapped back without even turning to face me.
“NO.” I screamed at the top of my lungs. “I don’t know what the fuck is going on in your head Hannah, but Heather didn’t have anything to do with this… It was MY idea… Mine alone…” I continued drawing breath. “I asked her to help, and it was my idea.”
Hannah’s mouth hung open as if she’d been forming the words to answer me back; instead she stood silent at my revelation.
“Hannah,” I implored, “I never fitted in, and I always felt different, Heather didn’t choose any of this, and whatever you think of her, this was all on me. She’s been nothing but a friend.”
Hannah looked at me for a long moment; her brain seemed to be processing what I said.
“This was your idea…” she repeated, not quite a question. “Why?” she asked softly.
“I don’t know.” I admitted with a sigh. “I guess…. I guess something feels right about this… I like it.” I added quietly, unable to look my sister in the eye.
I felt fingers touch my chin and lift my face. I slowly lifted my eyes and looked into my sister’s. “I’m sorry Hannah.” I said quietly “I guess I could have phrased that better.”
“Hush.” She whispered pulling me into her arms. “I’m the one that’s sorry… to you and Heather.” She whispered looking over at her roommate that still stood looking forlorn by the door.
“It’s not me you ought to be apologising to.” I murmured softly enough for only her to hear. I gently pushed away from my sister and stepped back.
Hannah shook her head as if clearing cobwebs and turned to her roommate.
“Heather…” she began apologetically, “I… I don’t know why I snapped… I’m so sorry… I guess it was a total surprise, and I’ve been feeling so off these past few days… perhaps I’m coming on, I don’t know,” she admitted with an exasperated sigh. “I was totally out of order, can you forgive me?” she asked imploringly.
Heather looked resistant for a moment before the tension seemed to leave her body. “It’s ok,” she muttered without looking at my sister. I was surprised… something of a rift had appeared so suddenly… I didn’t know what to think…
I could understand my sister being angry, but it was where it had been directed that bothered me… Was Heather using me? Despite Hannah’s apologies, the seed was well and truly planted in my mind.
Hannah sat down on the sofa next to me and placed her arm on my back. “You want to tell me what this is all about little brother?” she asked quietly.
I proceeded to tell her the same things I’d told Heather, my feelings, thoughts, confusions, my life in school, the torment, the pain.
Before long, the strange fight between the girls seemed a thing of the past. Hannah and Heather had banded together as I had opened my heart.
“I never even thought…” Hannah whispered quietly. “You poor thing.” She sighed hugging me tightly.
“I… I don’t know why this surfaced now.” I explained. “It was sort of a shock at first; then it seemed to feel so right… such a good idea.”
Hannah smiled strangely. “It seems to suit you,” she offered quietly. “Perhaps I really do have a sister?”
I shrugged. “Maybe,” I began, “It’s all so muggy right now: Perhaps I’ll feel different tomorrow, or later, but for now, I just want to stay this way; it feels easier.”
“Easier huh?” Heather giggled. “Just you wait till we’re getting ready for tonight and you’ll see how much harder it is!”
I rolled my eyes and grinned, “Perhaps.”
Before long, Hannah was pestering us to see the costume, and what began as a simple show and tell exercise, turned into a violent whirlwind of costumes and fancy dress paraphernalia. We spent a great deal of time just talking, trying different things, styles and looks, trying to get the costumes perfect. It was a little surreal for me to be part of such a female experience, but it didn’t feel wrong. Not in the slightest. I enjoyed every moment of the talking and chatting and modelling we did. By four pm, the apartment seemed like the aftermath of a bomb in a costume store.
I had dressed, and the girls had helped me with my makeup. For a seventeen year old, I looked surprisingly mature… Hannah did some magic with hairspray and a comb, and my normally mildly wavy hair had taken on a wild sleepy look. Not messy… but stylish… Heather called it the ‘just fucked’ look… I wasn’t sure if that was an image I wanted to project… The fishnet stockings looked quite incredible on my legs, and the black knee high boots Heather had lent me were perilously high in my view. The whole image was worth it though. Staring back at me through the mirror was a different person. This girl looked confident and happy; contented… she was pretty… It was the first time in fancy dress I liked how I looked: Part of me wished she was real.
Between the two of us, we had helped Heather into her corset; her impressive assets were quite proudly perched atop the black satin creation. If she moved to rapidly, I was afraid she was going to burst out. She quickly applied her own makeup, and I marvelled at the speed with which she did it; a practiced hand that I didn’t have.
Hannah returned from her room while Heather was finishing up.
“Tada!” She announced with a flourish of hands as she appeared through the doorway.
Hannah was dressed in a short white toga and a crown of laurels in her hair. She looked every inch the Grecian princess from her leather sandals to the emblem that hung around her neck.
“What do you guys think?” she beamed. “Awesome when its all together no?”
“I like it.” I admitted. “It’s very cute.”
Hannah pouted and crossed her arms. “Shit! Where are my scissors? This hem is going up a few more inches, I was going for sexy not cute!” she announced with a huff.
My eyes boggled for a moment before the pair of girls broke into laughter.
“You can’t complain,” Hannah grinned at me, “you’re allowed to hear this stuff for now!” she admonished wagging a finger at me. “I was only joking anyway,” she added with a sardonic smile. “With the guys that are going tonight, I’d want a longer skirt.”
“What are you two getting me into?” I moaned quietly.
“Well it’s your fault.” Heather grinned. “This was all your idea.”
I sat back and looked at the pair of them with an innocent expression and twirled a strand of hair around my finger. “Me?” I asked slowly.
The pair burst out laughing. “You’re far too good at that.” Hannah smiled. “Don’t do that to any of the guys tonight or you’re going to have to fend off a hoard.”
“It’s a bit of a bitch when your brother is cuter than you no?” Heather snickered.
Hannah spun around and pointed a finger at Heather, “Don’t go there missy… thin ice!” she mock scolded. “Come on, lets get out of here before we’re late.”
“The party isn’t till like Nine Hannah,” called Heather while she picked a handbag. “Why so early?”
“Well it’s about twenty minutes on the T, then change at South , and get on another train to the town where the place is, which is about a hour.” Hannah explained. “And we need to get there fairly early, we can claim a bedroom to ourselves, and I want to chat to the guys before it gets noisy…” she admitted.
Heather grinned. “Always ulterior motives with you, but hey? Why not? You ready hon?” she asked turning to me.
“Uh, sure, I guess.” I offered feeling slightly less comfortable as the time flowed by.
The three of us left the apartment, wrapped up in coats to protect us from the cold November evening.
We chatted away about nothing and everything on the short hop over on the MBTA into Boston South station. I was acutely aware of how I was dressed, although the fear of that morning was no longer present. I felt… proud? confident? I wasn’t sure… I felt a strange pride in myself; a part of me felt that I’d stand up for myself now if anyone tried to hurt me. I cared about myself for once in my life, and if anyone tried to bully me again…. I felt a powerful anger surge inside myself at the thought. It took a moment to calm myself down. Hannah turned to see my knuckles gripping the seat in front tightly.
“Are you scared?” she asked in a whisper.
I shook my head, unsure of what it was. “No, just nervous.” I offered quickly. “It’s nothing.”
Hannah nodded. “Look, don’t drink much tonight ok? I don’t want you to get drunk and make out with some guy… and… him find out…” she trailed off biting her lip. “You could get hurt.”
I rested my head on Hannah’s shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “I don’t even want to go near any boys.” I admitted. “Not yet.”
Hannah looked at me and raised her eyebrows. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. The one thing I loved about my relationship with Hannah, was thanks to our closeness growing up, we didn’t need to talk to understand one another.
We transferred from the T to a commuter train heading out of Boston into the wilds of rural Massachusetts bound for a town called Gardner.
The train rattled along as we sped out of Boston, leaving the city further behind us with each passing moment. We chatted about inconsequential things; class, music, and interests for a while, but as things do, silence descended as we watched the countryside blur past in the darkness.
Hannah broke the silence by announcing that she was going to the restroom. When she was out of earshot, I turned to Heather with questions on my mind.
“What did Hannah mean earlier today about me satisfying all your needs in one?” I asked with an air of innocence.
Heather looked uncomfortable. “It’s ah, noting.” She muttered. “It was a misunderstanding.”
“It’s ok,” I sympathised resting my hand on hers, “I’m not going to tell: I’m just curious.”
Heather looked up and studied the overhead locker for a moment. “I’m bisexual,” she offered with a sigh, meeting my eyes. “You look like a girl, and behave like one… but you…. You’re a boy…” she added blushing. I guess Hannah thought I’d like someone in your position more…. I don’t know.” She admitted sheepishly.
I looked at her for a moment. “Being bisexual isn’t that big a deal is it?” I asked rhetorically. “I mean, I guess Hannah was just upset, or shocked?”
Heather nodded. “Well it’s not.” She agreed. “It was just the whole you thing that embarrassed me… I… have dated girls and boys.” She admitted. “I went through a phase where I thought I was a lesbian, it turned out I still liked boys too… I mean, well, It’s just… confusing, ok?” she sighed.
I nodded. “I think I feel something like that at the moment.” I offered. “Not really sure what I am, or what matters… Would I be your ideal date?” I added with a grin to lighten the mood. “I mean, im the best of both worlds apparently! I added with a laugh.
Heather just blushed. “Not really any different I suppose.” She replied. “I know… you’re a boy, but I can’t seem to believe you are one.” She added looking nervous. “I mean, all I see is a girl… you walk, talk, act and think like a girl.” She pressed reinforcing her point. “I know the truth, but it doesn’t feel like a truth to me.”
I looked out of the window for a long moment. Her words ought to cut deep into a man, or even confuse me. The strange reality was they pleased me. “I think you’re right.” I said quietly.
Heather looked at me with a confused expression. “Right about what?”
“That I’m a girl.” I said softly. “The more and more I think about it… the more it seems right. It just feels normal,” I offered, “I, feel normal.”
Heather smiled and squeezed my hand.
Before long, Hannah returned, plopping down into her seat with the grace of a beanbag.
“What I miss?” she asked cheerily.
I looked at Heather, and the pair of us broke out laughing.
Hannah looked cross for a second. “No fair.” She grinned. I don’t like in jokes.”
“Well it was nothing really,” Heather began, before she continued, I artfully changed the subject. Reaching over, I lifted the pendant on my sister’s neck and examined it. “Where did you get this from?” I asked with genuine curiosity; it didn’t look like it had come from a Costume store.
The pendant was on a thick silver chain, threaded through a hole in the surface of a small disk, the size of a coaster. The disk was made from a old looking metal, with an inlay of what looked like onyx. There was writing in a language I didn’t understand.
“I got it at a yard sale on campus.” She shrugged. “Cost me twenty dollars,” she beamed happily. “It looked perfect to go with the whole Greek thing.” She added plucking her toga.
“It’s nice,” Heather agreed. “But it would have looked better on my costume.”
Hannah was about to reply when her cell rang. Flipping it open, she held it to her ear. A grin spread across her lips and after a brief conversation, she hung up. “They’re on this train.” She smiled happily.
“Who?” I asked perplexed.
“Kyle, Andy and Dominic,” she offered with an expression that just said ‘duh’.
“Oh.” I said flatly, “Who are they?”
Heather piped up, not to be outdone, “Those three are all on the basketball team at Umass, and Hannah has a HUGE crush on Kyle,” she crooned.
“Do you?” I asked with a grin. “What are they like?” I asked with far more interest than I should.
“Look for yourself in a minute,” grinned Heather leaning out into the isle, “They’re here.”
The carriage door hissed open, and three guys came into view. All three were big…
The three greeted us with a collection of grunts and ‘Hi’s before slumping down at the table on the other side of the isle.
Kyle, my sister’s interest, was not as big as I’d expected; around 6foot tall, he was still tall, but dwarfed by his two friends, Dominic and Andy. His hair was black and short, it was gelled back slick against his head. His face was rugged and quite angular, his square jaw covered with a dusting of black stubble. He’d come dressed as a 1920s gangster, judging by the pinstripe suit and crimson cravat.
Andy was much taller than Kyle. Nearly 6’6, and quite lanky. He had short cropped blonde hair, and a protruding nose, he looked like he was permanently frowning.
Dominic was different, standing roughly 6’3, he was quite handsome, something I should have worried about. He had short cropped dark hair, and his looks were strong and handsome, with the faintest hints of stubble and shadow on his face. I felt a strange sensation when I looked at him, something didn’t feel right.
We talked, and got to know the others, Hannah introduced me as her little sister, Charlie; I was glad some things remained constant. As the train rolled on, the group got louder, and we chatted away openly. The coach we were in was empty, we had no reason to be quiet.
“So what are you supposed to be?” Heather asked Andy, tilting her head to one side, “I can’t work it out.”
“I told you it was stupid idea man,” laughed Kyle, “He’s supposed to be an IRS agent.” He said rolling his eyes… “Cos there’s nothing more terrifying than the tax man!” He said spookily, mocking his friend.
“It’s obscure.” Andy shrugged. It means girls will have to come up to me and ask me what I am… it’s a conversation starter,” he insisted, “With you, they get one look at you and already know you’re a looser.” He laughed back.
“What are you?” I asked over the laughter, catching Dominic’s eye. He was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a sweatshirt, not the most terrifying costume I’d ever seen.
“I didn’t want to wear my costume through town.” He admitted. “It’s a bit, uh, yeah...” He chuckled. “you’ll see later.”
“Oh come on, tell us!” Heather beamed sweetly. “Please?” she added batting her eyelashes.
Nobody spoke for a moment; all we could hear was the change in tone of the train that told us it was slowing down. We’d long passed into the mountains, and we knew there were no stops for at least another ten miles.
“What you recon this is about?” Andy muttered to himself, but vocalising something we were all thinking.
Eventually, the train rolled to a gentle halt; we could still hear the hum of the engines, but we were sat, idling on the track.
Dismissing the unscheduled stop, we continued the conversation and banter for a while. It was curious being on the opposite side of boy girl interaction. Part of me expected these three boys to know… But of course they didn’t. Interacting with them from this side of the fence was an epiphany: I could finally chat to boys, and interact with them without getting beaten for being weird… it was like a jigsaw puzzle in my mind. Things seemed to slot home in the strangest places.
We were stationery for nearly twenty minutes before Kyle got to his feet. “I’m gonna go check with the conductor, see why we’re sat here.” He said, as if explaining that he was going for a coffee. With that, he turned and walked off down the car towards the front of the train.
Roughly ten minutes later, Kyle returned, his face white as a sheet.
“What’s up man?” Andy called catching sight of his friends’ expression. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost dude.” He laughed, “Oh wait, its Halloween, my bad!”
Kyle didn’t respond.
“What is it Kyle?” Hannah asked cautiously. “What did they say?”
“Gone.” Kyle muttered, before snapping out of it and looking alert. “Everyone’s gone.” He said with surprise. “The train; it’s abandoned…”
A high school senior heads to Boston to visit his sister for Halloween. A twist of fate reveals something they would never have admited alone... and it proves to be the one thing that may keep them alive when the best laid plans of a group of college students are lain waste by a force of terrible evil and corruption that has thrived for centuries... Can Charlie Kane be strong enough to live? or will the River of Shadows claim yet another victim...?
“What do you mean ‘Abandoned’?” asked Hannah slowly, “is this some bullshit stunt of yours?” she asked, eying Kyle with suspicion.
“No.” he said flatly, “There’s no one here… I even checked the engine; the driver isn’t there either.” He added raising his hands in exasperation.
“Well where did everyone go?” Andy chipped in, a sceptical expression on his face. “People were on this train… we saw them; people don’t just disappear. Were any doors open?”
Kyle shook his head. “None, and I couldn’t see any light outside, surely we’d have known if there was an evacuation? Right?” he asked, a tinge of doubt clouding his words.
“We should stay here.” Heather said firmly. “Someone will come and find out where the train went, and we will be rescued.”
Dominic spoke up quietly, for the first time in the conversation. “We should get off the train.” He said bluntly. “I for one don’t want to be on this when the next train down this track stumbles upon us, and we aren’t moving.”
His words made eerie sense. What would happen? Did the rail company know we were here? Would other trains? Sure the lights were on, but trains didn’t stop that fast…
I stood up, clutching my bag to my chest, “I’m with Dominic.” I said with an edge of uncertainty, “We might find some place nearby too.” I offered, “ and find people if they got off too…” I added noting the sceptical faces those around me.
“We can go have a look around, perhaps come back here, it is warm…” Heather said testing the water.
Nods of agreement seemed to filter around the group, people became more accustomed to the very real danger of sitting in a train, parked in the middle of nowhere, and no way to call for help.
Wrapped up in the relatively unsuitable clothes, we made our way to the back of the car, and the doors. Andy reached out and turned the handle, pushing the door out into the blackness. “Anyone got a torch?” he asked tentatively, peering out into the blackness.
Kyle returned carrying three large battery operated flashlights..
“Where did you find those?” Andy asked accepting the offered flashlight.
“Under the luggage rack at the back there,” Kyle said pointing in the direction of an emergency locker. “Not much else useful though,” he admitted with a shrug.
Andy aimed the beam of light down at the track before jumping to the gravel track bed. The crunch echoed….
As he raised the torch to get a better view of where we were, the beam reflected off solid stone walls.
“The hell.” He muttered, “We’re in a tunnel.” He added playing the beam up and across the stone roof.
Slowly the rest of us climbed down from the coach, and walked cautiously across the track.
“Where are we?” Heather asked in a small voice, hugging the thin coat to her body.
“Under a mountain somewhere.” Dominic replied slowly, playing his torch down the length of the train.. “It’s a good job we got off. Another train would never have seen us.”
“Yeah, you’re telling me.” Kyle mumbled aloud as he reached out to touch the tunnel wall.
“So what do we do now?” asked Hannah with a note of impatience. “Are we just going to stand here and marvel at the brickwork?”
“No” Kyle replied. “We’re going to find a way out of here.” He added with more resolution. “Andy, you take a quick jog down that end, and check how far we are from the mouth, and I’ll go this way,” he offered pointing the torch beam down the tunnel. “Dom, you cool to look after the girls?” he added with a sly grin.
Without waiting for a reply, the two boys turned and made their way down the track in opposite directions. Before long, they were only discernable by the beams of their flashlights.
“You ok?” I asked Hannah, squeezing her arm. “You look scared.”
Hannah shook her head. “Cold mostly, and pissed off, but what can you do?” she shrugged. “I guess the party’s off huh?” She added with a chuckle.
I grinned, “Might be, but I guess they put on a replacement for us here huh?”
“What? Spooky abandoned train in dark grimy tunnel?” she scoffed. “What’s next? Zombies?”
“Don’t jinx us! Heather added with a faux stern expression. “I really don’t want to meet any zombies.”
Hannah and I rolled our eyes at each other at practically the same moment before bursting out in a fit of giggles.
“What’s so funny?” Dominic asked looking across at the three of us.
“Nothing.” I said quickly shaking my head. “Nervous tension I guess.”
“Yeah, it’s not the best way to begin the weekend is it?” He replied smiling sarcastically.
“Doesn’t this feel weird to you?” Heather asked quietly. “I mean… where is everyone?”
“I guess we will find out at some point, unless they were all eaten.” Dominic shrugged with a straight face.
Heather was about to scold him when lights moving in the tunnel caught our attention.
In short order, Kyle and Andy returned.
“Well what did you find?” Hannah asked rubbing her hands together.
“Nothing.” Kyle admitted looking crestfallen, “Tunnel is a dead end that way, just rock face, there’s some buffers and the track ends.” He shrugged.
“You’re shitting me,” Andy said with surprise. “No way, it can’t be.”
“Can’t what Andy?” Heather asked, flinching slightly.
“This end is bricked up,” he said slowly. “There were no turnings; I figured the same as you.” He said gesturing at Kyle with his flashlight. “It’s just tracks leading out underneath and a solid brick wall…. Really old too… not recent.” He added. “Are you sure you didn’t miss a turning?” he pressed Kyle.
“No, its solid rock pretty much.” Kyle admitted, “Only bits that weren’t were alcoves and a door to a transformer room or something,” he offered with a frown.
“This isn’t an electric line….” Dominic said “Why would there be a transformer anywhere near here? Do you see any lights?” he added sweeping his flashlight over the tunnel walls.
“So what is it then?” I asked feeling somewhat annoyed at the blunt indifference Dominic was displaying… “You seem to know everything, so what the hell is it?”
“I don’t know.” Dominic admitted blankly. “But right now it seems like the only option we have doesn’t it?”
“But how the hell did we get here?” Heather asked. “It’s impossible to have just appeared here…. Where did the people go? How the hell did a train just drive through solid brick?” Heather screamed in frustration. “I’m terrified!”
Hannah squeezed her friend’s hand; “Shhh sweetie, it’s ok,” she soothed. “We’re all scared.”
“I know,” Heather admitted in a whimper, “It doesn’t change the fact though.”
“What are we going to do?” I asked looking at Dominic. So far this evening, he seemed the most calm, the most level headed, and the most mature of us; I wanted to trust him.
“We’ll go check out the door in the tunnel wall.” He stated flatly. “It’s the only option we have short of starving to death in here.”
“I’m with Dominic.” I said resolutely, hoping to sound more confident than I felt. “We have to do something, staying here is futile…. Perhaps everyone on the train went through there….?” I offered with a shrug. “It could be our answer.”
Slowly, the six of us collected up things we wanted from the train. The only things I had were in my handbag, so I waited by the track.
“You’re not like the other two.” Dominic said as he jumped down from the coach door.
I looked around, mouth agape about to respond when he held up a hand to silence me. “You think and reason before you speak, you don’t flap like your friends,” he continued leaning against the bogey the coach sat on. “It’s a refreshing change.” He offered with a sly grin.
“Why is it so different?” I asked, still feeling very aware of my beating heart. “Are girls not allowed to be brave or intelligent?”
“Of course,” he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “It’s not that… It’s something about you is so… relaxed.”
I shrugged a shoulder and looked down at the gravel underfoot. “I’m not…. I’m scared too,” I added looking up at him. “I just grew up having to suppress fear and be strong…. after a while, it becomes force of habit.”
Dominic looked like he was about to respond when the moment was shattered by the sound of Kyle’s boots hitting the gravel bed behind us.
“You guys ready to head out?” he called wrapping his arm around Dominic’s shoulders. “Commando Dom will lead the way!” he laughed before leaving his friend to go call for the others.
“Commando Dom?” I asked raising an eyebrow.
Dominic grinned embarrassedly; “Old nickname from my freshmen and sophomore years,” he admitted. “I was with the RTOC for a while…. Marines.”
My eyes widened. “That’s why you’re mister cool huh?” I smiled, “The natural born leader huh?”
“Don’t you start.” He grinned, “I was just beginning to like you.”
His words ignited a strange feeling within me…. It didn’t feel right…
The six of us began to walk slowly up the tracks, Kyle and Andy leafing the way with their flashlights. Andy led us back to the spot on the wall where he had passed the door.
He had understated somewhat….
Our flashlights lit up a recession in the tunnel wall. Possibly about two foot deep, and about eight foot high. Within, two large steel doors stood immobile, orange rust highlighting the rivets and lines of the metalwork.
“Wow.” I breathed slowly.
“Wow is about right.” Hannah whispered beside me.
“Come here, give me a hand Kyle.” Dominic called approaching the doors.
He felt around the edge of one, and yanked at the large handle on the door before coordinating his pulling efforts with Kyle.
For several moments, the two fought with the door, before it jumped several inches, then began to grind slowly open under their effort. Before long, the door was open and we stood back looking apprehensively into the oppressive darkness before us.
“Who wants to go first?” Andy asked holding out the flashlight in his hand. “Anyone?”
Kyle grinned and shook his head before pushing past his friend and stepping across the threshold.
No thunderbolts or crazy weapons swung down and decapitated Kyle. He just stood inside the doorway, playing the beam of light across the surface of the room.
“What do you see?” Heather asked, her fear masked by curiosity.
“Nothing.” Kyle replied. “It’s empty, but there’s a door through here.” He added stepping forwards.
Slowly, the rest of us walked past the doors, and entered what appeared to be a small atrium.
The room was roughly five meters wide, by ten meters deep, A single set of double doors on the far wall, with two slits either side were the only features on the bare concrete walls of the room.
I stepped forwards into the beams of light focused on the door ahead. I stepped closer to the door, and placed my hand against the metal. I could feel the cold steel, and the texture of the rust flaked paint. I slid my hand down to the handle, and turned. Unlike the outer door, this one had been protected from the damp outside, and the hinges were not as damaged as the previous set. I pulled the door open with a tug, and stood staring at what I saw beyond…. What shouldn’t be here; wherever here was.
It certainly wasn’t a transformer room...
From the Author:
Here we go guys! the marathon race to the end! I'll endevor to post up a chapter a day till closing time.... I WILL finish! RRRAAA!
Alyssa xxx
A high school senior heads to Boston to visit his sister for Halloween. A twist of fate reveals something they would never have admited alone... and it proves to be the one thing that may keep them alive when the best laid plans of a group of college students are lain waste by a force of terrible evil and corruption that has thrived for centuries... Can Charlie Kane be strong enough to live? or will the River of Shadows claim yet another victim...?
The image that lay before me was not one that I could have possibly imagined: Dank service tunnels with dripping pipe laden ceilings, to Aztec temples, but the sight that met my eyes was not one I will easily forget.
Before me lay what looked like an elevator door. They were half open, and somehow… a light still burned inside. I stepped forwards into the narrow corridor leading to the door, drawn by the light.
“Hey Charlie!” Hannah called as I stepped into the gloom. The corridor was dark, but soon I stood in front of the elevator doors at the far end. The light from within radiated outwards, and lit the small area immediately ahead of the door.
There were no markings; not that I would have known what to look for. It seemed like an ordinary elevator door… but it wasn’t. The doors didn’t open to a metal car, or lift shaft, but through to another set of similarly jarred open metal doors. It all seemed eerily alive…
I felt a hand on my shoulder and jumped; turning I came face to face with Kyle,
“Hey, don’t go running off like that.” He said with a pained expression, “You just vanished without a word… really put the shits up me you know?”
I nodded absentmindedly as the others made it to the door.
“What you think this is?” Andy asked kicking the metal door with his foot. The clang one would have expected from an elevator door told us that these were most likely not of that purpose. The solid metal barely made a sound other than the muted curse that left Andy’s lips.
“I Don’t think we should be in here.” Heather whimpered quietly; her inquisitiveness quelled by the expanding weirdness of our new world.
“It looks like blast doors.” Dominic said examining the double doored contraption ahead of us. “Jammed open by the looks of them.” He muttered. “Lights on,…. Someone’s probably home, as the other doors in this way seem like they haven’t been used in a while, its likely there’s another way out.” He added smiling with the last statement.
Light meant activity… activity meant a way out, whether we were allowed to be here or not.
Dominic stepped between the first doors and looked around, as if looking for something, then turned and waved me forwards as he continued on through the second pair.
“What is this place?” I asked uncertainly, ducking under a drooping cable between the sets of doors.
“Don’t know, but could guess.” Dominic said as he glanced around the room on the far side of the door. I passed between the last set of doors and came level with him.
The room before us was strange: A ramp ahead of us led down to a circular area in the centre of the room that was sunken roughly a meter bellow our feet. Taking up the majority of the room, the circular depression contained an emblem on its stone tile floor and corridors branching off in different directions.
Placing my hand on the guard rail at the side of the ramp, I slowly walked down till I was standing by the crest.
It was military, but beyond that I was fairly clueless. It seemed like one of the plethora of regimental badges that armies found interesting and meaningful.
“298th Weapons Division….” Dominic read over my shoulder. “Interesting.”
“Is your ROTC training going to pay off now?” I half teased, “Know anything about this 298th group?” I asked nudging the emblem with my booted foot.
“It’s not a group,” Dominic said to himself, as if lost in thought.
“pardon?”
“It’s a division not a group.” He said again, “I remember mention of the crap we got into during the cold war; each side developing new weird and wonderful crap. 298th was reputedly the name of the US army division that was in charge of US special weapons research. It’s like those bond movies; They made all sorts of stuff.” He said thinking aloud. “It was disbanded in early nineteen eighties rather abruptly before the end of the cold war. It was rather bizarre,” he mused, “The Russian equivalent continued well on into the mid nineteen nineties….”
“You sure know your oranges.” I said to nobody in particular
“Boring facts are the ones you remember.” He replied.
The other guys caught us up and told them what we had found on the floor.
“So this is some sort of secret army bunker?” Kyle asked sceptically. “Isn’t that a bit science fiction?”
“Don’t know what this is for.” Dominic said blankly, “Place looks a bit unused.”
“So why are the lights on?” Paul asked slowly, doubting the question before he asked it.
“Not sure.” Dominic shrugged. “Either someone was here recently, or it’s got a damn big bill from the power company.”
“Where do you think the way out is?” Heather asked, her eyes flitting from hallway to hallway.
“I guess we will have to look around.” Dominic replied frowning. “It would be faster if we split into pairs.”
“But everyone does that in horror movies!” Hannah blurted taking a step back.
“Come on, you don’t believe in that crap do you?” Andy asked with a look of mild distain. “It’s not real… ghosts don’t exist, and we aren’t going to get eaten… nobody’s been here in years.”
“I don’t like it ok?” Hannah replied crossing her arms. “I don’t like being alone.”
“That’s fine.” Andy shot back, “You can go with Kyle.”
“Any real reason why we can’t go together?” Heather asked tentatively.
“None,” Dominic shrugged. “But it will take us three times as long to get out of here.”
“Fair point,” added Kyle. “I want out of here as soon as possible.”
“So who goes with who? And what do we do about getting lost?” Andy asked cautioiusly,
"Pay attention," Dominic replied bluntly. “Remember where you’ve been. And we all meet back here in Thirty minutes… just a quick look around nearby. Kyle, you take Hannah. Andy, you and Heather, and I’ll go with Charlie ok?”
Everyone agreed on the proposed plan, and checking watches, we split off, picking corridors at random.
Dominic’s confidence made me feel good: I felt safe with him. As cheesy as Hannah’s fear was, we were in a strange situation, and having someone so unflappable with me was comforting.
We walked along featureless corridors for a time before reaching a junction.
“Which way?” I asked, looking down the bland corridors.
“Left I guess.” He shrugged. “Seems like a wider corridor… means there’s more important stuff maybe.”
“How do you know all this?” I asked with surprise.
“My old man was in the army,” he admitted. “Stationed on more bases than I can count.”
“Learned to navigate military architecture,” he shrugged.
“Oh,” I admitted. “My Dad’s an Engineer, and my mom is a teacher.” I offered, hoping to spark some conversation to keep things from returning to oppressive silence.
“You go to school here?” Dominic asked trying a door in vain.
“No, High school senior back home.”
Dominic turned to face me, “You’re in high school?” he asked incredulously. “You look a lot older… and act it.” He added shaking his head.
“Thanks… I guess.” I muttered softly.
We walked around another corner in the corridor, and came face to face with a set of double doors.
Pushing one open, Dominic peered inside. “Jackpot,” he murmured stepping inside.
I followed him through the doors and stopped in my tracks.
I stood looking at the large open room. Sloping down towards the front, were desks, computers, screens and tables covered in paper; we had found the command centre… if my rudimentary knowledge of military movies was accurate.
Dominic stepped around a railing and began to walk down the steps looking around himself. I walked further along the top of the room and began to make my way down the second set of steps.
Apart from the dust, the place could have been abandoned the day before…
I stepped over a fallen chair and reached out to steady myself on the table to my right. The table shifted as I placed my weight on it, and I slipped. With a squeal, I landed on my chest next to the table leg. Recovering enough to start to pull myself up, I caught sight of something out of the corner of my eye.
I turned my head slowly to resolve the shape I could vaguely make out.
I screamed and scooted backwards till I was pressed against a guard rail, panting heavily; my eyes fixed on the body under the table.
“Charlie? Charlie are you ok?” Dominic yelled as he jumped down next to me and reached out to grab my hand. “You ok?” he asked a second time.
I shook my head weakly and nodded in the direction of the thing I hadn’t taken my eyes off.
The body was old…. Decayed, but still relatively human looking… the tomblike quality of the place must have slowed decay. The faded dusty uniform looked military. The corpse was stretched out, one arm further forwards as if crawling.
“Jesus.” Dominic breathed. “That must have given you a fright.” He offered squeezing my hand.
“I guess nobody’s around then.” I said quietly, my eyes still fixed on the corpse.
Dominic helped me to my feet, and guided me away from the body beneath the table.
“Why did they leave him here?” I asked looking back as if expecting the remains to come to life once more.
“They left in a hurry.” Dominic said quietly, mirroring my thoughts.
“But what made them leave though?” I asked rhetorically, knowing I’d get no answer.
We searched the command room further, and my decayed friend wasn’t alone. There were five more bodies strewn around the room. We found one body in several pieces towards the bottom. His cause of death was slightly easier to discern.
“Whatever made them leave,” Dominic said remembering my question. “Is a good reason for us to follow suit as quickly as possible.
There was nothing specifically describing the facility’s purpose, or any maps. Either they had been taken, or never existed.
We returned to the meeting point after thirty minutes had passed to wait for the others.
Hannah and Kyle were stood cautiously looking down the various corridors and checking their watches.
“You guys look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Dominic called by way of greeting.
Hannah and Kyle looked at one another before Kyle spoke up. “We found… dead bodies,” he admitted sheepishly, the cockiness gone.
“We did too.” Dominic replied matter of factly.
“They were all lying there….” Hannah added numbly. “Just on the floor…”
I walked over to my sister and hugged her softly. “I know sweetie.” I soothed, “me too… I nearly fell on one.”
“Why?” she asked gazing at me with a look of innocence lost.
“I don’t know Han.” I replied honestly. “I don’t know.”
“Where are Heather and Andy? Dominic asked breaking our emotional moment. “It’s been nearly forty minutes.”
“I don’t know Dom,” Kyle replied with a shrug. “They might be lost?”
“Which way did they go?” Kyle asked looking over at Dominic.
“That way.” He pointed looking down the corridor the two had departed along.
Should we go look for them?” Hannah asked cautiously. “If they are lost… we might find them?”
“That won’t be necessary.” Dominic said, catching everyone’s attention in a heartbeat.
Heather staggered back along the corridor, her arms folded under her breasts. As she stepped out of the shadow at the mouth of the corridor, the harsh strip lighting picked out the blood splatter covering her from head to toe.
“Heather!” Hannah screamed, rushing to her roommate’s side, “What happened? Are you ok? Where’s Andy?”
Heather mouthed wordlessly. The amount of blood on her was astounding… a splattering blood of covered her dress and exposed skin. The shocked girl hadn’t even wiped the droplets from her face.
“Where’s Andy?” Hannah asked again realising the significance of the blood covering Heather.
“It killed him…” she muttered quietly looking at the ground.
“He’s dead?” Kyle asked uncertainly. “What happened?”
“Force…” she muttered absentmindedly. “Dark cloud… he just…. Oh god.” She sobbed pressing her hands to her mouth stifling a cry, “Oh god.”
A high school senior heads to Boston to visit his sister for Halloween. A twist of fate reveals something they would never have admited alone... and it proves to be the one thing that may keep them alive when the best laid plans of a group of college students are lain waste by a force of terrible evil and corruption that has thrived for centuries... Can Charlie Kane be strong enough to live? or will the River of Shadows claim yet another victim...?
Chapter Seven — Bump in the Night.
It took us nearly twenty minutes to calm Heather down and get her to explain what had happened to the two of them. The girl had been in a near catatonic state when she had stumbled back to the rendezvous spot. Hannah was talking quietly to her friend, helping her clean up, while the boys looked awkward and pensive. I could tell they were scared too, even if they didn’t show it.
I never understood that about men… the stoic refusal to show emotion when you can clearly tell they want to talk about their fear… Dominic was standing quietly off to one side, keeping an eye on the whole scene. His steadfastness was a virtue to our ragtag group. Without him to guide and rationalise, we would be in serious trouble. Although I suspect we’d still be here, still in the same problem, it would just have taken twice as long without a clear leader. I suppose that was Dominic’s lot; the calm one. As much as I had gleamed from snippets of conversation with him, I still didn’t know the boy. I found myself wanting to…
When Heather had recovered sufficiently, she began to talk more about what had transpired between herself, Andy, and the mysterious force she spoke of. She and Andy had searched what had turned out to be a level of laboratories and store rooms. The stores were full, and most of the equipment scientific. The laboratories had been where they found the bodies: Scientists, no military uniforms. Dismembered and some appearing untouched.
They had been searching deeper into the laboratories, discovering the cages full of long dead test subjects… primates mostly. Whatever the people here had been doing was likely not legal, or publicised.
The pair had been searching towards the rear of one laboratory when a door had slammed behind them, trapping them in the room. A dark heavy mist had seemed to roll out of the aircon and coalesce on the floor in the far corner of the room. Slowly, the form had risen up and rushed Andy as he knocked Heather to the floor. The force of the impact had covered Heather in blood and sent Andy’s body crashing back into the room. In her adrenaline fuelled state, Heather had fled.
“There was nothing you could do for him honey.” Hannah soothed, stroking the hair out of her friend’s eyes. “You were scared, it was only human.”
“But I left him!” Heather wailed, tears streaming down her cheeks after her tale.
“If it helps, we can go back and check?” Kyle offered softly, looking over at our defacto leader, Dominic.
Dominic nodded. “Sure, we really need to check that way now… “
Hannah looked immediately uncomfortable, “Uh Dom… not to rain on your parade, but what’s the point in going back towards the unstoppable killing force?”
The mention of killing drew a small sob from Heather as they stood in silence looking at Dominic.
His hands on his hips, he looked down at the floor for a moment before raising his head and speaking.
“We are up against something we know nothing about. We found nothing of value but death anywhere else…. The fact this… thing is that direction means its likely guarding something important or the way out…. Either way, we get past it, or we stop it.” He said resolutely. “I don’t know what the fuck this is… but if I can, I’m going to fucking kill it.”
“How?” asked Kyle dumbly. “How do we kill what we don’t understand? Fuck man, I’m just a kid….” He almost whined. “I don’t know where to begin… this thing… it killed Andy in one swoop… what fucking chance do we stand?”
“It’s better than doing nothing at all.” Dominic shot back. “We can either sit here and wait to die, or we get the fuck out of here.”
Dominic’s speech seemed to instil something that had been missing so far. We had direction, even if it was an ominous one.
Slowly, we retraced Andy and Heather’s route through the winding corridors they had explored less than an hour before. There was an uneasy silence between us as we cautiously progressed; nobody wanted to be the first to admit their fear.
We eventually reached the lab rooms where Heather told us the thing had attacked. Cementing his role as our leader, Dominic stepped forwards wordlessly and entered the room.
Within a few short seconds, he came back, his expression masking a look of distaste. “He’s dead.” He said flatly. “At least the bits I can see.”
Heather moaned quietly from Hannah’s shoulder as her friend squeezed her comfortingly. “What next?” Kyle asked raising his eye.
Dominic shifted his weight and looked around the group, “There were huge conduits on the roof in the main corridor. I expect we find something of importance if we follow them.”
“How do you know it’s not the other way?” Kyle asked with a twinge of annoyance. “It might be nothing, or it might be the damn laundry.”
“Unless we can pass through walls, I don’t expect the other direction will help.” Dominic answered. “Whatever it does, draws a large amount of power.” He said pausing for effect, “And what draws a lot of power in a place like this, will hold some form of answer, or exit.”
“Why are you so confident? You’ve been here as many times as we have.” Spat Kyle. “You’re just lucky, and one of these days you’ll be wrong and get us killed.”
“I’m not ordering you; I can’t.” Dominic shrugged. “I’m used to the way military places are set out, and I use my brain for more than scoring girls.” He added raising his eyebrows at Kyle. “You’re free to fuck off if you like.”
Kyle withdrew at Dominic’s challenge. Even at a time like this, it was amusing to see the pack behaviour develop within the group. We bowed to Dominic’s leadership and calm, but Kyle wanted the crown. I wish he’d picked a better time for a power move.
“Let’s get going, I don’t like it here, do you?” Dominic asked pulling open the door to the corridor. Kyle was the first out.
We followed the conduit that Dominic had noticed. It was large and obviously an addition since construction.
The conduit led us deeper into the facility; bland corridor led to bland corridor. I wasn’t sure I could remember the way back.
Eventually we reached a larger area after following the conduit down two levels deeper into the heart of the facility. The corridor around us widened into a large foyer. Towards the end, a flat faceless wall like all the others, but this wall contained a pair of steel doors, much like the ones we had passed through to gain access in the first place.
“A way out?” Heather asked hopefully, seeming to slip back from her near catatonic state. “Do you think it’s a way out?”
Dominic shook his head. “Doubt it.” He said quietly.
A quarter of the cables in the conduit seemed to split off and vanished through the wall above a door off to the side of the widened corridor. Unable to move the heavy steel of the closed main doors, we hoped that our exploration would provide greater insight to the purpose of the sealed room.
The door revealed a set of stairs leading up. Unsure of what we would find at the top, we climbed in silence. A second door marked the top of the flight, and opening the door, we found ourselves in a long curved room with monitors and banks of computers.
The wall to our left was glass, but shuttered with steel on the outside. Whatever the room held, demanded protection.
Most of the monitors in the room were alight, clearly they had never shut down. I lent forwards and examined a bank of switches and lights on the far wall. ‘CONTAINMENT’ ‘BLAST SHUTTERS’ and ‘ACCESS’ Glowed green on the panel.
“Hey Dominic.” I called, not removing my eyes from the panel. “You might want to take a look at this.”
Feeling his presence behind me I pointed at the lit panel. “This might help.”
“You’re right.” He mused quietly. “I think we ought to raise the shutters, see what’s inside first.”
I nodded quietly as he reached past me and lifted a plexi-glass cover over the switch bellow the blast shutter panel. A clanking and whirring sound filled the room as the shuttering over the windows began to lift and cracks of light began to spill into the room drawing our attention to the mystery beyond.
The room came into view slowly as the old mechanism lifted the heavy steel shutters. The room was nearly circular, and its walls rough cut stone; it was more a cavern than a room in actuality.
As foolish as it may have been, we all gravitated towards the glass to gain a better view of the room bellow. The floor was roughly ten meters bellow the room we stood in. Rough rock gave way to ancient stone tile towards the centre of the room where the ground had been excavated. The centre was most perplexing of all.
In the very centre of the cavern was a large circular pit, at least, to my eyes at first, it seemed a pit, but the longer I looked, I began to realise it wasn’t darkness I saw, but the perfect reflectionless still surface of black liquid.
“What’s that?” breathed Hannah quietly almost to herself.
“Fucked if I know,” shrugged Kyle dismissively.
“The river of shadows,” Heather said aloud from behind us.
The group turned to her; she had not moved forwards to the window as we had.
“It’s the River of Shadows,” she repeated with a neutral expression, her lips twitching upward into the hint of a grin at our confusion.
“What the hell are you on about Heather?” Hannah asked looking nervous.
Heather shook her head slowly. “You were half right about hell,” she purred, the twist of a grin spreading across her face in an inhuman way.
“Knock it off Heather, this is a bad joke.” Kyle added stepping forwards and placing his hand on her arm.
Heather looked down at the hand on her skin and slowly traced it back to its owner’s eyes.
A veil of mist seemed to grow around heather as her eyes became blank and hollow.
“Death.” She said calmly, before Kyle was propelled backwards against the glass with enough force to smash the armoured material and leave his broken form to ooze blood on the cavern floor bellow us.
From the Author:
Hey kids! Thank you to those that voted for me, As promised, i'm continuing to the end on this one, especually to thank those that loved the previous 6 chapters. I'm writing as fast as i can, but with not being in them od often, and my studies takin a lot of time, its hard, but I'll finish for you folks :) (and me, i'd like to know the ending too soon )
Alyssa,