by Ryan Mark
Placing a hand on his chest, he felt the slowing beats of relief. It wouldn’t take long to get there now that he could see the hotel glistening across the plain.
He was in the open, so he’d see any nearing threats coming at him, and hopefully, if everyone had made it, he would have backup from Stone Cross. He crossed his fingers and took a breath, walking on through the remaining grasslands.
There was a definite smell of salt in the air, and the way the wilted plant life grew only made it more probable that the sea was close. He thought of Althea then.
He sped up, face contorted with pain. ‘Come on, come on,’ he urged himself. ‘Only a few more steps Will, only a few more…’ He breathed hard.
A nasty voice inside his head disagreed, jabbing into his skull. ‘You won’t make it. You’ll never make it. Just lie down. It’s easier.’
‘N–no, I can’t… I–I’m almost there.’ William lost control of his body. His legs wobbled, giving way under his weight. And then a familiar darkness crept in…
Chapter 18
Grave of the North
The familiar tremor came again, crashing straight into his dream like a freight train. It held him, pinned him to his position. His eyes were closed. They wouldn’t open! He wiggled his toes, the only part of his body he could move, praying to be woken up. Amazingly, the dream answered.
‘Hey, wake up.’
His eyelids popped apart. The voices were so distant, yet so close. Someone was breathing on his neck. He felt nostalgia, a feeling of familiarity; the feeling of home. Everything was fuzzy, a blurry white haze.
‘Who’s there?’ he whispered, his voice sounding far away too. His eyes couldn’t adjust to the brightness, couldn’t focus. This was weird, really weird. He couldn’t be awake. He was still asleep. He had to be.
‘You’re dreaming, but we think you know that…’
William frowned. He knew who it was, yet he couldn’t place the voice. Shadowy silhouettes drifted through the white. They had definite human forms, but they weren’t entirely there.
‘You’re ghosts?’ William said. He tried to move his toes again, but this time, nothing happened.
‘We are mere memories, but don’t fret, you’re not one of us yet.’
‘Dad?’ Although he couldn’t feel his physical body, and probably wasn’t even inside it, he felt his heart beat fast as he said that word.
‘We are with you always in your dreams.’
‘We? Dad? Who’s we?’
‘We will always be with you, even after it all ends.’
William didn’t know what to say, then the words fluttered from his lips, ‘Should I carry on? Should I end it now and be with you?’
‘Never give up. Be strong. In the end there is always peace. Wait for it. Giving up will only bring darkness. I will wait for you.’
The spectres dived towards him, blanketing him in white light. And then there were more tremors.
He fell. Falling, falling.
But he didn’t smash into the ground this time…
The ground felt soft underneath him. The dream had definitely ended, and he was slowly waking up, but was that all it was… a dream? No, it was a message, and he’d listen to it, listen to his father.
William felt his chest move in response. He could wiggle his fingers and could almost open his eyes! Just a little more focus and he’d be back.
His heart pumped more strongly and his eyes opened to a crack of light. He blinked away the bleariness, focusing on the person who stood over him.
It couldn’t be. But it was.
Althea leaned in and hugged him. ‘About time.’
‘It’s so good to see you,’ he rasped, finally gaining full control. ‘Are you alright?’
Althea smiled. ‘Forget about me, focus on getting your strength back. They thought you weren’t going to make it, but I knew you would. You’d never leave us.’
‘I’m getting déjà vu,’ said William, grinning. He felt his forehead, running his fingers across the bumpy stitches that replaced the deep cut. He sank back onto the squishy bed and let out a sigh. He felt much, much better.
‘Did you do all this?’
‘I cleaned you up, and got you in some new clothes.’ Althea gave a mock frown. ‘You really smelt, by the way. But the stitches were down to Blake. He sorted out all the gory stuff; I can’t take credit for that.’
William shot up. He winced. ‘I shouldn’t have done that,’ he moaned. ‘Ichabod and the others made it then?’
‘Yeah, him, Branimir and Blake fought off the bandits who chased us. Apparently the bandits gave up and retreated after Branimir took down three of them in one axe swing! And wait till you see how many others from the Hollow are here.’
‘And Igraine?’
‘All in one piece too. We only got away from those Enforcers on horseback because Ernest, Markus and some others drove in like heroes and saved us. The Enforcers didn’t know what to do. They fell from their horses and scattered! You should’ve seen it. We’re going to beat Terrafall, Will, we really are!’ exclaimed Althea, bouncing on the bed. William felt ill with the motion, but was too happy to ask her to stop.
‘Hey, don’t leave me out!’ said Ori, running into the room and jumping in next to William. ‘I got to kick one of those Enforcers, Will, how cool is that? And then Ernest and Markus drove in with the car and beat them all up. And then I got to ride in this big trailer with some giant men from Haven’s Hollow! It was so cool.’
‘I missed you mate, and that – err – all sounds pretty awesome, wish I’d seen it. I got to outsmart some Enforcers, but nothing like that.’ William ruffled the hair on Ori’s head.
‘Missed you more, but seriously, watch the hair.’ Ori laughed.
‘What exactly happened to you?’ asked Althea, stroking his forehead.
‘I got caught by some Enforcers and they nearly killed me, but I managed to get away. They took me to this guy called the Cleric. He’s the second in command at Terrafall. He decides who should be taken to be sacrificed and stuff. Really demented.’ William tried to recall it all, but parts were hazy and, to be honest, he didn’t really want to remember it too clearly. ‘That Cleric guy nearly sacrificed me himself, but I got away with the help of an Enforcer.’
Althea grabbed William’s hand and said, ‘I’ll kill them if I see them. Why didn’t I run down the side of the track and get you?’ She hugged him tightly. ‘I won’t leave you again. I promise.’
There was a small silence and a comforting moment that made William feel safe. Safe – God, he loved that word.
‘I see the patient is awake,’ said a voice from the doorway. ‘Welcome to Stone Cross, Will. Fear did a brilliant job looking after you, wouldn’t leave your side, not even to sleep!’
Ichabod walked into the room and sat down in a cushiony chair next to the bed. William felt an instant relief, as if it were his father sitting there next to him. His smile went from one ear to the other.
‘You made it.’
‘Yes we did. It was tough going but we managed to lose the bandits thanks to Blake’s skills with a crossbow, oh, and Branimir’s axe. He was like a bulldozer on a demolition assignment. They must regret targeting us,’ replied Ichabod, taking off his long black coat. ‘This hotel may be a wreck now, but by God, does it keep in the heat.’
It really was warm in the room. William hadn’t had a chance to take in his surroundings. He looked around. The space was massive, gold trimmed paper frayed and falling from the walls, but still, it was impressive. The bed had silk drapes hanging down from its four posts, almost fit for royalty, even in its dilapidated state.
Opposite was a huge bay window, framed with threadbare curtains. Through it the sea could be seen in the distance, its foamy waves rolling into the coastline.
‘Is there a plan?’ He pushed himself up and leaned against the patchy headboard.
‘Well, Branimir has a rough idea. The plan was to storm the place earlier, but then you appeared an
d he decided to wait for you to recover,’ said Ichabod.
‘He really wanted to wait for me?’
‘That’s what he said,’ said Althea, getting up from the bed. ‘Besides, you’ve only been out for like a day or so, so it’s not made much of a difference.’
‘A full day?’ William stared at her. ‘Twenty-four flippin’ hours?’
‘Yep,’ Althea said.
‘You have a loved one in their midst, like me, so it’s only fair that we waited for you to cement the plan,’ added Ichabod. ‘And every pair of hands counts.’
‘Let’s go then!’ said William, swinging his legs over Ori. His body totally ached, but he didn’t care anymore. ‘And don’t try and say I have to rest more, because I’ll refuse. We’ve wasted too much time.’
‘I absolutely agree. We have to go now,’ said Ichabod, rising from his chair and putting his coat back on. ‘I just hope they are still with us.’
‘This is it, isn’t it?’
‘Yes son, this is it.’
‘Let’s go kick some Terra-butt!’ said Ori, heading to the door.
‘Terrafall is going to regret the day it chose evil over good,’ said Ichabod, walking out of the room, coat-tails drifting gently on the air.
Althea held out her hand and said, ‘Are you ready, Will?’
‘Yep,’ said William. He looked down at himself, black jumper with the logo of the hotel on, fresh jeans and his old trainers, which were looking a bit worse for wear. He could live with that. ‘Let’s go find my mum.’
They left the room, entering a wide corridor where shattered paintings still hung lopsidedly on the walls. Plant life had burst through in places, completely taking over in some areas. Twisted branches hugged the fragile banisters of the grand staircase, weaving through the spindles. William ran his hand across the plants as he walked down the marble stairs.
There was a huge window by the main entrance, a number of panes of glass taped up, and through it he saw the field where he’d collapsed. They must’ve seen him staggering across it and come to his rescue. Thank God the view was so clear from Stone Cross, otherwise they might’ve missed him.
‘Where are we going?’
‘The ballroom,’ said Althea. ‘It’s kind of the HQ.’
‘Did Merle make it?’ asked William, stopping in front of a pair of enormous stained doors, varnish lost to years of neglect. Merle was there, William remembered now. But they’d been separated.
‘Merle?’ said Althea, frowning. ‘Um, Will, he got taken by bandits remember? In the caravan.’
William shook his head. ‘No, he was with me, I swear. He saved me from wolves after we got split up, and then we got separated when the Enforcers came.’
‘You must’ve been hallucinating. You were in a pretty bad way,’ replied Althea, pushing open the doors. ‘It’s like being in a desert and seeing things that don’t exist… I think they call it a mirage?’
‘Listen, it was Merle, I am sure of it. Without him I wouldn’t have–’ William looked around the ballroom and fell silent. Every eye was on him.
‘He’s not here, Will,’ said Ori, gently pushing him further into the room. ‘Your mum’s more important than him anyway. He wasn’t very nice from what I remember.’
William shook his head. ‘He saved me. I think he’s a nice guy in his own weird way.’
Had he really been hallucinating? No, he’d definitely been with Merle, but where was he? Had he been captured too? Not by the Enforcers, or the Cleric wouldn’t have been so mad.
Was he going mad? Mad with confusion, mad with pain? He massaged his temples, trying to recall exactly when Merle had left, but couldn’t. He pushed the thoughts aside, realising he had to concentrate on the task ahead. He could go insane later.
Igraine sat across from him. Her grey dress trailed over her scuffed black boots, its hem torn to shreds by the events of the previous days. She tilted the tip of her misshapen trilby in his direction, which he returned with a slight nod. Blake sat with her, sky-blue eyes focused forward. He also noticed Ernest and Markus sitting in one corner and a brutish group of fur-clad men in another. Several more Havenites filled many of the remaining chairs. With this army, they certainly had a chance.
Branimir bounded onto the stage from behind some ragged drapes, clapping his hands for quiet, fur coat tightening in response to the movement of his muscles. ‘Welcome, my brothers and sisters!’ he boomed. ‘Today is the day that we release these lands from the grip of evil, from the grip of those who hide their true intentions behind lies and falsehoods.’
‘Hear, hear!’ bellowed several voices, fists raised in the air.
‘For far too long, Terrafall has been masquerading beneath its armour of enterprise and charity. Now its insanity must be brought to an end. We cannot let it infect us all. Human sacrifice is not acceptable, nor will it ever be.’
‘Don’t forget we need to save people too, the people it’s going to kill,’ added William. All eyes turned to him, some angry that he’d dared to interrupt their leader, but Branimir accepted William’s words with good grace.
‘Of course, we will save those it plans to sacrifice to the tremors. That is the first step in our plan. This just shows how far these people have fallen. Sacrificing is a barbaric act, which should never be accepted, no matter how desperate humanity has become! The tremors will carry on, blood will not stop them, only the Earth can,’ said Branimir, bowing his head in William’s direction.
William stood up and cleared his throat. ‘I understand why this mission is important to you all, because I know without your help Terrafall won’t stop, and I’m sure it’ll attack the Hollow eventually. My dad once wrote that one of the ways the tremors might be stopped was by trusting the Earth. He wrote that giving the planet time to heal was crucial, but Terrafall will never understand that doing nothing might actually be doing something. Its leaders are blinded by stupid beliefs that will never work. We need to show all survivors that they can live without Terrafall, like you all do in Haven’s Hollow.’
‘Nice speech Will, really nice,’ said Ichabod, clapping, his words followed by an eruption of cheers from around the room.
William blushed, but then he felt a surge of something he couldn’t describe – excitement perhaps? No, it was a sense of belonging, a feeling that he was meant to be with these people. They would do this together. And they would win.
‘Get yourselves armed! It’s time we headed to the Graven Monastery and cleansed the Graven Burials of Terrafall,’ declared Branimir, holding up his huge axe. ‘Let’s bring them down. But Blake, as discussed, you’re to remain. We need a medic here just in case there are any wounded when we return.’
At this, Blake simply nodded.
As if on cue, Althea looked at Ori. ‘I want you to–’
‘Stay here?’ he said. ‘But–’
‘Ori, don’t you understand. Mum and Dad wouldn’t want you hurt. I’ve got to do what they would, you see?’
He pulled a face and turned away, but after a couple of minutes he swung around and agreed, giving Althea a hug in the process. ‘Fine, I’ll do it, but make sure you stick with Will. And promise you’ll come back, Alfie.’
‘I promise.’
‘And promise you’ll find out who hurt Mum and Dad.’
Althea gave him a final, huge hug and said, ‘Good boy, and don’t worry, I will make them pay twice. Once for me, and once for you. I love you.’ She kissed his cheek.
Ori wiped his cheek, face scrunching, ‘Yuck. I love you too, but seriously, yuck.’
William knelt down and looked into his brown eyes. ‘You take care here, Ori. If anyone comes, hide, OK?’
‘OK. Just make sure you come back quickly.’
‘We will mate.’
As they left the room, Blake stopped Branimir. ‘Are you sure you want me to stay?’
‘Yes, we’ll need someone to tend the wounded when we return, and you’re the most skilled in that department so we cannot risk you being h
urt. Give your crossbow and quiver of bolts to William.’ Branimir pointed to the small silver crossbow Blake was wearing.
He nodded and passed it to William. ‘Take care of her. She’s got me through some tough times.’
‘Thanks Blake,’ William said, grasping the small handle. At least it wasn’t heavy.
The bus, their faithful set of wheels, was parked in the drive, with two pickups and Branimir’s car next to it. William and Althea boarded, followed by Ichabod, Igraine, Marcus, Ernest and several others. William looked down its length. Almost every seat was filled.
He pointed his crossbow at the plain in front of them and pretended to shoot. ‘I’m coming Mum,’ he whispered.
‘I’ll take the lead,’ shouted Branimir from the driver’s window of the car, waving them forward. ‘Let’s go!’
Ichabod started the engine, the six wheels of the bus grinding into the dusty drive. ‘Think positively, but be wary,’ he called, turning briefly to look right at William. ‘They might already be…’ William knew Ichabod couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence, but he knew what he was thinking.
‘I don’t care, I need to know,’ he replied, before waving at Ori and Blake, who stood on the steps of the hotel. ‘Besides, there’s more we have to do.’
Ichabod nodded. ‘Good answer.’
‘I’m kind of looking forward to this,’ Althea said from the seat next to him. ‘Terrafall will regret what it’s done to my parents, it really will.’
‘It’s going to regret a lot of things, especially turning its back on humanity,’ replied William. ‘Some of them might see what they’re doing is wrong and join us. At least I hope they will…’ He looked out of the window at the landscape speeding past.
William listened. The noise of the sea swirled into his ears from nearby. He could hear the tide as it broke against the shoreline. They were so close to it now. He looked ahead, but all he could see was their destination. The monastery: its bricks, its roof, were now coming into view. His fate was waiting for him. Wait. A word that’d become his enemy, just like Erisia, just like the tremors.
