Beyond the Darkness

A dark and cloudy Friday night, a mist rolls in at the cemetery. The tombstones are sunk into the thick fog a few inches from the ground. Two figures can be seen walking in the distance, one holding a small axe another with a stake.

�This is a great way to spend our Friday night, on watch,� Matt complains, �we could be at Eternity now, and I wanted to spend time with Jill.�

�Shut up Matt,� Tom says, �you�re with her twenty-four seven. When are you never with her?�

�True. I�ll go ahead and check out the other side. I�ll be back in a few minutes.� With that, Matt disappears into the darkness with great speed. Tom paces a few steps ahead and stops in front of an empty and freshly dug grave.

He looks closely and examines it. The tombstone stands at the head with the name Katrina Carr, and the dates 1960-2002 carved on it. As Tom looked into the grave he noticed that the coffin was open and empty. �That�s disgusting, how can anyone dig up someone�s body like that?� he asked himself. Suddenly he began to hear voices calling to him, calling for help. He stood straight up and looked around, searching for someone, or something.

Matt appears by his side instantly and he jumps in surprise. �What�s wrong?� he asked.

�Don�t just appear like that, you almost gave me a heart attack!� he yelled. �I thought I heard voices calling me. I think it came from over there,� he pointed to a tomb a few feet away.�

�Let�s go check it out then,� Matt suggested.

Slowly, they walked up to the tomb and stood by the doorway. The gate was gray and a bit rusted. Tom peeked inside but saw nothing. �Look around,� he told Matt. He sped around the vicinity in search of someone. Tom searched his surroundings, but found nothing. Behind him the rustling of leaves can be heard. �Did you find anything Matt?� he said as he turned around. To his surprise it wasn�t Matt, but a short girl with short reddish hair and brown gleaming eyes.

�Boo!� she said as she hit Tom across the face with a right hook. Tom flinched and almost lost balance. He planted his feet and stood up ready to fight. He held up his battle-axe and watched Ivy�s every move. She lifted her arms and vines crept closely to him and bound his legs.

�You think your vines and magicks can hurt me?� he took up his axe and swung at the vines cutting them and shredding them into bits.

�Well then, here�s something new!� Her eyes darkened and the earth began to tremble. Walls of earth and wood then surrounded Tom. He was trapped within the earthen coffin. He hacked away at it with the axe, but it would not even dent it. He yelled for Matt�s assistance, but it was no use, no one could hear outside of that prison. He beat at the walls but it did not good. His axe fell to the ground and he stood there full of fear and anger. He punched the wall and a wave of energy flowed from his fist, slightly cracking the wall.

He looked at his hand, and struck the wall again. When his fist made contact with the wall, a flash of light shone and tore the wall down. He again looked at the palm of his hand and a bright green light surrounded it. Slowly, a ball of energy began to rise from his hand. Ivy stood staring at him and again called forth more vines to restrain him. As the vines got close to him, he threw an energy ball and it exploded when it hit the vines, destroying them. Finally he threw one at Ivy, but before it could hit her, she vanished into the earth.

Still searching for something to fight, Matt speeds on around the cemetery. Suddenly, a bolt of dark blue fire shot at his feet. Matthias! He thought to himself. He looked up and saw Matthias standing in the distance then disappeared into the mist. In place of him, two other vampires emerged and charged at him.

They were fast. Very fast. Almost faster than him. They attacked him with great speed and fury. He tried to evade and block most of the blows, but still some made contact. The stake fell from his hand and was picked up by one of the vampires. He tried to stab Matt with the stake, but could not hit him. Matt moved quickly without hesitating and once he caught him off guard, he struck the vampire in the jaw sending him to the ground. The other vampire surprised him and hit him on the back. Matt stumbled forward but did not fall.

Matt, using his power, quickly ran behind him after taking the stake away from the other vampire and stabbed him through the heart. The vampire fell to his knees and exploded into a cloud of dust. The other stared in horror as his comrade died. He turned around and fled.

As the vampire fled, a bolt of lighting came down and struck a tombstone. Out of the smoke and rubble, a figure emerged. He had strong broad shoulders and a well-toned body. His eyes glowed a bright green and it seemed as if a light blue light emanated from them. Sparks of electricity shone on his fingertips as he floated above the ground. He stared at Matt in disgust and hatred. Shock spoke with a deep voice, �So, You are Matt�Not much for a Mystic eh?�

Matt�s facial expression turned from weary to hate. �I�m more than you can handle. When I�m done with you, you won�t be able to tell the difference between night and day.�

Shock directed his fingertips at Matt and bolts of electricity gathered in his palm and shot at him. He quickly dodged the attack and flew up into the air. Shock did not see where he went and could not locate him. Suddenly, Matt stormed down sending an elbow right onto his left shoulder, knocking him to the ground. He then ran to his side and kicked him in the gut as he tried to get up. Matt picked Shock by the throat and flew up into the sky. As he was about to punch and thrown Shock back to the ground, Shock held him by the arm and sent an electric current through his body. Matt was electrocuted and he fainted and fell back to the ground. Shock remained in the air and disappeared into the clouds.

As he fell, Tom arrived at the scene and leapt up into the air and caught Matt before he hit the ground. �Matt! Wake up! What happened?�

�Shock was here and he electrocuted me as I was about to beat the crap out of him.�

�Yea, I know. Ivy was here too.�

�Well, it�s getting pretty late, and I think its time to turn in,� Matt said. �Let�s go back to the house.�

* * *

At the manor, Christina is getting ready to go to work and Mike and Paolo are getting ready to go out with Amy and Kate. All of a sudden, Vinny comes running down the stairs frantically. �Oh my God, I�m late!� he says in panic.

�Dude, what are you late for?� Paolo asks trying not to laugh.

�I�m late for class! Why aren�t you guys ready?�

�Because it�s Saturday,� Mike says. Mike, Paolo, and Christina all break into laughter.

Vinny�s face turns bright red and looks at them in confusion. Realizing it was Saturday he grinned at them. �Oh�Goodnight then.� He then runs back into his bedroom and throws himself onto his bed.

�He�s so dumb,� Paolo said under his breath.

�Alright guys, I�m off to work. Call me on the cell if you need anything,� Christina tells them as she walks out the door. The door behind her slams shut causing a picture frame on the wall to fall and shatter. It was a picture of both Paolo and Mike at their graduation. The glass of the frame shattered and the picture was partly torn down the middle by a piece of the glass.

�Damn, that was a good picture too,� Mike said.

�Yea, I liked that one,� Paolo agreed. �I might have a double of that upstairs. Let�s not worry about that now.� He went out to the kitchen to get the broom and sweep up the broken glass.

Mike picked up the bigger pieces and threw them out. He runs back up to his room and comes back down holding a brown leather jacket. He sees Paolo sweeping up the glass, �hurry, or we�ll be late. You know they�ll kill us,� he said laughing.

�Alright, I�m coming.� He throws the glass out into the garbage and picks up his overcoat and they leave the house.

About an hour later, Vinny comes down the steps stretching and yawning. �That was a good rest,� he said noticing the silence of the house, �where is everyone?� He looks around and finds no one so he just shrugs and walks to the refrigerator. He pulls out a pitcher of water and pours himself a cup. Suddenly, the doorbell rings in succession, followed by pounding on the door.

�I�m coming! I�m coming!� he yells out. He walks to the front door and opens it. He�s greeted with loud voices of �Hey Vin, What�s up?� by Matt and Tom. �You�re so loud! Calm down!� he yells back.

�Oh, sorry,� Tom apologizes. �Where is everyone?�

�I don�t know. I think Shorty is at work and Mike and Paolo are out with Amy and Kate. I decided to sleep.�

�Oh, ok�I see,� Matt nods. He walks into the living room and sees the picture sitting upon the table. �What happened here?� he said as he picks up the torn picture.

�I don�t know. I saw it there when I came down. So how was watch last night?�

�Oh, it was fun,� Tom said.

�And painful,� Matt added. �Shut up you baby,� Tom sneered.

�Hey, you didn�t get shocked by that frickin thunder mage.�

Tom laughed, �That�s true and plus I have a new power. I�d show it to you now but, I don�t think Paolo and Mike would appreciate their house in pieces.�

* * *

Christina is at work in the pharmacy when a couple of familiar faces walk in. One girl with black hair and a very light blue streak in the front wearing a black skirt and combat boots. The other girl had red hair and wore a brown skirt and a tight green shirt. They both walk around the store picking up some painkillers. Christina�s senses tell her that there was a mage around but she could not tell where.

They go up to pay for the pills and they look at each other as if they knew each other. �That would be ten dollars and fifty cents,� Christina says. They hand her the money, take the pills and walk out of the store. Christina�s eyes follow them out the door and cannot recall who they were. She shrugs and goes back to working.

Outside, Nikole, the girl with the light blue streak, says �I hate these mortal bodies.�

Michelle nods her head in agreement, �Yea, I know. In these bodies we feel pain and emotions. It�s really bad.� She opens up the bottle and takes a couple of the pills then hands them to Nikole.

�We have to find a way to get out of these soon,� Nikole suggests.

�Yea, but with the Mystics always around, we won�t be able to find the charms at all. And if they find out what we�re after and why, they�d surely destroy us,� Michelle explains.

�We�ll figure something out,� Nikole points out. She then disappears into a cloud of white smoke and Michelle follows disappearing into the earth.

***

As time passes on, Mike, Amy, Paolo, and Kate are walking through the park. They sit upon some rocks under a nearby tree and Mike puts his arms around Amy. She looks up and she notices that the sky above them begins to darken and clouds begin to appear. �It looks like it�s going to rain,� Amy whispers to Mike.

�Don�t worry, it won�t. I won�t let it spoil this moment I have with you.� He looks into her eyes and they both smile at each other. She leans over a little and kisses him.

Kate and Paolo continue walking amongst the trees and notice all the shades of greens around them. A cool wind blows causing Kate to shiver. Paolo quickly takes off his jacket and puts it around her. �This should keep you warm.�

�But what about you? Aren�t you cold?� she asks.

�No, I�m fine.�

Out of nowhere, Paolo senses a mage nearby. �Uh oh,� he says, �we better find Mike and Amy.�

�Why what�s wrong?�

�Mages.�

They both start running through the park and find Mike and Amy still sitting upon the rocks, unmoved. �Hey guys, what�s wrong.� He looks at Paolo and sees his concern. �No...not now!�

�What is it? What�s wrong Mike?� Amy asks.

�Nothing sweetie, They just think it�s about to rain so we should go now,� he stutters.

�Oh, ok,� she replies unbelieving. �Are you sure?�

�Yes, I�m sure. Let�s go.� As they begin to walk away, Mary appears from behind a tree.

�Hello, Long time no see.� She lifts her arm and sends Amy flying back to the ground. She hits her head on the rock and goes unconscious.

Mike yells out in anger, �NO! You�ll wish you hadn�t done that.� He charges at her at full speed. His face was red with anger and his eyes seemed to glow bright red. He sees her about to lift her arms to use her powers, but this time he was prepared. He turned himself into marble and became too heavy for Mary�s telekinesis. She attempts it once again but still she could do nothing. Very soon she weakened and Mike took a breath and went back to normal.

He gave her a fierce uppercut and as she went up into the air, he quickly grabbed her by the ankle and threw her back down to the ground. She growled and hissed but could not get to her feet. He jumped on top of her and started hitting her, throwing punches from every direction. He was so enraged that the blows were too powerful for Mary to heal.

Paolo and Kate tended to Amy. A few seconds later Troha and Mikey appeared. They both transformed into mages and Mikey�s eyes began to emanate static bolts and Troha�s feet sunk into the ground. �Oh no!� Kate exclaimed. �What are we going to do?�

�You stay and take care of Kate, I�ll go deal with them.�

�NO! Paolo! Don�t!� she cried out. But he did not hear her. He continued to run towards them and transformed into his own image. His eyes darkened and he began to levitate off the ground. He sent out a shadow tendril to restrain Troha and one for Mikey. But once it made contact with them, Troha used his power to increase the gravity under Paolo, which sent him to the ground unable to lift himself. Mikey then sent out a lightning bolt across the tendril to shock him as well.

Just as Amy was waking, Kate got up to her feet to face Troha and Mikey. Amy got up as quickly as she could and ran to Paolo, �Oh my god! What have you done?! Who are you people?�

�Amy! Come back here!� Kate yelled, �Stay away from them.�

�But Paolo�s hurt, we have to help him.� Suddenly a thick black smoke emerged from the ground and Silver appears from it. �How�d you do that?� Amy wonders.

�Oh no...MIKE!� Kate screams.

�Goodbye.� Silver said in a soft and mellow voice. She lifts her hand to the sky and creates a void behind Amy and Paolo. Amy lets out a cry for help, but Kate was attacked by Mikey and couldn�t tend to them.

The void began to pull them closer inch by inch and she tried to hold herself back and Paolo too. Then, out of the trees, Mike comes running and grabs hold of both their arms. �I got you!� he assures them.

Silver sneers and lets out a maniacal laugh. �You can�t help them.� The void then became stronger and began pulling them all in. He had a good grip on Amy but Paolo�s hand was slowly slipping.

Mike gasps for air and begins to panic. Maybe if I throw Amy back I can use the other hand to grab hold of Paolo. He thought to himself. He looks at Amy to try and tell her what he was going to do. Then Paolo was becoming conscious again. Realizing that he was on great danger, he tried to create the shadows to anchor himself to something. But he was too weak to do so.

Slowly he was slipping away from Mike. And he tried to tell them both what he was to do. Then came the attempt. He pulls Amy back with a jerk and as she flew by him, he swung his arm around to catch Paolo�s hand just as it was about to leave his.

Just as he went to grab his arm, the void got stronger and increased the gravity that was pulling Paolo. Mike missed his arm and he watched as Paolo fell into the Dark void. �NO, PAOLO!� He cried out in grief and fell to his knees. The void closed and the mages disappeared, as did Mary. Except Silver. She approached Kate as her back was turned and touched her arm. A dark ring was released into Kate then Silver disappeared.

Kate gasps for air then realizes what had just happened. She looks at the place where her three friends once stood. Then she notices that there are now only two. Amy sat behind Mike who knelt down crying. �You tried your best...You couldn�t hold on. You�re only human you couldn�t have held on as long as you did.�

Saddened, he could not even look at her. Kate approached them angrily. �What are you talking about, did you not see who and what those people were? They were not human, and neither are we.� She began to tear. �Why did you let go of him?� she muttered. �You�re his brother, You never failed him before...why now? Why did you let go?!� she accused him.

�KATE!� Amy shouted, �Stop this! He tried to save him, he tried to save us both. He was slipping and the void pulled him in. Mike could not have done anything.�

�Yes, yes he could have. He just didn�t try hard enough. He let go...� Kate looked at them both. Then she burst into tears.

Onward To:

Chapter IX

Return To:

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws