Darkmoor (8 page)

From the corner of her eye, Catherine clocked Nathan approaching them. Carrying a pile of freshly cut logs, Nathan asked, “Hi guys, how are tricks?”

Catherine shrugged her shoulders. Nathan looked at Sam then at Matthew before playfully jabbing Sam.

“Well, Sam,” he went on to say, “I think you’ve met your match.”

Quickly shifting her eyes from Matthew to Nathan, Sam sighed, “Weren’t you suppose to be getting breakfast sorted, Nathan? I suggest you do!”

Nathan nodded his head and rapidly walked away to collect some more fire wood.

“You are not going, Matthew!” Sam stated with intent.

If looks could kill, Matthew would have dropped dead right there.

Not intimidated by Sam, Matthew rose to his feet. Stepping closer and towering over Sam, he replied assertively, “I am going, so you can either help me or not, but I will cross the river and enter Darkmoor.”

Sam dismissed Matthew and turned towards Catherine, “What are you going to do then… Catherine?”

Catching her off guard, Catherine stuttered, “I… I…”

“Go on,” Sam demanded, “are you going to follow your boyfriend?” she added sarcastically.

Matthew took a few paces away from camp, his head bowed as he blushed about what Sam had said.

Watching Matthew walk away from her, Catherine suddenly stood to her feet and called after him, “I’m coming with you!”

Turning back to face her, Matthew’s smile widened, “What?” he asked.

Lifting her arms up into the gloomy grey sky she said, “How could I not? I mean, well, erm.”

Matthew continued to smile at her and Catherine could feel her cheeks burning red. Letting herself get lost in his eyes, she almost forgot where she was.

“Hum,” Sam coughed breaking Matthew and Catherine’s gaze, “You two are crazy, but,”

Matthew darted his eyes across to Sam, “But...?” Matthew asked rapidly.

“But if you’re so determined to get yourselves killed, then I suppose I shouldn’t stand in your way,” Sam flashed a crooked grin at Matthew.

Trudging towards him she patted his shoulders, “Don’t be too thrilled, Matthew, I’m coming with you!” Accompanying Sam’s promise was a roar of laughter which explosively echoed throughout camp.

Dear Diary,

Me, Matthew and Sam are going to cross that white misty river tomorrow. I couldn’t let him go without me. Anyway, we are practising how to use a bow and arrow after breakfast. Apparently that’s the only way to kill Darkmoor’s monsters. I can’t believe this is happening to me. I always thought adventures of mysterious lands where just make believe, and here I am trapped in one. I really hope I don’t die, I’m too young to die! Please God if you’re listening, please keep us safe, please!

I wonder if there is a poster of me and Matthew missing?

Right, that’s Claire shouting everyone to wash up before breakfast so bye for now.

Catherine closed her diary and hugged it tightly. All her memories were stored between those pink leather covers. Everything she ever thought about, everything she’d ever done, even happy times with Crow. Catherine shuddered as she thought of him, that big black crow who had watched her for years. Scared of what they might find across the river, somehow despite her fears, Catherine felt ready to face Crow or Darkmoor, whoever he, or it, was.

* * *

“Right Catherine, Claire is going to show you how to fire arrows, and Andrew is going to show Matthew,” Sam spoke with authority.

“And you?”Matthew asked, “what are you going to be doing?”

Sam smiled as she picked up her own bow and arrows, “Me, Matthew? There’s something I need to collect.” Sam’s voice faded as she walked away towards the heavy wooden gates, guarding the entrance, “I won’t be long, good luck!” she shouted back waving her hand towards Claude and Reuben. Receiving their orders, the two boys heaved those wooden gates open, allowing Sam to disappear into the distant darkness.

Matthew turned to ask Andrew, “What did she mean? Something to collect?”

“I’m not to sure,” Andrew continued, “she doesn’t really explain a lot, but don’t worry she’ll be fine,” he said smiling nervously at Matthew.

Mesmerised by those gates, longing to disappear beyond them, Matthew felt his hand starting to throb. The more Matthew thought of Darkmoor, the more the pain increased. Feeling his body draining of energy as the pulsating throb continued, Matthew just about heard Andrew calling from across camp, “Matthew, are you coming? Come on!”

“Yeah!” Matthew called looking down at his wounded hand, “I’m coming!”

Matthew and Catherine spent all afternoon learning how to use their bow and arrows. Catherine picked it up almost immediately (much to Matthew’s annoyance) but after a lot of determination, eventually Matthew managed to pick it up too.

“So, don’t forget, you only fire at them if you really need to, one clear shot will kill a wolf-lizard immediately,” instructed Andrew.

“Have you ever killed one?” Catherine asked turning to Claire and Andrew.

They both looked at each other, “No thank goodness, but you two, well you know,” Claire replied, biting her lip.

“What Claire is trying to say,” Andrew continued for her, “you will have Sam with you so you’ll be fine!”

“Yeah, we’ll be alright, I think?” Matthew muttered.

Archery class was soon over, Sam returned back to camp, and was once more accompanied by a dead rancid wolf-lizard.

Night time descended, once again everyone gathered around the camp fire. No one spoke for ages (not even Nathan), an awkward atmosphere grew as they thoughtfully watched the flames flicker.

“How did you get on today, Matthew?” Reuben asked breaking the silence.

Lifting his head, Matthew realised everyone (including Sam) was waiting for him to answer. Coughing to clear his throat, Matthew muttered out, “Good thanks, Reuben.”

“Cathy,” a delicate little voice spoke. Isabella’s beautiful smile lit up the whole camp, looking innocently at Catherine, Isabella continued, “When you see my mummy and daddy, will you tell them me and Tom are ok, they will be really worried about us you know, won’t they?”

A lump formed in Catherine’s throat, opening her arms she invited Isabella up onto her knee. Hugging her tightly, Catherine whispered, “I promise.”

Matthew watched as Catherine brushed her fingers through Isabella’s curls. Sensing a cold icy stare coming from across the camp, Matthew lifted his eyes to meet Sam’s stare through the smoky fire.

“What did you go out of camp for, Sam?” Matthew asked.

“This,” Sam remarked in a matter of fact tone, as she held up a telescope.

Taking her eyes off Isabella, Catherine looked up, “What is it?”

Sam walked towards Matthew and Catherine and held it out for them to have a closer look.

“It’s a telescope,” Matthew said sarcastically before taking it off Sam.

Putting his eye over the lens of the telescope, almost immediately an expression of astonishment swept across his face.

“Wow,” Matthew gasped, “camp looks so bright, I mean, wow!”

At first glance it appeared to be a normal telescope, having one large and one smaller glass lens at either end. The lens was fixed firmly in place by a brown leather bind. It looked like a piece of average kit, but was clearly different to a ‘normal’ telescope.

Again, Matthew took another look through the lens and again the camp shone bright, as if the sun was overhead.

Popping Isabella onto the empty stump next to her, Catherine grabbed the telescope to take a look for herself. She pulled the object quickly away from her eye, then quickly back again.

“Wow!” she too exclaimed.

“How? I mean what is it? How is it doing that?” asked a very puzzled, but intrigued Matthew.

Realising that she had the camper’s full attention, Sam started to explain, “Well, it’s what I call a light catcher. It makes the night appear like day, it’s that simple. In Darkmoor it’s always night, it’s just the way he likes it, but with this,” Sam said taking the light catcher very carefully off Catherine, “we’ll be able to see which way to go and of course, if there’s any danger heading our way!”

Sam then went onto explain how delicate it was and how she had hidden it out of camp for safe keeping. Gently she placed it back into her rucksack.

“Right you two,” Sam said addressing Matthew and Catherine, “we set off early in the morning so try and get some rest, believe me, you will need it.”

Picking up her belongings, Sam took herself off to bed leaving Matthew and Catherine to say their goodbyes to the other campers.

Dear Diary,

I am trying to sleep, but I can’t. I am so scared about tomorrow, I wish we were home.

I feel like crying when I think of what we are doing, but I can’t back out now, he needs me. We practised using a bow and arrow today. I’m pretty good at it, but Matthew struggled picking it up! Anyway, we now have a bow and arrow ready to use just in case. I really hope I don’t have to use mine. I don’t like the idea of killing things.

My eye lids are starting to feel heavy, so hopefully I will get some sleep. I wonder if Matthew is asleep.

Well, goodnight xxxxx

Chapter Ten

River of
Souls

I’m standing here alone. I have to cross, the monsters are coming. It’s
my only way to save Catherine.

My foot steps automatically onto the first plank of wood. The bridge begins to sway from side to side. The wolf-lizards are getting louder and louder, I can sense their stale breath on my cheeks.

I’m not going to look at them, I have to focus on the bridge. My body is shaking, my legs are trembling and something is pulling me across.

I lift my head to look, there she is, Catherine. She’s reaching out her hand for me to take. I reach out my arms stretching to touch hers, for I know just one touch of her hand and we will be free.

“Catherine, Catherine!” I call, but suddenly he’s there instead.

Darkmoor.

He’s laughing at me, suddenly I lose balance. I start to sway on the rope bridge, the monsters begin nipping at my ankles, then snapping, then really hurting.

“Help!” I scream. “Help!”

My hand is throbbing the pain is becoming too much. I can’t do this, I...

“Matthew, Matthew,” Catherine called shaking Matthew.

His olive skin had turned white as snow, tears of sweat flowed down his fear-filled face, gasping for breath, Matthew’s body trembled.

“Are you ok? You seemed in a world of your own,” hearing Catherine’s voice again, slowly Matthew turned his head.

Brushing his hands through his hair, Matthew managed to calm himself down before smiling back at Catherine, “I’m fine,” he said remembering his daydream before continuing, “listen, Catherine I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to come with us, it’s not safe.”

“Well I am!” Catherine snapped at him.

“I don’t want you to get hurt,” Matthew started as Catherine crossed her arms, impatiently waiting for an explanation. Chuckling to himself Matthew conceded, “Never mind, I’m not going to win am I?”

“No you’re flipping not!” Catherine replied flashing a warming smile at him.

“Well we have to cross it! The river of souls, that’s if you still want to go and see Darkmoor?” Sam’s voice interrupted, “or are you having second thoughts?” she continued sarcastically.

Lingering for a moment, Matthew looked intently into Catherine’s eyes. He felt like it was the first time he’d really looked at her. Catherine’s hazel eyes smiled affectionately towards him, her red hair hung loosely around her face. Overwhelmed with a sense of protection, Matthew muttered under his breath, “Oh Catherine.”

Matthew turned and stared across the white misty lagoon and the rickety rope bridge draped across it.

“I’m ready!” Matthew said confidently.

With their bows and arrows securely fixed across their backs, Sam, Matthew and Catherine cautiously stepped onto the wooden bridge. Matthew muttered under his breath, “Well, this is it!”

Leading the way was Sam, followed by Matthew and a very loaded up Catherine nervously trudged behind. Her bag was strapped around her waist, her weaponry fastened across her back. Matthew couldn’t help chuckling to himself as she reminded him of the game, Buckaroo!

“Be careful!” Sam shouted back to Matthew and Catherine, “some of the wooden slats are rotten!”

Catherine tiptoed behind Matthew copying his every move. Blisters formed on the palms of her hands as she clung tightly to the ropes, but blocking out the pain she steadily proceeded. Underneath them the white mist started to churn.

Sam boomed, “Don’t look down!”

“The river of souls?” Catherine asked, “why is it called that?”

Not hearing Catherine clearly, Sam repeated her words, “I said, don’t look down!”

The bridge began to creak as a gentle breeze blew across. As they continued further along, the wind grew fiercer and cautiously they took one step at a time.

Matthew’s heart pounded and thumped, the palms of his hands gathered sweat. Obeying Sam’s instruction not to look down, Matthew fixed his eyes firmly on the other side of the river.