SimonW
Well-known member
*looks up what "Evocative" means*
Thank you! I mean, I think. Depends, what exact feeling did I "evocate"?
But seriously, thanks for reading! I try my best.
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Dartho (not based on my old RPG)
- Thread starter SimonW
- Start date
*looks up what "Evocative" means*
Thank you! I mean, I think. Depends, what exact feeling did I "evocate"?
But seriously, thanks for reading! I try my best.
SimonW
Well-known member
(chapter 11, part 4)
Dartho. It is the name of a species that was a nightmare to the children of the planet Lighnia. It was less of a child-like fantasy though. These monsters of the shadow are very real. Bred on a nearby Shadow Planet on the dark side of the Luna Mortis, the High Moon of the planet Lighnia, the beast-like shadowy forms of pure Darkness made it their ambition to spread Darkness to any light-giving source. Like the planet Lighnia and its inhabitants. And apparently they succeeded in enveloping the light of Lighnia and destroyed nearly all the creatures upon the planet’s surface. But one Child survived, jettisoned from her home into the Dark Void that acted as a time portal to another dimension. But, she was followed by one of the shadows. Not given individual names, the shadows named themselves singularly after their species, Dartho. But the Lighnia Child had an individual name. Her name was given to her by her foster father, The Illustrator, Tabitha. But all the while the Dartho bided his time, going after orphans in his beast-like form until he found the right one.
“But, where do you come in?” asked Tabitha as this information was transferred to her mind via another touch to her forehead by the dapper gentleman’s hand.
The man had released her forehead gently, putting his glove back on silently as he left the question go unanswered, as if hovering in the air.
Tabitha started getting nervous again. She felt herself get uneasy at this man with all the information into her, until recently, secret life even she had not known.
“It is best left unsaid. But know this Tabitha, I am a friend,” remarked the man softly in a light voice that was filled with no emotion apart from pain and suffering.
Tabitha pondered this response for a few seconds which seemed an eternity to Tabitha. Doubts and second thoughts sprang within the young girl’s mind. Yet she trusted the man because his voice was sincere. Still thinking and taking it all in, Tabitha simply gave a slight nod of her head before another sudden thought had entered her mind. It was her shoulder, the one the creature had scratched and was now dressed with coarse cotton padding with bandages as a support for the cotton. Up until the man had touched her forehead, her shoulder had throbbed with a dull ache of pain. But now it was not hurting at all. She slowly moved her arm ever so slightly, the one that was scratched, and found to her surprise that there was no pain at all.
The gentleman seemed to notice Tabitha’s surprised expression on her face.
“There is no need for surprise. Your arm is healed once you regained your true memory. Your body fused with your old mind to enable you to heal yourself,” said the man.
Tabitha was still in awe of her now healed shoulder that at first she did not pay heed to what the man was saying to her. But after he finished his sentence she grew resolved and glanced at him sharply.
“Who are you? And how do you know these things?” Tabitha asked seriously, her voice with a hard edge she had not known since Sammy and she were with the dead Illustrator’s body.
The young man seemed to sigh but breathed in instead. He knew he needed to answer her. It was inevitable.
“My name known on this planet is Collet. Edward Collet. I am like you...but of a different kind. My race had long been taken by the Dartho eons ago. I had heard tales of your race being the only kind able to stand up against the Dartho. I know your race from a dusty tome. These humans call it a “book”. But of course you know about that. You see Tabitha, the one you know as The Illustrator was an eccentric human with a mania about other worlds and the stars. He stumbled upon the truth, much like he stumbled upon you when you crash-landed into this dismal place. He took you in and looked after you like you were his own child but he also kept hold of your “necklace” until he thought you were ready to know the truth. I encouraged this, in case my fears were justified. The orphans gone missing awoke my suspicions but The Illustrator dying convinced me I was right.”
Tabitha did not speak as she listened to the words Edward Collet was saying to her. She merely clung to her moon-shaped pendant, hoping it would ease her suffering. Those deaths, all those orphans and her friends, they died because of her. Tears started to well up within Tabitha’s eyes but she could not bear even to cry. That monster that killed them all, it was because it was searching. It was searching for the Lighnia Child that had escaped the Dark Void and became an orphan of the streets.
And that child was her. Tabitha.
Tabitha’s sorrow turned swiftly into thoughts of rage as she balled up her fist round her moon-shaped iron pendant. Now was not a time for tears. Now was a time for revenge against the evil that had plagued her home world. The mysterious shadow beast known only as Dartho was growing stronger within the grimy over-shadowed and smoke filled city. A place that barely saw daylight amongst the dark alleyways and black stoned walls.
Tabitha glared with renewed passion at the stranger now known as Edward Collet. She seemed to regain her resolve as she uttered the words he knew she would say.
“We shall rid this place of Dartho once and for all. Where do we find this shadow?”
End of Chapter 11
(to be continued...)
Dartho. It is the name of a species that was a nightmare to the children of the planet Lighnia. It was less of a child-like fantasy though. These monsters of the shadow are very real. Bred on a nearby Shadow Planet on the dark side of the Luna Mortis, the High Moon of the planet Lighnia, the beast-like shadowy forms of pure Darkness made it their ambition to spread Darkness to any light-giving source. Like the planet Lighnia and its inhabitants. And apparently they succeeded in enveloping the light of Lighnia and destroyed nearly all the creatures upon the planet’s surface. But one Child survived, jettisoned from her home into the Dark Void that acted as a time portal to another dimension. But, she was followed by one of the shadows. Not given individual names, the shadows named themselves singularly after their species, Dartho. But the Lighnia Child had an individual name. Her name was given to her by her foster father, The Illustrator, Tabitha. But all the while the Dartho bided his time, going after orphans in his beast-like form until he found the right one.
“But, where do you come in?” asked Tabitha as this information was transferred to her mind via another touch to her forehead by the dapper gentleman’s hand.
The man had released her forehead gently, putting his glove back on silently as he left the question go unanswered, as if hovering in the air.
Tabitha started getting nervous again. She felt herself get uneasy at this man with all the information into her, until recently, secret life even she had not known.
“It is best left unsaid. But know this Tabitha, I am a friend,” remarked the man softly in a light voice that was filled with no emotion apart from pain and suffering.
Tabitha pondered this response for a few seconds which seemed an eternity to Tabitha. Doubts and second thoughts sprang within the young girl’s mind. Yet she trusted the man because his voice was sincere. Still thinking and taking it all in, Tabitha simply gave a slight nod of her head before another sudden thought had entered her mind. It was her shoulder, the one the creature had scratched and was now dressed with coarse cotton padding with bandages as a support for the cotton. Up until the man had touched her forehead, her shoulder had throbbed with a dull ache of pain. But now it was not hurting at all. She slowly moved her arm ever so slightly, the one that was scratched, and found to her surprise that there was no pain at all.
The gentleman seemed to notice Tabitha’s surprised expression on her face.
“There is no need for surprise. Your arm is healed once you regained your true memory. Your body fused with your old mind to enable you to heal yourself,” said the man.
Tabitha was still in awe of her now healed shoulder that at first she did not pay heed to what the man was saying to her. But after he finished his sentence she grew resolved and glanced at him sharply.
“Who are you? And how do you know these things?” Tabitha asked seriously, her voice with a hard edge she had not known since Sammy and she were with the dead Illustrator’s body.
The young man seemed to sigh but breathed in instead. He knew he needed to answer her. It was inevitable.
“My name known on this planet is Collet. Edward Collet. I am like you...but of a different kind. My race had long been taken by the Dartho eons ago. I had heard tales of your race being the only kind able to stand up against the Dartho. I know your race from a dusty tome. These humans call it a “book”. But of course you know about that. You see Tabitha, the one you know as The Illustrator was an eccentric human with a mania about other worlds and the stars. He stumbled upon the truth, much like he stumbled upon you when you crash-landed into this dismal place. He took you in and looked after you like you were his own child but he also kept hold of your “necklace” until he thought you were ready to know the truth. I encouraged this, in case my fears were justified. The orphans gone missing awoke my suspicions but The Illustrator dying convinced me I was right.”
Tabitha did not speak as she listened to the words Edward Collet was saying to her. She merely clung to her moon-shaped pendant, hoping it would ease her suffering. Those deaths, all those orphans and her friends, they died because of her. Tears started to well up within Tabitha’s eyes but she could not bear even to cry. That monster that killed them all, it was because it was searching. It was searching for the Lighnia Child that had escaped the Dark Void and became an orphan of the streets.
And that child was her. Tabitha.
Tabitha’s sorrow turned swiftly into thoughts of rage as she balled up her fist round her moon-shaped iron pendant. Now was not a time for tears. Now was a time for revenge against the evil that had plagued her home world. The mysterious shadow beast known only as Dartho was growing stronger within the grimy over-shadowed and smoke filled city. A place that barely saw daylight amongst the dark alleyways and black stoned walls.
Tabitha glared with renewed passion at the stranger now known as Edward Collet. She seemed to regain her resolve as she uttered the words he knew she would say.
“We shall rid this place of Dartho once and for all. Where do we find this shadow?”
End of Chapter 11
(to be continued...)
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SimonW
Well-known member
Book Two: Lighnia (Chapter 12 beginning)
(chapter 12, part 1)
Chapter 12: Where Shadows Dwell...
Ben awoke suddenly, his mind fearful yet tranquil at the same time. That thing...what happened? A rush of fragmented memories came flooding back to Ben. Yes, that beast-like creature...Dartho. After having explained what it truly was, Ben had felt the painful sensation over his whole body again just before he had passed out.
He felt scared. Scared for himself, scared for the other orphans that were slaves to the Dartho and The Beagle. Scared of the black brick wall that housed pure Darkness but most of all scared for the sake of Tabitha. Was she all right? Ben could not know for certain. But Ben knew one thing for certain. He was back in the cavern where the wall was being built. His ears had picked up the familiar sounds of iron shackles around the legs of the boy orphans as they moved, the grunt of effort with each lift of a bucketful of black bricks and most of all the frightful scraping of the black bricks being put into place.
Opening his eyes, Ben gazed up and saw the familiar face of The Beagle. He seemed to still have that snide evil grin on his face but it was twisted into a snarl as he was barking orders to several orphans that were lagging behind.
Ben heard the familiar whip-crack from the Whipping Boy’s whip and an uttered cry of pain from the one it had lashed.
The Beagle seemed indifferent to this and kept barking out orders whilst the Whipping Boy’s latest victim seemed to shamble to his feet and the pace picked up once again.
“Get your backs into it you miserable lot! The Supervisor wants The Wall completed earlier then before!” barked out The Beagle with contempt, a touch of concern in the back of his throat.
The Beagle was worried about the schedule. Even more so since The Supervisor had announced to him and The Whipping Boy as they came to collect the unconscious orphan that it was to be completed ahead of time.
It made the Beagle cautious of his endeavour with the mysterious Supervisor, whom had suddenly appeared out of the blue a few years ago upon the doorstep of the Workhouse.
The man, if one would call him a man, had a sinister aura about himself that the Beagle had not at all liked. Dressed in black garments and an over-sized black hat that had hid his pale face, the Supervisor had just drifted in past the flabbergasted Beagle whilst surveying the establishment known as The Workhouse. Back then, it was all grey stonework with the mill semi-attached and less orphans running around, almost to the point of the Beagle forced to take his hand or cane to them just to keep things in order.
“Yes,” the slithering hiss had escaped the pale man’s mouth. “This shall do nicely. Come, urchin!”
The command was to a gangly lad, whom the Beagle had not noticed was behind him until the wretched boy dressed in black tatters had stumbled forward upon his master’s command. He lumbered in with what appeared to be two heavy black suitcases.
The man later to be known as The Supervisor lashed out after the boy stumbled in, causing the boy to wince but did not allow the cases to drop from his hands.
“You have to be cruel to get work done. As I said, this place will do, but only with a few adjustments,” stated the man, lifting his head as the words had left his mouth.
The Beagle would never forget that day. It was the day he was able to knuckle down and treat the orphans as they should be treated, like the vermin they are. It was also the day that that boy, Fred Jenkins, was later known as The Whipping Boy and was in charge of the orphans sliding the black bricks that seemed to form themselves from nowhere into creating a new black wall.
These thoughts swirled within The Beagle’s head before his mind reverted back to the present tasks at hand. The boy, he needed to deal with the boy.
Glancing down at the form of the unconscious orphan below him, The Beagle wondered why The Supervisor would spare such a scrawny runt. But, The Beagle knew his job was to obey, not to understand.
Ben remained still where he was. He saw The Beagle glance down at him and for a split second he thought he had been found conscious. But, that was not the case as soon the Beagle lightly kicked Ben in the leg that made Ben wince but he dared not to move.
“Scrawny whelp, useless as the rest,” scowled out The Beagle to what he thought was the unconscious form of Ben.
(to be continued...)
(chapter 12, part 1)
Chapter 12: Where Shadows Dwell...
Ben awoke suddenly, his mind fearful yet tranquil at the same time. That thing...what happened? A rush of fragmented memories came flooding back to Ben. Yes, that beast-like creature...Dartho. After having explained what it truly was, Ben had felt the painful sensation over his whole body again just before he had passed out.
He felt scared. Scared for himself, scared for the other orphans that were slaves to the Dartho and The Beagle. Scared of the black brick wall that housed pure Darkness but most of all scared for the sake of Tabitha. Was she all right? Ben could not know for certain. But Ben knew one thing for certain. He was back in the cavern where the wall was being built. His ears had picked up the familiar sounds of iron shackles around the legs of the boy orphans as they moved, the grunt of effort with each lift of a bucketful of black bricks and most of all the frightful scraping of the black bricks being put into place.
Opening his eyes, Ben gazed up and saw the familiar face of The Beagle. He seemed to still have that snide evil grin on his face but it was twisted into a snarl as he was barking orders to several orphans that were lagging behind.
Ben heard the familiar whip-crack from the Whipping Boy’s whip and an uttered cry of pain from the one it had lashed.
The Beagle seemed indifferent to this and kept barking out orders whilst the Whipping Boy’s latest victim seemed to shamble to his feet and the pace picked up once again.
“Get your backs into it you miserable lot! The Supervisor wants The Wall completed earlier then before!” barked out The Beagle with contempt, a touch of concern in the back of his throat.
The Beagle was worried about the schedule. Even more so since The Supervisor had announced to him and The Whipping Boy as they came to collect the unconscious orphan that it was to be completed ahead of time.
It made the Beagle cautious of his endeavour with the mysterious Supervisor, whom had suddenly appeared out of the blue a few years ago upon the doorstep of the Workhouse.
The man, if one would call him a man, had a sinister aura about himself that the Beagle had not at all liked. Dressed in black garments and an over-sized black hat that had hid his pale face, the Supervisor had just drifted in past the flabbergasted Beagle whilst surveying the establishment known as The Workhouse. Back then, it was all grey stonework with the mill semi-attached and less orphans running around, almost to the point of the Beagle forced to take his hand or cane to them just to keep things in order.
“Yes,” the slithering hiss had escaped the pale man’s mouth. “This shall do nicely. Come, urchin!”
The command was to a gangly lad, whom the Beagle had not noticed was behind him until the wretched boy dressed in black tatters had stumbled forward upon his master’s command. He lumbered in with what appeared to be two heavy black suitcases.
The man later to be known as The Supervisor lashed out after the boy stumbled in, causing the boy to wince but did not allow the cases to drop from his hands.
“You have to be cruel to get work done. As I said, this place will do, but only with a few adjustments,” stated the man, lifting his head as the words had left his mouth.
The Beagle would never forget that day. It was the day he was able to knuckle down and treat the orphans as they should be treated, like the vermin they are. It was also the day that that boy, Fred Jenkins, was later known as The Whipping Boy and was in charge of the orphans sliding the black bricks that seemed to form themselves from nowhere into creating a new black wall.
These thoughts swirled within The Beagle’s head before his mind reverted back to the present tasks at hand. The boy, he needed to deal with the boy.
Glancing down at the form of the unconscious orphan below him, The Beagle wondered why The Supervisor would spare such a scrawny runt. But, The Beagle knew his job was to obey, not to understand.
Ben remained still where he was. He saw The Beagle glance down at him and for a split second he thought he had been found conscious. But, that was not the case as soon the Beagle lightly kicked Ben in the leg that made Ben wince but he dared not to move.
“Scrawny whelp, useless as the rest,” scowled out The Beagle to what he thought was the unconscious form of Ben.
(to be continued...)
SimonW
Well-known member
Okay, I'll add one in the next part.
For it is a fairly long story I guess with a bit of a semi-complicated plot involved to those whom have yet read the first parts.
I just assumed people who have not read it before start at the beginning.
SimonW
Well-known member
Backstory and more story
WARNING: SPOILERS!!!
The story so far (more or less):
An orphan girl named Tabitha has been running from a dark creature. She much later finds out the creature is called Dartho, an alien being intent on her destruction because she is also the last of her kind from a planet called Lighnia.
Along her travels, Tabitha met Sammy Gibb, who died at the hands of Dartho. She also received a moon shaped pendant from her old mentor on Earth before he also died.
She also met another orphan called Ben, whom is currently held captive of Dartho and his human servants called The Beagle and The Whipping Boy. Against Ben's will he is forced into hard labour constructing what is only known as The Wall.
Meanwhile, having regained her memory thanks to another alien being who calls himself Edward Collet, Tabitha is in his care in his safe haven of a house.
And so the story continues...
(chapter 12, part 2)
The boy had not moved. The Beagle assumed it to be a sign of victory in his mind. Most of the other orphans that had visited the Supervisor were soon put in their place, weaklings that even The Beagle could command with little to no retaliation. With a snide sneer, The Beagle turned his attention away from the unconscious wretch by lifting his head as the Whipping Boy came up to The Beagle.
The strapping youth seemed almost as worn out as the other orphan boys, having to whip them nearly constantly to urge them into working faster. His grey tunic seemed to heave slightly from exhaustion. But The Beagle noticed the almost sly intense within the Whipping Boy’s eyes as he grasped his unsheathed whip that seemed to trail slightly behind him in a firm grip. Yes, the teenage boy was cautious but he was also determined, his influence of power over the orphans driving him.
As soon as the Whipping Boy came up, he was starting to settle his nerves, almost as if the obese man in front of him was belittling him in some regard. Fred Jenkins, as he was formally known, knew nothing of his past as an orphan. He didn’t want to, for fear of the Supervisor. Deep down his fear gripped him. He knew he could not escape the clutches of Dartho. So he remained a servant of The Dark One, eager to not get punished for his mistakes. That was why he gripped his whip tightly, for he knew the thing he was going to say next could afford him punishment.
“We need more orphans, Sir,” the Whipping Boy announced, trying hard to appear confident in his claim.
For a second The Beagle did not say anything, as if mulling over what the Whipping Boy was saying.
“If orphans we need, then orphans we will get,” remarked The Beagle darkly and with his snide sneer plastered upon his face he glanced back down at the unconscious form of the orphan beside him.
The Whipping Boy looked confused for a moment and also glanced down at the scrawny boy. Then, it dawned on him what The Beagle meant. And with a menacing grin, the Whipping Boy cracked his whip to the side of him in a menacing manner before turning back to the orphans to make sure they were not slacking their pace.
The boys dug deep, hefting their aching bodies to the command of The Whipping Boy’s whip. They knew the routine by heart. Any chance of a break now was dashed in their minds as The Beagle announced the news that the wall was to be finished once and for all. Not that many paid particular attention to The Beagle’s words, too weary of the days and nights they were slaving away at the black brick wall. Working as one, the chain-linked orphan boys moved at double pace whilst the stronger individuals were loaded down with heavier burdens. Like the lash of the whip. The stronger and older boys were the worst off, having to heft more of the load whilst the smaller ones were chained up so not to cause a riot or flee to where The Beagle could not catch them. Even then, the youngest and more pitiful of the boys built up their muscles working in the mill to grind the flour so The Beagle could make his daily contribution to High Society if he wished his establishment to be operational. But then again, nobody bothered to come to The Workhouse willingly unless to drop off an orphan or two for a few spare bob to waste on drinks.
But these were not things the orphans of The Workhouse thought about. Right now only one thing was in their minds, ‘Escape.’
Ben felt ill at ease of the words between The Beagle and The Whipping Boy. Every instinct in his body and mind told him to run. Before he could control his frantic thoughts, Ben shifted as if in a move to get up. With this slight movement came pain as for the second time The Beagle’s cane smacked Ben on the head and drifted him into a state of eternal darkness.
(to be continued...)
WARNING: SPOILERS!!!
The story so far (more or less):
An orphan girl named Tabitha has been running from a dark creature. She much later finds out the creature is called Dartho, an alien being intent on her destruction because she is also the last of her kind from a planet called Lighnia.
Along her travels, Tabitha met Sammy Gibb, who died at the hands of Dartho. She also received a moon shaped pendant from her old mentor on Earth before he also died.
She also met another orphan called Ben, whom is currently held captive of Dartho and his human servants called The Beagle and The Whipping Boy. Against Ben's will he is forced into hard labour constructing what is only known as The Wall.
Meanwhile, having regained her memory thanks to another alien being who calls himself Edward Collet, Tabitha is in his care in his safe haven of a house.
And so the story continues...
(chapter 12, part 2)
The boy had not moved. The Beagle assumed it to be a sign of victory in his mind. Most of the other orphans that had visited the Supervisor were soon put in their place, weaklings that even The Beagle could command with little to no retaliation. With a snide sneer, The Beagle turned his attention away from the unconscious wretch by lifting his head as the Whipping Boy came up to The Beagle.
The strapping youth seemed almost as worn out as the other orphan boys, having to whip them nearly constantly to urge them into working faster. His grey tunic seemed to heave slightly from exhaustion. But The Beagle noticed the almost sly intense within the Whipping Boy’s eyes as he grasped his unsheathed whip that seemed to trail slightly behind him in a firm grip. Yes, the teenage boy was cautious but he was also determined, his influence of power over the orphans driving him.
As soon as the Whipping Boy came up, he was starting to settle his nerves, almost as if the obese man in front of him was belittling him in some regard. Fred Jenkins, as he was formally known, knew nothing of his past as an orphan. He didn’t want to, for fear of the Supervisor. Deep down his fear gripped him. He knew he could not escape the clutches of Dartho. So he remained a servant of The Dark One, eager to not get punished for his mistakes. That was why he gripped his whip tightly, for he knew the thing he was going to say next could afford him punishment.
“We need more orphans, Sir,” the Whipping Boy announced, trying hard to appear confident in his claim.
For a second The Beagle did not say anything, as if mulling over what the Whipping Boy was saying.
“If orphans we need, then orphans we will get,” remarked The Beagle darkly and with his snide sneer plastered upon his face he glanced back down at the unconscious form of the orphan beside him.
The Whipping Boy looked confused for a moment and also glanced down at the scrawny boy. Then, it dawned on him what The Beagle meant. And with a menacing grin, the Whipping Boy cracked his whip to the side of him in a menacing manner before turning back to the orphans to make sure they were not slacking their pace.
The boys dug deep, hefting their aching bodies to the command of The Whipping Boy’s whip. They knew the routine by heart. Any chance of a break now was dashed in their minds as The Beagle announced the news that the wall was to be finished once and for all. Not that many paid particular attention to The Beagle’s words, too weary of the days and nights they were slaving away at the black brick wall. Working as one, the chain-linked orphan boys moved at double pace whilst the stronger individuals were loaded down with heavier burdens. Like the lash of the whip. The stronger and older boys were the worst off, having to heft more of the load whilst the smaller ones were chained up so not to cause a riot or flee to where The Beagle could not catch them. Even then, the youngest and more pitiful of the boys built up their muscles working in the mill to grind the flour so The Beagle could make his daily contribution to High Society if he wished his establishment to be operational. But then again, nobody bothered to come to The Workhouse willingly unless to drop off an orphan or two for a few spare bob to waste on drinks.
But these were not things the orphans of The Workhouse thought about. Right now only one thing was in their minds, ‘Escape.’
Ben felt ill at ease of the words between The Beagle and The Whipping Boy. Every instinct in his body and mind told him to run. Before he could control his frantic thoughts, Ben shifted as if in a move to get up. With this slight movement came pain as for the second time The Beagle’s cane smacked Ben on the head and drifted him into a state of eternal darkness.
(to be continued...)
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SimonW
Well-known member
Chapter 12, part 3
(chapter 12, part 3)
Edward Collet did not respond to Tabitha’s question straight away. In fact, he was at a loss for words at the harsh tone within the young girl’s voice. Her face was set in grim determination. But this feeling did not last long in the man’s mind as he finally answered Tabitha’s question.
“I...do not know,” he said with uncertainty.
Tabitha felt her anger wash away, replaced with a feeling of despair. Whatever they were to do, it was obviously not good enough unless they intended to first find the fiend known as Dartho. She let out a small sigh and glanced down at her bed covers.
“But, I know how we can find him,” stated Edward Collet, which made Tabitha raise her head again, the feeling of despair now replaced by a small hope within her heart.
“How?” asked Tabitha without thinking, without even realising she asked the question.
Again, without responding right away, Edward Collet got up off the bed Tabitha was in and went over to the string with a bell tied to it. Yanking on the string with his gloved right hand, Edward and Tabitha heard the small bell tingling until a few seconds later there was silence once more. Tabitha heard footsteps outside the bedroom door and then the door opened. Standing in the doorway was the young maid that had made Tabitha’s bed from her last visit. She smiled kindly at Tabitha and Edward Collet before entering demurely.
“You rang, my Lord?” asked the maid with a tone befitting a servant to one’s master.
“Yes, Cecily. Operate Shutdown Recuperation sequence. Code word is Deltrax,” ordered Edward Collet in a clear voice.
At once, much to Tabitha’s astonishment, the maid known as Cecily started shuddering then a low humming noise emitted from her before her arms and head went limp whilst she stood upright.
“Is she okay?” asked a concerned Tabitha, her eyes still upon the unmoving maid.
“She shall be fine,” responded Edward Collet before a loud hiss of steam emitted from the immobile form of the maid known as Cecily.
Before Tabitha’s eyes, the maid’s lower chest cavity started to split open. The sound of steam escaping now became a slow drone as Tabitha gazed within the maid’s open body. There were spotless and clean looking gears where the insides of normal people would be, a small amount of smoke seemed to bubble forth with the contact of open air. The design of this machine was too complicated even for Tabitha’s young mind to comprehend, even with her old memories restored. Whatever this thing looked like, it certainly did not look man-made, far advanced for this primitive time.
As the hissing of steam noise stopped, so did the smoke coming out from the lifeless maid with machinery within her. Tabitha was able to see more clearly at the intricate detail of this machine that was made to look on the outside all too human. Wires and mostly gears could be seen but what drew Tabitha’s attention was a clear brightly glowing crystal of light that was in the center of the gaping hole. Even as she watched, Tabitha felt enthralled by the object that was within the maid’s upper stomach. The crystal light radiated an aura of familiarity to Tabitha yet also seemed more alien to her that she could not explain. It wasn’t until Edward Collet knelt before the object that Tabitha finally realized he was speaking.
“Eons ago, my race made these machines to keep them company. We created this light source in our machines, hoping to get longer lifespan upon our machines. But, unfortunately, the Dartho came to extinguish this light we had made. They gave us no mercy, as an effort to make sure no more of my race could make more light-givers to thwart them,” Edward recited, a grim look of determination on his face as he delicately reached in and plucked the crystal light from the stationary form of Cecily.
He got up and seemed to glance at the radiant light between his fingertips as he held the points firmly but carefully.
“But, they were not entirely successful. For I alone survived,” he continued, as he turned to Tabitha and held the crystal of light out towards her.
(to be continued...)
(chapter 12, part 3)
Edward Collet did not respond to Tabitha’s question straight away. In fact, he was at a loss for words at the harsh tone within the young girl’s voice. Her face was set in grim determination. But this feeling did not last long in the man’s mind as he finally answered Tabitha’s question.
“I...do not know,” he said with uncertainty.
Tabitha felt her anger wash away, replaced with a feeling of despair. Whatever they were to do, it was obviously not good enough unless they intended to first find the fiend known as Dartho. She let out a small sigh and glanced down at her bed covers.
“But, I know how we can find him,” stated Edward Collet, which made Tabitha raise her head again, the feeling of despair now replaced by a small hope within her heart.
“How?” asked Tabitha without thinking, without even realising she asked the question.
Again, without responding right away, Edward Collet got up off the bed Tabitha was in and went over to the string with a bell tied to it. Yanking on the string with his gloved right hand, Edward and Tabitha heard the small bell tingling until a few seconds later there was silence once more. Tabitha heard footsteps outside the bedroom door and then the door opened. Standing in the doorway was the young maid that had made Tabitha’s bed from her last visit. She smiled kindly at Tabitha and Edward Collet before entering demurely.
“You rang, my Lord?” asked the maid with a tone befitting a servant to one’s master.
“Yes, Cecily. Operate Shutdown Recuperation sequence. Code word is Deltrax,” ordered Edward Collet in a clear voice.
At once, much to Tabitha’s astonishment, the maid known as Cecily started shuddering then a low humming noise emitted from her before her arms and head went limp whilst she stood upright.
“Is she okay?” asked a concerned Tabitha, her eyes still upon the unmoving maid.
“She shall be fine,” responded Edward Collet before a loud hiss of steam emitted from the immobile form of the maid known as Cecily.
Before Tabitha’s eyes, the maid’s lower chest cavity started to split open. The sound of steam escaping now became a slow drone as Tabitha gazed within the maid’s open body. There were spotless and clean looking gears where the insides of normal people would be, a small amount of smoke seemed to bubble forth with the contact of open air. The design of this machine was too complicated even for Tabitha’s young mind to comprehend, even with her old memories restored. Whatever this thing looked like, it certainly did not look man-made, far advanced for this primitive time.
As the hissing of steam noise stopped, so did the smoke coming out from the lifeless maid with machinery within her. Tabitha was able to see more clearly at the intricate detail of this machine that was made to look on the outside all too human. Wires and mostly gears could be seen but what drew Tabitha’s attention was a clear brightly glowing crystal of light that was in the center of the gaping hole. Even as she watched, Tabitha felt enthralled by the object that was within the maid’s upper stomach. The crystal light radiated an aura of familiarity to Tabitha yet also seemed more alien to her that she could not explain. It wasn’t until Edward Collet knelt before the object that Tabitha finally realized he was speaking.
“Eons ago, my race made these machines to keep them company. We created this light source in our machines, hoping to get longer lifespan upon our machines. But, unfortunately, the Dartho came to extinguish this light we had made. They gave us no mercy, as an effort to make sure no more of my race could make more light-givers to thwart them,” Edward recited, a grim look of determination on his face as he delicately reached in and plucked the crystal light from the stationary form of Cecily.
He got up and seemed to glance at the radiant light between his fingertips as he held the points firmly but carefully.
“But, they were not entirely successful. For I alone survived,” he continued, as he turned to Tabitha and held the crystal of light out towards her.
(to be continued...)
Last edited:
SimonW
Well-known member
Chapter 12 last part and chapter 13
(last part of Chapter 12)
Tabitha out-stretched her arms, her eyes never leaving the warmth that seemed to radiate from the crystal. The crystal of light dropped delicately within Tabitha’s hands, the surface cool to the touch.
Then, in a voice that sounded alien to herself, Tabitha asked, “I can have it?”
Edward Collet seemed almost baffled by this question. In response he raised an eyebrow in mild mirth before speaking.
“Of course,” he said quite plainly. “I entrust this gift to you, to help guide you in the darkness of Dartho. Not only will it help light the way but for some strange reason, the light of Cecily was drawn to the outside world. The girl herself was quite persistent to that want, and that was not a function in her programming.”
Tabitha was not really listening to Edward Collet’s words fully. Her attention was towards the light source she held between her small hands delicately. She could not explain it but it made her have a sense of longing, probably from her previous life before she arrived on Earth. Her ancestors worshipped the moon above their planet called Lighnia. Maybe that was it. Yet something told her that was not it, there was something missing...someone special...
“Ben!” she suddenly cried out, her thoughts back to the current situation at hand.
Edward Collet had stopped talking mid-sentence as Tabitha spoke. He did not seem to re-collect the name from his memory and just gave a puzzled look at Tabitha.
“He’s my friend. He knows nothing of this. He might be in danger,” Tabitha said frantically, her eyes now upon Edward Collet as she closed her fist gently over the light crystal, some of the light escaping through her fingers.
Edward’s face was grave. He sighed wistfully.
“Most likely he is already in danger,” he responded simply.
“We must find him, help him if we can,” Tabitha said with earnest.
A moment passed between Tabitha and Edward Collet. It was a hesitant pause but the moment passed as eventually Edward nodded his head in resolve.
“We shall,” he replied. “If the Dartho has him, then your answer is in your hands.”
Tabitha glanced back down at the ever-glowing crystal that was held gently in her hands.
‘I must find him and help him, even if it puts me in danger,’ Tabitha thought before holding the brightly glowing crystal to her chest as if willing herself to believe this was her salvation of Hope in the darkness of Despair.
Chapter 13: The Enemy Within...
Ben awoke to the familiar smell of paint once more. He realized he was within the storage room across the walkway even before opening his eyes. He could not explain it but despite the swirling grogginess of the blow he received from The Beagle’s cane, he felt no sense of pain from his already throbbing head. Finally opening his eyes a second later, the pain flooded him and he groaned as his eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room as he attempted to lift his hand to his head. But the sound of the shackles were enough to convince Ben he was incapable of moving his hands or feet as he normally would, his left foot arching slightly forward as Ben moved his left hand. Limited movement did not seem to hamper him for long as he found he was able to stand in an almost slumped position. Feeling slightly dizzy from this motion even though he was slow and careful in his movements, Ben felt his head was throbbing once more before he acknowledged he was not alone in the room.
(to be continued...)
(last part of Chapter 12)
Tabitha out-stretched her arms, her eyes never leaving the warmth that seemed to radiate from the crystal. The crystal of light dropped delicately within Tabitha’s hands, the surface cool to the touch.
Then, in a voice that sounded alien to herself, Tabitha asked, “I can have it?”
Edward Collet seemed almost baffled by this question. In response he raised an eyebrow in mild mirth before speaking.
“Of course,” he said quite plainly. “I entrust this gift to you, to help guide you in the darkness of Dartho. Not only will it help light the way but for some strange reason, the light of Cecily was drawn to the outside world. The girl herself was quite persistent to that want, and that was not a function in her programming.”
Tabitha was not really listening to Edward Collet’s words fully. Her attention was towards the light source she held between her small hands delicately. She could not explain it but it made her have a sense of longing, probably from her previous life before she arrived on Earth. Her ancestors worshipped the moon above their planet called Lighnia. Maybe that was it. Yet something told her that was not it, there was something missing...someone special...
“Ben!” she suddenly cried out, her thoughts back to the current situation at hand.
Edward Collet had stopped talking mid-sentence as Tabitha spoke. He did not seem to re-collect the name from his memory and just gave a puzzled look at Tabitha.
“He’s my friend. He knows nothing of this. He might be in danger,” Tabitha said frantically, her eyes now upon Edward Collet as she closed her fist gently over the light crystal, some of the light escaping through her fingers.
Edward’s face was grave. He sighed wistfully.
“Most likely he is already in danger,” he responded simply.
“We must find him, help him if we can,” Tabitha said with earnest.
A moment passed between Tabitha and Edward Collet. It was a hesitant pause but the moment passed as eventually Edward nodded his head in resolve.
“We shall,” he replied. “If the Dartho has him, then your answer is in your hands.”
Tabitha glanced back down at the ever-glowing crystal that was held gently in her hands.
‘I must find him and help him, even if it puts me in danger,’ Tabitha thought before holding the brightly glowing crystal to her chest as if willing herself to believe this was her salvation of Hope in the darkness of Despair.
Chapter 13: The Enemy Within...
Ben awoke to the familiar smell of paint once more. He realized he was within the storage room across the walkway even before opening his eyes. He could not explain it but despite the swirling grogginess of the blow he received from The Beagle’s cane, he felt no sense of pain from his already throbbing head. Finally opening his eyes a second later, the pain flooded him and he groaned as his eyes adjusted to the dimly lit room as he attempted to lift his hand to his head. But the sound of the shackles were enough to convince Ben he was incapable of moving his hands or feet as he normally would, his left foot arching slightly forward as Ben moved his left hand. Limited movement did not seem to hamper him for long as he found he was able to stand in an almost slumped position. Feeling slightly dizzy from this motion even though he was slow and careful in his movements, Ben felt his head was throbbing once more before he acknowledged he was not alone in the room.
(to be continued...)
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SimonW
Well-known member
(Chapter 13, part 2)
It took Ben a second or two to recognize it was Abigail, the small girl whom had cautioned Ben of his fate and had given him water to drink after his beating.
Abigail did not speak but her eyes gazed into Ben’s with the familiar understanding of what he had seen in The Work House, namely the room Ben had moments before visited that left him still shuddering to his bones with dread.
“He sees us all, one at a time,” Abigail stated quite plainly, her voice still meek as ever in a hushed tone.
“Why?” asked Ben simply, his voice quite shaken from his experience with the being that called itself Dartho.
To this Abigail shrugged her scrawny shoulders, her potato sack dress sagging upwards and then down with this slight movement.
“One hears things, if one were to listen,” she replied after a slight pause passed between them. “They say he seeks one of us, I do not know why or who.”
“And who are “they” ?” Ben asked, his eyes narrowing slightly with a frown upon his face.
“I’m sure you have heard them. They speak softly to us, through The Black Wall,” said Abigail in an even more whispered tone, as if scared of being overheard. It took Ben all his concentration just to be able to hear her reply.
Ben did not respond to that. He was not all that certain with himself to admit having heard these voices also from The Black Wall. Frankly, it scared him more than anything. He would sooner forget it ever happened rather admit to others, let alone himself, that it did.
“I have to get out of here,” stated Ben, his voice full of conviction as he shook his shackles in frustration.
Abigail merely glanced at Ben with eyes full of sorrow and despair.
“Nobody has been able to escape....alive,” said Abigail plainly, which made Ben stop shaking his shackles.
“Why? It isn’t like this place is well protected. I have been able to escape many a copper before on the streets,” Ben said almost with pride but noticed Abigail’s look of hopelessness on her face and within her eyes.
“But, this isn’t the streets. Many have tried, but even those able to escape the Whipping Boy and The Beagle, nobody can escape the monster Dartho sends,” she replied with a serious tone in her whispered voice.
Despite his slightly flippant manner earlier, Ben knew Abigail was telling the truth and that made him feel almost saddened by his position.
Abigail seemed to sense Ben’s sudden silence as her point made and quietly left him to his thoughts, possibly frightened of her own fate if she was caught talking to Ben.
Ben watched as the small girl left, his own thoughts a cloudy mixture of doubt and fear. He brushed one of his shackled wrists up to his cheek and wiped away the tear he hardly acknowledged that was upon his dirt-sodden face.
Tabitha was feeling lost. It had been a mere thirty minutes since she got dressed and departed from the house of Edward Collet. He had allowed her to leave after she had convinced him it was a duty to her people to find and stop Dartho once and for all.
Tabitha glanced down at the crystal glowing brightly in her cupped hands, keeping it held close to her breast and felt the moon shaped pendant around her neck brush against her hands with every running step she made.
The parting words of Edward Collet were ringing in her mind as she continued running.
“No matter where you go, this light will guide you. It is honed to the power of Dartho and shall never lead you astray.”
But for the moment the light seemed to grow dimmer, as if sensing Tabitha’s indecision of where to go. She had no choice but to suddenly stop and run into a side-alley, just to get her bearings straight in her head.
‘Please,’ Tabitha pleaded. ‘Please, guide me to Ben.’
She clutched her moon pendant as she silently prayed. Tabitha closed her eyes as if asking for guidance from her home world, a world she hardly knew but in her memories she only an hour since recalled.
Suddenly, in her mind’s eyes, a flash of brightness blinded Tabitha’s innermost vision. The sudden flash vanished as she opened her eyes, apparently able to feel warmth in her hands and the crystal glowing brightly in a flash of radiant light before dimming once more to a dull glow.
Tabitha heard a low growl from behind her. Frozen in fear at first, she could sense the familiar stench of the beast’s breath upon the back of her neck. But with sudden steel-like resolve, the ten-year-old girl turned around to face her fearsome foe, the crystal in her hands glowing brightly once more.
“Dartho,” she heard herself saying in a voice unfamiliar to her, almost whispered yet with brave vigor.
(to be continued...)
It took Ben a second or two to recognize it was Abigail, the small girl whom had cautioned Ben of his fate and had given him water to drink after his beating.
Abigail did not speak but her eyes gazed into Ben’s with the familiar understanding of what he had seen in The Work House, namely the room Ben had moments before visited that left him still shuddering to his bones with dread.
“He sees us all, one at a time,” Abigail stated quite plainly, her voice still meek as ever in a hushed tone.
“Why?” asked Ben simply, his voice quite shaken from his experience with the being that called itself Dartho.
To this Abigail shrugged her scrawny shoulders, her potato sack dress sagging upwards and then down with this slight movement.
“One hears things, if one were to listen,” she replied after a slight pause passed between them. “They say he seeks one of us, I do not know why or who.”
“And who are “they” ?” Ben asked, his eyes narrowing slightly with a frown upon his face.
“I’m sure you have heard them. They speak softly to us, through The Black Wall,” said Abigail in an even more whispered tone, as if scared of being overheard. It took Ben all his concentration just to be able to hear her reply.
Ben did not respond to that. He was not all that certain with himself to admit having heard these voices also from The Black Wall. Frankly, it scared him more than anything. He would sooner forget it ever happened rather admit to others, let alone himself, that it did.
“I have to get out of here,” stated Ben, his voice full of conviction as he shook his shackles in frustration.
Abigail merely glanced at Ben with eyes full of sorrow and despair.
“Nobody has been able to escape....alive,” said Abigail plainly, which made Ben stop shaking his shackles.
“Why? It isn’t like this place is well protected. I have been able to escape many a copper before on the streets,” Ben said almost with pride but noticed Abigail’s look of hopelessness on her face and within her eyes.
“But, this isn’t the streets. Many have tried, but even those able to escape the Whipping Boy and The Beagle, nobody can escape the monster Dartho sends,” she replied with a serious tone in her whispered voice.
Despite his slightly flippant manner earlier, Ben knew Abigail was telling the truth and that made him feel almost saddened by his position.
Abigail seemed to sense Ben’s sudden silence as her point made and quietly left him to his thoughts, possibly frightened of her own fate if she was caught talking to Ben.
Ben watched as the small girl left, his own thoughts a cloudy mixture of doubt and fear. He brushed one of his shackled wrists up to his cheek and wiped away the tear he hardly acknowledged that was upon his dirt-sodden face.
Tabitha was feeling lost. It had been a mere thirty minutes since she got dressed and departed from the house of Edward Collet. He had allowed her to leave after she had convinced him it was a duty to her people to find and stop Dartho once and for all.
Tabitha glanced down at the crystal glowing brightly in her cupped hands, keeping it held close to her breast and felt the moon shaped pendant around her neck brush against her hands with every running step she made.
The parting words of Edward Collet were ringing in her mind as she continued running.
“No matter where you go, this light will guide you. It is honed to the power of Dartho and shall never lead you astray.”
But for the moment the light seemed to grow dimmer, as if sensing Tabitha’s indecision of where to go. She had no choice but to suddenly stop and run into a side-alley, just to get her bearings straight in her head.
‘Please,’ Tabitha pleaded. ‘Please, guide me to Ben.’
She clutched her moon pendant as she silently prayed. Tabitha closed her eyes as if asking for guidance from her home world, a world she hardly knew but in her memories she only an hour since recalled.
Suddenly, in her mind’s eyes, a flash of brightness blinded Tabitha’s innermost vision. The sudden flash vanished as she opened her eyes, apparently able to feel warmth in her hands and the crystal glowing brightly in a flash of radiant light before dimming once more to a dull glow.
Tabitha heard a low growl from behind her. Frozen in fear at first, she could sense the familiar stench of the beast’s breath upon the back of her neck. But with sudden steel-like resolve, the ten-year-old girl turned around to face her fearsome foe, the crystal in her hands glowing brightly once more.
“Dartho,” she heard herself saying in a voice unfamiliar to her, almost whispered yet with brave vigor.
(to be continued...)
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Copperfox
Well-known member
“He sees us all, one at a time,” Abigail stated quite plainly, her voice still meek as ever in a hushed tone.
“Why?” asked Ben simply, his voice quite shaken from his experience with the being that called itself Dartho.
To this Abigail shrugged her scrawny shoulders, her potato sack dress sagging upwards and then down with this slight movement. “One hears things, if one were to listen,” she replied after a slight pause passed between them. “They say he seeks one of us, I do not know why or who.”
“And who are 'they' ?” Ben asked, his eyes narrowing slightly with a frown upon his face.
“I’m sure you have heard them. They speak softly to us, through The Black Wall,” said Abigail in an even more whispered tone, as if scared of being overheard. It took Ben all his concentration just to be able to hear her reply.
Ben did not respond to that. He was not all that certain with himself to admit having heard these voices also from The Black Wall. Frankly, it scared him more than anything. He would sooner forget it ever happened rather admit to others, let alone himself, that it did.
“I have to get out of here,” stated Ben, his voice full of conviction as he shook his shackles in frustration.
Abigail merely glanced at Ben with eyes full of sorrow and despair.
“Nobody has been able to escape....alive,” said Abigail plainly, which made Ben stop shaking his shackles.
There scarcely could be any worse feeling than to be trapped someplace, waiting helplessly for others to come and kill or torment you at their pleasure.
I hope that the glowing crystal will do some good.
“Why?” asked Ben simply, his voice quite shaken from his experience with the being that called itself Dartho.
To this Abigail shrugged her scrawny shoulders, her potato sack dress sagging upwards and then down with this slight movement. “One hears things, if one were to listen,” she replied after a slight pause passed between them. “They say he seeks one of us, I do not know why or who.”
“And who are 'they' ?” Ben asked, his eyes narrowing slightly with a frown upon his face.
“I’m sure you have heard them. They speak softly to us, through The Black Wall,” said Abigail in an even more whispered tone, as if scared of being overheard. It took Ben all his concentration just to be able to hear her reply.
Ben did not respond to that. He was not all that certain with himself to admit having heard these voices also from The Black Wall. Frankly, it scared him more than anything. He would sooner forget it ever happened rather admit to others, let alone himself, that it did.
“I have to get out of here,” stated Ben, his voice full of conviction as he shook his shackles in frustration.
Abigail merely glanced at Ben with eyes full of sorrow and despair.
“Nobody has been able to escape....alive,” said Abigail plainly, which made Ben stop shaking his shackles.
There scarcely could be any worse feeling than to be trapped someplace, waiting helplessly for others to come and kill or torment you at their pleasure.
I hope that the glowing crystal will do some good.
SimonW
Well-known member
In Ben's case, things went from bad to worse ever since he was kidnapped by The Beagle.
I can only state that things may not get any better. Time and my mind will only tell.
We will have to wait and see. But a glowing otherworldly and definitely alien oriented crystal....where's the harm in that?
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SimonW
Well-known member
(end of Chapter 13, start of Chapter 14, )
But as soon as she had turned and said the name, Tabitha found there was nothing behind her but a shadowed section of a wall, now illuminated by the crystal’s bright glow. Almost feeling relieved and yet disappointed at the same time, Tabitha noticed that nearly the whole side-alley was bathed in light.
With a grim yet determined look upon her face, Tabitha held aloft the crystal above her and watched it intensely as she willed it to grow brighter until she found herself bathed completely in a sea of blinding light all around her just for a split second and then the crystal dimmed to a light hum before the crystal’s light flickered and went out, leaving Tabitha in pitch black darkness.
As her eyes adjusted to the sudden darkness, Tabitha could hear the grinding of gears and the chilly clanging of shackles. She found herself within a place her human self knew only too well, a place all orphans feared called The Workhouse. Feeling naked and unsure of how she reached her new surroundings, Tabitha hid behind a partition of red brick wall as she heard the clanging of shackles draw closer towards her. Peeking out, Tabitha saw a chained together group of smallish boys sidle past, their ankles and wrists shackled together and some of them looked even shorter than Ben to Tabitha, maybe younger too. The group of boys traversed up a worn-out looking old ladder, having no choice but to not make their chain slack or lengthen too long as they were tied together before they set to work on a large grinding mill, their arms supported by a beam whilst their legs moved the giant cog gear to grind what appeared to be flour.
Tabitha watched for a moment and then she decided it was best not to stay here for fear of being caught. She beat a hasty but quiet retreat, not quite sure what else she was to find in this place.
Chapter 14: The Orphan Vessel.
Tabitha made her way timidly against the red bricked walls until she came upon a section that turned the stonework to black. She could not explain it but knew somehow touching this wall was dangerous. She had made her way from where the grinding gears was to a large room that was surrounded by black walls, making her unable to press against the edge of The Workhouse any longer. The floors were empty save for scrubbing buckets and soap suds with a few brushes scattered around. It was eerily quiet and Tabitha did not like this feeling of dread creep within her. She saw a metal stairwell and ran towards it as she heard voices coming towards her. Not knowing if the voices were friend or foe, Tabitha had no option but to take refuge underneath the metal stairwell within the shadows.
“Move, you miserable dogs!” Tabitha heard a man’s voice shout out with contempt.
Tabitha watched as girls her age and older were roughly filed into the room, each one taking a spot upon the floor and began scrubbing as a pot-bellied man with shabby yet well made clothes, a top hat and cane also came into the room, smacking the last girl with his cane end as she was too slow to move out of the way. He did not stop his pace as he moved past the fallen girl, coming towards Tabitha’s hiding spot. With bated breath, Tabitha stayed within the shadow of the metal stairwell as the man started climbing up it, the cane tapping with each grunt of effort upon the stairwell as the stairs creaked and clattered under the strain of his weight.
(to be continued...)
But as soon as she had turned and said the name, Tabitha found there was nothing behind her but a shadowed section of a wall, now illuminated by the crystal’s bright glow. Almost feeling relieved and yet disappointed at the same time, Tabitha noticed that nearly the whole side-alley was bathed in light.
With a grim yet determined look upon her face, Tabitha held aloft the crystal above her and watched it intensely as she willed it to grow brighter until she found herself bathed completely in a sea of blinding light all around her just for a split second and then the crystal dimmed to a light hum before the crystal’s light flickered and went out, leaving Tabitha in pitch black darkness.
As her eyes adjusted to the sudden darkness, Tabitha could hear the grinding of gears and the chilly clanging of shackles. She found herself within a place her human self knew only too well, a place all orphans feared called The Workhouse. Feeling naked and unsure of how she reached her new surroundings, Tabitha hid behind a partition of red brick wall as she heard the clanging of shackles draw closer towards her. Peeking out, Tabitha saw a chained together group of smallish boys sidle past, their ankles and wrists shackled together and some of them looked even shorter than Ben to Tabitha, maybe younger too. The group of boys traversed up a worn-out looking old ladder, having no choice but to not make their chain slack or lengthen too long as they were tied together before they set to work on a large grinding mill, their arms supported by a beam whilst their legs moved the giant cog gear to grind what appeared to be flour.
Tabitha watched for a moment and then she decided it was best not to stay here for fear of being caught. She beat a hasty but quiet retreat, not quite sure what else she was to find in this place.
Chapter 14: The Orphan Vessel.
Tabitha made her way timidly against the red bricked walls until she came upon a section that turned the stonework to black. She could not explain it but knew somehow touching this wall was dangerous. She had made her way from where the grinding gears was to a large room that was surrounded by black walls, making her unable to press against the edge of The Workhouse any longer. The floors were empty save for scrubbing buckets and soap suds with a few brushes scattered around. It was eerily quiet and Tabitha did not like this feeling of dread creep within her. She saw a metal stairwell and ran towards it as she heard voices coming towards her. Not knowing if the voices were friend or foe, Tabitha had no option but to take refuge underneath the metal stairwell within the shadows.
“Move, you miserable dogs!” Tabitha heard a man’s voice shout out with contempt.
Tabitha watched as girls her age and older were roughly filed into the room, each one taking a spot upon the floor and began scrubbing as a pot-bellied man with shabby yet well made clothes, a top hat and cane also came into the room, smacking the last girl with his cane end as she was too slow to move out of the way. He did not stop his pace as he moved past the fallen girl, coming towards Tabitha’s hiding spot. With bated breath, Tabitha stayed within the shadow of the metal stairwell as the man started climbing up it, the cane tapping with each grunt of effort upon the stairwell as the stairs creaked and clattered under the strain of his weight.
(to be continued...)
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SimonW
Well-known member
(Chapter 14, part 2)
She watched silently as he took position at the top of the metal stairwell. He began moving towards the middle of the metal walkway whilst tapping his cane top idly upon the metal bannister that protected people from falling off as he stopped walking. He seemed to survey the girls scrubbing away below him in the room.
Tabitha scurried from her hiding space, careful to stay within the shadowed area of the metal walkway. It was apparently the only blind spot of the man’s vantage point.
As Tabitha carefully made her way across the room with the shadowy beams of the metal walkway overhead as protection from the man’s gaze, she saw an opening not far from her and took refuge within whilst willing herself not to make a sound so not to be noticed. With bated breath, Tabitha watched as the girls continued to toil away at scrubbing the floor. She now noticed her surroundings at a better point of view with the threat of discovery easing out of her mind.
Black, the walls were made of the darkest black brick Tabitha had ever seen in her life. They seamlessly connected with the stark grey cobblestone mortar and red brick that was the original brickwork of the building. It gave a menacing aura just looking at the black stone bricks that sent a faintly familiar sense of dread throughout Tabitha’s body. The only sound Tabitha heard was the grinding of the wheel from the previous room where she had appeared in the distance and the hurried sounds of the scrubbing from the brushes the girls were using to clean the floor. Tabitha had no notion of why these girls were forced to scrub the floor which was relatively clean from the water in the buckets and the scrub brushes. The large main room surrounded by black brick just seemed to allude to the black lustre of the walls from the spotless granite floor.
Before Tabitha could think more upon her situation, she heard the metal crossway above her creak and heard the heavyset man above move from possibly his position.
Unsure of where he was going, Tabitha stayed stock still until the movement stopped.
(to be continued…)
She watched silently as he took position at the top of the metal stairwell. He began moving towards the middle of the metal walkway whilst tapping his cane top idly upon the metal bannister that protected people from falling off as he stopped walking. He seemed to survey the girls scrubbing away below him in the room.
Tabitha scurried from her hiding space, careful to stay within the shadowed area of the metal walkway. It was apparently the only blind spot of the man’s vantage point.
As Tabitha carefully made her way across the room with the shadowy beams of the metal walkway overhead as protection from the man’s gaze, she saw an opening not far from her and took refuge within whilst willing herself not to make a sound so not to be noticed. With bated breath, Tabitha watched as the girls continued to toil away at scrubbing the floor. She now noticed her surroundings at a better point of view with the threat of discovery easing out of her mind.
Black, the walls were made of the darkest black brick Tabitha had ever seen in her life. They seamlessly connected with the stark grey cobblestone mortar and red brick that was the original brickwork of the building. It gave a menacing aura just looking at the black stone bricks that sent a faintly familiar sense of dread throughout Tabitha’s body. The only sound Tabitha heard was the grinding of the wheel from the previous room where she had appeared in the distance and the hurried sounds of the scrubbing from the brushes the girls were using to clean the floor. Tabitha had no notion of why these girls were forced to scrub the floor which was relatively clean from the water in the buckets and the scrub brushes. The large main room surrounded by black brick just seemed to allude to the black lustre of the walls from the spotless granite floor.
Before Tabitha could think more upon her situation, she heard the metal crossway above her creak and heard the heavyset man above move from possibly his position.
Unsure of where he was going, Tabitha stayed stock still until the movement stopped.
(to be continued…)
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SimonW
Well-known member
SimonW
Well-known member
I recommend reading from the beginning if you need more in depth subplot but this is a basic summary thus far.
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SimonW
Well-known member
Not really, just a coincidence on my part.
SimonW
Well-known member
(Chapter 14, part 3)
The Beagle had wiped his brow with his already mildewed kerchief after he left his spot. He was convinced the girls would not falter as he took his leave down the metal gangway to the black door of The Supervisor. Hefting his cane as if to knock, The Beagle stopped as the black door slowly creaked open of its own accord, as if expecting the knock before it happened. The dark void of the interior of the room made The Beagle feel slightly perturbed as he lowered his cane back down to his side.
“Enter…” The Beagle heard a whispered growl from within emit from the darkness.
He timidly but resolutely did as the voice of The Supervisor bid, the black door slowly closing behind him after he walked through the doorway.
The Beagle opened his mouth to speak, his nervous hands lightly wringing the top of his walking cane before the voice in the darkness let out a whispered sigh that made The Beagle close his mouth again in fear of talking out of turn.
“Yes…What is it, Beagle?” queried the whispered yet bored tone of The Supervisor.
“W…w…well, I have a feeling,” stammered The Beagle as he replied sharpish yet still with caution as he spoke.
The sigh came from the darkness once more, but this time not just bored. It held an undertone of slight caution as a low guttural growl was heard at the end of the sigh.
“Feelings…” muttered the voice with contempt and a twinge of disdain.
A slight pause of silence passed as the word lingered between the two before the voice of The Supervisor spoke again.
“Yes, you have them. What is your point, Beagle?” asked the voice with malice but with boredom once more.
The Beagle seemed slightly worried but he cleared his throat to bolster his determination to get himself heard.
“The Orphan, sir. The new boy that is…” started The Beagle but was silenced as he heard the voice cut short his own words.
“The boy is of no consequence, Beagle. I do not want my time wasted. Tell me what you want to tell me or get out,” threatened the voice, the growl now more prominent as the Supervisor’s voice made the Beagle’s own be stifled by authority.
Another slight pause between the two was evident as The Beagle seemed to think his next words very carefully before he spoke them.
“I just want it plain to see, Sir. The overall plan of yours is…well, disturbing,” muttered The Beagle like a chided student to a stern headmaster.
A third moment of silence passed between the two of them before The Supervisor uttered a sinister snarl of a chuckle.
“Oh, do not worry so, Beagle,” was the half-hearted reply dripping with malice. “All will make sense very soon.”
End of Chapter 14.
(to be continued…)
The Beagle had wiped his brow with his already mildewed kerchief after he left his spot. He was convinced the girls would not falter as he took his leave down the metal gangway to the black door of The Supervisor. Hefting his cane as if to knock, The Beagle stopped as the black door slowly creaked open of its own accord, as if expecting the knock before it happened. The dark void of the interior of the room made The Beagle feel slightly perturbed as he lowered his cane back down to his side.
“Enter…” The Beagle heard a whispered growl from within emit from the darkness.
He timidly but resolutely did as the voice of The Supervisor bid, the black door slowly closing behind him after he walked through the doorway.
The Beagle opened his mouth to speak, his nervous hands lightly wringing the top of his walking cane before the voice in the darkness let out a whispered sigh that made The Beagle close his mouth again in fear of talking out of turn.
“Yes…What is it, Beagle?” queried the whispered yet bored tone of The Supervisor.
“W…w…well, I have a feeling,” stammered The Beagle as he replied sharpish yet still with caution as he spoke.
The sigh came from the darkness once more, but this time not just bored. It held an undertone of slight caution as a low guttural growl was heard at the end of the sigh.
“Feelings…” muttered the voice with contempt and a twinge of disdain.
A slight pause of silence passed as the word lingered between the two before the voice of The Supervisor spoke again.
“Yes, you have them. What is your point, Beagle?” asked the voice with malice but with boredom once more.
The Beagle seemed slightly worried but he cleared his throat to bolster his determination to get himself heard.
“The Orphan, sir. The new boy that is…” started The Beagle but was silenced as he heard the voice cut short his own words.
“The boy is of no consequence, Beagle. I do not want my time wasted. Tell me what you want to tell me or get out,” threatened the voice, the growl now more prominent as the Supervisor’s voice made the Beagle’s own be stifled by authority.
Another slight pause between the two was evident as The Beagle seemed to think his next words very carefully before he spoke them.
“I just want it plain to see, Sir. The overall plan of yours is…well, disturbing,” muttered The Beagle like a chided student to a stern headmaster.
A third moment of silence passed between the two of them before The Supervisor uttered a sinister snarl of a chuckle.
“Oh, do not worry so, Beagle,” was the half-hearted reply dripping with malice. “All will make sense very soon.”
End of Chapter 14.
(to be continued…)
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