Guturgutur, shika, Shweta, kooltoad, Leafs, xsumi, sparklystarstud, dingle, Yuks, masaf, darshi and molten_lava: Thank you so much for your comments, friends. And yes, though Kushi does seem insecure in that chapter, I will let circumstances teach her to grow stronger.
I'm updating because this is the last chapter where we'll be seeing the 'lady in the dark hood' and just wanted to prepare you guys for the coming chapters where the real story begins...
This chapter will be SHORT but there is great depth to it. The entire fantasy revolves around this little notch. And remember what I said? Its GOTHIC FANTASY. But everything gothic and fantasical in this tale is a symbolic shadow of the realism in the real story of IPKKND. I'll show you how when the story is about to wind up. Or maybe you will succeed in connecting the parallelisms yourself...
Chapter Two: In the Dead of the Night
He thrashed about in the bed as nightmares raced through his mind. He felt his very own blood crawl inside him and all he could think was to tear himself apart to stop the pain. Letting out a cry, he leaped out of the bed and fumbled in the dark. Finding the bedside table, he groped for the drawer and yanked it open. The contents fell to the floor with a crash but he didn't bother. His trembling hands searched through the mess and finding what he was searching for, pulled it out and began binding it around his mouth. The belt was thick enough to cover his entire mouth; he tied it tight and buckled it securely. Then, breathing heavily though his nose, he made for the door. Racing out of his room, he bounded down the wooden steps two or three at a time. He could see things clearly from the moonlight glinting from the long windows of his mansion. He knew he was making too much noise and his sister would awake but he had no choice. He had to reach the kitchen before all hell broke loose.
Sprinting across the massive living room, he barged though the kitchen door, stumbling towards the pantry and yanked its tiny door open. The tender light from the overhead candle burst upon his dark eyes, and he cried out angrily. But the cry was muffled in the belt that was fastened around his mouth. His hands felt numb as he searched the shelves and began pulling out edible items. His sister always stored plenty of cooked food in the cold storage just in case he needed them in the dead of the night.
His breathing was almost like heavy rasping and he could feel his jaw sweating right where the belt was tied. He hoped it wouldn't slip, and began pilling enough food into the cradle of his arm. Then when he was contented of the quantity, he kicked the pantry door close and rushed out of the kitchen. As he bounded up the stairs, an item or two fell down but he didn't stop to pick them up. He only stopped running until he was safe in his dark room and standing with his back to the closed door. He sunk to the floor right there and pulled the belt out of his mouth.
A lonely figure stood at the foot of the stairs and slowly picked up the items that had fallen from his hands. She straightened up and sadly looked at the door of his room where he would now be devouring the food to calm his... She sighed. And walked to the kitchen. Replacing the items back in the pantry, she traced her silent steps back to her room. She closed the door and stood against it for a long time. A tear slid down her cheek at the thought of what her brother was going through...if only she could do something to help him. She dropped to the floor and broke into tears. But she did what she could to not make her weeping loud, lest her brother know of it. Amidst the tears, she cried, "What can I do for you my Little One? If the sacrifice of my life would relieve you of this curse, I would do it. But I know if I do that, then you will die too. How I wish I could take your pain away..."
And saying so she cried herself to sleep, not knowing that the lady in the dark had watched it all from the window and was now walking away. The night wind flapped at her dark robe and carried her departing words into the sky that would soon welcome dawn, "You will be able to fulfill your wish...soon, my child."
And goodbye, 'lady in the dark hood' ...She's been shadowing my every chapter so far! Good riddance! For a while...
Promise you, the next chapters will be longer and if they are not longer, I will post two chapters together!
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Edited by Aquiline - 13 years ago
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