《The Darkness of Life》


 Life

    Lightning strikes streak throughout the dark, stormy sky. Weaving intricate patterns amongst the heavens. The dance of light is followed by an earth shattering applause of thunderclaps. Rain falls heavily unto the earth below, making sodden the point on which it lands. It does not take long for the forest below to have its wildlife scampering for shelter.


    In the border of the forest lies a Bandit encampment whose walls of tall logs were soaked to their rotting core, their dirt paths had turned to mud and the dungeons were starting to flood.


    Inside the dungeons were rows upon rows of cells, making many levels leading deep into the earth. Some cells contained Slaves and kidnapped Nobles and Merchants, others Exotic Beasts and Monstrous Creatures. In each cell is a scene of atrocious, savage, brutal and horrifying acts that only someone, or something, with out a conscience can do.


    Within a particular cell lay a beautiful woman, her body was short in stature, but had the curves of a mature woman, she was barely covered in a cloth that had blood stains all over it, her black hair had a glossy sheen to it and was long enough to reach midway down her back and were hiding her long pointed ears.


    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.In her hands was a bundle of rags, her only source of warmth, The bundle of rags were torn and dirty but to the woman the rags were her world, and the flood was threatening to take it away from her.


    It wouldnt be far from the truth to say that the woman was crazy, but so was nearly everyone else within the bounds of the dungeon, they were driven mad by the torture that was inflicted upon them as well as the pain of isolation, hunger, thirst and cold.


    Crawling to the highest point in the cell the woman huddled in a damp corner, the ice-cold water lapping at her feet. She wrapped herself around the rags, keeping the heat from leaving through the gaps of her limbs.


    Out of the rags poked a tiny hunter green hand, small as a new-born childs, she lightly pushed it back in and blocked the cold from reaching the rags, in which was the owner of the tiny hand, with her scantily clad body. She didnt want her babies to freeze after-all.

 Ch 1:Stormy Night

    Bright arcs of lightning streaked across the cloudy night sky, illuminating the dark, cold, dreary world below. Thunder followed shortly after, loud and threatening the thunder brought fear to many of the denizens below.


    Sheets of rain washed out the warmth and color that the land had gained during the day, leaving behind a damp bleak place.


    From the outskirts of a remote village a young man stood on the veranda of a rundown shack. He was named Kael. Kael watched as the rain formed rivulets in the fields, washing the mud and dirt away. If only his own problems could be washed away so easily Kael thought.


    Kael entered the shack and the door creaked as it closed behind him. The house creaked and groaned under the pressure of the wind which blew through the house as if it was made of holes. Kael felt that all it would take is a sneeze and his house would crumble.


    The shack was small, with its dining room, kitchen and living room all squashed together the house only had two other rooms, his and his sisters bedrooms. Yes, Kael is not the crazy hermit that can be found at the edge of any town, that guy lives in the eastern district.


    As he passed by, Kael casually poked his head into his sisters room and what he saw amused him, on top of the bed his sister sat with the covers over her head, Kael could see a few strands of her sleek silver hair sticking out from the sheets . At that moment a streak of light flashed along the sky and a loud grumbling was heard.


    ¡°Kyaaaa!¡±


    A girlish scream came from the covers and Kael couldn¡¯t help but laugh. His sisters head popped out from under the covers, her hair was a glossy silver and her eyes a violet purple, signs of fear could be seen on her pouting childish face.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Mou onii-chan! Don¡¯t laugh!¡±


    Then before Kael had a chance to stop himself a pillow flew and hit his face, causing him to fall silent. Kael raised his arms as a signal of defeat, but his smile remained. Another streak of lightning struck, and with yelp his sister threw herself under her sheets, her head down and her bottom sticking up.


    Kael moved into the room and sat next to his sister. Kael chuckled when her head popped out of the sheets as it reminded him of a certain animal. His sister still had a sulky face but Kael didn¡¯t miss the fact that she discretely,  or at least tried to be, moved closer to him.


    Kael stroked her silky hair as he reminisced, normally in nights like this his mother would soothe his sister with an old tale of hers as she stroked her hair. Kael wished that he too could soothe his sister with a tale or two but he has been without a voice since his mother had left, so he quietly hummed instead.


    As Kael drifted off in thought, he failed to notice his sister falling asleep. So he didn¡¯t notice the trickle of dribble until it was too late.


    ¡®Drat! I just cleaned this shirt.¡¯


    Kael sighed in resignation and just watched the rain fall outside the window. Unlike his sister he loved to watch the lightning dance across the sky and enjoyed the sound of a good thunderclap in the air. Kael listened to the crack of thunder as he drifted off to sleep.


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    {Just realized that this chapter doesnt live up to the synopsis :P }