By The Light of a Darkened Forest

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Book excerpt

Prologue

A devastating battle had just ensued in a once peaceful land. Only a few warriors remained out of the once large armies. The lives that were lost that day were surely in the hundreds, if not thousands. It was unsettling to any of the survivors. Sure enough, the god of war would have been pleased by the amount of blood that was spilt that day.

Many of the bodies were seen littered among the dead horses, swords and armor. A sea of blood formed under the discarded bodies. As they walked through it, one could hear the sloshing and feel the warmth of the liquid seep into the leather boots. It was a horrid sight. Many of the dead were friends, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts and grandparents. Every one of the fallen was close to any one of the survivors.

Those that had died were from both sides of the battle. They all lived in the same village. They were split apart by a newcomer. He had twisted the fate of those caught in his lies. He promised a better life for those who served him. The only thing he asked for was their souls and unwavering loyalty to his cause, no matter how gruesome or hard their lives were at first. It twisted his followers into something unforgivable. They were a peaceful race, and that man changed them for war.

A soldier clad in dark iron slowly walked forward to the opposing line. He avoided and tried to step over the fallen that sprawled out before him. He stopped and knelt down to one of the bodies. He recognized it to be a relative, one that he cared for deeply, as the one next to it was of council. He frowned knowing that they all had worked together once for the sake of unity and peace. How little did they know that they had changed the future, one filled with pain and grief.

He looked to the opposing line. Their eyes were soulless as he knew the magic that held them. They followed their leader and sold their souls to the evil in their hearts. He removed his helmet slowly and allowed his sweat-drenched, long, blond hair be caught in the wind. His deep forest green eyes filled with tears of rage and pain. A growl rose in his throat and escaped his thin lips.

He stood and gripped harder on the handle of his sword. The opposing people didn't have anything more to lose. He knew that soon they would turn into creatures far more horrifying and deadly than any carnivore. They would go after his village, and his family would be in danger. They gave up everything for one man's lies. That one man who was corrupted by the evil buried in the world and sent to the past to rule everything.

“Is this the battle you wanted?” He yelled angrily at the opposing force. His mid-tone voice was harsh as he had been yelling orders throughout the battle. “Did you wish for your brothers' and sisters' deaths? What was the purpose of this act of violence besides following a madman's desires?” The opposing warriors marched towards the lone soldier. No response was given to the questions he had asked. They marched on without a word, without consequence.

The soldier looked behind him as the remainder of his army stood at the ready. One of them walked forward to join him. He was soon followed by the others. They took their stance by his side. They would stand their ground till the very end. Swords drawn, they were ready for the final fight.

The soldier returned his helmet to his head. It was the final fight that he could commit to. He knew from that point forward if he were to fight again, his son would no longer have a father. His wife would lose her husband and he would lose his soul. He had more than them to protect. He had to defend his best friend who had warned them of the intruder. He who was of pure spirit had risked his life and family to warn him. He who was unaware of the war beyond his backyard would now be tending to his cows.

“This is the beginning of a new age and the unfortunate end of peace,” he told his comrades. “The prophecy has begun, and we are the first to feel the evil that has come. Let us stand our ground and try our best at being rid of the illness that will surely spread. We will protect our loved ones before this day is done; that I promise you. Now let's get Baltazar!”

They cheered as they raced forward to meet the enemy. A soft voice could be heard from across the field as the swords clashed for the last time. “I have foretold long before the coming of man that the evil will come, as it tried to taint my creation. Its corruption will travel to a time forgotten and change the destiny of Garlandon. Only those chosen by my hand will save us, and the cycle will begin and repeat until time's end. This is Creanni's prophecy and the destiny of the Gates of Life.”

Chapter 1 – Footprints in the Snow

“Hurry up, slow poke,” happily teased a young woman. “We need to make it to the first marker before dark.”

A second woman walked slowly behind her and breathed heavily. “Where are you getting all this energy from,” she questioned breathlessly. “Usually you're the one who follows me. Why do you want to be the leader all of a sudden?”

The first woman shrugged her shoulders as she stood on a snow covered stump. Her bright aquamarine eyes looked around, making sure there were no signs of danger. Her lively, shoulder-length dark brown hair stuck out from under her black toque. Her high cheeks glowed red from the winter chill while her thin, pink lips held a smile. Her red winter coat, black ski pants and black boots kept her average build warm. She adjusted her large pack as her thick, black gloves covered her hands.

The second woman caught up with her. Her copper red hair was seen from under her dark blue toque. Her deep blue eyes watched her friend intently. She crossed her arms which caused creases in her coat. She also wore black ski pants and boots and carried a large pack with her.

“I'm usually waiting for you to catch up. What has you so hyped up,” she inquired. She giggled and breathed the crisp winter air deeply. She was one of Evelyn’s only friends and she was her best. She would have done anything to keep her safe. “Sorry, Paige, I'm just excited to be out with you. It's been forever since we've spent time together,” she explained. She shook her head as she walked ahead of her. “I know. You've been so busy with work and me out on the weekends. It's nice to have more than just a coffee with you.”

Evelyn's heart warmed as she agreed wholeheartedly. “Yes it is. We haven't done something like this since we were in high school.” She nodded back. Last time they went hiking was in the summer and both nearly had heat stroke. “You know what, Evelyn, let's quicken the pace. Get a work out from this trip.”

She growled at the mention of her full first name. “It's Eve ok, not Evelyn.”

Paige nodded after shrugging her shoulders and they walked faster.

They continued through the winter wonderland of the Lost Lorne Forest. It was a warmer winter day than what was experienced so far that year. The trees were frosted with the cold of the night, but it melted with the hot sun. The snow sparkled and filled with glitter. The forest itself was silent. The animals were all hibernating or would keep their distance.

Snowshoes left a trail of where they had travelled. A good marker in case they got lost. The crunch of their prints and their breathing were the only things to be heard. She breathed out heavily from the exercise. The moisture hung in the air as miniature clouds. It also sparkled in the sunlight like the snow. She slowed and reached out to touch it. Through the haze of her breath, Paige was getting ahead of her. She hurried to catch up.

The sun had begun to set behind the mountains that could just be seen over the tree tops. They found the first marker and set up camp. The small clearing was made by Evelyn's grandfather. A large portion of the forest was part of her grandfather's property. Trails covered the woods along with a few camp grounds. It was all made for her to explore the place she loved so much.

Once a fire was created, they shared stories about their lives while waiting for their supper to cook. Their conversation continued as they ate. It had been too long since their last good chat. When the meal was finished, they cleaned their dishes and packed them away again. They played a card game to pass the time until sleep was near. Soon they tired, and Paige entered the tent to change.

Evelyn wasn't being completely honest with her friend. She only wanted company while she got away from her routine of work and sleep. It didn't matter who travelled with her so long as she wasn't alone. The boredom of routine tortured her and needed a change of pace. She also wanted an escape from her increasing nightmares. They would haunt her during the winter and normally would last one or two nights. This year they were constant. It started off with once a week and then progressed to every time she slept. She would awake feeling that the dream was reality and the waking world was a lie. It would make her sick and she'd cry out for help.

Her gaze was drawn to the night sky. It had started snowing and the flakes rested lightly on her exposed cheeks. Their tracks would be covered by morning. She dug out her small roll of florescent pink marker and long hunting knife. She tied it to a branch that led to the path they wanted. Getting lost was dangerous, especially with the recent kidnappings and lost bodies.

While tying off her marker, a shadow behind one of the trees caught her attention. She stared at it as she knew it to belong to a human. No one had permission to be back there. Her grandfather's land was marked well with trespassing signs, and the roads were blocked by fencing. If anyone were there, they would have broken the fence. It was no secret that the forest within the property held excellent hunting. She couldn't stand those who hunted for sport and not food.

She started to make her way forward with her sharp hunting knife positioned to attack when the tent zipper came undone. She called out to say she was finished. She turned back to where the shadow was, but it was gone. What had possessed her to imagine a person there? She shook her head and drowned the fire's flames.

After changing, she relaxed in her sleeping bag. The sound of the night wind whistling through the trees was soft. It was calming compared to the snoring that soon ensued from her companion. She sighed tiredly knowing that she needed her sleep, even though it would be a restless one. She rolled onto her side before closing her eyes and allowing her uneasy sleep to take her.

Sounds of panic woke her from her deep slumber. She groggily opened her eyes to find that it was morning. Her stomach churned as she gagged. That was a sign that a nightmare had begun to form in her mind when her friend's voice interrupted it. She hurriedly pulled on her boots and coat before leaving the confines of the warm tent.

“There you are, Eve,” angrily exclaimed Paige. Her fury was strange for so early in the morning. Evelyn’s eyes wandered but found calm. Nothing was taken or out of place. There was no reason for her outburst. Paige hugged herself as a fear was seen in her eyes. “Someone tried to get into our tent last night.” She straightened a little and looked again. Again everything was normal. “Try looking down, genius.”

Evelyn looked to her feet. Still groggy from sleep, she knelt to observe the footprints. Their prints were scattered everywhere. It took a while, but a new set tangled with theirs. They led to the tent, then back to the trees. They were a bit larger than her own feet. Unlike their boots, those prints didn't contain groves; they were smooth.

She stood, filled with her own worry. “Definitely not one of our own,” she mumbled. She placed her hands on her hips.

“No really? I thought that you were walking around out here in your socks to scare me,” she scoffed.

Evelyn wasn't impressed with her remark. Being woken by a scream didn't give her time to fully waken. “Well, sorry for trying figure this out. Not like I have anything better to do, right.?”

Evelyn crawled back into the tent. She hated when people judged her thought processes. She talked to herself to try to assess a situation and, being her friend, Paige should know that. As she changed and readied for another day, she thought about the prints. Most modern footwear had some sort of pattern on the sole. The only ones that didn't were ballerina slippers, and no one in their right mind would wear those outside in the dead of winter.

Exiting the tent was met with an icy glare. She sighed and began to cook breakfast. That was her friend's normal behavior towards her when she ignored an argument. “Look, Paige, whoever it was is gone now. If there are any crazy people out here, I have my knife, so we won't be unprotected. Just relax, this is supposed to be fun remember.” She snorted and went to change. She rolled her eyes. She wondered if she should have left Paige behind.

They ate breakfast in silence. Evelyn was not pleased. Paige should trust that she knows how to survive in the woods. She's always prepared when they go hiking. The only thing that she didn't have was a gun, but they shouldn't need that at all. It was winter. Nothing of great danger was out there except for the snow. It was also private property, no one was supposed to be out there but them.

Once they finished their meal, they packed up the site in silence. She was still angry with Paige. The longer the silence, the longer Evelyn wished she would have done the trip alone. Before leaving the small clearing, she took off the small band of marking on the tree. She didn't want to be followed by whoever was at their tent in the night. She wanted to make sure it was hard as possible to be followed.

They began to talk to each other again closer to sunset, but it was a quiet discussion and the tension could be felt. The sound of wind picking up through the trees made her shiver slightly. It was going to be a cold night. She carried the forecast of what it should have been for their trip. It was supposed to be warm and sunny. She had a feeling that it had changed.

They set up camp at the next check point. It was done carefully, and they packed some snow on the sides of it. She wanted to make sure they were warm and safe in case anything happened. The fire was warm as it cooked their supper. The mood lightened and they began to laugh again. It had been a long time since she enjoyed herself. Her smile continued to grow the longer they joked.

Paige entered the tent to change first. Evelyn tied her pink marker to mark the next path. She looked out to the night. It was a lonely sight as the darkness swallowed the trees. It was hard to see past the gloom. The moon hidden by the clouds offered no light. She felt like the moment represented how she felt. She felt lonely amongst the city of people she worked in. Still single, she didn't date much. Not like men approached her anyways. She was the quiet girl who lived in the country. Nothing interesting there.

A shadow moved and her eyes darted to it. It was hard to distinguish, but a figure of a person stood next to a tree. She blinked a few times but it remained there. It couldn't have been her imagination. It just couldn't be at that point. No sane person would envision the same thing two days in a row. She took a step forward when the tent unzipped. Paige watched her curiously. Evelyn waved her hand and told Paige nothing was wrong. Looking back, the shadow had gone.

Author’s note

The journey I took by writing this novel was a long one, ten years in fact, with plenty of stops and broken paths. I learned much through its process and even lost a few friendships but I wouldn’t change it if I could. The experience alone was well worth the price. Now that I made it sound like I went through hell and back let’s start from the beginning.
 
Originally I wrote this story in order to cure myself of a lack of enjoyable reading material. Now some may grump and state there’s plenty out there and that’s true but not for me. See I am an extremely picky reader. So much so in fact that there was only 3 book series that I’d read as a kid. Everything else was torture, especially school assignments, as it didn’t grab me and force only made it worse. Now as an adult I’ve been able to branch out a bit but it’s still a difficult task to find something good.
 
Another reason was for fun. It’s a funny thing that in writing I found enjoyment but in reading I didn’t. I used writing as a tool to fill my free time between projects and loved every minute of it. I was able to escape into a land of my own choosing and be who, I felt, I was meant to be. Writing helped keep my imagination strong even through exams and heartbreak.
 
For some ten years sounds like a long time for a concept to come to completion but this particular one wouldn’t stop giving me new information that I’d have to put in … somewhere. After a while I realized I needed to turn off the tap and focus on one subject. Even still this idea sprouted from a dream only to flourish into its own forest and to even prompt sequels. The thing about ten years is you tend to forget certain pieces of information, like why I decided to write down this particular dream out of many. I’m glad I did when I look back now.
 
So some elements in this novel I’ve made up but others were inspired by the world around me. Lochden farms originated from my grandparents’ farm; it may not hold animals any longer but it’s still a magical place with a thick forest behind it. Christopher Ashmore is heavily influenced by my grandfather though there’s a few differences. Then there’s Darrow’s clothes. Those who play video games from Nintendo and have read his description can guess where his attire came from. Totally not my fault, my subconscious dressed him that way.
 
One may ask if I dreamt of Darrow then why did I write it in Evelyn’s perspective? Two reasons, first the dream perspective was a girl’s point of view watching and following Darrow around and the second is more personal. As a girl I had found it hard to find a story with a female protagonist that wasn’t a damsel in distress. It’s left a bitter taste. When I read I want someone I can relate or look up to, someone confident and real. Queue Evelyn. Mostly, however, it was easier to write as a female since I am one.
 
Finally there’s one last secret to share that I accidently let into my writing. I had let lose my opinion of human nature and society. As my dad liked to say when I was younger, absolute power corrupts absolutely and I’ve discovered it’s very true. Take a look in any part of the globe and it will be there, at least that’s how I see it. So I’ll end this note with a question.
 
What are you willing to do to get power and what will you sacrifice to obtain it?​