Something's Lurking

She was running. Running in the dark. The ground had been made wet from the rain the night before. The mud was splashing up her dress and stockings. If only Caroline Bingley can see me now! She laughed at the thought and could picture the woman's face.

The howl broke through the night and she was running again. Her heart was pounding; her legs trembled. Why had she left the inn? She hated herself for being foolish.

Splat! She fell into a puddle of mud. She realised she was shaking in fear. She wanted to wake from this dream. But the dark and the crimson moon along with the cold night air remained when she opened her eyes. The footsteps were thundering closer. She had to move. In the dark, she could see some sort of light, her plan to go higher worked well. A house? A house in the distance, she was not sure but there were lights in the distance.

She clambered to her feet, forcing her legs to work. She ran as fast as she could, but the footsteps were getting closer. Her heart stopped as she felt the warmth of breath on her neck. It was behind her. She did not want to look behind. However, she was not able to resist the temptation to look behind. A glance at the white eyes, metres behind, caused her to miss her step. The eyes narrowed. A rush of wind and then she was falling. No, she was tumbling downwards. Suddenly there was a sound of hooves and the clatter of carriage wheels. Bathed in an orange glow from the lateen, she squinted from the sudden light. An expensive carriage had stopped, narrowly avoiding her.

"You clumsy mare! What you doin' out at this time o' night!" The driver shouted.

"Who travels at night!" she cried back in anger.

She regretted her words instantly, because there was movement within the carriage. She got to her feet, looked nervously around. Where was that thing that had been chasing her? The mumbling and cursing from the driver stopped immediately by the swinging open of the carriage door.

"What's going on?" that deep voice, god she knew who the carriage belong too. "What in the –" he became tongue tied as soon as she looked at him. Their eyes connected, shock flooded her senses. "Miss Bennet!"

"Mr Darcy!" she replied in equal disbelief.

"Dear God what happened?" he asked.

"There was something in the dark," She whimpered, she knew how stupid that sounded and she hated herself for being a coward.

"Sir!" The worried voice of the driver cut across their silence.

"Miss Bennet, if you please." Darcy said indicating for her to join him in the carriage.

She became aware of the state she was in; she was all of a sudden embarrassed. Darcy however grasped her arms, brooking no argument and pulled her into the luxurious carriage. The sound of the whip cracking announced the urgency of the situation. The carriage was moving again, knocking her down on to the seat. Darcy seemed dumbstruck by her appearance. She felt uneasy by his staring. She was wet through; her muddy clothes clung to her like a desperate child unwilling to let go. She felt out of place in his carriage, luxurious, blue silk that decorated the inside of the carriage, clashed with her now green and brown appeal.

She did not recognise the looks that flooded his face. Was he angry? Did he hate her? She had no answers for the questions that circled her mind. She feared that he might throw her from the carriage. Although she doubted if he hated her, if he did, he would have left her in the dark.

In a flash, he moved from his frozen countenance, he took the blanket that was his and wrapped it around her shoulders. She was unsure how to react; he was so close to her, his hands lingered on her shoulders for a second too long. He moved away and sat opposite her.

"May I enquire what brings you to Derbyshire?" he questioned, as though there was no strange circumstance regarding their situation.

"I am here travelling with my aunt and uncle." She answered.

"Where are you staying?"

"I'm staying at the Inn at Lambton."

"Oh yes, I know it." He paused; she pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders. "May I ask how you came to be out in the dark?"

She considered what she should say. Would he believe her wild story? She did not. She decided to answer him as truthfully as she could.

She started the story from when she left the inn. Her aunt and uncle had gone for a walk around the church, leaving her to read Jane's letter. She did not bother Mr Darcy with the letters contents. Instead, Lizzy told him, that she was beginning to fear for her aunt and uncle. It was nearing midday and they had failed to return to the inn. Not wanting to cause a fuss, she set out to find them. On arriving in the church grounds, she found it to be deserted. The church door was slightly a jar. She approached nervously, hands trembling. She intertwined her fingers to gain some self-control.

She paused just before entering the church. The light beamed through the open door and windows casting light into the dark church. There seemed to be a dark fog, ankle high, sweeping through the pews in front of her. There was a sense of pain in the air; she became captivated by the silence. She knew not what to think or how to act. In the corner there was a little boy cowering behind a pew. She did not know whether to walk towards him or run away. The child was not a normal boy. She approached silently; he looked into her eyes, his own filling with tears. Then he whispered the frightening words...Run! She turned, lifting her dress and fled from the church.

She ran from the church out into the grounds and called her aunt as loud as she could.

"Mrs Gardiner! Mrs Gardiner! Can you hear me?" there was no answer to hr cries.

She slowed her frantic pace to a walk. She knew not whether her aunt or uncle was alive or not. In a panic, she fled the churchyard. This was when she realised that clouds were rolling in and the sun was slowly disappearing. Where had the sun gone, she knew it was only midday. She was scared she did not know which way to go. She could not concentrate on where she was walking, for her mind was full of panic. With the darkness erasing the horizon, she was becoming lost. In silence she walked quickly, that was when the dark descended upon her. She did not know the way to Lambton. This was her first journey. Scared at being lost in the dark and unable to find the path, she headed up a hill. The higher ground may reveal lights of civilisation. From behind she heard a horrible raw, that sounded like a thousand men drowning. She turned to see a hunched shape in the dark. A man? This was her first thought, but she dismissed it instantly. It was not human this she knew. She was afraid, not sure whether to approach or beat a hasty retreat. Could it be a wild dog that would chew her bones and gorge her flesh. Leaving her remains to rot in the hillside, discovered by another victim just before the creature claimed them as well. An unknown victim, was this her fate. On the other hand, was this thing going to hurt her?

At that second, it roared in pain and anger. Elizabeth forgot to breath, she could see its tail that swept from side to side, a tail the size of a man. It swept across the ground, kicking up dust into the dark sky, which flew into her eyes and mouth. Though she was far from it, she could smell its breath, the smell of rotting meat. It burnt her senses. In her heart, she knew there was no hope for her, if this creature caught her. Then its eyes lifted to hers, for the first time. It stared deep into her soul, and then it made a sound, a sound that could so easily be a cackle of laughter. Then it roared, lifted itself on to its hind legs and bound towards her. That was when she turned and ran.

She related this tale to Mr Darcy, not knowing whether he would believe her or not. When she dared to look up and meet his eyes, she found that he did not doubt her story. He believed her. She wanted nothing more than to feel the man's embrace. To have him comfort her, his arms wrapped around her tight. However, that was improper and she was not a coward. She would not whimper or cry.

"Why run this way, Miss Bennet?" he asked. She did not know whose cruel joke it was that made her fate coincide with the man, but she was indebted to him for saving her from the dark. She knew that they were not yet safe. That creature was still lurking.

"There was an estate," she replied. "In the distance, the lights were the only ones in the distance.

Darcy only nodded and looked out the window; he turned back towards her, with a small smile.

"Pray tell Miss Bennet, is that the estate?" she followed his eyes and looked for herself out the window.

Fast approaching was this beautiful estate, a most handsome building in the centre of the estate, bathed in the glow of the orange light. A large pond lay in front of the building, reflecting the magnificent house.

"Yes." She answered breath taken by the estate. "Yes that was where I was going."

Mr Darcy's smile grew bigger. He seemed somewhat pleased with her reaction. Curious she had to know what amused him so.

"Do you know the place sir?"

"Allow me Miss Bennet to do the great honour of welcoming you to Pemberley." Her only reply was a strangled laugh. This was becoming too much for her.