I'm falling, falling into eternity, falling into nothingness. All my friends are stood above me, Mr Crepsley at the front, making the death's touch sign. I try to scream, but no words come out. I try to grab something, but there's nothing to hold on to. I try to breath, but I'm suffocating. Suddenly, flames engulf me, they cover my arms and legs and the rest of my body. But they don't burn. They don't even sting. The faces of my friend's disappear and are replaced by my enemies. At least 20 purple skinned vampaneze, all pointing at me. I start to panic, then I realise what's happening. They are helping me; one of them reaches out to me and tries to grab my hand, which I pull back. Another one grabs for me and, together, they pull me up and out of the darkness and the flames, into the light. They force me down onto the ground, and I think they are going to kill me but then, then…I jolted awake, screaming, heart pounding, as the horror of my nightmare washed over me .The room around me was eerily silent as i swung my legs over the side of my hammock, and took a deep breath. I needed to try and get back to sleep-I had my next trial (the blooded boars) The day after tomorrow-and i needed all the rest i could get. Right now though, sleep just seemed impossible. My hammock seemed as far from welcoming as it could get. Instead, I dragged myself up, and forced myself out of the room, thinking of something to do. The day was still young, i realised, as the tunnels around me were empty-everyone else was asleep, i was alone. So, Having nothing else to do, and with sleep not an option, i headed down the tunnels, hoping to maybe simply get a drink, or an early day bite to eat.
"Darren? Darren...wake up." Harkats voice filled my brain as i raised my head, and blinked open my eyes. Liquid dripped from the tips of my hair, and down my face, as i sleepily looked around. I was in the hall of Kheldon Lurt, which was now full with the early night risers of the clan, each of them yawing and mumbling as they shook themselves out of their lethargy. Many of them seemed to be staring at me. Wiping my face with my hand, i groaned as i realised i had fallen asleep in my bat broth, and now had a face full of the salty, sticky soup.
"Darren...you better go wash up…" Harkat instructed, as he stared at the mess i was currently wearing "You have...training today." I groaned again, too tired to try and force words out of my half open mouth, but mustering the energy to get up and wave goodbye, i found myself back in the tunnels; this time on my way to the hall of Perta Vin-Grahl, ready to shower the sleep out of my tired eyes. When I arrived, the halls were bare-the crashing water roaring loudly against the silence as i stripped to my underwear (I was still uncomfortable with stripping naked) , and prepared for my watering awakening. At first, the sudden chill of the waterfall suffocated me, as the cold liquid covered me from head to toe-but after a few seconds my body adjusted to the temperature, and i let myself almost enjoy the icy shower. No more than five minutes later though, it began to get too much-and, so, shivering, I took a step out, and got redressed. I felt so much better, and much more awake-but i knew the day would be tiring, and i was still exhausted-Surely a little nap couldn't hurt? Besides, the sun was only just beginning to set, and Mr Crepsley would come find me when he wanted me, as would any of the others. With that decided, i made way to what could have been called my bedroom. If my Hammock hadn't been welcoming earlier, it sure was now.
Yet, when i returned to my bedroom, my hammock had disappeared. In its place stood a large wooden coffin. This had to be someones idea of a joke, and not a funny one at that. II hated coffins, but right now i would take what i could get. I just wanted to rest. So, having no other choice, i took off the note and lifted up the lid. It creaked as it rose. I examined the inside, it wasn't cushioned or anything like that, it was just simple wood with weird circular things on the side. I sighed as I thought about the comfort of my hammock and climbed into the hard wooden box. I left the lid open, not wanting to feel enclosed, but it didn't stay open. It slammed shut, causing me to panic. I was suffocating; my lungs had no air to shout out. Flames swallowed me whole, tickling me with their touch. Not burning, and not stinging. My eyes were ablaze with the bright light of the flames. Then it stopped. The lid swung open and I could breathe again. It was like my dream, but I knew it was reality, it felt too real. Someone gasped behind me and I turned around to be greeted by at least 25 red-eyed vampaneze. I was outnumbered, I was dead. I backed against the wall and closed my eyes, preparing to die. It never came, it never happened. I opened my eyes and looked in front of me, the vampaneze were kneeling and staring at me "All hail Darren Shan." They hissed "The old vampire- the new lord of the vampaneze."