Shadows Of Oz

by Skeleton Band

Darkness is consuming all corners of Oz up to the Emerald City. One man can stop this Darkness from spreading. Only problem is what can you face what isn't there?

2. Chapter 2

II

Lights flashed. Sirens blared drowning out the cries. I ran. I ran. My heart beat like a drum screaming out a battle cry. People clung to each other. Crying. Mourning. A furry of sadness and anger swept over me as I pushed through the crowd of police and mourners. An officer stopped me from crossing the police line. I stared up at the sign of the store. Threshold. The dam burst and tears streamed down my face as I stared up at the sign. The crowd parted. A gurney with a blanket was pushed through the crowd. A white hand fell off the gurney bed and dangled. The crowd gasped. Someone slipped the hand back underneath the sheet. Everyone was quiet as they lifted up the gurney and locked the doors of the ambulance. Somebody shouting gibberish was hauled out of the store and the crowd parted even more.

"Lies! All lies! It's disappearing! Consumed! Consumed by darkness that will soon take over your world! Nothing can stop it! Nothing!" The man shouted as he struggled with the two officers who held him.

The two officers took the man behind a van.

We heard a gunshot.

I pushed my way through the crowd. Tears still flowed from all of us. The alleyway was dark. Nothing stirred. Not the wind. Not anything. Thunder cracked. Lightning flashed. The rain poured down. Hiding my tears. A puddle on the ground showed the blue foggy figure moving, trying to find something. I kicked the image. It disappeared. A rusty door swung open. I saw the door. It was unlocked. The padlock broken. Inside the building it was horrible and struck me deep. Books were scattered all over, their pages torn their binding ripped, some scorned with blood. The books lied all around like dead bodies that have fought a vicious battle. The blood smelled fresh. I wondered as I wandered through the remains of what used to be Threshold. It was gone now. All gone. No more. I sank down against a bookcase and broke down sobbing, not able to stop. I picked up a book and hurled it somewhere. I picked up another but stopped. The tears still flowed. Through the splotches of blood I could make out the title: The Oz Chronicles Volume 1. Right beside me was volume 2. I picked both up and my body shook with anger and sadness. Who would kill such a weak man? Who? And why?