Darkfall: The Journal
Standing alone, in a room, with the sound of a clock ticking away at my very being.
I have to get out of here...
Rushing to the door, I place my hand on the key that is already placed in the keyhole. As it turns, with a snap, it breaks.
"No..!" Clawing at the door, my nails dig deep into the cherry wood.
"Calm down. Find the clock..." Someone-Or something, tells me from inside my thoughts. I am able to trace the ticking to a "safe" located between two windows. This safe not only had a key hole-with the key not in sight, but also some sort of number combination in Roman numerals. A moment of curiosity strikes me. I survey the room. An old time radio sits on a bookshelf, filling the room with white noise. The only other thing that sticks out is a desk with several letters and photographs. I pick the letter up...
"Arthur,
This room is not safe. I had thoughts to store the lyrics here, away from the prying eyes of the guests. No one must know of what seethes deep beneath us. It is growing in strength, every bone of my being id telling me that it is close to freeing itself. The entrapment has ended the feeding is about to begin. We must work fast, our progress has been slow but persistent. It knows what we plan, it watches me each god sent evening. Watches me from the dark corners of this room. It hides in the darkness. I fear it nay not need to cloak itself for much longer.
It whispers to me throughout my waking and sleeping. My mind is strong, it will not tempt me so easily. I will not join those that have already fallen for its soothing promises. They are false, and we must treat them as such. What plans have you for new hiding places? Currently they lyrics are stores here, but as I have stated, I wish to move them as soon as possible. You may move them yourself if you find a more secure location. I trust you remember the sequence... if not, seek the old art catalogue. Also, you will need the key.
I must descend to the public bar, hence this note. It worries me that Edith now asks so many questions. It must seem to her, and the guests, that we behave most oddly, creeping around the hallways after darkness falls. I feel I am descending to an inquisition.
The idiots. If only they knew of the work and the trials we must face. It makes me ill thinking about it. A good strong brandy will reinforce my heart and focus my will. I will be in the bar till late.
George."
Following the signature was a symbol shaped like a crosshair.
"What an odd symbol...Ow!" tracing my finger over the symbol, it feels as though it bites me. "Bloody..." Throwing the paper down, the other objects on the desk catch my eye. Filed in a small cubbyhole, a small business card says "Quality Family Run Hotel: The Station Hotel, with train services to London Station Road, Dowerton, 243"
"Could this be where I am?" Amongst the ink pots, several photographs are slipped into two drawers.
"One of a portrait of Elizabeth, one of a shed, someone's shadow on a stair-useless. I need out have here."
"I wonder what is outside...?" I open the right window. A cold breeze fills the room. It seems I am in some sort of train station. Perhaps a hotel. The rusted rail tracks creak and the wind whistles as if calling lost souls to a gathering. Glancing towards the other windowsill, something catches me eye.
"I don't believe it..." Sitting on the ledge is the key. Closing this window, I make my way to its twin. "Too easy, has to be a catch..." Half expecting the window to be locked, and if it is I am willing to be reduced to breaking the glass, it opens with a small tug. I take the key, walking to the door; I see it does not fit.
"Heh, I knew it..." The safe. Of course, the key fits perfectly in the safe, but the number puzzle lays laughing at me. I trace the picture of the knight on a horse, appears to be of medieval era, which is etched on the safe. Standing and taking a seat on the bed, dust flies up around me. I sigh, and for the first time I notice a lantern placed by the bed. Taking it, I hope it pervades enough light...and my hopes come true.
"Yeah, this will give enough light to see...a monster before it bites my face off...uh, ok, got to stop scaring myself...Whoa!" Slipping off the bed, not on purpose, my hand landing on something under the bed.
"A book...'Medieval Prints for the Home'" Opening it, I leaf through the pages. "Full of drawings, medieval era ones. Hey...." My eyes rest on the picture of the medieval knight, with the number 253. "Of course." I kneel before the safe again, with a click the key is slipped in, and I cycle through the roman number code. "II.....V...III..Click..." The "books" swings out, nearly hitting my head, revealing a hidden container and namely-The clock. A note is tucked into the minute hand, but not for long, as I take it and open it to read it.
"What is this?!"
"Congratulations. You have won at my little game.
P.S. Your brother Peter is already mine."
"Ahhh!" Screaming at the top of my voice, I nearly fall to the floor. The floor of my bedroom. The Train station is no more.
"All dream...it was a dream....right?"