Roy: Greetings fellow readers! Due to BabyGurl278's busy schedule, she has gratefully decided to let me do the author's note for her, for this chapter. (Don't tell Fox) And before we start the chapter, I'd like to say I am so honored to read all of the reviews and find out that so many of you enjoyed my return in this story. I am truly am loved! Yah!
(Dances around contently)
Roy: Uh, okay. BabyGurl278 wants to thank you for all of the reviews she has gotten. And wants you to enjoy the chapter!
What Lies In the Dark
Chapter 17
Young Link stood with shaky hands, at the top of the stairs. He shined the flashlight down to the first floor, as if waiting for something to pop out at him. With the murderer killing off smashers one by one, the mansion was becoming emptier by the second. If not stopped, pretty soon the mansion will be deserted.
The young elf gradually made his way down to the first floor. Ever since the power had shut off, the killings were made frequently. There was no more waiting and building up anticipation. The murderer wasn't going to let them live any longer.
The thought of death frightening the elf completely. Never in his life would he ever have to think that he was going to die, so soon. He was only a kid, ten years of age. Of course, the murderer doesn't care about that. The murderer thinks of everyone equally. Ness and Popo already suffered, and they were close to Young Link's age. They were either brave, or unprepared from the attack.
All he wanted to do was live. Was that so much to ask for?
At the bottom of the stairs, Young Link swallowed hard, shining the flashlight in every direction. The entire mansion sat in silence. Where were the others? At first, Young Link wished to be alone after the death of his older brother. Now, company was important to him. He felt safe being near someone he could trust. And that was pretty much the rest of the smashers who were still alive.
Young Link took a deep breath and headed down the hallway to the back of the mansion. He noticed how cold it had gotten downstairs. Without the power, there was no heat. The temperatures had dropped to the point where Young Link could see his own breath.
He gripped tightly to the flashlight as he continued the down the hallway. His bottom lip trembled, from either cold or fright. Right now, he couldn't tell. His footsteps were the only thing he heard, as he walked passed the empty library. The flashlight shined on the pictures hanging up on the walls, and the lights on the ceiling. He caught a glimpse of a few cobwebs from the light, but continued on, ignoring them.
Young Link immediately stopped, at the great rush of wind from behind. His blue eyes widened, as he began to whimper at the thought that something was behind him. He held the flashlight in front of his face, listening to himself pant, and seeing his breath float in front of the light.
He took a deep breath, and steadily turned around shining the flashlight behind him. His mouth hung open as tears built up in his eyes. Once he caught a glimpse of the ghostly figure behind him, Young Link screamed and ran down the hallway.
His screaming had stopped, but his feet continued to desperately run. Not once did he look back, as he crashed into the final door at the end of the hallway. He immediately began fighting for the doorknob, thinking that the ghostly figure was following him.
Young Link didn't take the chances, as he opened the door and ran inside the room, closing it behind him. He locked it and kept his back firmly against the door, sitting down on the ground. Young Link dropped the flashlight to the floor, waiting for his heartbeat to return to normal. He continued to pant, catching his breath, as a couple of tears escaped his eyes.
Once the young elf regained his composure, he lifted his head and looked around the room. He had entered some type of office. He had never been in this room before, so everything was new to him.
Young Link stood and grabbed the flashlight, shining it around the room. There was a desk on the opposite side, and a fireplace behind it. On the left side of the room was a small seating area, placed in front of the picture windows. On the right side was a wall covered with bookshelves.
The one thing that had caught Young Link's attention was the large self-portrait of Craven Handler, hanging up on the wall above the fireplace. The picture only showed his face, but was large enough to see every ounce of detail. Young Link stared at the picture carefully, shining his flashlight on it to get a better look. In this picture Craven held a stern look. His bleach blonde hair fell to the tip of his eyebrows and his green eyes glared back at Young Link. He had both of his ears pierced with small diamonds, and had a couple of freckles on his face.
It didn't take long for the elf to realize that this was Craven's office. Young Link walked up to the desk and set the flashlight down. Master Hand had never explained what happened to Craven after the two brothers were cursed and turned to hands. It's obvious they both own the mansion, but how come none of the smashers have seen him?
Young Link pondered the thought, as he picked up a picture sitting on the desk. He turned it around, and glanced at it carefully. It was a picture of Craven and Mr. Game and Watch. Young Link frowned. Were Mr. Game and Watch and Craven good friends?
The young smasher picked up a piece of paper lying on the desk and began to read it. It was a letter addressed to Master Hand. The letter read:
Dear Brother,
Obviously, you are more fit and perfect to own the mansion. So it's yours. I can't live the fact that I will only be known as Mark's little brother. I am going to leave the mansion, and head out on my own. Now since this curse is upon us, nothing will be the same anymore. I want you to take good care of everything, and good luck with the tournaments you are planning to open. The best of luck to you!
Craven.
Young Link frowned, as he sat the piece of paper back down. Craven left, because his brother was getting more attention and fame? Why wouldn't Master Hand tell the smashers about that? Why wouldn't he tell them that he had brother, and they both were cursed?
It didn't make sense.
A sudden movement was made over by the window that caused Young Link to immediately look in that direction. Something had run passed the window. Young Link reached for his flashlight and ran out of the office, to go investigate.
Marth walked out of the mansion, and headed out back in search for the final murderer. He had given his word to Fox, and was going to help his friend out. After finding out Mr. Game and Watch was one of the murderers, they all knew was that they were one step closer to ending this. All that leaves is the final murderer.
The Altean Prince began to check down by the tournament building, since barely anyone heads down there. Maybe the tournament building is where the murderer hides, until ready to kill. Obviously, the murderer has to hide somewhere, for during the day their cover could be blown if spotted. The closed down tournament building was the perfect place.
Marth continued down the path, leading over to the tournament building. He walked through the forest to the bridge stretching across the lake. He lifted his head to the sky, looking out at the moon that shined down on them. It was little past midnight. How much longer was the night going to last? The murderer was able to kill them off quicker, at night. With power gone, they were practically invincible.
A light breeze caressed Marth's face, as he walked across the bridge. His cape flew out behind him, as he continued walking closer to the tournament building. Once on the other side, Marth briefly stopped and ran his fingers through his hair thinking. How was he going to get inside?
Marth took a deep breath as he walked around the tournament building; heading passed the graffiti truck. He walked over to the tall lone tree, keeping his gaze at the building. Everything was still on this side of the campus. Movements ceased to exist. The only thing he heard were the voices of the nocturnal animals around him, and the pounding of his footsteps.
The Altean Prince walked near the tree, and suddenly stopped, sensing that he was being watched. He turned around, only to find no one behind him. With a light shrug, Marth grabbed his sword and stepped forward.
Within a second, something tight grasped his foot and immediately lifted him off the ground. Marth panicked as he dropped his sword and flew up near the tree. His arms dangled, and his cape hung over his face, as he hung upside down in the tree. A tight rope was tied around his leg.
He had fell in a trap.
Marth strangled, and abruptly began to shake free from the rope's grasps, but nothing seemed to work. He watched as his tiara fell off his head and landed on the grass below near his sword. Marth licked his lips and swung up trying to untie himself, but nothing seemed to work.
" Help! Somebody!" Marth cried, but no replies were heard.
Marth stopped, feeling the rapid beating of his heart. Pretty soon, his head began to hurt from hanging upside down for so long. The prince listened carefully, as footsteps were heard coming closer. Someone was coming, and automatically Marth thought it was help, but when he moved his cape out of the way to see, he learned he was wrong.
A tall hooded figure walked up to him, and bent down picking up Marth's sword. Marth swallowed hard and frowned. The murderer stood in front him, holding his weapon. No one was around to help him. Marth feared the worse.
" Hello, Prince." The murderer greeted, speaking in a low dark voice.
" Who are the hell are you?" Marth shouted.
" You're worst nightmare. I am what you fear in the dark. I am here, to end your life."
" You will not get away with this." Marth explained, courageously. " Never. My friends will stop you!"
" I'd like to see them try." The murderer replied.
The murderer lifted his hand to his hood, and steadily removed it from his head. Marth's eyes widened, at the sight in front of him. The murderer had shown his identity.
Before Marth could reply, a gasp was heard over in the distance. This had caught both of their attentions, as they turned looking over in the bushes. The top of a green cap was seen over the bushes.
" Young Link…" Marth whispered.
" No stop!" Young Link cried, standing up and blowing his cover. He stared at the murderer. " I knew it…" He whispered.
" Young Link!" Marth cried.
The murderer groaned, glaring at Young Link. " You!"
Young Link frowned. Marth shook his head. " Young Link, run! Run now! Save yourself!"
" But what about you?" The young elf questioned.
" Save yourself!" Marth shouted, angrily. " RUN!"
Young Link did as told and ran.
Young Link turned and hurried back through the forest, running as fast as he could. He had seen the final murderer. He knows who the murderer is, but now he was in more trouble than anyone else.
Marth's yelling continued to echo throughout the forest. Tears built up in Young Link's eyes, as Marth's screaming suddenly stopped. He began to cry, knowing what had happened, but never stopped running.
Even though the prince's screaming had stopped, Young Link continued to run. And he had ran, all the way back to the mansion.
A/N:
Roy: Hey, me again! Such an exciting chapter, if I say so myself. Although, I'm not in this chapter…hmmm. I'm going have to talk with Baby-G about that. Young Link has gotten most of the attention here. And my great buddy Marth has moved on. Why? Why him? Well, better him than me.
Ah, I better go now, before Marth's ghost comes to haunt me for saying that. Heh. Baby-G did want me to tell you all that the final murderer is going to be revealed in the next chapter. Hells ya! And she will try to update soon, k?
Well my part here is done!
Until Next Time!
