Lori found herself in a dimly lit room with shadows on the walls, terrible and menacing. They jeered at her and made rude gestures. She couldn't see her family; they must be up ahead of me. She remembered a flashback of her mom finding her in the oddest places when she was little. She held on to that memory. Her mother knew this was important to fight the Shadow, and she did too. She was close to her mom, and somehow knew her mom was guiding her through the Darkness. Lori trudged threw a swamp it seemed, out side the room. She thought of her brothers and sisters; wondering where they were or if they were stuck to. She had to find them. That was the mission, she felt for the moment. She stumbled on something she couldn't see; confused of what was under her feet. It seemed to be a knife. She took it. Her parents never killed, but if it came to it, she would for the rest of her family. Then again she felt it would be wrong, and who's weapon was this?! It might be hexed or charmed to distract her. She let it go, finally. It fell with a sharp, "clank"! Metal was under this sludge?! she dared not reach in to feel it. She knew she was being tested, so she kept walking. Soon she saw a shape in the Darkness, "Katrina," she whispered. I sensed you weren't with us, so I went to find you. She grabbed Katrina's hand. Katrina led her to Alec, Miles, Dimitri, Ella, and Charlie. They were glad to see her; satisfied. Ella had the book in her arms, and was not letting go of it. Katrina stood there with her eyes closed, then blurted out, " I had a vision". Since a child Katrina would wake up from nightmares that were actually these "visions". Sometimes she daydreamed in school about things that would come true in a matter of minutes. "I saw Momma and Daddy, guys! They're trapped in here...We should find them!" Everyone looked at her. Miles spoke, "the enemy is probably feeding false images; remember where we are!" "But....Miles..." she replied, and then thought better not to argue; not in this place. Ella held onto the book tightly. It seemed like they were supposed to "do" something. Why else would they be here, she thought. She opened the book which seemed to glow bright in the Darkness. Everyone was astounded. The page was a map! Alec beamed, "Genius, Ella!" Charlie focused on where they were, then said, "We're are close!" They walked down what was a stairway into a cave. Odd painting were decorated on the walls; violent and creepy. Miles touched the images, and retracted his hand quick. Something bit him! He examined his finger, but couldn't see anything like blood after a cut. Dimitri put an ointment on it anyways. "Mom always kept it in her dresser. I found it when we were at the house," he spoke. Miles thought, maybe Mom put it there for a reason. She always did things like that.
After a long time in the cave, they came to a flat area with a throne, except no one occupied it. Weird! Miles then saw something materialize. "See that!" He pointed. It took a while but then every one murmured the same thing. It was a distorted figure of a man. What?! "Who are you?" Miles shouted. Ella saw his name pop up in the book, as the man began to talk. "Shadow," she reasoned. Everyone looked at her. The Shadow sat grinning up at them. "You've come to serve me, WONDERFUL!" He boomed. "You wish," Miles uttered. He just grinned, "You will!" Miles said, "Then your crazy! why would we do that?" The Shadow said, " Not them, YOU!" pointing to Miles. Miles was compelled by a crazy feeling of anger; stepping forward without heed. As soon as he took that step, he changed form. There was a dog where Miles stood. It barked madly at the Shadow. Ella starting chanting a spell that came to her. It was so strange to hear it on her tongue. She focused on changing Miles back. But nothing happened! The dog turned and tried to grab the book with his teeth. She held on though, and forgetting it was Miles, kicked it in the jaw. Then remembering, said, "Sorry, Miles!" The dog stepped toward the throne. Miles, NO!" Alec shouted. He licked the Shadow's hand, and in turn the Shadow, said, " That was mean what she did to you, don't worry I won't hurt you!" Alec shouted, "LIAR! Give us our brother!" The dog looked confused at his call. The dog almost walked back, but the Shadow seized him as a collar materialized around his neck. Miles, in his dog mind, found his thoughts clouded. Ella chanted again getting everyone to hold hands, "We are strongest together!" She said. Holding hands they crossed over and Alec put his hand on Mile's scruff, as they dragged him back. Miles whined! But the Shadow couldn't touch them now. All together, Ella kept on chanting. Then Miles turned back into his real form. They all chanted! The Shadow startled to sizzle in his throne. Then a puff of smoke, and he was ash; nothing more. They kept chanting, fearlessly, as they made another portal. Without breaking hands, they crossed together, light bouncing of of them. The Darkness let up a little until with it closed with a "pop!" The portal was closed. On the other side, they were back at the house. Ella struggled to get the collar of of Miles, even Alec, but it was stuck. They needed to get it off. The collar starting closing in on Miles flesh. He fell and wriggled on the ground; choking. Miles said, " Don't feel guilty, Ella, I know it was a mistake. I was tricked by the Shadow." Ella whimpered watching her brother struggle. She frantically paged to the book until it stopped. The page she looked at read: REMOVING BINDINGS. She grabbed ever one's hand, including Miles, and chanted once more. Slowly the collar loosened around Mile's neck; disappearing. When it was gone, he rubbed his neck where it had materialized. There was a scar all across his neck. Ella tearfully hugged her brother! He hugged her in back, as well. "I thought I was a goner", Miles said. Ella said, "That would never happen, Miles. We wouldn't let that happen, with every once of magic we possess." Miles replied, " Mom was right about being tested." He spat on the ground, and Shadow came out of his mouth. There, it sizzled in the light; slowly disappearing too. They knew the Shadow would plague them again but not when. Alec helped Miles up, with Dimitri. Slowly they raised him and put him on the couch to rest. They all needed strength for what would happen next. They knew that was only a form of the Shadow. He had many guises, even in their world. They wouldn't let it take over though. Ella closed the book, and carried it back to the attic, casting a shield of protection around it. She looked back and it lay across her mother's old desk. They wouldn't let the Darkness succeed.
TO BE CONTINUED
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