literature

Keep an eye on your shadow...

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Literature Text

It was night, in the depths of a dark wood... There was something strangely familiar about these woods. But how could it be familiar? These were trees from somewhere in North America. Lucian had never been to America when he lived in the Old World. And yet time and time again he found himself lost in this wood when dreaming. So many strange dreams. Dreams like memories that were not his own. Shadows moved unnaturally out of the corner of his vision, a chill running over his skin. Yes he remembered now, he was not alone here. There was something lurking... Something waiting. Or someone?

It was as Lucian was walking turning round trying to get his bearings on his surroundings, he heard a very low growl or was it a purr? The sound it was so strange as it seemed to be coming from all around... “Run...” A voice, so dark, low and melodic in tone, the sound of which chilled the boy down to the bone. Lucian hesitated, whirling around trying to find the source of that voice. Why was it so familiar? “Please run... Run like your very life depended on it...”

Yes, he recalled this, it was like a echo, but this time Lucian found his own voice finishing the sentence, because he knew... “Because it may very well...” The sound of soft chuckling was heard and the boy shuddered. Usually he was far more fearless than this. What was it..? What was it about this? The overwhelming emotion of fear was enveloping his senses, but it wasn't his fear. It was like the darkness of the woods was closing in on him, as if the shadows were coming to life from all around, and he had no choice but to turn on heels and do just that... Run. Feet fell over the dirt, skipping over roots and brush, ducking beneath branches. Running as fast as his feet would carry him. His heart drumming in his ears, breath quick. How bright the moon was over head. Lucian could see it peeking through the leaves of the trees, but why wasn't it illuminating these wood more? It was so dark... So strange because he was accustomed to being able to see clearly at night.

More than anything, he could feel it, that presence behind him. Lucian knew very well he was only being toyed with. Then he heard it, footfall, not his own. Glancing over his shoulder what he saw shocked him... What seemed to be a man over a foot taller than himself, fair features, long black hair, pure black eyes that gleamed, and a grin that near twisted what might have been a beautiful face. The boy didn't pause, he ran faster. White hair frizzing out with energy, Lucian realized he could see the energy crawling over his own skin. One thought... Fly. And he did, flying up through the branches of the trees, he could feel how twigs and leaves scratched his face. None of that mattered. Lucian began to laugh, for no reason at all, perhaps the adrenaline alone, but the boy was laughing. It was like a ages old game... He knew... Lucian knew this so well, this dream. It was not a dream at all.

It was as he came to realize that he was no longer in that wood but the forests of Neverland he paused in his flight. Yes, the trees were bigger older, far more lush... and yet still that darkness seemed so dense. Pausing was a mistake. Just as he realized that the dream was no longer familiar at all, but new, something coiled around his legs and jerked him down out of the air. Lucian was struggling to grasp whatever it was wrapped around his ankle, which seemed impossible. With a thud he landed on the forest floor, the breath knocked out of him. The felt himself being lifted, whatever had snatched him out of the air was coiling around him body lifting him against a tree and binding him like animated vines. But these were not vines, but black, cool, silken, how very surreal that he was being held by what seemed to be living shadow... By now Lucian was gasping for breath struggling against his bonds when he saw the man who was not a man but a monster stepping out of the darkness, his features wrought with that smile... Wide eyed, the boy saw how the creatures hair seemed to be alive, coiling and slowly whipping around like a mass of dark silken serpents that smoked with black. The man reached out with black clawed digits grazing Lucian's cheek, and again the boy shuddered, “What..?” Lucian gasped.

The monster cackled, “Mo préachán bán beag, mo lonradh chroí... Did you think that you could fly away to Neverland and not have your dear old Shadow follow?” He purred leaning in closer. “Better keep an eye on your Shadow, for your Shadow will always keep an eye on you...”

Lucian woke up gasping as he had been in that very dream. His arms flailed as he realized he was awake. Sweating he quickly moved to grab his journal and write down what he had dreamt... Those words. He didn't understand what had been said. Lucian had yet to learn Gaelic. Dare he tell anyone about these dreams? Out of the corner of his eyes again the shadows wavered, looking it was only the flickering of a candle... Wasn't it?

Lucian recounts a dream, this takes place shortly before his abduction.
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