Brian Pratt - Shades of the past

“What?” asks Illan.

Glancing to him, Miko says, “I’m not sure how to explain it. But he seems to be…elsewhere.”

“What does that mean?” demands Jiron.

“I don’t know,” he replies. “It just is.”

“How can we get him back?” asks Illan.

“I don’t know,” he admits. He looks from each in turn and they can see the worry in his eyes.

Then a rider comes thundering toward them from the head of the column. When he pulls up before Illan he says, “Riders coming, lot of ‘em.”

“Where?” Illan asks.

“From the north,” the rider replies.

To Ceadric and Jiron he says, “To your men gentlemen.”

Jiron gives him a nod as Ceadric says, “Yes, sir.”

“Keep an eye on him,” Illan tells Miko.

“Count on it,” he replies.

Turning his horse toward the head of the column, he kicks it in the sides and rushes forward. He reaches the front just before Ceadric and Jiron come with their men. Halting the column, they begin forming up for battle.

“They’re ours!” cries a Raider when the riders come closer.

Sure enough, the approaching riders turn out to be over five hundred of Madoc’s cavalry led by Captain Kurk.

“Am I glad to see you,” Illan tells the captain as he draws close.

“Black Hawk,” the captain replies with a nod. He takes in the bedraggled look of the men before him and the number of non military personal further back. “Heard there was some kind of disturbance in the area and was on our way to investigate.”

“Escort us back to your camp and I’ll tell you all about it,” he says. “How far are we from our lines?”

“You’re standing on them,” he explains. “A week after you left Lythylla, Lord Pytherian and the Alliance went on the offensive. They’ve steadily pushed them back and have almost managed to reach the old border between Madoc and the Empire. Still some heavy fighting to the west, but the east is falling fast. The Kirkens have joined the fight and together we’re giving them what for.”

“Excellent,” breathes Illan.

As the word spreads to the rear of the column, a cheer goes up. ‘Black Hawk’ and ‘Madoc’ resound as the people celebrate the fact that they are now safe. They did it. Not only have they passed from the Empire but it’s on the verge of being forced out of Madoc.

Captain Kurk says, “Our camp is several hours away.” He dispatches a rider back with word that Black Hawk is on the way. The rest of his men move to take charge of the prisoners.

“Lead on,” Illan says and with a command, the column begins to move. Glancing back to a wagon riding near the center, he wonders what’s going on inside James’ head.

Smoke chokes him as he tries to outrun the fire. The hills behind him are aflame and the fire is coming fast. Winds fan the approaching inferno, spreading the blaze even faster. Running, he dodges around trees as he moves over first one hill then another.

His mind has begun to play tricks on him. Out of the corner of his eye he catches movement within the flames but that can’t be possible. Nothing could survive within the inferno.

Pausing a moment to catch his breath, he leans against the bole of a tree. Burning embers fly about him, burning when they land upon his skin. He takes out a cloth and puts it over his mouth in an attempt to draw in a good, clean breath. His eyes water and sting from the smoke and his body is wracked with another coughing fit. When it’s over, he pushes himself away from the tree and once again attempts to outrun the fire.

The wind suddenly changes direction and begins blowing from his right. With any luck, it will keep the blaze from following him quickly. Continuing to race straight ahead, he keeps the wind on his right.

After cresting the next hill, he looks back and sees with relief that he has managed to put some distance between himself and the fire. Taking another short breather to recover his strength, he pauses there atop the hill. A flash of color at the base of the hill catches his eye and he sees something pink and brown rolling along the ground.

Glancing back at the fire, he hurries to the bottom and finds the object to be a wadded piece of cotton candy, matted with dirt and twigs. Something in the back of his mind sparks a memory.

Suddenly filled with the need to reach where the cotton candy originated, he turns into the wind and races between the hills. As he runs, another bit of pink fluff is blown toward him upon the breeze. Quickening his pace, he races forward.

The hollow between the hills comes to a stream which he jumps across without even pausing. Landing on the other side, he begins climbing the next hill. When he reaches the top, he sees a valley on the far side. Within the valley is a carnival, or what used to be one. It looks like a tornado ripped through there recently. Buildings are shattered, the Ferris wheel is lying on its side, and the whole place looks deserted.

From somewhere in the back of his mind, a memory of golden hair comes to him. Then it all comes back; the dreams, the golden haired girl and the Tunnel of Love. Scanning the carnival, he sees the Tunnel of Love ride situated over on one side of the midway. Moving quickly, he makes for it.

As he enters the valley, the fire appears on the top of the hill to his right and begins making its way down toward the carnival. Moving as fast as his legs will carry him, he races to the ride.

No carnies are present here this time, all the rides stand deserted and broken. The roller coaster track is broken and one of the coasters sits smashed on the ground below. He hunts for the golden haired girl but she’s nowhere to be seen. Ahead of him stands the Tunnel of Love and inside must be where the golden haired girl will be.

Approaching the ride, he sees the channel that once contained the water the boats floated upon is empty and dry, the chain which pulled the boats along sitting exposed and still. Hopping over the rail, he lands within the channel and races for the opening. Boats sit askew in the channel and he has to dodge around them to continue.

At the entrance, he pauses a moment and glances back to the fire. It has crept further down the side of the valley and is now threatening the edge of the carnival. Not sure how much time he has before it reaches him, he moves into the Tunnel of Love.

On the side of the wall, the large heart containing the two points of light is now dimmed. One light is all but out and the other is only half the brilliance it was before. Racing past he moves further into the darkened enclosure. With a thought his orb flares to life and he continues on.

A haze of smoke fills the tunnel giving it an eerie feel. He remembers the shadows that had moved along the walls the last time but so far none have made an appearance. Slowing his pace, he moves along with caution.

Then out of the smoke before him, a shadow appears. Moving quickly, the shadow closes the distance and reaches out to grab him. Backing up fast, he removes the medallion from within his shirt and its light blazes forth.

A shriek of pain more felt than heard erupts from the shadow as it falls back. Behind it, he sees another moving. The tunnel begins to fill with shadows and they form a circle around him staying away from the light being emitted by the medallion.

Moving forward, he holds the medallion up high and forces the shadows back. Step by step he presses onward, the shadows falling back to avoid the light. As he works his way through, the number of shadows surrounding him increases until dozens circle the edge of the medallion’s light.

Continuing down, a light appears from up ahead. Moving closer, he sees again the golden haired girl standing upon the dais. Next to her hangs a man by his wrists from a rope that descends out of the darkness above. She’s singing the man a song, a sad song filled with loss.