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South Pine Village
South Pine Village was built in an extensive, isolated valley reached only by the motorway that ran parallel to the mountain range. The large, modern village was surrounded by tall, rugged mountains and a dense tropical rainforest that stretched from the village border all the way up the mountains and across the land beyond. It was the only village for miles and miles and barely any one knew it was there.
Down from Mount Darowen a river ran, twisting through the trees like a snake. It carried on into the heart of the village where it gushed into a manmade lake that spilled out into another fast flowing river, leading to the ocean miles away.
The lush rainforest was bordered by a rusty chain link fence topped with barb wire built to confine the man-eating feline creatures called danvere that dwelled in the forest. Danvere were bigger than lions or tigers and are usually light brown in color. Their pointed teeth were coated with venomous saliva, but as if they needed it. They’re powerfully built with razor-sharp claws and are faster than a cheatah. Their only weakness was the sun. If exposed to direct sun light they would blister and burn immediately and would die within two minutes, so during the day it was safe to open the gates to allow the villagers to walk along the board walks that meandered through the forest.
On the side of Mount Darowen was a grey, stone cliff, jutting out of the rainforest like a long, fat, pointing finger. Slightly to one side of which, a waterfall cascaded down. At the base of the cliff was a crack big enough for a man to fit into. The crack, partly concealed by vines and low shrubs, was the entrance to a cave.
Black storm clouds rolled over head, pelting raindrops the size of golf balls to the ground. A woman that looked quite out of place with her black dress and high-heeled shoes picked her way through the towering trees of the rainforest towards the mouth of the cave. She uttered a word in some strange language and just like that the vines and shrubs came alive and moved out of her way. She entered the cave cautiously, not wanting to alert its inhabitants to her presence.
Inside the cave was dark and damp and smelled like mold. The walls gleamed with wetness but as the woman moved further into the cave there was no light for the water to reflect. She realized it was glowing slime. This was not here the last time she’d visited the cave, or rather, the lair.
The woman froze as an uncannily familiar voice echoed from down the tunnel.
“I feel his power growing stronger; he is no longer the ordinary boy he used to be.”
“What should we do father?” came a child’s voice.
“Lie in wait and he will come to us. Once we kill him we can begin our reign.”
“I don’t understand, father. Why do we not just take over and kill him now? He has no power to fight back.”
At the boys question the man blazed with rage. “No one can understand but I!” he yelled, “You are too young and foolish; do not burden me with such questions!”
A fork of lightning struck the cliff face, causing the earth to rumble as a ton of rocks came crashing down, blocking the exit. The woman, unharmed but shaken up, was now trapped. She raised her arm and pointed at the pile of rocks and yelled in gibberish. Some rocks shifted. She tried again, this time blasting a small hole through the rocks, just big enough to see a glimpse of rainforest.
“What’s going on?” someone yelled. The woman could hear running footsteps getting closer and closer. With one last attempt she blasted a hole big enough to crawl through and just caught a glimpse of a tall, pale-faced man with black hair and gleaming red eyes before she clambered out.
“You!” He yelled but she was gone.
Her black dress billowed around her ankles as she ran through the trees a single thought pumping through her mind like a heart beat; I’ve got to warn him. I’ve got to warn him. I’ve got to warn him.
*
A boy of twelve years of age stood upon a grassy hill in the middle of a field. The sky above was black with clouds and wind swept across the hillside, whipping his black hair into his face. Behind him stood a dead, grey tree that swayed violently in the wind. Above the wailing wind he heard a voice call out to him, “Jason, a storm is brewing.”
I shall review in Orange...
