Dark World IIIMyth
Prologue
The monster wandered the shadowy realm, his new home whether he liked it or not. Thick, hot, oppressive air held his lungs captive as blistering crimson sands branded the soles of his naked feet. Subterranean springs intermittently discharged scorching waters into the atmosphere whilst angry volcanoes raged endlessly in the distance, their garnet tributaries bleeding from earthly wounds that seemingly never healed. This world, this dark land, seemed to embrace all things malignant, all things evil. What trace of humanity he had left lingering inside recoiled in fear and confusion, terrified of what might be waiting for him around every shadow-cloaked corner, but the dark passenger that now occupied the greater part his soul was elated, grinning, and pleased to be home again. This new malevolence twisted and crawled through the blackened web-like veins spread all over his body, owning him as though possessed. Relentless hunger pulled at his innards, thirst for blood clawed at his throat. Despite his weary, every creature he’d happened upon inevitably lost the battle, becoming his next meal. This thing inside of him, this beast, could lash out, summon any strengths needed when the time arose. In those moments, he’d become powerful, god-like—indestructible. He’d torn at their flesh with his teeth, greedily, uncontrollably, but never was he rewarded satiation or reprieve from the inhuman suffering. The hunger always remained. Always tormenting him, always controlling him. Nevertheless, there was something else lurking amid the dark corners of his newfound Hell. Something stronger than the blood lust. Something that diluted the poison inside: revenge.He vowed to find his way back from this dark world. He would make them pay for this. He would find the ones responsible and show them what true pain was. But for now, he had to find food, had to feed this unappeasable monster within, had to silence the demons screaming inside. Then, he would search for the one he sensed nearby. The one he’d hurt first. The one he’d sent here.          Scarlet.



     Secret Project
Prologue

Victoria, British Columbia, 1975

The night flew in on the wings of a storm, the sun withdrawing below the horizon amid waning hues of gold and magenta. Branches of silver lightning ripped through the sullen sky, stalked by thunder that rumbled like the ravenous innards of a giant. Building winds beat the house using the boughs of an aged elm, its spindly, finger-like limbs clawing at her bedroom window. Little Callie Winter watched the pewter raindrops as they smattered against the pane and slid down the glass as if clinging for a last chance at life before plummeting off the sill and splattering amidst the grasses below. The muddied soil beneath a bed of daylilies and blush Canterbury bells held tight to the stems of its precious bouquet as they bowed their sodden petals before the tempest. The air smelled of dirty coins, the scent that pennies and dimes left on her palm when she clung too long and hard to them on the way to candy store. The evening shadows curled around her room, dark corners amassing like an evolving black hole, devouring any light that dared cross its path. Her room felt so foreign now, menacing, watching her like it had eyes of its own. Downstairs, she could hear Daddy closing all the windows and shutters, telling Mommy to get the ones on the other side of the house. This storm had come in so fast, like all the others over the last few weeks. Callie wasn’t used to so many storms in a row. Nor such angry ones. The night before last, a poor little willow tree in the front yard had been snapped right in half.She hadn’t wanted to move to this house, even though it had a cute little playhouse in the backyard with a tiny, oval window that framed the lake and beach like a perfect picture. The house was old, smelled funny, and was far too big, she could never find anyone when she needed them. “Mommy wants to do a bed and breakfast,” Daddy had explained, wiping Callie’s tears as they said a final goodbye to their old house with the lemon-colored siding and windows with fancy trim like a gingerbread house. “It’s always been her dream.” And he smiled, his green eyes pleading with her.Had Callie known what their new house would look like, how far away it was from her friends, and, of course, that it was haunted, she would never have agreed to it. Not that a five-year-old would have much say in the matter, but she would have put up far more a fight than she did. Callie sighed and rolled onto her side. She wasn’t tired yet. She’d only gone to bed a little while ago, Daddy had read The Silly Bunny before tucking her in and kissing her forehead. Her princess clock ticked on the nightstand, soothing her with its monotonous lullaby. She couldn’t tell time on it yet, but she had to have it because it had a princess on it. Daddy always called her princess, so everything in her room was decorated as such. She strategically arranged Joey, her favorite stuffed rabbit, and five other stuffies in a circle around her, forming a protective barrier. The thunder let loose another roar, even closer this time, and she wondered again when Mommy and Daddy would remember to check on her, to make sure she wasn’t afraid. They always came.She just hoped it was soon—before the Dark Man came.A clap of thunder chased a blinding bolt of lightning and the whole house trembled as though it, too, was as frightened as Callie. She looked to her nightlight, shining warm and golden in the far corner of the room. It was a Pooh Bear light, with his baby blue nightcap and gown; pudgy, yellow face smiling around a yawn. She breathed a little easier. As long as he still shone, she was safe. The Dark Man only came when it totally dark. He didn’t like anyone to see him. Daddy always said that Callie had a great imagination, especially when she told him about her nighttime visitor, and how he came through the wall and watched her while she pretended to sleep. Mommy just laughed, though it had a nervous flutter to it, like when grandma shows up for a surprise visit and makes comments about Mommy’s housekeeping. Callie was insistent about what she’d seen in the dead of night, but they didn’t listen. Grownups rarely did.“You’re just getting used to a new house,” Mommy had said, despite it being the oldest house Callie had ever laid eyes on. “It’s just your imagination,” Daddy had told her. She didn’t tell them she had seen the Dark Man watching them as they slept, too. The wind whistled and howled, shoving itself against the exterior of the house like the battering ram of an invading army. Callie tucked her head under her blankets, knowing as all small children do that there is a magic bubble of protection when hidden beneath the covers. Sheets of rain swished across the pane, reminding Callie of the times Daddy had taken her to the car wash and the water splashed and sloshed outside the car windows. She tried to focus on that memory now, in the dark beneath her comforter, tried to recall all she could about that big machine and its tentacle-like arms running back and forth over the length of Daddy’s car. Slip. Slide. Slip. Slide. Soap bubbles running down the doors. Sometimes if she was lucky, Daddy would buy the longest cycle and they would play The Bee Gees really loud and sing along while the car had its bath. Another crack sounded outside, the bed shivering beneath her. Callie’s bottom lip trembled as she held Joey a little closer to her chest. It would be over soon. The storm would pass. It  always did. She really wished her parents would check on her soon, though. Before it was too late. Maybe the White Lady would come instead. She’d come once when the Dark Man stood too close to the end of her bed. If ever anyone looked like a real princess, it was her. She was lovely in her see-through gown of snow, long blonde hair with ringlets at the ends, and eyes the shade of the sky on a perfect day. Callie’s own eyes had grown as big as they could when she came through the bedroom door. Callie had thought she’d come to scare the Dark Man away, but he hadn’t run from her, he’d chased her. Callie thought she’d heard the Dark Man gasp when he, too, saw the white princess drift through the bedroom door and smile. Suddenly, a bright fork of lightning charged the house, making her room as bright as day for a split second, and then heartlessly tossed her back into the realm of shadows. Slowly, heart thrumming as fast as the wings of a humming bird, Callie peeked out from the under her Cinderella coverlet. The corner that Pooh Bear had so ardently kept lit for her, was now painted totally black. The power had gone out. Hot tears built in her eyes, and she wanted so badly to cry out. But if she made a noise, he might hear her. He would know she was alone.With watery eyes and quivering from head to toe, Callie scanned her room from left to right. The dresser, usually so bright and cheerful with its small purple flowers painted on white, loomed along one wall like the yawning mouth of dark cave. The pink streamers she’d made last week in kindergarten, the ones Daddy had hung from the ceiling by the window so they’d waggle with the summer breeze, now dangled like the long legs of a giant spider. But that wasn’t where her terrified stare came to rest. He always came through the wall right beside her bed. A ghost made entirely of shadows, but ones so dark she couldn’t even see through him. She swallowed hard, her tongue dry against the roof of her mouth as she turned her head to the spot on the wall where he always appeared and disappeared. She thought she saw something move, something big. She closed her eyes and counted to five, hoping it was only her imagination.Another lightning strike illuminated her room, thunder booming at exactly the same moment. The room suddenly felt funny, like when she rubbed a balloon against her head and her hair would stand up on end; and she could touch someone with her finger and give them a shock. From downstairs, she heard Mommy scream, followed by yelling and chaos. Callie’s eyes flew open, her heart nearly jumping out of her chest as she twisted her head towards the bedroom door, praying her parents were coming for her. She watched the door, heartbeat whooshing in her ears, but no one came.The faint smell of smoke drifted under her nose as a muddy mist rose up through the crack at the bottom of her bedroom door. Footsteps on the staircase now, nearing fast.“Callie!” Daddy’s voice called out, his voice tight and panicked as he rushed up to the second floor. Black and ashen smoke coiled like clouds inside her room, the air thick and hot. Feet pounding, racing up the stairwell.So many stairs. Please make it in time.Callie screwed her eyes shut, stinging smoke and fear conjuring fresh tears. “Callie! Oh my god! Callie!” The fire was too hot. Tendrils of flame, like glowing amber eyes, glared from the crack beneath the door. She inhaled, to call out to Daddy, to tell him she was there! That she was waiting for him to save her! But the dark smoke silenced her, drowning her lungs in hot soot.“I’m coming baby!” Daddy’s voice was far away, his foot kicking at the burning door, banging--everything slipping away.Sleepy now. So very sleepy.She laid back onto her pillows. Just a little sleep. Everything’s better in the morning. Then, something stirred her awareness. A presence. Something was there, someone else in her room, lingering amid the black of the corners. Slowly, she turned her head, willing herself to see what she truly did not want.And he was there.Callie opened her mouth to scream but the Dark Man lunged for her, placing an icy hand over her mouth and stealing her into his arms. Shock silenced her as he pressed her hard to his chest. Lightning lit up the room once more, and Callie looked up at the Dark Man, saw his face, and slipped into unconsciousness as they disappeared through the wall.