This is the sequel to The Magi. The story continues on from where The Magi left off. Raven is pregnant with a child whose father is unknown. Caron is dead at the bottom of the cliff. Michael and Shadowwalker are presumed so to.

The name derives from the actions that led to Raven being pregnant and alone. This is her journey to find inner peace and safety for her and her child.

I hope you gain as much pleasure from reading it and I did from writing it. Just as a forewarning there may be illicit words spoken or suggestive scenes, if any are offended you have my deepest apologies but you were warned.

 

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

The first entry will be up in a few minutes. Please read and critique. All comments welcome, but no insults, juvenile behaviour is not wanted or appreciated.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

Chapter One. Done in the name of peace of mind.

What do you feel? His fingers trailed down her back, his lips soon followed. Each touch brought shivers to her skin and she hid the feeling that breathed inside from him. Serving only the purpose for which she was there for, imagining herself somewhere else. This was the life she led for the peace of mind she sought for her child.

She closed her eyes and blinked away the tears that sat there, existing only to mock her for the choices she had made. The ones that had led her to this moment, this space in time. She felt him slide away from her; she sighed inward and turned her gaze to the cradle in the corner of the room.

He slid from the bed and exited the room. She turned away from the wall and watched the door, hesitant to move least he returned for more. Nothing occurred; no sound slipped under the door and reached her ears. She sat frozen, still waiting. Watching. She barely breathed. Nothing. Sighing with relief, she slid from the bed and slipped into her robe. Standing at the window as it looked down onto the busy streets below, she watched, the people rushing about, doing their daily chores, living their lives.

Where was her life? She wondered staring blankly out the window. Her heart beat in her chest and her eyes welled with tears but she took no notice. Stealing her gaze from the rivers below, she turned back to the room and surveyed it without emotion. Its tacky decorations and overpriced furniture failed to show her what she wanted, to serve the purpose she needed, to do the deeds she desired.

They failed to lift her spirits. She sighed wishfully and turned back to window. She stood there watching the people, feeling more and more as the days pasted and he took his fill from her, an outsider. An outcaste. Living on the outskirts. The outside and looking in on other people’s happiness, destined to never feel it for herself.

A tear slipped from her eye and she wiped it away. It landed on the lining of an armchair as the door cracked open. His footsteps were as silent as the smile on his face and she shivered as he ran his hands down her arms. He stroked her back and took her hair in his hand, gathering it to his face he inhaled her intoxicating scent.

Slipping an arm round her waist, he led her to the bed. Her eyes glazed over and her mind escaped as he took his need from her. She returned as he exited, slipping back in as the door closed with a click. Staring at the ceiling, she ignored the tears and the burning feeling of shame in her heart.

Shaking her head, she slipped from the bed and entered the bathroom. Slipping beneath the still waters in the bath, she lay watching the ceiling its dry still eyes watched her back and she turned away. Staring out the small oval window that sat high in the wall. The looking glass above the basin, drew her gaze to it and she broke it’s hypnotic stare. A knock at the door, woke her from the trance and she stood from the bath. The water dripped from her body and onto the floor, standing in a pool of water, she observed the unknown person who stood behind the door.

This was not her old life, she thought shaking her head, she knew what stood behind that door. Her husband, she thought with disgust. Spitting the word from her lips, like it were poison and for her broken heart it was.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

A very nice start, I'd like to see how she gets out of this...

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1 year on the forums and counting! Get it? Counting? Oh never mind...

If she wants to. She married him for well being and peace of mind. Though, the future is not set in stone, anything could happen.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

The knock came again. Shaking her from her thoughts. She glared at the door and wished for he who stood behind it, to disappear. The knocking stopped and she watched the door, her face screwed up in confusion. This was not like her husband to stop so early, usually by now he would have resorted to yelling and banging his fist.

A whispering voice drifted below the door, it squirmed and sprang out from beneath. She stepped away from the voice and sat pressed against the far back wall. Her hands clutched to her chest, raising them to her ears she ignored his threats and clenched her eyes shut. Not true, she thought shaking her head. Not true at all, how dare he say such things?

She shook her head and stood from crouching on the floor. The whispering has stopped but still she didn’t open the door, she knew of what anger and hatred lay behind its smooth surface. Her eyes flickered to the door as the sound began. Snap. Crackle. Pop. Again it sounded. Snap. Crackle. Pop. Her heart stopped, her stomach dropped and she ran to the door. Clutching its handle in her shaking hands, she struggled to open it.

He had locked her in! She banged the door, shaking it, shuddering it, throwing her still dripping body against its surface. Unrelenting, it refused to open to her. Instead standing still and closed, sealing her in as punishment for refusing him entry. She banged her fists against it, screaming at the top of her lungs. She stopped banging as she heard his cruel cold laughter; she dropped to her knees and wept.

She knew what he was doing. Burning her possessions. The sound had been the roaring crackle of the fire eating up her life, what had been left of it. She heard his words and the click of the door as it opened slowly. He stood perfectly still although etched in stone, but this artist was cruel and had given him a nasty malicious smile that crawled across his face.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

Her heart was heavy and her breath grew still. She blinked several times to distil the tears lodged in her eyes. He stood before her, a horrid man. A cruel master and an even crueller husband. She knew of what lay before her. Shaking her head to his confused stare, she stood to her feet and advanced on him. He glared, laying down the law but no longer would she bow to his rule.

Submission, would no longer rule her days. Shaking her head once more, she slid the dagger from behind her back. Unclothed and dripping with water, she was still as deadly and damned if he didn’t know it now. His face turned a pale shade of white and he dropped to his knees in fear. Waving his hands and now pleading for his life, she smiled, a master? He was not, more the coward than ever before.

Shaking her head a third time, she sealed his fate. Standing to his feet, he turned and fled. Fearing for his life, he ran from the room, slipping on the puddle of water at the door he flipped and landed with a thud on his back. Staring up into her merciless eyes, he whimpered still pleading. Leaning down to whisper into his ear, she smiled "bye Alfred" he shook his head.

His eyes wide bulged out his head and she stood over him, water dripped from her breasts onto his face, she ran her blade across his throat slitting it, ear to ear. A cruel smile slipped onto her lips as she straightened up and walked away. She left him lying in his blood, his eyes wide with shock and blood pooling out his mouth.

The bedroom was blackened with soot from the fire. She struck her hands into the fire and retrieved her pack before it singed. Shaking the soot and ash from it, she slipped on her tunic and leggings. Standing from buckling her dagger to her ankle, she strode out of the house to the sounds of crackling flames and tumbling timbers. Her smiled widened and she walked away into the crowd, disappearing from view.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

what happened to the baby? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BABY??????

And isn't alfred the dude from her other story? the one she killed?

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1 year on the forums and counting! Get it? Counting? Oh never mind...

Calm down. She hasn't had the baby yet. She's only a couple weeks pregnant. Its barely noticable. I used the same name. Symbolic. Weak cowardly men trying to control her. But she kills them in the end.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

Oooh right, you just mentioned a cradle in the first chapter so I assumed... but it makes sense now...

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1 year on the forums and counting! Get it? Counting? Oh never mind...

The cradle was for when the baby came. Unfortunately he didn't last that long.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

Her eyes drew close. Her spot in this ravaged street was unprecedented; from her seat she could see the entire world of Lower Bowerstone. She turned her head ninety degrees and stared down the alley that led off to her right. A breeze drifted down it and lifted scents up to her nose, she sniffed and sighed, baked apple pies, cooked meats, roasted vegetables, her mouth watered and she stepped out of the hole in motion to follow the scents.

A sound crept in from the higher streets above, it served to remind of the dangers, she still faced. She slipped back into the hole and looked about the empty streets checking that none saw her. The coast clear and her head spinning from hunger, she etched closer to the wide opening of the street. Slinking in the shadows, clinging to darkness, she moved slowly toward the far gates that lead out.

A shadow stalked her through the darkened alley towards the exit gates. It slinked along with her, stopping as she did. Standing in the light of a lamp post, it winked in and out of place. Its edges faded and grey. Long claws tipped from its fingers and large teeth sat deep in it mouth. Resting a hand on her shoulder, it spun her round to face its glowing yellow eyes.

She stood frozen watching the creature of shadow. She slipped her dagger from her ankle and rose to face the creature. Following its gaze, she spun in a whirlwind of flashing blades and launched at the shadow. Sinking her claws into its side, she jumped back. It stood still and twittered at her, before slashing out with its poison tipped claws.

Trailing its nails in the air, it lifted its snout to the sky and screamed. The sound reverberated through the alley and struck Raven. She dropped to her knees in pain, clutching her ears as the sound increased in pitch. It launched towards her and sent a low kick to her stomach. Thrown into the air, she struck the wall of the alley and slid down onto the ground. Gasping for air, winded and beyond annoyed she stood to her feet slowly and growled.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

A mournful howl sounded through the air and she turned as did the creature, to the end of the alley. There standing in the light shining down from a lamp post, was a large wolfhound with a shaggy grey coat and long powerful legs. It let out another low howl and soon its cry was joined by others. Standing along side it now, was a small pack of dogs from neighbouring areas. They approached Raven and the shadow, slowly with long lengthy strides.

Standing beside Raven, the lone wolfhound stood between her and the shadow. Its lips pulled back in a snarl. The shadow stepped towards it in motion to walk around the hound. Snarling louder with its teeth showing, the hound sank its jaws into its flesh. Screaming a loud cry, it drew back suddenly and eyed the hound angrily.

The hound licked its chops and smiled wolfishly at the shadow. Understanding its meaning correctly the shadow stepped back and flicked an object towards Raven. Floating down from the sky, the object landed and exploded in a cloud of dust. Confusion exploded out of control in the alley as the dogs started howling and yelping in fear.

A small breeze blew through the alley and the cloud dissipated showing the alley to be empty of the shadow. Another surprise arose in the shocking stunned form of a rather under dressed Michael lying in the place of the wolfhound. Raven took a wobbly step towards Michael and fainted in shock.

Leaping to his feet suddenly, Michael caught her just as she reached the ground. Laying Raven gently on the ground, Michael stood to his feet and stepped towards the dogs. Checking them over for wounds, he released them from their deal and they returned back to their homes.

Raven watched Michael through shaded eyes, her head hurt and she didn’t understand any of what had just happened. One moment she had been fighting a shadow, then a wolfhound has appeared and protected her, now Michael stood before her. She leaned up and sat with her back to Michael. He sighed and walked around her, to stand with his hands on his hips.

She blinked as the tears fell and ignored his stare. She stood slowly to her feet and walked away from him. He strided after her but stopped knowing, she wanted right now more than ever to be left alone. She need some time to think, he though running a hand through his grey hair.

With a lot to process, she barely saw the people wandering around her in the streets. Ignoring the stares and angry cries as she walked, she turned off down a back street and entered a rundown house with a sign hanging out the front. The front door, banged against the frame and she locked it with a small key that hung round her neck.

The small bed in the corner contained the body of a sleeping child of four years. Resting her hand on the child’s head, she stroked its soft hair that littered the top like feather down. It opened its big blue eyes as wide as saucers. Turning its head, it smiled and wrapped tiny arms round her waist. Smiling she rested her hand on its head; it lifted its head and stared into her eyes.

She smiled warmly and swung the little girl down from the bed. She stood in a floor length white nightgown and little cream booties. Her eyes blinked and she squealed happily, jumping up and down crying in a high pitch voice, "again mummy, again!" The door of the house creaked open and a haggard woman of twenty years hobbled in and stopped at the sight of Raven and the child. She broke out into a wide toothy grin and Raven smiled in return. Clasping the woman in a huge hug, Raven blinked away the tears that fell.

"Oh, Emily it’s so to be home with you and Rose" she cried hugging the kind woman tighter to her chest. Emily smiled and laughingly pushing Raven back before she crushed her. "My dear friend, your always welcome in my home and have been since you appeared on my doorstep four years ago with a crying babe, but you still haven’t learnt to mind your strength" said Emily taking a seat on the bed.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

loving it, loving it, loving it!

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1 year on the forums and counting! Get it? Counting? Oh never mind...

Big surprise?

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

Chapter two. Uncertainty breeds desperation.

Darkness breathed new life into the streets. The people came out of their homes to see the stars perform on the blackened stage. All strained their heads to see the performance of an eternity, Raven, Emily and little Rose sat among the crowd. Further enough that she didn’t see him sat Michael among his four legged friends. On the outskirts of the crowd they could see all but still not alarm the people.

Raven stood from her seat on the grass and walked the way to a nearby pie seller, tacking her way through the crowd were the watchful eyes of a long haired man. He hid beneath the cowl of a hood, standing underneath the awning of a nearby store. He turned to his associate giving him a nod and signalled for them to move out.

They slipped quickly into the crowd and headed towards Raven. Parting at the fork, they separated to go different directions. Michael seeing this strange pair, leapt into action following after the one stalking an unknowing Raven. The one that had followed a different path away from Raven slinked down an alleyway. He was on the true mission and his associate, a distraction.

Heading to their true goal, he stood behind an unwary Emily and Rose. Slipping an arm round the young girl he grabbed her before Emily could comprehend. Crying out in surprise, she launched at him, struggling to free the girl from his grasp. Tugging at Rose’s feet, as he slowly sank back into the crowd, he shoved her and she fell clutching Rose’s shoe.

He slipped into the crowd and was swallowed whole, Emily jumped to her feet but it was too late. The stranger and Rose were gone. He had kidnapped Rose! She thought searching franticly for the odd man and the little girl. They were no where to be seen, she dropped to her knees in despair and wept. Raven continued back from the seller, still unaware of the man stalking her and Michael following him.

At the fork in the road, the man gained a signal from his associate and separated from Raven’s path. Michael stood alone and stepped back into the crowd away from Raven. She returned to her seat and stopped at the sight of a weeping Emily. "What’s wrong Emily? Where’s Rose?" she turned and searched for the little girl. Emily stood to her feet and stumbled over to Raven, collapsing into her arms she whispered softly "they took her Raven, they took her".

Raven stood frozen staring into Emily’s eyes as they blinked filled with tears. "Who?" she gasped swallowing hard barely controlling the feeling that were erupting inside of her. "Who took Rose?" her breath grew raspy and she struggled to stand, holding Emily tightly. Emily stared madly at Raven and slipped from her arms, sinking to the ground she stared up at the sky emotionlessly "The strange man, he appeared out of nowhere and took her, he kidnapped her!" her voice rose at the end and she screamed suddenly shocking the people around her.

Raven gathered her arms around Emily, slowly standing to her feet; she turned in circles searching the crowd. Her eyes stopped on Michael and she ran towards him. He motioned as if to sink away into the crowd but she grabbed his shirt stopping him before he disappeared. Her tears had barely begun to fall and her eyes were wide with shock and fear, he stopped and turned to face her. "They took her, Michael, They took my baby!" she wept collapsing into his arms.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

He slipped her from his embrace and she stood to her feet. He looked at her and stared into her eyes. She stepped towards him and realised what the look meant. He wasn’t going to help her, he was leaving. She stopped and stood still watching as he walked away. A few steps and he was gone as suddenly as he had appeared, he disappeared.

It seems Shadowwalker had been right all along, you can’t depend on anyone but yourself. She shook her head in disgust at thought that Michael would drop everything and help her search for her daughter. Shaking her head sadly as she walked slowly back to Emily, she turned back to look for Michael. Hoping on the off chance, he had returned and his walk had not been bye.

She stopped still, blinking she turned and ran back the way she had walked. Stopping in front of him, she smiled and stepped forward to slap his face. Michael stumbled back shocked and grabbed her hand, stopping her from slapping him a second time. She struggled with him; freeing her hand she slapped him again and began punching him. He grabbed her and dragged her into a crushing restricting embrace.

She stopped punching him and stood silently watching him angrily. He released her and she stepped back stumbling. Righting herself, she glared at him, fighting the urge to run, to scream, to slap him again. She felt the words rising in her chest, bubbling up her throat and she turned away from him.

Running down the alley, she stopped suddenly, her wrist caught in his grip. She fought him like a wildcat, scratching and hissing. Needing to run, to escape him before she spilled her secret. Before she told him the truth. The words slid out her mouth and leapt into the air between them, "I’m pregnant". He dropped her wrist and stood watching her, shocked by her words.

"Is this true?" he cried, staring at her. She turned away from him and motioned to run. He grabbed her wrist and twirled her to face him. Pushing her against a wall, he slipped his hand up her shirt and placed it on her belly. Drawing his hand back as if bitten. He watched her with shock, "You’re pregnant? Is it mine?" he asked his voice brimming with hope.

He grabbed her and drew her into his embrace. She knew what he was doing. Imagining their life together but she knew they could never be. Shaking her head, she made her decision.

Raven stood from Michael’s arms and walked away. Her back turned and her heart heavy with guilt. What she was about to do was almost too much for her heart to bear. She turned at his touch. His hand on her shoulder. She faced him with an emotionlessly mask over her face. Her words spilt from her lips and she didn’t hear them, "It’s not your baby, Michael" she had removed herself so as the spare the guilt of what she was doing.

His face crumpled and she could see his heart breaking in two. Even from her high palace in her mind, she still felt the pain and guilt. He shook his head and glared at her, "What? Its not mine? You used me, didn't you? Just for fun was it?" he said. She nodded her head, lying to spare herself the pain. "Its not my baby, fine, and who’s the father of your first ***?’ he spat shoving her away. She dropped onto the ground and struggled not to cry.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

A chapter full of guilt and sorrow, and it's written quite well!

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1 year on the forums and counting! Get it? Counting? Oh never mind...

Thank you. I'll write an entry tomorrow.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

I'm sorry to all my readers. But there probably won't be a entry today. I'm in too much pain. I might have a small break and come back in a couple of days.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

Well take a nice break and rest up....

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1 year on the forums and counting! Get it? Counting? Oh never mind...

Thanks I will after I post two entries to make up for not posting yesterday and today.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

"You won’t help me, fine! But don’t insult my children because you have some grievances with me!" Raven snarled at Michael standing to her feet. She turned away from him and slowly walked away. She could feel it in her heart, this was bye for the last time, there was no going back and she sighed wiping the tears away from her eyes.

She had burnt the bridges and there was no way back but hadn’t she known that before she had committed the deed? She shook her head, maybe she had, maybe she hadn’t she couldn’t remember and it was just a struggle for her to hold back the tears. She blinked her eyes furiously and kept on walking.

Michael stood stunned, the words hadn’t sunk in completely and he stood with his mouth open wide. He stared blankly at the wall and turned to watch Raven walk out of the alley and out of his life forever, riddance he thought shaking his head. He turned away from her exit and created one of his own.

His head hung low and he glared angrily, shoving people out of his place. He waded into the crowd and searched around for the nearest bar. Finding a seedy pub at the east end of the town as far from her as possible, he slipped on a bar stool and sank into a drunken daze. Lying in a bottle of whisky, he barely saw the men enter the bar through the door. Had anyone asked him, he wouldn’t have been able to remember his name, let alone the ones they gave the barkeep.

Sleeping in a drunken stupor, he gazed up at the ceiling and missed them dragging a struggling child up the stairs and into their booked room. Still beyond the call of sobriety, Michael stumbled from his stool and landed on the floor, standing slowly to his feet he struggled with the stairs. Finally reaching his room he collapsed on the bed and lay there for several days.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

The door banged against the frame and woke Emily from the light sleep she had fallen into moments after she had gotten home. Raven stood at the doorway and stared at her friend’s hopeful look. Shaking her head, she turned away to avoid having to see the heart crushing desperation and guilt in Emily’s face.

She slipped Emily back into the bed and dragged the rocking chair over to the fireplace. Easing into the comfortable seat, she sat rocking quietly in the soft light of the fire, humming a tune of her childhood she sang Emily back to sleep. Standing from the chair as Emily closed her eyes; Raven walked over to the chest of draws in the corner and retrieved one of Rose’s nightgowns from it.

Slipping back into the chair, she held the nightgown to her face and breathed in her daughter’s familiar scent. She sighed sadly and let the tears fall, dropping her head into her hands she wept quietly careful not to disturb Emily’s sleep. Raising her head, she wiped the tears away and slowly began rocking; she rested a hand on her belly and gazed wistfully at the fire.

A crack sounded outside and she rose from her seat quickly. Retrieving her dagger from the cupboard draw, she checked that Emily was still asleep before slipping outside. Standing in the moonlight with her hair tossed over her shoulder, she searched the house and surrounding areas for the silences disturber. Hiding in the shadows of the house, was a slip of paper tied to a rock.

Unravelling the message, she stood from a crouch and re-entered the house. Slipping back into the chair, she read the message. Folding the paper several times, she stood from her seat and tossed it angrily into the flames. Watching it crumpled and burn quickly before turning into ash, she felt her anger burn brightly and grow rather than die like the flames of the fire.

The words from the note ran through her mind repeatedly, going over the message a hundred times again and again. Yet it didn’t make sense, she thought shaking her head. She ran a hand through her hair and spoke the words of the note aloud quietly, "This is not a ransom, we have not taken you’re child for money, power or fame. We have taken your child to sacrifice it to the gods in hope of ridding the people of Albion of the god’s wraiths at such an abomination being aloud to be live".

She shook her head and strode across the room, shaking her head. How dare they, she thought glaring angrily, how dare they call her daughter an abomination! She turned quickly to the door and grabbed her coat, shrugging it on she strapped her dagger and pistol to her belt. Standing to her feet, she walked to the door, standing in the doorway she turned as Emily called her name softly and stood from the bed.

"Raven? Where are you going? You’ve barely been home for a day and now you’re leaving again?" Emily’s eyes watched her carefully and Raven sighed hating to have to tell Emily the truth about the note and crush any hope that still resided within of Rose’s safe return. "Emily, I’m sorry but there’s something I have to do" she said turning away from Emily and walking out the door without a backward glance.

She ignored the sigh Emily gave and continued on down the street, she could just hear her whisper "But what about Rose?" as she turned the corner. She felt the words tug at her heartstrings and she sighed before approaching the gates leading out of Bowerstone. She had some idea of where this ‘god’ they would be sacrificing Rose to, lived. She glared at the hideous large building in front of her, the temple of Shadows.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?

She entered the gloom and dank halls of the temple. Standing at the edge of a large staircase that led down into the darkness, she simply stood back and stared into the shadows. Lifting one foot to step onto the stairs, she took a deep breath and walked into the belly of the beast. Down. Down. Down. It led. Winding. Twisting. Turning. In spirals, that ran under and over. Round and round. Leading her forever down and down into the darkness.

She stopped at the small beacon of light that shone in the valley of darkness. Following the halls that led her to a large antechamber. Standing within a large circle carved into the surface of the floor, she turned and looked around the room. Stopping on a large wheel, she stepped closer to observe it in more detail, but as she reached it, she stopped and turned away in disgust.

"What is this dank dark dungeon of debauchery?" she cried running away from the wheel and it’s hidden meanings. Down a hall that led off the antechamber she appeared in a room filled with torture implements. Shaking her head at the symbols of depravity, she turned and ran back down the hall. Searching the maze like labyrinth that lived beneath the temple’s higher façade, she drifted further and further into the mind of the depraved.

Ignoring the shadows that stalked her along the long snaking corridors, she screamed Rose’s name and cried out for her little girl, who had been cruelly snatched from her. Collapsing on the ground of a storage room, empty but for a small cot in the corner, she slowly stood to her feet and stumbled over to the cot.

Staring into its dusty containment, she stepped back in horror, grasping a hand over her mouth she turned and fled the room. Running down the halls back to the antechamber and back up the stairs. The image of the room and what it contained in the cot haunted her mind and resurfaced again and again as she escaped the plagued prison. Reaching the sweet air of outside, she dropped to her knees at the edge of the cliff and wept.

The body of a child, she had found in the cot, swam to the surface of her mind and she shook her head, trying with desperation to shake the image from her mind. It stayed and mocked her, it could be Rose it whispered, look what they have done it cried, it probably is Rose’s fate it screamed. No, no, no, she thought shaking her head, clawing at her head; "NO!" she screamed standing to her feet.

She ran and ran. Her speed eating up the miles between Rookridge and Bowerstone. Breathing heavily, her muscles aching and her feet on fire from pushing her self past the point of exhaustion, she soon stood at the familiar gates of Bowerstone. Entering the depths of the downtrodden, she walked among her own, the lost, the forgotten, the abandoned and the insane. Among them she knew where she stood, unlike among the higher born and bred who were as fickle and twisted as the god’s they worshipped.

She reached Emily’s house and stopped at the doorway, her hand grasped the doorknob firmly in motion to turn and enter the warm and comforting house, something stopped her she thought and it hit her, Rose was not with her. Still lost and stolen some where in the wide world, facing unknown dangers. She dropped her hand from the doorknob and turned entering the dark world again.

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If I fall will you promise to catch me?
If I cry will you promise to hold me?
If I love you will you promise to never break my heart?