The Key

we saw that the shop was darker now than before. The lights in the place were being extinguished one by one as if they were afraid of the Dark Men too.

  I quietly closed the door, shutting out the office light from the antique shop. I looked down at the doorknob and saw that the lock was on the outside of the office door. We could use this door for an escape, but we’d have to be on the Dark Men’s side.

  “Amber, there’s a lock here on the office door. Let’s all get out of here,” I whispered.

  Amber stepped towards the door and pulled out the key. She closed her eyes and began to think of a door. Both Mr. Murphy and I peered into the dark corners of the shop, looking for movement and any sign of the Dark Men. I kept pulling my hair back anxiously as Amber did her best to open the door. A dish falling off the shelf close to the office door made Amber and I jump. Amber quickly went back to concentrating, but I could tell the tense situation was making it hard to focus.

  “I’ve got to make sure you two get out of here,” Mr. Murphy whispered to me. “Make sure she gets through the door, while I hold them off.” I nodded as I watched him grab a slender sword from the display in front of him. Two of the Dark Men came out of the shadows next to Mr. Murphy. I briefly thought it was clumsy of them, but then I realized they were playing with us.

  I quickly glanced in the other direction and saw a third Dark Man approaching me. I did a double take and after I registered he was there and then repositioned myself with my back to Mr. Murphy’s. The Dark Men were approaching with the quiet animal grace of cats.

  “Any time now, Amber,” I said, trying to get her to hurry up.

  “Shh!” was all she could reply as she focused again. I turned my attention back to the Dark Man just in time. He drew his serpent dagger and lunged towards me, but I managed to grab him and push him back. I could hear the sound of metal on metal behind me as Mr. Murphy fought two of the Dark Men. He moved with surprising grace and agility as he managed to get a hold of one of the Dark Men and stab him with his sword.

  “James! Now!” Amber shouted to my left. I could feel her grab my left arm as she pulled me towards the door. “Mr. Murphy, the door’s open. Come on!” I was pulled through the door and I stared back at Mr. Murphy who kicked at one of the Dark Men. He had managed to subdue the two Dark Men that he was fighting, pushing them back with one great shove. Unfortunately, the one who had lunged at me now had a clear opening at Mr. Murphy. With a graceful lunge, the Dark Man stabbed Mr. Murphy.

  Mr. Murphy stumbled forward. He used a display case to steadying himself, but with the sheer shock of the attack, he collapsed to his knees with his back to us. I could see the dagger sticking out of his right shoulder blade and a small trickle of blood running down his back.

  “Noooo!!!” Amber shouted as she stepped towards him. I held her back in the room as the Dark Man looked towards us. We were the menacing Dark Man's next target. Leaving his dagger, he stepped towards.

  Mr. Murphy caught one last wind and with one last swift movement, he stood up and swung his sword at the Dark Man. The Dark Man, now with a shallow slash in his back, looked livid now. Mr. Murphy looked at me and mouthed, “Go!” I nodded and quickly closed the door, separating us from the Dark Men and a dying Mr. Murphy.

  “No!” Amber shouted. I turned to face her and she angrily struck my chest with her fist. I let her hit me, as she let out her anger, knowing she might blame me for not saving him. I let her hit me until she tired and sunk to the floor in sobbing tears.

  “They killed him,” I said, shocked at how quickly the Dark Men had found us and killed him. I had never seen anyone die before. Mr. Murphy, a man I had known for less than an hour, was gone. Trapped in my new surreal reality, I leaned against the door unsure of what we were going to do next.