CHAPTER 1
ESCAPE FROM TULOOSA'S UNDERGROUND WORLD
SATURDAY 13/3
JAMIE
Unaware of what lay ahead I tramped through the eerily lit tunnel my stomach heaving from the rancid smell that oozed from its chilly damp walls.
The sound of our boots squelching in the slimy matter casing the cold stone floor did little to elevate my fear that we'd be heard.
Jade was making matters worse by constantly jabbering about hideous monsters attacking them and clawing them to death. Unable to shut her up we ignored her and after a while it seemed that she'd got the message. I trudged on thankful that she'd gone quiet.
"Hey guys, where are you?" Jade called out only to hear her frightened voice echoing all around her. The dank, airless atmosphere had affected Jade, and breathless from lack of air she'd slipped far behind and had become lost in one of the many tunnels that led off the cold gloomy basement.
"Use your powers little one!" a deep raspy voice whispered behind her.
"Who said that?" Jade asked her voice quivering from fear, as she froze unable to move.
"Go on young girl, you will find your friends in the tunnel that turns to the right. Tell them that the time is near when we will meet."
Jade swung around to the sound of the eerie voice and for a fleeting moment saw the face of an old man in the shadows. Shaken she ran, taking the tunnel to the right, and to her relief heard her friends calling out to her.
"Katie, Jamie, Liam....I'm here, wait for me!" she called frantically
"What happened to you?" admonished Katie as I saw Jade running toward us. "You frightened us to death"
Talking a hundred miles an hour Jade told us of her encounter insisting that the old man was the one who plagued the kids at school.
"What! Are you trying to tell us that he intends to meet up with us Jade?" I was stunned, maybe I was right after all; the old man must be Asa!
"That's what the old geyser said Jamie!" replied Jade shakily.
"Ssh guys, there is someone or something coming towards us. Can't you hear that funny moaning sound?" whispered Katie.
We stood still nervously watching the eerie green glow spreading through the tunnel up ahead.
"What do you think it is, Jamie?" Katie whispered anxiously.
"I don't know Katie but I think we're about to have a 'Close Encounter of the Third Kind'!" I croaked barely able to get the words out.
"Jamie this is no time for jokes!" Katie retorted angrily.
"I'm not joking Katie. That sound is too close for comfort." I whispered as I pushed Jade and Katie into the deep crevice beside us. To my relief Liam quickly followed.
We huddled together in the dark narrow space praying that we wouldn't be seen as a terrifying spectacle of unearthly beings bathed in the glowing green light of the slithering creatures by their side approached. Bug eyed I shook as their hideous odor filled the air; their ghastly ashen faces belying their once human lives.
In horror we watched as they dragged the remains of their tattered clothing behind them their human origins now apparent as they stared woodenly ahead at the black shrouded Incubus leading them. His arm raised he stood pointing his skeleton like hand at the stone wall directly in front of where we were hiding.
Blocking our ears from the insistent bleating of those green glowing creatures we watched in astonishment as part of the stone wall slowly grated open.
Clinging to each other we watched terrified as the macabre parade passed within a hair's breath of us as before disappearing through the opening.
I edged forward my fear overtaken by the desire to see where they went.
"Jamie don't. Come back!" Katie pleaded as she grasped my wizard cloak tightly.
Ignoring Katie's frantic plea I pulled my cloak from her hands and slipped out of the safety of the crevice.
My heart pounding I crept to the opening in the wall. Astonished I looked down into a vast hollow chamber. In it's midst an enormous fire blazed silhouetting grotesque creatures against the stone walls as they swayed in unison to the beat of an invisible drum.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. There stood Swasie dressed in regal robes bowing before a monster ensconced on a huge throne.
"Tuloosa!" I gasped.
"What Jamie, what do you see?" Liam's voice croaked in my ear as he snuck up behind me.
All I could do was point.
Suddenly the wall began to close in front of us silencing the cheering reverberating around the vast chamber as thirteen black robed figures appeared extending their hands in a show of unity to the monster before them.
"Come on Jamie, now's our chance...let's get out of here!" Katie whispered urgently.
Sanity prevailed and I turned and ran behind them through the myriads of tunnels, not stopping to catch my breath until I saw the welcome sign of daylight streaming down an enormous set of stone stairs.
Chillingly I heard low guttural growls behind me and I turned to see huge heinous monsters stalking us. Terrified I yelled out to the others to head for the stairs.
However it was to no avail, suddenly more of these hideous monsters appeared and stood, their teeth bared in readiness as an enormous steel door slid behind them across the stairs blocking our only means of escape.
Screaming in horror Katie clutched Jade's hand as countless more mysteriously materialized from the cavernous depths of Tuloosa's underground world. .
"We're done for guys!" yelled Liam as he stood protectively in front of Katie and Jade.
Snarling treacherously the monsters came closer, baring their stained, pointed fangs as the sound of sardonic laughter echoed throughout the catacombs. Menacingly a dark silhouette appeared flitting back and forth, watching, relishing our fear.
Suddenly it materialized and Swasie stood before us taunting and goading us into using our powers. Dumbfounded I wondered how he knew.
Closer Swasie came until he was just a breath away. His eyes penetrated mine searching deep into my soul when suddenly he was wrenched away by an invisible force.
Pinned against the wall Swasie watched helplessly as the incessant humming of millions of cosmic rays bombarded us, encasing us in an invisible cone of protection. Within seconds we'd vanished before his eyes.
Enraged Swasie's fury incinerated the hapless Basliks who stood in his path as he darted into the dark tunnel after the shadowy figure of the Crines old adversary who'd thwarted his well-laid plan. His furious cry of revenge penetrated the hallowed walls of the Holy Temple in the Ancient city above where bewildered we now stood, confronted by an untamed raging sea, threatening to implode.
Terrified we gasped as the walls shook on their foundations at the cliffs edge from the incessant pounding of the enormous waves raging havoc on the ancient city.
"What happened? How did we get here?" asked Jade terrified.
"I don't know, but I don't think we should stick around to find out!" declared Liam.
Without question we ran through the foaming salty waters spreading rapidly over the cold stony floor. Drawn by an unseen presence I looked back at the cliff's edge where I saw an old man, three dingoes at his side, quelling the surging sea summonsed by Swasie's wrath to destroy us.
We ran on our wizard cloaks flying behind us through the silvery mist now engulfing everything in its path.
Little did I know that this mist had mingled with the powers of 'Moon Harvest' as it had travelled across the now raging seas pounding the cliffs of the ancient city.
Like a shepherd gathering its flock it had mustered the white froth from the tips of the turbulent waves in its wake to make its potent brew
Akin to a mammoth bird of prey it travelled on, spreading its outstretched wings over Braden, entrapping all in its mysterious grasp before releasing its spellbinding burden.
Now entrapped by the powers of 'Moon Harvest' the innocent townspeople of Braden succumbed to the evil of those who'd harnessed its energy.