Free Darkmoor by Victoria Barry Page B

my mouth hurts, my eyes, oh my eyes feel like they’re bleeding!”
    “Well,” Matthew started, “we had to cross the river and you...”

Chapter Eleve n
    Where wolf-lizards tread
    “We’d better move, we don’t want to be out here when night falls,” Sam murmured as she rummaged through her rucksack, revealing the light catcher.
    Grey sky grew heavy, ice cold air crept slowly around them and they sensed that the night was fast approaching.
    Sam peered through the light catcher at what seemed an endless vast forest.
    Offering the light catcher to Matthew, he nervously positioned his eye over the lens.
    At first he jumped back and his hands started to tremble. Tiny beads of sweat gathered on his forehead, but intrigued nevertheless, he took another look.
    ‘How could such a dark, dangerous, deadly place be transformed into one of beauty, one you longed to step foot in, one you would be happy to explore?’ Matthew thought whilst peering one more time into Darkmoor’s land.
    “I can’t get over it, how does it, you know?” Matthew said reaching out his hand, trying to grab hold of the rays of sunlight, desperately longing to feel the warmth of a normal summer’s day upon his skin.
    “Ok, ok,” Sam intervened clasping hold of the catcher, “like I said, we’d better move!” Returning the light catcher into her rucksack, Sam started to walk along the path and into the suffocating darkness.
    Catherine remained quiet, with one swift smile towards Matthew she marched quickly behind Sam. Slowly but surely they edged towards the forest, leaving behind the river of souls. Matthew quickly gathered his belongs and he too followed on behind Sam.
    “Are you ok back there?” Sam asked.
    “Yeah thanks,” Matthew shouted back, his voice echoed through the forest.
    Overhead the branches appeared to be woven together, acting like a canopy.
    “Oh get off me, get it off!” Catherine screamed throwing her bags onto the path as she started to jump around.
    Sam quickly got her bow and arrow ready to fire.
    “What? What is it?” Matthew asked keeping his distance.
    “It’s, it’s a spider!!” Catherine shouted flicking at her clothes.
    Matthew couldn’t help but burst into laughter, Sam smiled too, “Matthew don’t just stand there, help me!!” Catherine shouted.
    “Oh come here, Catherine,” Sam said strolling up to her and flicking the bug onto the floor, “there it’s gone!”
    “Are you sure, I can still feel it crawling on me.”
    “That will just be the beetles!” Sam said teasingly.
    “Ha ha very funny, glad your amused,” Catherine said sarcastically.
    “I’m sorry it’s just that...” Matthew began then stopped.
    “What, it’s just what?!” Catherine said putting her hands on her hips.
    “It was only a spider! Sure you’re not scared of the evil swimming angel looking vampires, but spiders, that’s when you really freak out!” Matthew said jokingly.
    “Ok, ok I can’t help it, they give me the creeps!” Catherine bent down to pick up her belongings. “And anyway, everyone is scared of something!”
    “Yeah monsters, aliens, wolf-lizards, that sort of thing,” Matthew said teasingly.
    Catherine gave him a killer look, “You think you’re so funny...”
    “Ok you two, should we get on?” Sam interrupted.
    Both of them nodded their heads, and once again the three of them set off through the forest.
    Night had fallen and a cold icy breeze blew gently through the woods, causing the broken tree branches to clumsily clatter together. Tiny insects scurried around underfoot searching for their next feast. Catherine couldn’t help shuddering as she could feel the tiny creatures crawling all over her. Not wanting to make another fool of herself in front of Matthew, she bit her lip tightly and screamed in her head. Matthew’s head bowed down towards the floor, lost in his own thoughts, wondering whether he would ever see home again.
    At that moment an almighty gush of wind howled