Prologue

They sat in darkness, clothed in darkness, alone in darkness, waiting for the summons they knew would come.   Outside, the world whirled by as happy as it could be.  Little did it know of the horrors that lay in wait. 

***

“But Mama,” Tommy protested, “I don’t want to take a bath!”

Mara shook her head, a good-natured but pointed scowl crossing her face. “Don’t you give me that, young sir! You will go down to the river with the others and wash yourself.”

Tommy made a pointed show of his lower lip, but then dropped his head, and plodded off for the river.

Mara smiled to herself, reveling in this mother’s small success.  She sank down into a chair carved from the solid rock that abounded everywhere.   Her eyelids began to drop.

Screams shattered the silence.  Within her veins, her blood froze.  She knew those screams.

They were coming from the river.

Mara leapt to her feet and bounded across the room.  Down the corridors she dashed, picking her way through the twisting in the night.  Only small hanging lamps lent their light to her feet.

At once, the hallways ended, and opened into a vast, central cavern.  Just ahead flowed the river.

Mara halted in her tracks, terror tearing her heart.  Tommy stood by the water, petrified by fear.  His eyes, unmoving, were locked on an object.

There, in the water, floated a body.  Disfigured and mutilated was it, a horror to behold.

Tommy’s screams had attracted the attention of others. From the growing gathering other cries were heard. 

“What is it?”  Qirk, the village bard, appeared at Mara’s side.  His eyes widened when he saw the body.  Dread filled his features.  “It’s back.”

Mara’s chest tightened around a fluttering heart.  She pressed her lips together before looking up. 

“Alert The Five.”

***

They sat in darkness, clothed in darkness, alone in darkness, until a knock sounded at their door.   Outside, the world reeled in confusion.  Inside, The Five still waited, knowing well what horrors lay in store.