THE DARKENING

It was the September school holidays and the Quincy family was having a family walk through the forest outside Glen Hartwell in the South Eastern Victorian Countryside. Quentin was a tall, raven-haired man of about forty, his wife Quinlana (Quin for short) was a pretty thirty-something brunette. Their three children, Quella nine years old, Dorothy (nicknamed 'Queenie') aged eight, and Quinto aged seven, were all dead ringers for their mother facially. However, Quella and Quinto had their father's black hair.
"So tell us again why we're walking frew da wayne?" asked Queenie, holding her father's left hand and sharing his large black umbrella.
"It's only spitting, honey," replied Quentin, as they strolled slowly through the sweet-smelling pine and eucalyptus forest.
"It's cold," protested Quella, holding her mother's left hand, while Quinto held her right.
"Coolish, baby," said Quin: "That's why you're wearing your jacket that Nana gave you for last Christmas."
"Hope she gives me something better this Christmas," moaned the little girl: "Like lollies, or Monster High dolls."
"You and Monster High," said Quinto shaking his head: "I prefer action DVDs: Bruce Willis, Vin Deisel, or Dwayne Johnson 'specially."
"You and your haction movies," said Queenie: "Gimme Monster High or Scooby Do."
"Or Loud House or Casagrandes," added Quella.
"None of that sissie stuff for me!" insisted Quinto.
"Are you calling us sissies?" demanded Queenie.
"Honey, sissy just means like a girl," pointed out Quentin: "So there's nothing wrong with my two beautiful little girls being sissies."
"Well, oh," said Quella, sounding unconvinced.
While they were walking and talking, the rain had gradually stopped. However, the sky around them had started to darken almost eerily.
"Hey, night came herly," said Quella.



A dark cloud, like a dark fog descends, reducing visibility to zero.

People who go into darkening vanish into other dimensions,
Or are reduced to skeletons,
Or go raving mad,
Or go on a rampage murdering or raping,
Men rape their daughters,
Women murder their babies,
A riot occurs in Glen Hartwell Mall after the darkening descends in the early afternoon and fills the mall,
Perhaps Lulu Wellins goes temporarily insane, forcing Lisa Williams and Donald Esk to take care of Woof permanently, till Lulu recovers after the Darkening is dispatched

Perhaps Bulam-Bulam has heard of the Darkening, a Dream-Time myth and he and Abrs. perform ritual to call Darkening to them, not knowing if they can destroy it, or whether it will destroy them?

THE END
© Copyright 2024 Philip Roberts
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia