Age of Darkness

Story: Age of Darkness

About:

There was a time when children could run the streets, only fearful of
the shadows that lurked on the edge of every conscious. Where parents
could leave the house without fear of being shot down by their
neighbors. Now that time is over.

New york city, the year 2950

Alaric
Valentine, once loved by many, now ruled through technology he helped
create, and thus throwing the world order into chaos. But one man stood
among the rest who were like sheep to the slaughter, his name was
Darren Graeme. He led those out of the prisons, and freed those who
were being used to build Valentine's monuments. He became a bane in the
side of this new empire.

New york city, the year 3000

Now
50 years later, and Valentine hasn't aged in the physical sense. Some
say he sold his soul to the Gods, others believe he dabbled in alchemy,
what ever the cause sickness doesn't seem to touch him, Darren has
passed on but in his wake he left a single heir. Her name is Andy.

She
was left ignorant of her family, as she was told to be an orphan till
the day her father died and the need for an heir to take over his place
among the rebels rose up. Found in an orphanage she was kidnapped and
taken so those in power could claim her and rule as they tried to make
her a puppet leader. But unbeknown to them, she had a mind of her own
and a heart to follow.
The generals detested her, the leaders wished
to use her to gain power and those who followed under her mistrusted
her intentions. How can she bring together her fathers legacy when
those around her sought her destruction?

Dust, that's all my life seems to consist of
Andy thought to herself. on the floor she drew pictures into the
surrounding layers of thick dirt and grime. Spring cleaning, is what
they called it. Personally she herself thought it was another torture
they invented just to keep the children in mind. Though I'm not a child anymore, am I.
she smiled at the thought. Last week was her 18th birthday she received
a bracelet from Lady Antoshe and a few tokens that were made by the
younger children, she had always liked to help with the raising of the
youngest ones and loved to help in the nursery every time a newborn
baby was dropped off to them. "Andy I don't hear any working going on!"
she heard an aged voice yell up the stairs at her. "That woman has ears
like a bat." she grumbled to herself. "I heard that! You better get
working Andy and I'm not playing around. Over half the house is
finished and you have yet to work on one room!" Smiling to herself she
took the soapy rag out of the cooling water of soap suds that rested
near the up turned chairs and started to scrub at the wooden surfaces.
She started to dream of adventures, of places far away where there were
people to do the cleaning for you and where soft beds and helpful
mechanical beings surrounded you with luxury.

The day pasted
slowly the sounds of machines outside the old building filled the air
with soft humming noises. The worked steadily with breaks only for the
little children until the house itself smelled of fresh lemon and harsh
chemicals. Finally covered in dirt, sweat plastering her hair to her
side, and her clothes in need of great repair, Andy threw down the
dreaded rag and took the half empty bucket and walked heavily down
stairs. The day seemed to be filled with exhaustion, more arrivals came
that evening which caused the orderly house hold to be held in a bit of
confusion as sleeping arrangements were made. There were very little
space for more new comers yet the Ladies of the household always found
room for the newly orphaned children. "Andrea after supper please come
to my office." said an authoritative voice over the loud speaker.
Without going to the washroom to clean up Andy walked steadily to the
kitchens where she offered to help with the evenings food, but she was
denied after one look at her unstately self and was ushered into the
small dinning area where she was handed a bowl of lukewarm vegetable
soup as they had each evening. With ration cards cut down from the
Emperor it was all they could afford to feed the massive amount of
children that teamed inside this old structure of a house.
She took
her bowl and shoveled the tasteless morsels into her mouth as the
little ones sat at the table complaining about all the work they did
that day. Smiling Andy nodded in sympathy as they dragged her into
their conversations though she didn't say much. She looked out the
window, as the shadows lengthened against the side of the house and
thought she saw flickers of movements, but thinking she was over tired
she shrugged off her feeling of unease, excused herself, and walked
towards the Office area into which she was told to go earlier.

Tapping
lightly on the wooden frame she heard the scraping of wood against the
floor and the door was opened slightly. Pushing it open the rest of the
way she came face to face with the woman who found her wandering the
streets stealing from others to survive. "Andrea, welcome." Lady
Antoshe was the only one to call her by her full name, and she held a
welcoming smile as she ushered her into the office. The space held
countless books that should have been in the museum considering this
was the day and age of computer chips instead of paper products.
"Please take a seat." Lady Antoshe gestured towards an over stuffed
chair, in which pieces were falling off in rapid succession. Finally
when they both were seated, an awkward silence started to build, till
finally after taking what seemed to be a calming breath she began to
speak. "Last week was your birthday, I know, state the obvious, but the
fact is you are now 18 years old Andrea." a feeling of quiet dread
filled Andy's veins with an ice cold sensation as she tried to stop
herself from fidgeting. "It is stated by the law, from our Kind Master
and Emperor, that at the age of 18 years old, each person is to be sent
to the Grand City Council and there place in life will be chosen." Andy
nodded her head though she gripped the sides of the chairs till her
knuckles turned a ghastly white. "Andrea, I don't wish to drag this out
any longer, nor do I wish for you to leave...but we can no longer house
you, nor feed you, after next week. Arrangements have been made, and
though your birth is not in the data base we have sent a letter to the
Council explaining your circumstances and a letter of recommendation
for a teaching post has been sent as well. I wish there was more that
could be done, and you have been like my own child throughout these
long years." with a heavy sigh of an overly burdened soul Lady Antoshe
looked down at her neatly folded hands. "Do you have anything you wish
to say." shaking her head no, Andy stood up. "Then you may go. Also we
have three new children to our household tonight so we will be needing
your room for them to sleep. We have placed a cot up in the attic for
you to use for the rest of the week and we have your stuff all except a
few items of clothing being sent to the Council." without another word
Andy left the room.

The silence, except for the few groans and
creeks of the house seemed to fill the place with a foreboding feeling.
Andy walked numbly to the wash room where she cleaned up and put on
some clean clothes. Finally with the hot water gone and the house in
lock down for it was past curfew she started to climb the stair case to
her newly appointed though temporarily new room. But before she could
reach her door she heard a scuttle of foot steps, though choosing to
ignore them she still felt slightly apprehensive. Suddenly she heard a
loud sound as though something was dropped on the floor behind her,
turning she saw a big shadow loom above her, and then saw a fist come
into her line of view. Without warning she felt a sharp pain and colors
flashed behind her eyes as her body hit the stairs and then she knew no
more except the feeling of being lifted off the ground and the feeling
of being carried. after that she could feel no more.