Summer's End Part 6

Click here for previous instalments.

"Si! NO!" Rubens restrained Josiah, he and his fellow gruesome boatman having set down their oars. Mr Angelus returning to his seated position, calmly, as though he had merely discarded some litter.
"YOU BASTARD!"
"Sshh, Josiah, sshhh..." The waters calmed again, the boat's rocking stopped and Josiah shrugged off his captor to fall into his hands, moaning.
"Boss..."
"Shush, Andre. Be quiet. Be quiet all of you."
The group sat mute, save for some quiet sobbing from Josiah. Suddenly, Angelus' head shot up, as though he was sniffing the air for some imaginary scent.
Slowly, they all began to feel it. The boat was vibrating, the waters becoming choppy. Andre and Rubens looked around desperately, their eyes scanning the lake for the source of a disturbance. The frequency of the vibrations increased rapidly, the wood humming beneath their feet. In a flash it seemed dawn had come, light surrounded them, a bright blue-white light emanating from the water below. The oars were threatening to shake loose from their holders. Andre and Rubens grabbed them and thrashed wildly but to no avail against the tempestuous waters.
And then, when it seemed the boat could take no more abuse, the waves stopped.
And from the water in front of them a ball of light shot straight upwards, accompanied by a pure, sonorous note, loud enough to be deafening, but so beautiful to hear that not one of them covered
their ears.
Hovering in front of them, about ten feet above the water was Simon, naked and bathed in white light like something that fell from above - radiating pure power.
Angelus was the first to speak.

"It's true." he whispered.

Summer's End Part 5

Previous instalments.

The brothers sat in silence as the boat ploughed through the black water, the only noise of the night coming from the languid oaring of the two brutes flanking Mr Angelus. Josiah was not scared but he was worried. Had he done the right thing? He looked at his younger brother, he still thought of him as a baby although he had long since left the crib. He sat there confused and sniffing, although completely trusting his big brother.
"You're shivering, young Simon. Are you cold?"
Simon did not meet Mr Angelus' empty glare.
"Rubens, pass the coat."
The manservant did as he was told.
"There, young man, put this on. Button it right up to the top."
Simon's numb fingers struggled as he fastened all the buttons.
"Th-this jacket is very heavy, sir."
"Yes, it is a special coat. I have sewn several large rocks into its lining."
"Rocks? But..."
"We cannot take any chances, Simon..." Angelus pounced with a speed and agility belying his frame and his sensory handicap. Josiah tried to stop him but he was too slow. With one lightning swoop he had bowled the boy up and over the side, Simon flailing into the arctic lake with a sickening splash.

Summer's End Part 4

Parts 1, 2 and 3

"You must be Josiah. And this must be young Simon. Come over here, boy. Have you been crying?"
Simon, touched his fingers to his cheeks in confusion, "But, how....?"
"A lack of eyes does not hinder my sight, dear boy. You would be well advised to remember that. Here, let me look at you."
Mr Angelus' fingers scanned Simon's head phrenologically, too long to be a friendly ruffle of the hair, but if he was looking for something, no change in his expression betrayed he had found it.
"Andre, Rubens, get the boys in the boat. We must be back by sunrise."

Summer's End Part 3

Part 1, Part 2

Night-time had fully descended by the time the boat was near enough to shore to make out the figures. The crescent moon was the only source of light, a thumbnail tear on the dark velvet sky, barely illuminating the three shadowy figures making their way towards the boys. The two tattily-dressed men rowing were clearly subordinate to the dapper gent at the prow of the rowboat, his eyes closed in deep concentration as they bumped up on to the sand. His two henchmen jumped in to the shallow waters and hauled the boat ashore before taking an arm each of their master, lifting him clear of the water and lowering him to the ground only when they were clear of the softly lapping lake. Not a drop had sullied his impeccable garb. When he spoke, he stared straight ahead into the wood behind the boys.
"My name is Mr Angelus. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Josiah moved toward his oustretched hand, and only realised as he got closer that Angelus had not had his eyes closed in concentration. No, this would be impossible. For how can one close one's eyes, when one has no eyes?
"P-pleased to meet you, sir." he gulped, staring into the man's dead
ocular cavities.

Summer's End Part 2

For the first instalment, click here

"Do you think they've noticed we're gone yet?"
The older brother, Josiah, didn't reply, instead he peered across the lake, trying to discern any movement on the jetty at the other side.
"Can you see anything?"
"Not yet, Si. We're early, though."
A sudden splash off to their left punctuated the hum of the woodland. As Simon put the kayak between himself and the noise, Josiah moved to inspect the rippling surface.
Nothing. A bird must have dropped its supper, he assumed.
He trotted back to his brother, settled down on the kayak drawing a pen knife from his pocket and began to carve his name into the peeling boat belly.
"What's that?"
Josiah looked to where his brother was pointing, to the jetty across the water. The faintest stirrings of a grin appeared on his face.
"They're coming."

Summer's End Part 1

Thrum.
Thrum.
Two boys beat the underside of an upturned kayak at dusk on the
outskirts of a forest. Their clothes are ragged and one of them has
the snotty nose and grubby tracklines of long-dried tears on his
cheeks. They are brothers.