A Life Beyond by Mark Church (ebook reader web TXT) 📕

'Look we are all in this together, we just need to stick together and I'm sure we will be ok, let’s just keep moving ok?' Lillie felt like she needed to act as a peacekeeper as the trio were in a place they didn't know, on a path they weren't sure where it led and to top it all off struggling to deal with all the news they had been given but they all had one thing in common on this night, They all needed to find a way home.

As the forest thinned out slightly Lillie could see a collection of bright light seeping through the last few trees in the distance which grew brighter with every step they took,

'Come on guys I think we might be near the town' She said excitedly as they all started to pick up the pace, all eager to see where they were heading and what they were heading into,

'Mmm, I can smell food...and it smells amazing!! Harvey, who was led by his stomach once again, pushed past Daniel and shot off towards the edge of the final few rows of trees where they were met by a distinct warm looking glow from the lights which were shining like a beacon in the night sky.

As they made their way single file through the last bit of hedgerow that was shielding them from whatever was outside, they stepped through the final gap one by one and out into the open they were met with a collection of sights and smells they had never come across before,

'Wow...this place is massive!!' Harvey mouthed as they stood there trying to take in the sight in front of them,

'Come on guys let's go…' Lillie took the lead as she made her way towards the fencing which surrounded the edge of the town, Daniel was just stood there in complete awe of what he was seeing, 'Erwin!.....' He muttered as Harvey grabbed his arm and pulled him along.

Chapter Nine

The Town Of Erwin

The Town of Erwin stood silently in the peaceful province of Vaymia like a sleeping giant across the land waiting to come to life at the first sign of sunrise, By its size you could tell it is normally a bustling place to live with plenty to keep the townsfolk from steering too far away from the city, housing plenty of locals who were born here, it seemed that this town was a central hub for plenty of visitors wanting to buy whatever the locals were selling but this was the time of night when all was silent across the town and only the sound of the occasional animal noise filling the night air followed by a rumbling roar from in the distance which echoed around filling the night air like a blanket of fog descending deep into the streets.

The only lights to be seen across the sprawling mass of the town were the lights coming off of the buildings with lanterns burning brightly outside each door, it seemed that every house as decked out with at least one light source, only a few had lights coming from inside the houses with inaudible conversations being heard from behind the closed doors of many of the houses, it seemed the layout of the town was purposely built in such a way that the streets resembled what can only be described as looking like a maze, winding purposefully through the streets, each turn different to the last, such a layout was performed to confuse anyone who tried to attack the town by making each turn of a corner different from the next, making it harder to reach the parts of the town that seemed to house the most activity.

The residents were normally very friendly and peaceful which made it easier for their town to be attacked, which unfortunately was becoming more and more frequent as the years have passed, the residents would seek shelter in their houses at the slightest whiff of trouble, no one wanted to be involved in the protection of the town as their safety was a priority to the army who were sworn to protect them all.

The town itself seemed to house some sort of special secret that only a few elders seemed to know about and had taken a vow to never reveal what it is, which was why it was being attacked more and more these past few years causing some of the townsfolk to flee, never to return.

Army after army would descend onto the town but time and time again it would stand firm helped by the protection they received, the main reason being that looming over the Town like a protecting shadow was the Castle Erwin which stood at the far end of the town high up in the Whispering Hills, seemingly silent until the alarm was raised where all sorts of activity could be heard as the Castle seemed to ready itself for its next battle.

But tonight all seemed quiet in the town as the trio stood at its edge, looking round for any signs of life, hoping that they wouldn't be spotted by whatever type of people lived here.

'Can anyone see anything?' Daniel's voice just higher than a whisper but low enough not to be picked up if anyone were in the vicinity.

'Nothing over here, think they must all be asleep or something' Lillie was on full alert as she crept back over to where her brother was standing, both of them still straining to see into the town for movement when all of a sudden Harvey appeared, trying to be as quiet as he could but it seemed even that was a big ask for him as he clattered into a metal bucket and what looked like a small trowel and rake propped up against the fence, sending him tumbling over followed by the tools being somehow wrapped up in his legs which clanged and banged around him as he fought to get them off.

Harvey ended up lying on his back right next to where Daniel and Lillie were standing, both leaning over him with faces like thunder at the noise he had just created,

'Well done Harv!!' Daniel sarcastically clapped his stricken friend as he lay there on the ground looking slightly dazed,

'Wake up the whole town why don't you. Only you could make THAT much noise, typical of a Jones boy!!' Lillie had decided to join in with having a go at him too.

'What do you mean by that Lillie?' came Harvey's reply as he struggled to get to his feet, still trying to kick off the tools that had become attached to him like a pet that wouldn't let go,

'It's not MY fault some idiot has left their stuff just lying around out here, could of had my eye out too!...and what do you mean typical of a Jones boy?' Harvey finally kicked off the tools which clattered against the post for the final time as he confronted Lillie over her comment.

'Well…' Lillie started 'Let's look at the facts. First of all you are a walking disaster area, everywhere you go you seem to get hurt, or fall over, or bring attention to yourself by being able to make the most amount of noise possible out of very little, You're clumsy, and to be honest I don't see why Daniel puts up with you'

Daniel sniggered to himself as Harvey just stood there listening to the savage mauling he was getting from Lillie,

'Oh gee thanks!, anything else you've forgotten?' came the reply from Harvey as he seemed rather taken aback by what he was being told,

'I'm sure you'll muck up in some other way before we get out of this mess so I'll wait until that happens then remind you', Lillie whipped her head round almost whacking Harvey in the face with her ponytail as she done her best turned up snooty expression.

Harvey turned to Daniel who was still sniggering to himself and with a look that seemed like he wanted to cry asked him,

'Is that what you think of me mate?, am I really that bad?'

'Well you are a clumsy idiot mate but that's why I like you so much, you're easy to control and make you do what I want you to do, I wouldn't change you for anyone else….Well apart from Bucksy I mean but he's not here so I guess I'm stuck with you. Ha-ha'

'Thanks Dan, now I feel so much better!!' he replied, still sulking from Lillies scathing comments earlier.

'Right you two numpties, we need to somehow find our way to that house with the lights on it...What was it called again?' enquired Lillie as she readied herself to leap the fence and make her way towards the town,

'Err it's called the House of a Hundreds lights sis, lucky I'm here isn't it or you’d be knocking on anyone's door hoping they would let you in!!'

'Whatever Daniel...anyway we need to go, I'm getting a bad feeling about being here too long' Lillie shuddered as she thought about what could happen if they were caught.

Just as she was about to make her way over the fence and down towards the town itself a few of the house lights lit up just ahead of where they were standing, It seems the noise from outside had awoken a few of the townspeople, Door after door was flung open as a few of them made their way outside to see what the noise was and where it had come from, Lillie quickly grabbed Daniel and Harvey by the arms and dragged them along the fence line further into the darkness, they jumped the fence and hid behind one of the dark houses on the edge of the town, peering into the blackness of where they had just left only to see a couple of the townspeople inspecting the mess Harvey had left by the fence, both muttering to themselves, as Lillie strained her neck out to try and catch what they were saying, all she caught were the words ‘Twinnies’ and ‘Bulger's must of done this’.

They then made their way back towards the safety of their homes, followed by every door slamming shut and what sounded like hundreds of locks being turned, then it all went dark across this end of the town.

'Phew that was close!!' Daniel rubbed his forehead as he turned to Harvey smiling.

'Too blooming close mate, what do we do now?' Harvey replied as he stood completely still so as not to make any more noise.

'We wait….just in case they decide to come out again for some reason, then when it's clear we make our way into the town to find Luther and that house with that light on it' replied Lillie who was still on guard in case anything happened while they were hidden out of sight.

'It's the House of a Hundred lights and the man's name was Lucas. Don't you ever listen properly? Such a plank!!'. Daniel corrected his sister which made him smile as it wasn't very often he got one up one her.

'Whatever boy wonder. Come on I think we are clear, let’s go before

Hurricane Harvey strikes again' chuckled Lillie as she carefully made her way round the darkened edge of the house, she stopped right at the end of the wall watching as the last light flickered then went out on the house ahead of them,

'Right you two follow my lead but this time be quiet, especially you Harvey!' Lillie scowled at Harvey who put his head down as he knew he was mainly to blame,

So the trio made their way through the first part of the town, the streets twisting and winding round every corner they took, occasionally leading them down a dead end causing them to backtrack and try to find a new path through the town.

After what seemed like an age just as they felt like they were making progress through the maze like streets as if Lillie almost knew which turns