Chapter 64

Pat peddled hard, propelling her bicycle up the grassy hill until she at last broke free of the dense forest of trees on the loosely established path which she rode.

“Finally, I am almost there!” she sighed with great relief at the sight of the dark city walls which loomed ominous and threatening, their powerful appearance stretching far above her.

She rallied herself, worn from the journey, and she began to peddle harder. She rode speedily alongside the wall of the capital, becoming only mildly aware of the change in atmosphere as she went.

After a while, she stopped and observed to look at the whole area around her. There was a dark haze which seeped up from the ground, lessening visibility and sunlight. It rose higher the closer she came to the city and its gates, becoming darker and more prominent until it engulfed everything in sight with its grey spectral hue. The change had been so gradual that she had hardly noticed it until she had nearly reached the gate