Castle of Illusions Chapter Four: The Castle

Castle of Illusions Chapter Four: The Castle

Chapter Four: The Castle

As they entered the path that was surrounded by a wall of fog, on both sides; Mr.Keener would talk to himself, uttering those words that made Jacob worry, and wonder. "Fog...Sinister...Castle...Mary..." He tried to ignore it, but it always surfaced inside his mind, like drift wood that has been at the bottom of a lake for too long, and finally gave away.

Mr.Keener paused for a moment, looked back, and than looked infront of him again. He spoke two words that sent chills down Jacob's spine. "The Fog." Yet curious as to why Mr.Keener said those words, Jacob was afraid to ask, knowing that it would only bring trouble. But Mr.Keener, quick to act, spoke to Jacob in a dry tone "I sense you are worried, Jacob Miller. I sense that you fear the Fog that surrounds us. I sense that what I said disturbed you." Yes, he said to himself, yes what you said does disturb me, and yes the Fog is what I fear. But Jacob knew that he would not say these words, but simply reply "How did you know?" Charles smiled, his crooked smile and simply added "I know much of which you don't, Jacob Miller."

Looking down at the ground, than quickly looking back up, he added "There, off in the distance, my home." He was pointing at the narrow exit of the path, where the walls of fog ended. Jacob followed the outstretched arm, and his eyes fell upon an enormous castle. The turrets peirced the sky with their pointed tips. The narrow windows gave off an eerie look, as though they watched Jacob carefully. A blanket of fog surrounded the perimeter of the stony castle, climbing the sides of the walls, and entwining around the turrets. A series a lamp posts were lined up, parallel to the path. Each lamp post was covered in a sapphire blue, with its lights dimly turned on to throw a warm glow onto the ground below.

With cautious steps in the presence of the fog, Jacob took the time to admire the structure that lay before him. He read about castles like these in his books, in which he read often. Castles that you might find in the Medieval Era. He was astounded by the mere sight of Mr.Keener's home, but he was also intimidated by the sight of it all. He looked at Mr.Keener with great amazement, and wonder as to this place. Charles looked down at Jacob, smiled his usual smile, and looked back at the castle and sighed deeply. "This is my home, Jacob Miller. This castle, Jacob Miller, is the Castle of Fog. That is why the fog is always around us, it is attracted to this very place." Just than Jacob began to feel a presence, one that was all to uneasy. He could here the frightend voices of children and alduts, some screaming in his mind "Get out while you can!" He shook his head, trying to drown out the voices, but seemed inevitable. Than something grabbed a hold of his shoulder, causing him to jump in shock and fright. It was Mr.Keener, his boney fingers clutched his shoulder, his eyes looking into his with question. "What is the matter Jacob Miller?" The voices faded away into his mind, leaving him alone at the moment. "Its the voices isn't it?" Jacob was not suprised by how Charles would know what is wrong, or what he was thinking. "Yes, I can hear the many voices of children and adults..." Charles looked towards the castle, and bowed his head, staring at his black leather shoes. "Along time ago, Jacob Miller, this use to be a place of life. Thriving with it, came the dawning of a new town. There were many markets here, and parks that the children and their parents would go to every evening. One day, came the great plague that destroyed the town. It was no ordinary plague, no, it did not only attack the people, but also the buildings. The plague was the fog, Jacob Miller, the fog killed everyone who lived here long ago." He paused for a moment, looking into Jacob's eyes, he said "The Castle you see, Jacob Miller, was built to control the fog. The castle was built as a symbol of power, Jacob Miller, a symbol of hope for the future generation." The voices became stronger inside Jacob's mind, almost screaming at him "GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN!" But Mr.Keener seemed to have a grip on Jacob's will to move, his eyes stared deep into his soul, and he couldn't even move. Charles grinned, a toothy grin, and released Jacob's shoulder. "Lets get inside, Jacob Miller, before it gets chilly." The climate drastically changed from a spring warm, to a winters cold; and as they walked off towards the castle, back at the grounds at the exit of the path, entered two more kids.