The Night Child Last: None This: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/880628007 Next: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/880937777 Prologue •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Crreeak The stairs shook as a short figure shuffled up them. He flew down the long, cold hallway and turned down the next. The master will be most pleased with me. He thought excitedly. He slowed his speed as he approached a large door with a big, shiny, silver knocker. He gave it three sharp knocks then stepped back. As he waited he looked down at his hand that held a small, crisp piece of paper. It was folded into a small square, but golden light was shining out of the edges. He looked up as the big door slowly opened. The short man walked into the room and quickly made his way over to a large, shadowy figure standing by a big desk. “Sir,” The short man croaked. “After a long search we have successfully found…” Before he could finish, the figure snatched the paper from his hand. He unfolded it and the golden light glowed across his face. It revealed a big face filled with many scars. He had a patch over one eye, but his messy black hair covered most of his face “The maker's map.” The figure said in wonder. He touched his finger to the glowing map and looked back at the short man. “Good work Idris. You and the shadows have done well. This map is the key.” The figure acknowledged. Idris bowed his head but asked, “If you don’t mind me asking, what is it the key to?” The figure chuckled. “This map,” He said pointing to the map. “Will lead me to the Gems of Life.” Idris raised an eyebrow. “From the childrens poem?” He asked, trying not to sound rude. The figure gave another small chuckle. “That was no children's poem. It was a prophecy made by the mapmaker.”
Oh?” Replied Idris. The figure walked over to a wall covered in a huge map. It had markings all over it. Little dots, and what appeared to be houses. But most of the map was big red x’s. “I have been searching for the gems for more years than I can remember.” He looked down at the map and dipped his fingers in colored ink and started rubbing shapes on the map on the wall. Soon there was a huge white dot, Blue dot, red dot, and green dot. “With this map, I can find anything I need.” Idris looked up at the map on the wall. “So the dots must represent the Gems of Life.” He said. The figure nodded. “If you don’t mind, I have another question.” “Make it quick. You shall go back to your sleeping chamber after this. We have long days ahead.” The figure responded. Idris nodded and asked, “Why do you need the Gems of Life?” The figure grinned. “When the four gems are connected they make a force of power that gives the keeper of the gems more power than the mapmaker himself! Once I have that power the land is mine!” Idris smiled. “Oh, of course. Forgive my foolishness.” The figure grinned. “I shall leave you now. Thank you, Shadowlord.” Idris thanked. Shadowlord turned his back to the door and gazed at the map in his hands. He muttered something and the once 4 golden dots that had resembled the Gems of Life became exactly 406 small dots, scrambled across the map. “Once I get rid of the witches it's all mine.” He swept his hand across the map. “All mine.”
