Mary entered her brother’s bakery, the bell above the door ringing, and took a deep breath savoring the aromas that permeated the air. She scanned the bakery and didn’t see him or anyone else for that matter. Walking to the counter, Mary realized she had overlooked an apprentice sitting behind it reading something. When she reached the counter the young man still hadn’t noticed her and she noisily dropped her basket onto the countertop startling them. The book they were reading hit the floor with a loud thud, “Do you know if my brother is here?” Mary inquired not giving them a moment to recover.

The apprentice blinked for a moment, “Uh, what? Who is your brother?” Mary smirked at the apprentice, “The owner of this bakery and the one teaching you. Liam.” With the coin dropping finally, the young man jumped off the stool and bowed, “Right away ma’am.” He turned on his heels and went into the back. Mary didn’t need to wait long before she saw her flour-coated brother come out looking rather perturbed. Liam was looking down initially to dust the flour off himself, “You know Mary. You don’t have to scare the boy, he started only a week ago.”

Mary chuckled, “I couldn’t resist, he looked like such an easy target reading that book! He didn’t seem to realize I came in.” Liam looked at her as he reached the counter, bent down quickly, and grabbed the book to look it over. Sighing, he put it on the counter, “This is just some adventure book and not the book I gave him to read.” Mary raised an eyebrow, “Well if I remember the books you had to read when you were an apprentice they are boring.” Liam nodded and leaned on the counter, “I can’t say they aren’t. But what can I do for you, Mary? Usually, you send your husband here to get the bread.”

“I know, he is having to cover for another guard who went missing.” Mary watched as Liam retrieved the bread from the display case. “Missing? Is it that drunkard Thomas?” He asked wincing as his hands brushed the heated stone beneath one loaf. Mary shook her head, “No, it’s Harold he said he wasn’t feeling well a few days ago. He hasn’t been seen since then, when the guards searched his house it looked like someone ransacked it.” Liam stood back up holding her normal order, his lips pursed, “I hope he is alright, he lived alone didn’t he?” Mary nodded, “Yes, he threw himself into his work when he was widowed.”

Liam shook his head, “Poor man, I hope they find him and he is alright.” Mary reached into her coin purse and placed down a few silver coins, “I hope so too.” She looked around to make sure no one had come out to the counter as they spoke and leaned over the counter. Liam leaned over as well looking confused, “What?” he whispered. Mary covered the side of her mouth that faced the doorway to the back, “Darren let me know that Emissaries questioned the guards after it was reported his house was ransacked.” Liam’s eyes went wide and Mary saw him barely catch himself before he yelled, “What? Why are they asking around? Nothing good comes from them snooping.”

Mary shook her head, “I don’t know Liam, but after they left Darren heard a rumor that they killed someone soon after and hushed it up.” Liam’s eyes nearly popped out of his head and he jerked back his Selum pendant coming loose, “What?!?! Those bastards, why did they do that?!” He hissed loud enough to the point Mary looked to the doorway to make sure no one came out before continuing. “I was getting to that, and keep quiet I am only telling you this because you are my brother.” Liam leaned back down this time clutching the pendant for the God of Life as if it were a life-line.

“I was getting to that,” She hissed at him incredulously, “Darren told me it was because they were suspected of having The Gloom.” Mary saw her brother’s previously angry expression fall away, replaced by shock and then fear. “Wha…What? The Gloom here? Mary why didn’t you say so sooner, we need to……” Mary cut Liam off by grabbing his shoulder before he could go further into hysterics, “Liam, it is only a rumor so far. I am telling you so that in case it isn’t just a rumor you can be prepared alright? Now take a deep breath.” Mary took a few calming breaths along with him.

After a few moments, he regained his composure and stood back up fully no longer leaning toward her. “Now get back to work, and I will let you know what Darren finds out today. He was going to ask about it while he was at his shift.” Liam nodded, “Thank you, Mary, now you should get home Suzie is probably not used to being left home alone just yet.” Mary shook her head, “Liam she is seven, and I haven’t been gone that long you worry too much about her.”

“She is my first niece, and I wouldn’t be her favorite uncle if I didn’t worry about her like that,” Liam said with a smirk and crossed his arms. Mary rolled her eyes while picking up her basket, “You are her only uncle.” Liam winked at her, “Exactly why I am her favorite.” Mary turned and started walking towards the door, “Goodbye Liam thank you again for the bread!” She waved at him as she walked out the door. Stepping onto the busy street she let out a sigh, “Maybe I shouldn’t have told him until I knew for sure?” Mary shook her head, “No use dwelling on it now. What is done is done.” She turned and headed home, the entire time she couldn’t get the look of absolute terror she had seen in Liam’s eyes for that moment.

As Mary made her way home a hooded man stepped out of a nearby alleyway and reached out to her. “Mary……” A hoarse voice croaked to her, a leather gauntleted hand brushed her skirt as they fell toward her. Mary stepped back nearly screaming before recognizing the voice, “Harold?” She knelt and tried to pull the hood down to see him but his hand brushed her’s aside. “No, please, the light hurts,” Harold tried to stand but collapsed back to his hands and knees after a moment. Mary put down her basket full of food and grabbed Harold’s arm and pulled him up.

“I am going to take you home, alright?” Mary asked while debating whether to grab a guard so they could take care of him. “That…sounds……lovely,” Harold slowly rasped out while standing unsteadily. Mary looked down at her basket, “Do you think you can lean into a wall while I grab my basket?” Harold nodded and Mary put him against a nearby wall, bending down she grabbed the basket and took Harold once more. The walk home was a struggle with Harold nearly collapsing twice. “Harold, are you going to make it?” Mary asked after noticing that he was starting to hyperventilate. “No……Mary………Take……Take……Me inside,” Harold stammered out in between breathes one hand on his chest.

Mary set her jaw and dragged Harold towards the door, hitting it with her foot she shouted, “Suzie! It’s mommy open the door please!” Mary looked to the still hooded Harold and brought his hood down as the door opened. “Oh, Suzie, go……” Suzie stood mouth agape for a moment before saying, “Mommy his eyes are red!” Time seemed to slow to a crawl for Mary as Harold turned to look at her. As their eyes met she saw they were a bright red, a scream died in her throat as Harold’s hand closed around it and he rushed into her home kicking the door shut behind him.

Mary felt as though lightning went into her through his palm and she collapsed onto the floor with a thud. Suzie watched her mother collapse onto the floor and start shaking. While the scary man locked the door behind him. Suzie ran screaming upstairs towards her room but didn’t make it before something grabbed her leg and pulled her down hard. Her head hit the stairs and she saw stars, “No………no…” Suzie heard the scary man say and she started crying. She wanted her daddy to come home and save her and mommy. The scary man walked towards her, a red ethereal rope coming from his palm and wrapping around her leg. “I……sorry,” The scary man said while reaching out to her, shortly she joined her mother convulsing on the floor. Harold pulled up a chair and stared at the door waiting.