“The Darkness will come for you. It always comes. Nobody can ever keep it off for long.” The whispering voice sent chills down the spine of the old woman lying in the snow. Every cell in her body screamed for her to get away, but she couldn’t move. It was too late. Bony, wrinkled fingers dragged themselves over the white, cold blanket covering the ground, trying to pull the old body after them. The movement was moot, the pain crippling her further. The shadow looming above her crept closer and made the old woman feel sick to her stomach. The sound of its laughter felt like barbed wire being pulled through her ears.
    “After all this time, you still believe they will save you?” the voice continued, a slight tone of surprise hiding beneath the arrogance. “The Four failed you a few centuries ago. They will fail again. Each generation becomes weaker than the last. You should know this by now.”
    “All I know, is that you will regret your actions, and one day you too shall fall, just like everyone else,” the old woman spat. Her voice was weak of sound, but strong with defiance and conviction. “Now end me, unless your plan is to torture me with your nonsense.”
    She knew her time was up. She had lived a long life, longer than expected. Death didn’t frighten her anymore, not after her latest discovery. The Four was returning. New bodies and minds, but the same old spirits. Stronger than ever, was the word buzzing throughout the Underground. It would be different this time. They would have the freedom and tools they needed to succeed. The Darkness could be destroyed.
    “So be it.” The whisper turned into a hiss, filled with raging cruelty. “I will make sure the children will follow you shortly.”

The old woman didn’t feel a thing. It was only when she watched her own blood spread out into the white snow that she knew it was over. A sigh of relief escaped her lips. She had stayed alive for too long, waiting for their return. She welcomed the peace and warmth which was now embracing her, as she inhaled her final breaths of frozen winter air. Her time was up, but there was still an entire world out there, full of life and spirit. It could still be saved.