THE LEGEND OF DAYO 1: THE EMERGENCE

ple might start linking their evident signs of well-bein

he closed her eyes she saw that black-clad thing immediately swinging

g apprehensive, wondering what was going on, what was hidden in the house! Who wa

ived on the astounding things the young man's presence was causing to happen, she had alway

tated and who needed help so much should rather be t

mmediately the man in black was there,

y, her fear escalating. Trembling, she got out of bed and walked t

sudden and licked her p

a nightmare or a figment of her imagination, why did t

e in d

family i

down over her head and over her nightie. She pushed her feet into the sleepers beside

eji came out of the door, the lanterns were all out, and thick darkness wou

, all the lanterns going off in the corridor. She could feel a cold air blow

er, and for a moment she alm

s that

some danger? What if that dange

ything, she had become rather fond of him in a strange prote

g step after the other until she came to t

ns downstairs

arely see d

r nerves very taut, ready for the appearance of the horrible man

toward the corridor leading to the storeroom where the stranger s

eel a prese

rridor, and suddenly she stopped in her tracks, af

nd turned the corridor..

focating darkness clutched at her. Neji almost screame

she dreaded the thought of going all the way up in the darkness. She was breathing har

, a rectangular glow of yellow li

the lantern in t

ing her fear, Neji slowl

was the same sound she had heard in her dream, the sound the man

is time. She reached out and, taking the handle, pushed down slowly, and then she pushed the door inward,

, he wa

ke thing attached to the rod the man was holding...and i

as wearing. The robe was bulbous, and it had a hood pulled o

e strange man with the staff was using the brilliantly-lighted end of his staff to tr

was bent as he concentrated

nted to turn round and flee, but she was rooted to the spot. She did

er throat as she looked on, and sh

paused suddenly, and then his head came

of him, Neji

red wit

the hood of the black rob

f there was noth

am, but her voice was close

nge black-clad man standing just inside the c

moved tha

but when she turned her head she

er escape. He advanced slowly toward her, and she took faltering steps

red if he

d her heart thudded with real terror no

e door shut slowly behind him. He stood still, his staff with the

the deep, slow voice from inside