Page 140 of The Darkest Hour

We moved forward cautiously, our steps silent as we navigated through the dense brush and towering trees.

The forest, once a haven of quiet, now seemed to hold its breath, as if waiting for something to happen.

Surely, it knew what we would find.

What was it?

Would it be horrific?

Or hopeful?

Dangerous?

Or some haven on this godforsaken island?

And then. . .it wasn’t long before we saw it.

Fuck.

Havoc and I stopped at the same time and just stared.

What does this mean?

The Possibility of Hope

Onyx

The trees parted, revealing a sight that seemed impossible in this wild landscape.

An opulent chateau stood before us, its grandeur was an insane variance to the rugged island terrain that surrounded it.

Imposing and tall, the massive chateau stood, white and reaching toward the sky. It must have been three levels and had all these ornate carvings and gilded windows like it had been plucked from a European countryside and dropped in the middle of the island.

Two stone lions guarded the entrance.

A large gold metal door was several feet behind them.

On both sides of the second level, there were large balconies adorned with elaborate wrought-iron railings overlooking a garden and the wild island beyond.

I checked the garden and almost drooled.

It was a true garden—not wild in any way. The ground was carpeted with lush greenery, and amidst it all were vibrant patches of vegetables, each one thriving as if they’d been carefully tended to by some invisible hand.

I remained next to Havoc, and whispered, “Oh. My. God.”

His stomach growled.

Nestled in the rich, dark soil were rows of plump, ripe tomatoes, their skins glistening a deep, inviting red.

Nearby, sturdy green stalks of corn stretched upward, their golden tassels swaying gently in the breeze.

Clusters of bright orange carrots peeked out from the earth. Near that was a patch of deep green zucchini that lay beside a sprawling mass of cucumber vines.

The sheer variety was overwhelming. There were beans twining around makeshift supports of old tree branches, plump and ready to be picked. I spotted clusters of peas, their pods filled to bursting with sweet green pearls. Even a few cabbages sat nestled among the other vegetables.

“Like. . .this is fucking good.” I spotted bell peppers too, in shades of red, yellow, and green, hanging from their bushes like nature’s own jewels.

Further along, leafy greens—spinach, kale, and lettuce—flourished in thick, vibrant clusters, their leaves fresh and crisp with moisture.

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