“I’m almost there.” “I’ll catch up.” “Three more shelves.” “MMMMhhhuuurrrrrggghhhhh,” said Cade trying to go into ultra-sonic mode up the towering black marble bookshelves. “Made it, made it,” said Blake, peering over the top shelf. “Okay, okay, but next time…” Blake put his hand up, motioning for him to be quiet. Then he pointed down into the lower rows of bookshelves moving away down the slanted glossy blue marble floor under high dark orange chandelier lights hanging from the massive rounded ceiling. Dead whispers shot back and forth between the aisles. The kids stared down then saw a dark spirit glide up one of the aisles and grab a book. He tilted his head up, gazing up at the kids with his dark, empty face with only two deep set black eyes. Then, instead of chasing the kids, he turned and hurried away down the aisle…
One time, before the aliens first attacked Cashes Dade, Cade and Blake decided to hang out at the library overnight to prove they weren’t afraid of the stories of dark spirits haunting the library at night. The aliens would end up destroying the library in the first attack. What Cade and Blake saw that night might explain why…
Under the dim, dark orange lights the dark spirit quickly glided away down the aisle away from them. Cade and Blake exchanged confused looks. “He’s running away from us?” asked Cade. “Well you do tend to look kind of scary in the middle of the night…” “HEY!” “Let’s track him down,” said Blake. The kids watched as the ghost disappeared between the rows. “Maybe we can figure out where he’s headed,” said Cade. “He’s probably just going to leave,” said Blake. A dead whistle played out from where he was. A two-note ghost whistle echoed out with a short note, followed by a long, drawn out note. “He’s signaling to someone else,” Blake whispered. “Sounds like he’s in the grand reading room. Let’s go.” The kids scrambled down the bookshelves. They hurried down the aisle entering the massive entry hall made of glossy blue glass floors and walls. Dingy gold lights from gigantic chandeliers hanging far down from the triangular high roof reflected in the glass forming various pictures of citizens talking and debating. Some of them looked ghostly. The kids hurried over to the grand blue glowing winding staircase. They sprinted up, higher and higher toward the distant grand reading room at the top of the library. “Slow down, slow down,” Blake whispered. More whistles echoed out back and forth high above them. The kids crept slowly up the final steps. They gazed around the corner. A group of dark spirits waited across the final steps to the green glowing grand reading room. “How we getting past them?” asked Blake. Cade gazed at the dark spirits standing among the flickering shadows reaching out from the sides under the dark golden cluster lights along both sides of the wide staircase. The lights were set on wide ledges running along both sides of the staircase. Strong winds beat against the massive dark blue stained glass window right behind the staircase. Cade turned to Blake with a wry smile. “I’m afraid to ask,” Blake answered. “I think it’s too warm in here, don’t you?” Blake shot him a confused look. Cade then whispered his plan. Blake hesitantly nodded. The kids crept over to the window. Cade counted silently to three, then they pulled the large window open. The heavy winds knocked them back on the steps. The high, fast chilling winds knocked out all the lights. The kids got up and crept along the ledge to the door, then crept inside the massive, green glittering grand reading room. Neon green candle clusters set within the walls and high rounded ceiling lit up the massive dark blue marble room with numerous soft black chairs spread across the floor. Dark blue pools with soft green lights floating deep underneath spread across the floor in a diamond pattern. The ceiling was painted with a mural of a maze of mountains with various dark orange lights appearing in blazing trails running through then disappearing, before reappearing in another location. The kids crept along the wall toward a small group of dark spirits sitting in a circle of chairs around a gloomy pool, reading several books. The kids hid down as more ghosts entered the room. Then they heard whispers. “This book of poems might be the key.” “They must be gone.” “Make sure they can’t hear us.” “The lights will expose them.” “The lights will destroy most of them.” “The rest will run and hide.” “We almost have it mapped out.” “When the time comes, we will find the ones who challenge us.” “There will be no escape, no way out…”
Cade has always been like a ghost, well before he became a ghost striker. He, Blake, and Drew got parts in a school play led by Cashes Dade Army Lead Carlie Madsher. Now, having to run a play with these three kids will drive anyone crazy and you’ll soon see why, but could it drive someone to become a spy against their own country? One night Cade hung around after the play was over. He heard whispering in the dark school hall late that night so he crept down the hall and saw Carlie in a dark corner, meeting with someone he couldn’t see…
Its time to check out the next suspect. It’s important to remember there is no significance to the order of the suspects in these posts because they are being presented in alphabetical order by first name. Carlie Madsher is one of the seven Cashes Dade Army Leads. One of them has to be the spy, because someone was seen talking to the dark spirits in the tunnels, getting ready to give away key secrets. They couldn’t be seen or heard clearly enough to be identified, but a dark orange star patch was seen on their shoulder marking them as one of the seven leads. We will have seen three of the suspects after this post, with four more to be revealed. Have we seen the spy already? Or is the spy yet to be revealed? Leave a comment below what you think so far. But before we check out her profile and an intriguing story about her, it’s time to reveal the answer for the last mystery challenge. If you haven’t read the previous post called WHY DO THE ALIENS HATE CHASE’S GAME? check it out to see if you can solve the mystery for the post and perhaps even figure out the greater mystery of the alien fountain lights in Cashes Dade. Here is the answer: The key word in the prophecy was: hate Carlie Madsher met someone in the shadows. What were they meeting about? Why were they being so secretive?
Carlie Madsher is short with dark, intense eyes and short, smooth, blonde hair that falls low over her eyes.
She is anxious and often nervous, as well as impatient, always rushing.
She always wears the same worn out brown shoes.
She is always moving, always pacing around, and gets right to the point in conversations, but she’s quiet and shy.
She takes the seventh position in the formation for the army leads. She is great at scouting and visualizing. She can organize things and people really well. Carlie has always dreamed about writing and producing great plays. She also wants to be a great actor, shining on stage in the biggest shows. Her greatest dream is to have an iconic moment on stage that becomes legendary forever.
Blake stood ready for the fight scene, holding his sword, staring down his enemy intensely. “Okay, scene two, start,” said Carlie from the high point at the back of the stage. “It’s time to face your death, for I will strike you with the sword of fire, and conquer your castle in the night,” Blake said with strong intensity.” He and Devi started striking swords when Carlie shouted out, “BLAKE! STOP CHANGING THE LINES! THE LINE WAS, ‘IT’S TIME TO FIGHT.’ START AGAIN.” While they started the scene again, Carlie turned her attention to a strange movement in the upper flowing blue curtains along the side of the stage, lit up in dark orange lantern lights. She stared with a perplexed look, then gazed up to see Cade climbing up the various scaffolds on the side of the stage. “CADE! NOT AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS!” She hurried over to fix the curtains. On the way she re-positioned several students practicing another scene. “Remember, be your character, become them. Tonight, I want you all to write five things your character thinks about a lot.” After a long night of rehearsing, correcting Blake’s lines, trying to tone down Drew’s way over-acting, and making sure Cade didn’t destroy the whole set, she sent all the students home. Cade was wandering the school halls late at night, when he heard whispering. He crept up the winding staircase. He worked his way in the deep shadows of the dark hall where only a single neon green light spilled into the hallway. He crept close and got down low, straining to hear Carlie whispering with one of the alien school leaders. What was she talking to him about? Why were they whispering? What were they hiding? All he heard was one line: “I agree, the best way is to expose them for what they are.”
The final clues are Carlie’s three best known quotes: “Let’s put it all together.” “Oh, this has turned into such a mud twister” “Let the show begin.”
Cade and Blake have climbed many mountains around Cashes Dade, but one of their favorites is Galaxy Peak. It’s rough, steep, and kind of dangerous, which is why they like it. But the aliens didn’t want students climbing that mountain anymore. No one knows why, but Cade believed there must be a secret hidden that the aliens didn’t want them to find. Check out the prophecy at the end to see if you can figure out what the secret of the mountain is. Leave a comment below if you think you know. This post also gives a clue that can reveal who the spy is. Can you figure it out? The aliens watch the mountain during the day, so the kids only climb it at night, following the glowing lights, while the aliens watch other places, yet it seems to be at night when the secret of the mountain is revealed…
Galaxy Peak was the most iconic part of the City of Dayces Cameron, but what was really special was at the top, the Galaxy Peak Shop. This is what the kids really climbed the mountain for, until it was destroyed in the first alien attack. What’s bizarre is that no one was there when the aliens shot it down, exploding in a brilliant flash. Galaxy Peak is a tall, slick mountain made of black stone, with three sides. There are hidden pools within the forest of really tall Aysos Evergreens with their three cone shaped points. Glittering waterfalls can be heard but never seen somewhere hidden behind the Aysos Evergreens.
Cade and Blake climbed the mountain many times at night. Now, it is usually not a good idea to climb a mountain at night, unless you’re starting a climb early in the morning before sunrise and you have good, strong lights and are on a trail, not trying to do any major climbing yet. The author knows the problem of getting stuck in the mountains at night all too well. But this particular mountain kind of glows in the night just enough that the kids could see the slopes well enough to climb safely at night. Of course, with Cade and Blake, they always can find a way to make an experience not so safe.
Cade and Blake always raced to the top, and they would challenge eachother to crazy moves up the mountain like who could jump the farthest, who could jump over the largest rock, who could jump across the widest creek flowing down the mountain. They wanted to be the first ones to find a waterfall. They would try by following the creek through the many twists and turns. Sometimes they could see the lady of the mountain’s lantern light reflecting in the water as she sang. She would always sing the same song with no words, with a haunting, yet hopeful melody hidden deep within as she stood at the top. Her voice would carry down the mountain, sometimes sounding distant and sometimes sounding closer. Cade discovered a secret, that if you stopped and listened to the song, you could hear which direction her song was coming from. You see, the top could never be seen and was confusing to find. But Cade realized that if he could follow the music, he could find the way to the top, but he never told Blake why he always found the way to the top first. The best feature of the mountain shop at the top was the high rounded ceiling showing all these glittering stars in the galaxy with these white lights spread throughout, some in clusters, in random points among the spiral haze of glowing gold stars. The lady would sing with her song echoing throughout blending in mysterious ways. Cade would do the same thing every time, literally every time, he would go to the window overlooking the city below. Cade would lean out the window and pretend to fall, but with terrible acting. A large painting of a glittering waterfall hung next to it hidden behind blue mist that looked haunting, yet with a hopeful bright look deep within where the water glowed.
The darkness will a long time hide the dawn You will feel the glory days are long gone You will see no strong foundation to stand on Yet what you see looking back is an illusion The picture you see is blurry with limited vision One day you will wake up in the night Into darkness will go your last light Yet you will not have lost your key sight The lady of the mountain will someday reveal all It’s what the kids found in the Caymisdorm Hall But there is a secret that you cannot see Keep climbing higher, higher, and higher, free Then the deepest dark will reveal the key The aliens will look for the sign to show the way Galaxy Peak reveals how this happen that day Look for what appears on the mountain at night Yet remember that you will not find it by sight Galaxy Peak reveals this secret in the mark Some lights only shine in the deepest dark…
Gold and red lit triangular crafts flooded the sky with brilliant flashing lights. Alien ships moved ahead in a cluster, blazing through the sky, with a sonic thundering pushing down on the Cashes Dade Army lined up in the hills. Then the alien ships suddenly spread out wide at an incredible speed. A crowd of citizens hurried across the wide field toward them. Several ships dropped down. That’s when Bennie Maysher led the charge to defend them and something mysterious happened that’s hard to explain… Its time to check out the next suspect. It’s important to remember there is no significance to the order of the suspects in these posts because they are being presented in alphabetical order by first name. Bennie Maysher is one of the seven Cashes Dade Army Leads. One of them has to be the spy, because someone was seen talking to the dark spirits in the tunnels, getting ready to give away key secrets. They couldn’t be seen or heard clearly enough to be identified, but a dark orange star patch was seen on their shoulder marking them as one of the seven leads. Do you think you can figure it out? Leave a comment below if you think you know whether Bennie Maysher is the spy. But before we check out his profile and an intriguing story about him, it’s time to reveal the answer for the last mystery challenge. If you haven’t read the previous post called WHAT’S HIDDEN IN BRENNAN’S PAINTING? check it out to see if you can solve the mystery for the post and perhaps even figure out the greater mystery of the alien fountain lights in Cashes Dade. Here is the answer: The key word in the prophecy was: aliens
Bennie Maysher is relatively short with rough, blonde hair. He’s always active, always moving, and quite impatient. He has a half-trimmed beard. He’s kind of odd, and always seems to be somewhat agitated, talking fast in short sentences. Bennie takes the second position in the formation for the army leads. He is a tough fighter who loves to charge out in battle. He is really good at overwhelming the enemy with power and speed. Bennie has always dreamed of being a great war hero, leading a great, legendary charge against all odds in battle. He is a master at riding horses and loves to challenge people to races. For him, the rougher the path, the better. He is really ambitious, always wanting to prove to others what a great rider and fighter he is. After seven protestors were shot dead by the aliens on what will be forever known in Cashes Dade as “Bloody Friday,” they declared war on the aliens. Brilliant lights of all colours shot out across the night sky in blazing streaks. The soldiers huddled down in their trench. The dark green grass and soggy soil lit up almost like during a bright sunny day in the spectacular lights. Bennie stared at the slowly approaching cluster of seven alien ships with a mixed look of awe and excitement. Their red and gold lights flashed in fast, rhythmic waves from the center ship out left and right through the other ships. The ground hummed in a low tone sounding close yet far away. In the distance an alien ship shot out a blue laser light striking the mountains with a brilliant flash. “They’re going to see them,” said a soldier to his left. “They’re getting ready to drop,” Bennie said in a low voice. At this time further back in the mountains, Cade, Blake, and Drew were traveling up the massively wide river with David and Callie on a small, dark boat. They could see the brilliant alien lights flashing across the dark water waves striking their boat hard from both sides. Dark spirits gathered at the far right bank. Cade pretended to try to take the oar away from Blake which was followed by fake crying. The kids spotted the dark spirits. Cade smiled, knowing they would never fall for their trap. Blake quietly drove the boat toward the left bank. From the shadows Cade waved goodbye to the ghosts waiting on the far side. Dark shadows stretched across the glittering waves. Whispers flew in the chilling dark as the dark spirits on the left coast waited for them to dock… After the ships dropped, Bennie in a sudden flash, grabbed a small flame shooter full of powder and jumped on his horse. He charged across the field. The seven hovering aliens ships glowed like burning red fires. The ground underneath hummed. They shot out a bright blue laser light from the center directly at him. He ducked out of the way slightly before it hit the ground. He charged ahead, watching the ships. At a rapid pace, from close and far away, the lasers shot out one after another in rapid succession. He shifted back right, before the next two lasers struck. He kept riding ahead as two more shot out at his left and right, followed by two more further to the left and right. Another one shot directly at him but he moved to the left just before it hit. Two more shot out as he moved back right. He kept dodging them, one after another, moving right before they hit or charging right between them. Then he held up his flame shooter, set the fire, and shot out the blazing dark orange light at the center ship where the fires exploded out, driving the ships back. Then he turned sharply and led the people across the field while the dark orange haze kept the ships back until the people were able to reach the underground. The soldiers couldn’t believe what they had seen. Was Bennie just lucky, or did he somehow know exactly how the aliens would fire on him? But how did he know?
The final clues are Bennie’s three best known quotes:
“I can’t stand the birds that never stop chirping.” “The battle belongs to the one willing to lead the final charge.” “Shoot first, and the rest will fall into place.”
The school hall was completely dark as fourth grader Brennan Cairdade followed the alien messenger toward the dim green light barely spilling out into the hall. The messenger’s shoes tapped loudly across the dark marble. The door to the School Leader’s Office was just cracked open. Brennan gazed around with his strong wide eyes. His short sandy hair slanted to one side caught the glint of the fiery green light as the messenger opened the door and waved him in. The office was dimly lit by low hanging green-lit chandeliers lighting up the dark blue marble floor, walls, and ceiling. Brennan was directed to sit down on a small black chair in front of the glossy multi-crystal desk set before the massive white crystal glass window. Then the messenger began speaking in an elevated, solemn voice: “We found your drawings, and we have a message for you, that you best follow.” The large chair behind the desk spun around as the alien turned to face him…
The next six mystery challenges will each feature a student in Cashes Dade who has come down with the terrible sickness caused by the intense alien lights from the DadeLuce Fountain in Cashes Dade. This is what leads to the war that the next book will feature. Get ready for MYSTERY OF THE BLOODY FRIDAY SPY. The aliens claim that if a student gets sick from the fountain it’s actually good for them because they claim the lights reveal those students who are failing. They say getting sick from this shows these students that they need to improve and learn how to successfully follow their standard to do well in school. They say the lights even help show the way. Each mystery challenge will tell the story of what has happened to each student and show a prophecy that offers clues as to what might be the answer for them. The mystery challenge will be to figure out what is the key word in the prophecy that appears after the story. The answer will be revealed in the next Character Fun Facts. Can you figure it out? When you have all six key words they will reveal a message, a message that will reveal a key secret about the aliens…
“Your drawing is a waste of energy and time,” the alien messenger continued, as the alien’s eyes stared down at Brennan. He shifted in his chair nervously. “From now on, you must learn the concepts by writing out all notes and show what you understand by writing out your answers.” Then the alien reached out with his long arm and grabbed his pack. He took out Brennan’s paintings, placed them on a silver platter, and burned them.
Brennan was at Caysher Park when it happened. He was doing what he always did there, painting, that is, after stopping at Marshar Coffee Shop. He always did the same thing. He’d walk in slowly and quietly as if he was trying to sneak in, kind of looking around anxiously at the people sitting at the tables, before pacing up and down the front display case showing the various breads, desserts, and small candies. The shop owner would always smile and shake his head knowing he would pick something, then change his mind, then pick something else, then change his mind, then finally pick three things, usually from the small candies. Then he would get his coffee. He would explain all the details even though it was always the same and by the time he was done explaining, they’d hand it to him. Brennan was always quiet and mysterious, but also really friendly.
It took him awhile to settle into his usual place on a bench next to a small pool with shooting fountains on both sides. Through the waterfall ahead he could see the city towers and he began to paint. His hands flew across the canvas so fast, so smoothly as all these colours splashed across. He smiled as it appeared to be a mess until all the sudden the picture appeared. Then all of the sudden the bright green flashing lights of the alien fountain hit him, knocking him back. They appeared like a massive green star blurring everything else around into murky darkness. He’s been sick ever since, always alternating between chills and fevers, always shaking, feeling sick and dizzy. His parents saved his painting of the inside of the museum of Cashes Dade under eerie green light. But it’s more than that. If you look closely, you see what is hiding in the dark…
When you dream about what is new They will be hovering far above you When you look for new, great places They stare down at you with grim faces When you must see in order to learn They will only look to what you can earn The key will be turning your ideas into revealing fire The aliens will strike three times from a place higher What you think about must become a picture that’s clear Then you will know that they are the ones burning for fear The painting will reveal what Cade will see The aliens are not what they seem to be…
One of Cade’s favorite places to go was Caysher Park in his home city of Dayces Cameron. He and his friends played “Music Tag.” In Caysher Park music would be playing, but then suddenly disappear, and then come back again. If you were standing in a place where the music played, you were safe and couldn’t get tagged. But if the music faded away, then you better run. Cade had a strange way of always knowing where to go to be in the music. But that wasn’t the only mysterious thing about Caysher Park. While the adults at the park would get annoyed by the kids constant running and splashing in the pools and waterfalls, distant eyes watched them from high in the towers that overlooked the city, white half-moon shaped eyes of the aliens…
These next six DarkCorner Land Features will go to an intriguing place in Cashes Dade that was destroyed by the aliens in the first attack. There is something mysterious about these places, but what’s really mysterious is why the aliens destroyed them. Music sounding like a brilliant, energetic symphony played through the silent waterfalls of smooth, blue water falling in sheets. But no one could figure out where the music was coming from. Who was playing it? Can you figure it out? Cade figured out the secret of the music, do you think you know? After you read this, leave a comment below if you think you discovered the same secret Cade did, or perhaps a different one. One moment the music would sound really close, the next, it would be gone. As you stare at the bright reflections of the city towers blending with the flashing green lights of the alien towers you wonder, “Where did the music go?”
Caysher Park was located in the center of the stadium shaped City of Dayces Cameron in Cashes Dade. This is one place where Cade maintained his perfect record of never getting tagged in tag. He didn’t care how he had to get away; running through one waterfall after another, charging through a cold pool, crawling through and somehow disappearing in one of the green gardens of colourful flowers and small evergreens close together with sharp pointed leaves. He would always get away, and just when you thought you had him cornered, the brilliant symphony music would play in strong, fast rhythms through the colourful reflections blending within the sheets of waters falling. They’d wait for the music to fade away, but when Cade found it, it didn’t, at least not right away. Cade would just stand there and smile, driving the kid, who was it, crazy.
Bizarre, twisted images reflect through the sheets of pure blue water. At first you just see the dazzling blue city towers rising up in rows as well as the shimmering green alien towers further in the distance looking down over the city. That’s where the aliens keep watch over the citizens, sometimes blaring white lights roam through the city to check on their activities. They also watch the kids playing in the park, just standing on one of their balconies, staring down at the kids with burning, intense eyes. They seem especially interested in the games of tag, but no one knows why…
It isn’t just towers that you see in the waters. People report seeing murky shapes like crowds moving, ghostly citizens in bright dazzling lights moving around in strong, fast rhythmic circles. The ghosts were silent. This is when the dazzling colours of the towers blended together with the moving ghosts. The new colours would travel in one direction or another through the sheets of falling water. The kid who was it would stand ready to tag Cade, ready to be the first one, but would start to get impatient, because Cade would start to walk along the waterfall as the music moved, but he would stay in the music. No one else knew where the music would go, but Cade somehow knew.
Cade would keep moving with the music until stopping again. The one who was it would think he finally had him, until Cade turned to him and smiled. Then he would give him a wink. The music kept playing and playing and playing. Cade would wait for just the right moment. One moment he’s completely still, the next, he flies past you at a moment when you get slightly distracted. Something always happens in the waterfalls that gets them distracted and Cade knows exactly what it is, and exactly when to fly past them. Then, after Cade is well past them, the music fades away. How did Cade know?
Dead whispers flew through the chilling dark. Alien lights roamed through the maze of mountains, searching, looking for the people of Cashes Dade with their bright dazzling lights shining down from the sky. Their ships moved through the sky above the clouds carrying the sound of eerie whistling. But they weren’t just looking for the people of Cashes Dade, they were looking for the ghost strikers. Dark spirits raced through the mountains. They hurried across the slopes to where the dark orange light shone as a signal showing where to meet. But they weren’t the only ones going for it. Cade, Blake, and Drew were flying through the underground tunnels, trying to find their way through the maze, hoping to get there in time. The dark spirits hurried to meet the spy, the one who would tell them where the people were hiding so the aliens could finish Cashes Dade completely. Ghostly whispers echoed in the dark. Will the kids get there in time? The next five Character Fun Facts posts will feature the Seven Army Leads of Cashes Dade. One of them is the spy. They will be presented in alphabetical order by first name. Each post will feature either one or two of them with various information and stories about them. Leave a comment below if you have a guess whether you think Austin might be the spy, or do you think it probably is someone else? Maybe you will know right away, or maybe you will need to see all seven army leads before you can decide who it is. Can you figure out which one is the spy?
Austin Camdade is relatively tall and strong. He is determined and has a quiet intensity about him. He always looks like he’s thinking hard about something. He has short, somewhat rough hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He talks pretty eloquently and smooth.
Austin takes the third position in the formation for the army leads. He is a strong leader who does a great job of explaining where the enemy is and how best to attack them by finding where they are vulnerable.
Austin has always dreamed of being a great explorer. He likes climbing mountains and trying to find new trails, new ways to get to the top. He wants to discover new places and new minerals that could give them stronger medicines and weapons to defeat the aliens. He has great ambition, and loves reaching the highest peaks.
One time before Cashes Dade went to war against the aliens, Austin Camdade was leading some kids on a mountain climb, including Cade and Blake. They were trying to climb a small, but relatively steep mountain to the northeast of Cashes Dade. Cade moved fast up the slick scree and heavy dirt, practically jumping up, sliding back, then jumping higher up. He turned back to Blake with a confident smile, and twisted expression showing some kind of judgment/curiosity. “What’s taking you so long?” “I’ll catch up,” said Blake, gasping for air. “Maybe when…” Cade took another long drink of water. “Your pack looks a lot lighter than mine.” “Oh I see. You think youuuu…” Cade slid back a ways before digging in deeper. “It’s cool,” he said with a nod to the other kids on both sides. “You’re just making excuses.” “You only packed a few waters again didn’t you?” Cade kind of shrugged as he worked his way up through the thick soil. “You’re going to run out again.” Cade shook his head as he took another long drink. “Yeah you are, look at you. We’re not even halfway. You do this every time. We’ll get close to the top and you’ll be looking like you’re dead and begging me for one of my waters.” “No way,” said Cade, taking another long drink. Blake just shook his head. “Unbelievable.” He gazed up the slope when Austin said, “We’re going to turn this way, cut through there to the top.” Several kids gasped as he pointed to the thick cluster of small trees with the green pointed, needle-like leaves. “No one’s ever tried this way before,” he added with a smile. “Yeah I wonder why,” Blake muttered under his breath. Cade got down low, almost sliding up the slope like a snake trying to shield himself from the sharp leaves. Blake gazed up at the dark blue, flat clouds streaming across the sky before pushing through, clearing a path as he went, looking angrier and angrier the closer they got to the top. Bright lightning splintered across the sky in the distance beyond the peak. Austin stayed focused on the rough rocky slope leading to the top. Cade struggled to follow Austin pushing his way through the thick forest toward the rocky peak. He took another long drink as they struggled up the final slope. Chilling winds brushed down slope, pushing them back momentarily. An eerie whistling rushed across the sky. Austin gazed up toward the peak saying, “We’re almost in the clear. Soon we’ll be standing at the top.” Cade jumped from rock to rock while Blake propelled himself over one after another until soon they both stood at the top, gazing at the awesome views on all sides. Blake turned around to see Cade drinking from another bottle. “That’s your last one isn’t it?” Smiling, Cade pulled two more full water bottles out of his backpack. Blake stared in shock before shaking his head as he turned back to look out across the vast landscape. But his shock turned into a knowing smile when he took a sideways glance and saw Cade secretly handing several kids a wod of money…
The final clues are Austin’s three best known quotes:
“Exploring new places is the greatest adventure you can have.” “The best way to answer your enemy is to fight.” “Just keep climbing, higher and higher, until you are standing tall at the top.”
Its time to go back into Carolmire, the kingdom where it’s always Christmas. There’s an intriguing mystery to solve. If you haven’t yet, check out the post, DARKCORNER LAND FEATURE: CAROLMIRE’S SECRET LIGHT to see the list of possible women who could be the secret singer and the prophecy that offers clues as to how to find her. Here is the link:
Christmas can be a great time and for many it can be a dark time, but with a distant light, a distant, mysterious hope. You can also check out the author’s facebook page to see more about his mountain climbs and there are weekly bible studies for anyone interested including a special look at the Christmas story in the bible that you probably have never seen before. Check it out here:
Leave a comment below if you think you know the answer to this mystery. Now let’s get back into the story. Can you figure out who it is?
Dark orange slowly turned to dark purple over the distant snow-covered mountains behind Carolmire while the two kids worked their way up the rocky trail winding up the mountain running back and forth from the west side to the east side across the south side overlooking the endless white plain. Snow fell calmly from the rolling dark blue clouds streaming across the sky. The two kids stopped momentarily, a short distance from the peak. “We better hurry,” Blake said tensely. “Why?” asked Cade with a casual shrug. “Because she’s going to start singing soon,” Blake said, nodding to the creamy dark blue sky. “We’re only seconds from the top.” Blake gazed up the rocky slope with a doubtful expression. Dark blue shadows fell slowly down the steep slope, blocked at several rocky points. “We’re still an hour from the top,” Blake answered, nodding toward the trail winding back and forth multiple times up the final slopes. Cade gazed up the steep slope with a brightly intense gaze. Then he turned to Blake and slowly broke a smile. “Oh come on.” Cade smiled brighter. “No, Cade, no way. Look at all that snow?” “Fastest way to the top is…” “It’s too steep, with all that snow? You can’t…” “Okay, here we go,” Cade answered, talking fast. “You take the traaiiel, ch, ch, ch,” Blake watched confused as he made slow waving motions, “and I’ll go straight to the top, woooosshhhhh, and we’ll see who gets there first, cool, awesome, ready?” “Let’s go.” Blake bit his lips as he sprinted up the trail. As the trail cut back to the right he saw Cade sprinting up the slope, powering through the snow. Blake sprinted harder. Then he saw Cade slide back fast, almost back to where they started. Blake’s eyes lit up as he turned the next corner. He heard Cade yelling something, his voice rising fast up the slope behind him. Blake bit his lips tighter as he drew near to the next turn. He made a sharp turn back to the right. Cade slid fast about 20 feet. Citizens began singing “Joy to the World” from beyond the mountain top, sounding faint and ghostly. Their voices echoed sharply back and forth as Blake reached the top to watch Cade climb 30 feet, only to slide back 10. Finally, as chilling darkness fell over the mountain, Cade fell across the top, looking almost dead. “See…I…told…you…like…only way.” Blake just stared at him in disbelief. “Cade, you’re not even making sense.” “Well…I am…but you’re…down there…” Blake just shook his head. “We need to get ready,” Blake said, walking over to the northern edge overlooking the Christmas city glowing like a dream in the cold, dark night. More and more citizens came out of the mines and entered into the singing of Christmas carols on the narrow twisted streets. “It’s almost time I think,” said Blake glancing back toward Cade who slowly approached. “We’re not the only ones who think so,” he said quietly, pointing to the mountain left of Carolmire. Several bright lights roamed back and forth from the aliens’ neon green shining tower. A sonic boom shot across the dark rolling sky. The kids ducked down behind several large rocks. “Be ready,” said Blake. “I’m ready, won’t need to tell me twice.” “I’m just saying, you might be tired after all that sliding.” “No way,” Cade shook his head sharply. An alien ship lit up in glittering gold lights hovered over the top of the city. Neon green candles glowed in the windows of the general store. Bright blazing blue candles lit up the entire castle. Gold-lit candles glowed in strong flashing lights throughout the grand square windows of the hotel. Gold candles remained still in heavy clusters of various citizens’ balconies. Dark orange candles shined with slow burning lights in the grand windows of the restaurant. The ship’s lights began to grow dim within the dark haze of the night sky. “Be ready,” said Blake, “should be any time…” He turned to Cade, who was leaning against a rock, asleep. Blake kicked him. Cade woke up to a haunting, but beautiful voice singing Silent Night. “It’s on, it’s on,” said Cade, clapping a few times. The kids stared out at the dreamy city. The singing came soaring out from the clocktower where dim gold candles shined. “We know she’s not there though,” Blake said in a low voice. “She’s somewhere else.” Both kids scanned the various homes lit by gold and multi-coloured candles swaying in the chilling song. They looked around at the small shops and prominent places. Then Cade took out the prophecy. Blake lit up a bright sparkling candle. “What is the two?” Cade asked. “It’s about a light.” “Who’s they?” The two kids stared at the lines while the singing swayed over the dreamy lights. The alien ship slowly circled around the city. “It must be the light and the singer,” said Blake. The ghostly, yet sweet voice kept singing, sounding distant, yet sharp and clear. The music soared over the dream-like lights blending with the towering Devas Evergreens with their spiraling branches rising in high twisted cones. Breaking moonlight fell through the one Devas Evergreen glowing neon green in various points just over the kids, the light spilling down through the branches from the top slowly down to the bottom as the peaceful singing played on. “Aaaauuuurrrrrggghhhhh,” said Blake, holding his head in agony. “What happened?” “I can’t stand trying to figure it out their way, trying to break down every line, every word, it doesn’t work.” Cade turned to Blake with bright intensity. “Then we figure it out our way.” Blake slowly looked up, then answered, “Right on.” The kids turned back to the prophecy copy under bright flickering light. Her song swayed, rising and falling over the murky flashing lights. “I think we need to look at the whole picture.” “What do you mean?” “I mean, what does the entire prophecy say?” The kids read over the lines, then looked down at the musical city below, then they read the lines again, then gazed back down at the musical lights. Her ghostly, yet hopeful singing swayed through the neon green candles glowing in the windows of the general store. The bright blazing blue candles lit up the entire castle. Gold-lit candles glowed in a strong flashing light throughout the grand square windows of the hotel. Gold candles remained still in heavy clusters of various citizens’ balconies. Dark orange candles shined with a slow burning light throughout the grand windows of the restaurant. “The prophecy’s talking about lights blending, connecting,” said Blake talking quietly. “I think it’s talking about two lights that will meet.” The kids stared more intently at the quiet singing city. Dark orange candle clusters shined brightly through crystal grand windows of the playhouse. Single candles in the simple windows of the grand home across the top hill remained still in the chilling music. Then Cade started gazing out across the lower mountain slopes. Breaking moonlight cast sleek shadows over the creamy slopes, falling from the top all the way down to the city entrance. Chilling winds whistled across the slopes on all sides. “I got it,” said Cade with eyes lit, “I got it. It’s an echo. She’s singing from one place but making it sound like it’s coming from another place.” “So where is she?” asked Blake. Just then several alien ships emerged from the dark rushing clouds. “She’s at the hotel. The lights are blended together in there just like in the restaurant.” “Let’s go,” said Blake. He started to turn, but Cade pulled him back as several bright lights lit up in the sky. “What are you doing?” “I think the aliens figured it out. Look.” The two ships dropped low in the sky close to the hotel. “We have to get her out of there.” “It’ll take an hour to get down there,” said Blake. “Not my way,” said Cade gazing down the north slope. “Oh come on…” Cade slowly broke a smile that looked almost evil, and crazy. “You’ve got to be kidding.” Cade turned to him with a confident smile. “There’s no way.” “It worked on the way up.” “How do you know we won’t hit any rocks?” “I know, trust me, it’s obvious.” Alien lights shot out toward the hotel. “Come on,” Cade urged. “This is our chance.” Blake sighed heavily and started pretend-writing on the prophecy copy. “What are you doing?” “Just writing my will…” “Come on, we need to go.” Cade jumped down and began his slide down the slope while Blake closed his eyes before starting his. The kids started to gain speed surfing down the snowy slope toward the quiet, still hotel. “So how do you know we won’t hit any rocks?” Blake challenged. “I saw the shadow go all the way down the slope,” Cade answered calmly. “THAT’S IT?!?” “We’re almost theeerrrrreeeee.” Cade and Blake turned sideways as they eventually slid into a snow drift at the city park right in front of the hotel. The kids gazed up at the alien lights moving in together over the hotel. Then they drifted apart, searching the grounds. “Now, go, go, go.” The kids sprinted to the entrance while the alien lights moved back toward the entrance. Slow burning dark orange candles lit the narrow black marble halls with brightly coloured carpets. “To the top floor windows,” said Blake. Cade nodded while they sprinted up the winding steps of the grand center room. They ducked the roaming alien lights. The ships drew in closer. The floors and walls rattled under the pressure. Just then they heard the singing as the lady turned to see them approaching. It was Annie Carabright.
“We have to get you out of here,” said Cade. “They’ll find me,” she said, nodding to the searching lights. “We can get you out,” said Blake. “Right, Cade?” Cade looked around outside as the lights grew stronger. Then his eyes slowly scanned the grand top floor room until stopping on a grand piano in the corner. Talking fast Cade answered, “I know how we’ll escape, I know how we’ll escape, I’m going to play, just play us out, get ready, let’s go, let’s go, let’s go.” “Woah, slow down…” “I’ll start playing, you guys get ready, hide by the front entrance, I’ll join you and then we get out when they all rush to here.” “They figured it out, remember?” said Blake. “They’ll know you’re here playing the piano, they won’t think it’s coming from the restaurant.” “I know, I have a different plan, trust me, go now, wait for me.” “This better be good,” Blake whispered as he and Annie made their way for the entrance and hid down behind a large couch. Then the song began, it was Silent Night. The ship descended to the street. Cade played strong and fast, with an added echo to the song as he played the keys. The place vibrated to the fast-paced rhythm of the strong, fast playing. The dark orange lights swayed to the energetic, strong, yet peaceful song. “Why do you sing secretly?” Blake whispered. “For them,” she nodded toward the restaurant. “My music brings them together and shines a light on them instead of me. It highlights how special they are, how talented they are, like tonight, the chef and his wife realizing what a great restaurant they have, and for the rest of them over there singing and dancing, they realize how great they are. You see, we all have a great destiny, like the two of you being led here to save me with your bright determination, so my music can continue bringing light to them. Sometimes our destiny may be hard to see in the heavy darkness, but it can still shine if you go deep enough to find the light that only shines in the deepest dark.” The ship reached the ground. Several aliens quickly walked out. They headed down the street for the entrance while the Silent Night played on and on, the bright, hopeful notes rising higher and higher around them. “He’s out of time,” Blake whispered. “No I’m not,” Cade whispered behind them. “How did you…” “Same way she did,” he answered. “I played it so it would echo long enough for us to escape.” The aliens rushed in, then up the steps. The two kids and Annie snuck out, then hurried down to the restaurant and slipped inside. All the people were sitting still just listening to the bright keys playing the song echoing out through the city. Cade, Blake, and Annie each smiled as they saw all of the citizens of Carolmire sitting together, listening to the same song, feeling the same peace, singing the same song but in their unique voices, joining in the magic of the Silent Night.
Blake walked into Cade’s room, a few nights before Christmas, and was hit…with a soccer ball. “What was that for?” “You weren’t supposed to open the door right then,” Cade answered with a shrug. “So you hit me with a soccer ball?” “No, I was trying a new trick shot.” “What kind of…” Blake stopped for a moment, gazing around at the numerous coloured candles lit up in Cade’s room taking up literally every space in his room. “Seriously Cade? What is with all the lights in here?” “It’s Christmas,” he answered with a half-smile. “So? You’ll go blind.” “I’m trying to see something.” “Do you realize how hot it is in here?” Blake asked, wiping the sweat off his forehead. Cade just shrugged, gestured for Blake to move to the right, then kicked the ball at the door. It hit the door hard, then bounced off the corner bookshelf, knocking several candles to the floor, before sliding past the goal on the right. Cade sighed heavily, turning away dejected while the a small fire started among the candles on the floor. “Uh, Cade?” “I can’t believe it.” “Cade?” “Should have gone in.” “Hey Cade, you might want…” “I think I need more speed on it.” “CADE, YOUR FLOOR IS ON FIRE!”
Blake still has dreams about that day, several weeks before Christmas, when he came home to an empty house. At least, most of his house was empty, except his room. All that he had was still there, but with something else that wasn’t there before. On his desk, which was covered with various folders, papers, and textbooks that he planned on studying at some point…later…maybe. Then he saw it, placed on top of the mess, was a note…
Blake is not as into decorating for Christmas as Cade. He kind of prefers darkness, but Cade gets after him a lot, and I mean a lot, about decorating his room. So as a joke, Blake sets up two candles with a pile of tinsel between them. But it’s not just the simple set up. These are candles you have to see to believe. The colour is best described as pale yellow. They are moldy, crusty, and old, burning with a really dim orange light. They also lean a lot to the right, yet somehow don’t fall over. The wax seems to be melting all around making the candles look like they are tired of standing.
In their new home, Cade and Blake have a new tradition of decorating the tree by making it kind of a race. They each get a box with the same decorations. When the clock starts, they have to get all of their decorations on their side of the tree. Whoever gets theirs up first wins, but they have to stay on the tree. It gets pretty intense. Cade tries to shake the branches while Blake tries putting his decorations on. Blake plucks needles off the tree and throws them at Cade to distract him. But I can’t tell you how many times each of them has won, they won’t let me reveal that to you for some reason. They’re really secretive about this competition.
I’m not kidding about how secretive they are about this. Both kids circle their home several times making sure no one is hiding outside, getting ready to spy on their competition because of course lots of people must be dying to watch Blake and Cade decorate their Christmas tree, right? They then put up dark curtains, or blankets over the windows to make sure no one can see. They struggle to get the curtains or blankets to stay up. They keep falling. Finally they figure out to just temporarily tape them to the walls around the windows. You would think they would remember to do this first every time now, but they never do. They still struggle until finally realizing that they won’t hold up without tape. Then, the competition begins.
Blake walked slower than he ever had before across his room toward the note. He didn’t know what was written on it, and he hadn’t really thought about it yet, but somehow deep down he knew what it was. He felt an anxiety he had never felt before or since. But he had to read it. His house never felt as silent as it did when he read that note…
Cade casually spun around, walked slowly over to where Blake was standing, watching the small fire spread in his room. Then Cade took a bucket of water barely visible behind ten colourful candle lights and put out the fire. Blake just shook his head while Cade smiled brightly. “You do realize you have like every candle in the world in here, right?” Cade’s smile faded. “I still don’t have the two I’m looking for…”
Get ready to enter the far north Kingdom of Carolmire, where it’s always Christmas. This is a two-part mystery giving a hint of what’s to come in the next story of this mystery series called: MYSTERY OF THE BLOODY FRIDAY SPY This is a mystery about who is the lady secretly singing? No one can figure out where the music is coming from to find her, can you? Check out the previous post called: DARKCORNER LAND FEATURE: CAROLMIRE’S SECRET LIGHT On this post you can check out the five suspects and their descriptions, then read the prophecy carefully to find clues about who it is. Check it out by clicking on this link:
Dazzling snow fell in slow waves over the small blackstone complexes set in three circles through the snow covered hills. Cade and Blake sat on a pile of snowy rocks at the top of a small mountain overlooking the Christmas city of Carolmire. Cade squinted up at the icy blue sky when the singing began. The kids slowly scanned the city. A lady sang the song Silent Night in a hopeful, yet haunting voice ringing out from the high frozen water falls between several homes with triangular roofs. “It’s coming from there,” said Blake. “The lady singing?” asked Cade. “No, the sonic avalanche,” answered Blake, rolling his eyes. “What?” “The sonic avalanche.” “What is that?” “How do you not know what that is?” “I’ve never heard of it.” “It’s when an avalanche is so strong and fast when it hits bottom you hear the sonic boom.” “Like the alien ships sometimes, when they…you know…” Cade just made a waving motion with one hand, then clapped hard. “Something like that, anyway, what I was saying…” Cade held his hand, wincing in pain. “You hurt your hand?” “I clapped too hard I guess.” Blake sighed heavily. “It must have been a sonic clap.” Blake stared intently at the icy waterfalls remaining still and serene. Blue and red candle lights shined in the simple square dark blue glass windows. They bounced rhythmically to the slow swaying song. “She’s almost always singing from higher up, and usually when it’s getting dark.” “We never see any of them,” said Cade talking fast. “The five ladies we narrowed it down to, the ones who can sing like that. If we saw four of them out while the lady sings we could figure out who it is easily. Yet they don’t, and we just watch while the birds fly over and the avalanches fall. Isn’t that bizarre?” Blake kept watching the still falls intently. “Blake?” “What?” “Did you hear me?” “I lost you about halfway through that.” “I was saying, we never see any of the five ladies. Why is that?” Blake turned to him momentarily, then several bright lights shot out from the sleek green shimmering alien tower at the top of the broad mountain to the left of Carolmire. Eerie groaning sounded from the mountain peak. Blake turned back to the waterfalls. Two aliens in dark blue suits walked fast up the narrow snow covered street toward the falls. The sky to the west turned dark blue and purple. The tall aliens gazed strongly with their crescent moon shaped eyes shining white in the darkening sky. The singing continued as they entered one of the tunnels going behind the falls. “Tomorrow we need to be in place,” said Blake. “We’ll find her,” answered Cade. The next day, snow fell calmly in the still cold air as evening fell over Carolmire. Cade and Blake hid in the low tower of the castle looking down over the quiet city. “You really think she’ll be here?” whispered Cade. “No, I think she’ll be in candyland, I decided I don’t want to find her after all.” “Do you always have to do that?” “When you set me up, yeah,” Blake answered with a smile. Silent Night cut through the wintry evening in a chilling, peaceful voice coming from behind them. The kids spun around and hurried to the other side of the circular room. Her singing rang out from near the top of the blackstone castle where soft candles glowed through five grand blue windows. “It’s on,” said Cade, with eyes lit. The kids sprinted down a long, dark tunnel. The lady’s sweet singing echoed back and forth. They hurried up a long, winding staircase lit by dark golden candles bouncing to the rhythm of the song. Her singing began to come in clearer. “We did it,” whispered Blake excitedly, “we found the exact place.” “Let’s get there.” Cade sped up. “Race you to the top.” Blake powered ahead up the staircase, winding further right. The steps grew steeper. The serene city lights flashed past them through the open windows. Then the alien lights appeared. The kids stopped. “Listen, listen,” whispered Blake. “She’s still singing,” said Cade. “I don’t hear her moving anywhere.” A sonic rush knocked them back. The bright alien light beams swept across the windows. The kids slowly crept up to the edge of the window. Several sleek, triangular blue crafts hovered over the city. Two alien lights roamed through the castle. “They’re trying to find her,” Blake whispered. The lady’s singing continued, ringing out through the glittering city. Bright waves swept through the gold-lit candles in the windows of the people’s homes. Several people walked out on the balcony of the candy shop. Rhythmic lights glowed behind them. “Let’s go,” whispered Cade. “What about the aliens?” “We just won’t let them see us,” said Cade with a shrug. “Well, I suppose…” Blake turned to see Cade hurrying up the steps. With a casual shrug he flew up the steps after him. The lady’s singing began to drift to the right. They reached a large entrance. Three wide staircases shot up in different directions to the top room. The kids strained to see the large balcony lit by blue, green, and gold candles set along the rail. Dark shadows flickered in a dreamy rhythm. Dark orange candles lit the first staircase, bright gold candles lit the second, and dim candles lit the third. “Let’s go,” said Cade. Just then, they heard sharp footsteps coming fast up the stairs behind them. “Hide, hide,” whispered Blake. “It’s them.” “Over there,” said Cade pointing to a large table by a window. The kids hurried over and hid behind it. A dim light began to spill into the half-circular room. Steps grew louder. Gold glowing candles in the windows of the mining shop flickered to the pace of the lady’s song. Bright candle lights swayed in clusters of the balconies over the general store where citizens sang with her. The colours blended together from the high balcony when the alien light slowly lit up the bright curtains behind. The two aliens stood at the foot of the steps searching the upper balcony with their lights sweeping back and forth. In the windows behind them dark shadows clashing together flickered in a dreamy rhythm from the candle lights shining in the windows of the produce shop. The kids watched in dead silence as the two aliens started up the center staircase. Then they stopped. One of them turned around, and turned his light directly on the kids…
