15 The Darkness

15 The Darkness 'I can't see anything,' said Mum. ' Do they have to keep it dark in order to protect the Jerusalem Plate?' Peanut didn't reply. She was also wondering why none of the lights were on. It was especially frustrating because she wanted to be sure that they had arrived in the right place the room at the top of the Spire. 'This is ridiculous!' boomed Mr Stone. 'Hang on...'

Two seconds later, a small but brilliant white light lit up the whole place. 'That's better,' said Stone, holding his phone aloft, its torch blazing brightly. The relief that Peanut felt when she recognised the control room soon disappeared when she realised that it was empty. Where were they? Dad, Woodhouse and 67 were supposed to be waiting there, ready to apprehend Mr White. They'd had long enough to get to the Spire, what with the time difference and everything. Something must have happened, she thought. 'So, where is this plate then?' asked Mum. 'I was wondering the same thing, said Nerys. 'Where, indeed?' said Stone as he walked slowly around the large console jam-packed with switches, levers and buttons. The children looked anxiously at one other. Rockwell mouthed What's going on? Peanut shrugged. Stone crouched down and pulled

hard at something on the floor. Suddenly, his face glowed with a multitude of bright rainbow colours. He had opened the trapdoor that led to the huge pool of Rainbow Lake water under the control-room floor. Stone looked up and smiled. 'Beautiful,' he said, his voice oilier than ever. That's when it happened.

Stone moved so quickly that it didn't quite seem real. First, he flipped backwards and began to levitate, horizontally, a metre from the floor. Then he started to spin really, really fast. His white fedora flew from his head and landed right at Nerys's feet. Mum gasped. 'MILTON!? Stop it! You're scaring me! Peanut, WHAT IS GOING ON!?' she yelled. 'I-I don't know,' replied Peanut. She turned to Nerys, who had picked up the hat and appeared to be quite enjoying the sight of Stone revolving rapidly. After a few seconds, Stone's spinning slowed before eventually stopping altogether. 'I think he's got something wrapped around him,' said Rockwell, 'Hang on. Is he... tied up?' Sure enough, Mr Stone was wrapped tightly in thick, jet- black rope, its coils binding him from his chest to his knees. 'AARRRRGH!' he squealed, the desperation in his high- pitched voice clear for all to hear. ' SOMEBODY, HELP ME!' The confused expressions on the children's faces suddenly transformed into four wide grins as, slowly, a muscular female figure emerged from the shadows behind Mr Stone. Only then did it become apparent to Peanut that the man wasn't actually levitating after all; he was being held up by this woman who was dressed in a tight, black spandex suit. Billowing out behind her was a black cape emblazoned with a large, grey letter D.

Then an equally muscular male figure appeared, wearing a dark brown body stocking and a green cloak. 'Greetings, citizens!' he said. And greetings... MR WHITE! As you can now see, there is a reason why people are often afraid of... The Darkness!'