Driving Down the Darkness, Chapter I

    It was a good day.  The dark haired man stood before a view so beautiful that he was breathless upon seeing it.  Or so he wanted to think.  He was really breathless from the climb he had endured to reach this cliff.  Joshua Radcliff Jr. had learned the art of mountain climbing from his father.
    Most people knew Joshua Radcliff Senior as a dodgy man.  He always seemed eager to get somewhere and would usually not tell many people where.  The cliffs of the canyon were a place where he went to be in solitude.  He could think there.  It didn't make sense to those who knew his secret hiding spot that he would keep it a secret.  They were more than willing to keep it at his request.  He always joked that climbing would be the death of him.  It wasn't an idea that anyone thought funny anymore.
    "Hello."
    The voice had obviously not emmenated from the multi-colored rock surface which the resting climber viewed in this twilight hour.  Looking behind him he saw a woman, a woman who had walked unnotice, placing herself directly behind him.  Recovering from the start and suppressing the shiver that had suddenly com over him, Joshua stood up to greet her.  As he did so he got a glimpse of her appearance, which was extremely unusual for the people usually at the canyon.  More unusual was the fact that she was where she was with no vehicle.  She would have walked miles if she had parked in a lot and followed the rim of the cliffs.
    Her eyes were red.  Not the sandy red of the ancient rock surrounding them, but the red of two matching beads of blood.  Her hair was dark and long.  Completely black, almost as if it drained the light, or hid from it.  It fell half a foot below her shoulder, and Joshua was certain that it would be cold to the touch. Even in the 100 degree weather, which was somewhat cool for a desert day.  He felt the desert cooling quite quickly.  He told himself it was the setting sun, which he thought seemed to be much darker than usual, even for this hour.  The woman had a young figure, a thin physique, and was rather tall.  She stood several inches above the man.  She could not be called fair complected, as her skin was as white as snow.  Like snow, but without the sense of innocence.  This made a sharp, but somewhat enjoyable contrast against her clothing.
    She wore a coat that was a as dark as her hair.  The coat had black lace on the hand cuffs and as a collar.  A blood-red blouse was visible at the top of the coat, just under a brooch.  a white gold tear drop with two stones inlaid.  Each stone, one black onyx and one dark carnelian.  Her skirt came to her feet and was solid black.  Inlaid along the left sleeve of her coat.  She had a very beautiful appearance, but a certain chill about her.  Her face defied her youthful curves.  Tight cheekbones and two menacing eyes created a stare that could scare a pack of starving winter wolves.
    "Hello," replied Joshua, "what brings you out here?"  His instincts screamed danger.  Joshua refused to see anything but the best in people, or to listen to fear.
    "Just... admiring the scenery.  Quite a thing isn't it?  The  power that it took to create it... such power in nature.  Wouldn't you kill for such power?"  Hunger filled her eyes.  Shook her voice.  Her every action was riddled with temptation.
    "No, I don't think I would.  I don't see much use.  I have the power to enjoy life as it is."  The best in people.  Look for the best.  He repeated this in his mind as it was the only thing that could let him endure the laugh that followed his statement.  It was like a chuckle, but too sinister to call it so.  Evil doesn't chuckle.
    "Now, you don't know anything about life until you know about death.  What about death?  Would you die for power?"
    "I would once again have to say no."  The best. The best.  No chuckle.  Worse.  The hungry smile grew worse.  Bigger.  More sincere.
    "I thought not.  What would you die for? What would you kill for?"  Relish was in the word kill so much relish.  It was hard for Joshua to listen to her. To look at her.
    "M-my family."  He gasped.  He could hardly talk.  It was like her presence drained him.
    "Your family.  If you could kill or die for them, then you shall.  Come see this."  She led him to the ledge.  Joshua was having trouble walking.  "I need you.  You don't see power when you look at this.  You don't permit greed in your heart.  Your sould is good.  If your family is what could motivate you to do what I need, then it is your family I will use.
    "No."  He could barely say it.  She smiled even more expressively, opening more of the greed in her soul.  Joshua was in pain.  She touched his shoulder.  He couldn't pull away.  She snaked her way down his arm to his elbow with that one finger, following a curvy path.  Like something was being traced.  When she removed her finger, Joshua could do nothing.  Nothing but shudder in fear, discomfort, and agony.  Shuddering as he collapsed.  Collapsed the wrong way.
    It was too late.  He had tipped over the ledge.  The last thing Joshua saw was the final attempt of day to survive.  He fell as he saw the darkness of night conquer the daylight.  A laugh echoed through the canyons.  This wasn't the land he knew.  Thunk.