The Dark Lord's Plot | Chapter 1

Beep. Beep. Beep, beep. Cortland Pettyfer reached his long lanky hand over and tapped the knob between the two bells on his alarm clock. Dust shook off his wooden nightstand as he tapped it off.1

His house was a small wooden home. His room was very dusty and had floral wallpaper of purples and burgundies all over. Several places along the wall the paper was torn from the wall revealing a patch of wooden beams across the wall.2

Creak. Creak. As Cortland arrived in the kitchen he found his father sitting at the table reading an issue of “The Daily Gazette”. His mother was striding around the kitchen doing dishes here, and wiping the table there.3

“Good morning,” said Cortland’s mother, Elena, “Your father has already made breakfast so you will just have to have something fast. . .4

“Oh, it is ok,” Cortland broke in, “I will just have a pop tart.”5

Cortland searched the cupboard for a pop tart and then walked out the door and down the steps to the garage.6

He sensed it before he saw it. The trouble. Ahead of him, blocking his path was the Parkin Brothers Gang. The gang consisted of two guys and a girl. 7

The leader was Charlie. He was well built and tough. He had dark brown hair and light blue eyes. The ladies were always swarming around him like bees swarming around a hive. 8

The second guy was Tonks. He was skinnier than Charlie but was still just as strong. He wore a tight black shirt that showed every inch of his six pack. He had dirty blonde hair and red eyes. Tonk’s eyes always made Cortland feel uneasy, like another being was inside of his eyes.9

The last one, the female, was Leah. She was very pretty and had brown hair with light green eyes. She walked gracefully, the walk of a model, and wore heels. Tonight she wore a red dress that just barely came to her knees. The dress fluttered in the wind looking almost like the American flag being waved back and forth.10

Anger suddenly burst up inside of Cortland. “Don’t make me,” yelled Cortland mustering the most courage that he could.11

“Don’t make you what?” sputtered Charlie, “Pee your pants!” The whole gang cracked up at Charlie’s crude humor. Charlie’s voice rang out over the rest. His deep laugh echoing in the night.12

Cortland waved his hand and the lot of the gang flew into the air. Then he reached into his shirt pocket and produced a wand. He searched around for cover and finally hid behind the nearest car. 13

The land was dark, and the only light was from that of the moon. A wind suddenly crept up and whistled through the landscape. Cortland looked around slowly trying to distinguish the three figures that were the Parkin Brothers Gang.14

“What’s the matter?” asked Tonks, “You scared? Come out and fight like a man!” The last statement touched Cortland. Ever since he had been really young people had called him names, told him he was a nobody, told him that he wasn’t a man. Well, this time, this person was not going to get away. Not without something in return, most likely his life.15

Cortland stepped out from behind the car and yelled into the night.16

“I am no man! I- Cortland Pettyfer,” he yelled, “Well, here I am you dogs. Come and get me!” 17

Charlie was the first to step out from behind a nearby trash dumpster. 18

“Stingio,” yelled Cortland and fluttered his wand. Charlie flew back against the dumpster. Red drops were splattered across his face. “Who is next?” asked Cortland angrily, “Who is going to be the next man?”19

“What about Wo-Man?”, asked Leah as she ran out from behind a bush.20

“Stingio!”21

Cortland narrowly missed the stunning spell as he jumped into the bushes for cover. 22

“Who’s the man now?” Leah asked with a hint of sarcasm in her high-pitched voice.23

Cortland rolled out form behind the bush yelling as he did.24

“Stingio.” The spell missed Leah by inches and realizing her true danger for the first time started to search for cover.25

“Kumpelum!” Cortland yelled and Leah instantly fell to the floor.26

Tonks flew out from no where and yelled, “Ashtrio.” 27

Red hot fire erupted from his wand and lit up the night. The heat hit Cortland like a wave, when your surfing.28

“Farzo,” Cortland yelled and the fire was extinguished. For now anyways.29

The spell had given away Cortland’s position; he had to move fast. Tonks was aware of it too and began to move towards.30

“Kumpelum.” The spell whizzed past Cortland’s hair scorching the ends. A burnt smell hung in the air.31

“Stingio.” Spells rang out all around him. He had to find cover. Had to find it fast. 32

“You can run, but you can’t hide, Cortland.” The voice echoed around him. He began to feel claustrophobic, and moved faster. Suddenly, he stopped. The outline a figure stood in front of him.33

He reacted instantly and jumped to the left doing a roll in midair. “Kumpelum!” He yelled. 34

Tonks fell to the ground. Dead. Cortland staggered to his feet. He had a small gash on his forehead where blood was trickling down his cheek. He was a little dazed, but still noticed a plump, blonde haired lady looking at him strangely from his steps. He slowly made his way toward her. It was his mother, Elena. 35

“Mom, I am sorry-,” he started, “I didn’t mean to. They just- They just-,” he couldn’t bring himself to speak another word.36

“It is ok,” his mother said softly with empathy, “Please, come back inside.” 37

His mother walked over to him and he put his left arm around her shoulder. Nothing had ever felt so comforting in his life. Not once had he wished he had had his mother so much. But that was all about to change.38

He meandered up the steps to the living room where he took a seat on the couch. His father noticed him as he walked in and ran over to see what was wrong.39

“I am ok, Dad,” he said confidently, “I really am.” He father didn’t look any less concerned. 40

“Please, tell me what happened,” his mother said.41

Cortland didn’t know where to start so much had happened.42

“Well, ummm. . . I was walking out to the garage to go meet. . . To go meet. . .” Cortland couldn’t remember who he was going to meet.43

“Continue,” said his mother sharply.44

“Ummm. . .Well, when I got there the Parkin Brothers Gang was waiting for me. I swear mom I didn’t mean to do it. I swear.”45

“I believe you,” his mother said, “Then, what happened?”46

Tonks started talking bad about me. Calling me horrible things. And then the next minute I know, I am up and dueling him.”47

“What happened to him?” his mother asked.48

Cortland skipped a breath before saying, “He’s. . . He’s dead.”49

Elena’s face went ghostly white. Cortland looked at his mother oddly. “What is the matter, mother?” he asked.50

His mother looked at his father for condolence before continuing.51

“Well, now is a better time to tell you than any. There are four members in the Pettyfer family.”52

“What I don’t understand?” said Cortland confoundedly. 53

“Listen, Cortland, I am sorry we didn’t tell you earlier,” her voice was rising, almost with terror.54

“Tell me what?” Cortland said a little on edge.55

“Charlie, was your brother!” she screamed as tears came finally. Her face turned a medium shade of pink as she cried out in agony. 56

“What?” said Cortland, bewildered.57

“You heard your mother,” his father said sternly, “Charlie is your brother. After he ran out she never spoke his name since. Please don’t make her any upset than she already is.”58

“But! So your saying I just killed my brother out there.”59

“Yes! Yes, you did! Is that was you bloody well wanted to hear,” his father yelled.60

“But why did he leave?” asked Cortland, wanting answerers.61

“He was expelled,” his father said. His voice not wavering in it’s strength. 62

“But, why? Please tell me. I need to know!”63

“Need to know? You don’t need to know anything!”64

“Oh, really! Well, since you’ve waited so long to tell me, waited until I have killed my own brother, I think I deserve something. I would say I have the right to know!” His father looked at him angrily before taking a deep breath and continuing. 65

“Your brother was. . .was evil. He always plotted schemes against his teacher. Wicked schemes! After his teacher ended up with a wart the size of a baseball on her face, he was. . . Expelled. After he was expelled he left “the village”.”66

“But, why? What is leaving the village going to do?” 67

“The villagers loathed him just as much as the teachers did. It would have been unsafe for him to stay here.”68

“But I just committed an act of evil just like Charlie,” Cortland broke in, “Doesn’t that mean it is unsafe for me to stay here?” Cortland’s father didn’t answer.69

“Well, in any case I can’t stay here. I can’t stay with people whom I can’t trust!” His father got up to protest, but Cortland was already out the door.70