The world weary Kindred trudged into the dark underground as he had done a hundred times before. The hall underneath the school had been carved out of the bedrock with the hands of a hundred dead children. The passageway got very narrow very quickly as it went up -- very few of the children could reach this high, and the Kindred was forced to stoop. Of course, the tunnel wasn't meant for grown-ups.
The passageway finally opened up into a room. Today, the room appeared to be ten foot by ten foot square with no ceiling, open to the daytime sky. He winced instinctively, even knowing it was only a trick. But the feel of the warm breeze on his cold, dead skin played tricks on a mind long used to such illusions.
He risked another look up to the sky, and this time a kind of reverse vertigo enveloped him, as though he was falling up and he found himself frantically trying to grab the ground, to no avail. He landed on his back and hopped to his feet, looking for his objective.
He was in a grassy field, a brightly light day. His long-dead heart skipped a beat as he looked frantically around, trying to retreat from the source of the sunlight. There was, however, no sun, as if to spare him his one final shred of dignity.
The field was one of gently rolling hills foresty green trees and a small farm. Not far away from him was a giant, ancient oak all alone in the middle of a field. The shade from its branches was big enough to build a house (or two) benath, and it was to this spot and the movement underneath that his eyes drew.
He walked towards the immense tree, stopping only to ensure himself there really was no sun in the sky. He finally arrived near the base of the tree and saw more or less what he was expecting.
Three young women, today they looked about eight, were all sitting on swings hanging from a low branch. Their expression did not change when he approached, nor would it when he spoke. They swung as one, their movements synchronized as though programmed by a computer. The height of each swing was exactly the same, the movement of their legs was synchronous and the expression on each face was exactly the same. They slowed and stopped as one, the scuffing of their shoes in the dirt making the same harmony.
The Kindred dropped to one knee. "I wish to know what you wish of me."
The voice (voices?) sounded only in his head. None of their mouths moved, nor did they seem to change expression at all. A gathering of leeches in Sleepy Hollow.
"Yes?" he asked, puzzled. He knew of this event -- he was planning on attending.
We are going.
His jaw gaped despite itself. After a few seconds "Why? It could be dangerous and expose you to unnecessary attention."
The prize is worth it.
"What prize is worth that?"
The prize. The prize to break down the barrier which has held us back for so long. It is in Sleepy Hollow. And we are to acquire it. Make plans to carry us there.
The invisible "sun" set virtually instantaneously, and the darkness quickly returned. As his eyes adjusted, he realized he was back in the cavern below the school.
He turned to make the long walk out. How the hell was he going to pull this one off? At least if it worked, they wouldn't have to hide anymore.