Darkness & Light
People look to the light for warmth and happiness. A shining beacon of hope to some, a wondrous joy of life to others. When the light disappears and the Sun sets, many then slink off. Warm in their houses, with their own versions of light to keep them safe from the one thing that many people fear... darkness.
One boy, had such a terrible fear. The light gave him warmth, it revealed what darkness hid and thus, in the light he was safe. He had no home to go to, no bed to curl in, no lights to keep him safe during the night. In the Sun-Hours, he could roam the streets pleasantly. Taking from those who would not miss a little here or there when he could. The boy kept himself fed and in those warm beams, he boldly stepped forward. However, when the shadows crept over those warming beams, turning them to chills, moving from a comforting gentle breeze which wrapped you like a mothers embrace, into a harsh wind which felt like sharpened strings which cut your very skin. That is when the boy ran. That is when he shut his eyes and curled into himself, the darkness of his own making was a great relief from the night that seemed to haunt him. The streets were empty then, no friendly faces, just devils and demons out for their next spoil, out for their next prey.
It was a time such as this, when the boy had to run. He was hidden amongst doorways away from the prying eyes of most, but the night folk had eyes keener than most and they say his huddled body.
"What have we here?" They whispered, words formed like ice.
"Such a small thing, a delicate thing." The boy pretended not to hear, he wanted them to leave but they would not and they had no intention to. Vile creatures such as these have a habit of never leaving.
"He would fetch a high price." The boy fought to keep his eyes closed, his body was so stiff but he knew he could not let himself be caught, he knew of boys and girls just as young as he was, perhaps younger, being bought and sold as easily as a Butcher sells fresh meat.
As bony fingers hooked over the rags the boy used for covers the boy jumped up with all he could muster. Night folk had keen eyes but they did not keep sharp wits. They assumed the boy was still asleep and with that, the boy ran. He ran and ran, so quickly and swiftly that the hunters had now lost their prey and made no effort to give chase yet the boy still ran. Further and further with his muscles burning hotly, his breath became harsh. Every wheeze hurt, he felt as though someone had gripped his lungs tight and squeezed with every breath he took. His heart was close to bursting until he eventually slowed down and did not realize he collapsed on a field.
A soft field.
His fingers grazed around the edges where he lay, soft grass. His nails pressed into the earth feeling the gentleness of it, the warmth of the ground underneath. He turned onto his back. Slow deep breaths escaped from between his dry lips and there he felt it. The comfort of light. Not the warming embrace of the Sun but the gentle paleness of a light, cold to touch yet one which warms your heart. Very much like the touch of a kiss upon a cheek. Soon, as he lay, his breath returned to normal, better than normal... his body and breathing relaxed completely as he stayed there for what seemed like an age, perhaps it felt like days to a boy as young as he but the Sun did not arise during this time. He may have only lay there for a hour or two until he had the strength to sit up. He saw the darkness over the town, black swirling with grey and midnight blues. A thick smoke covering the dens of decay and cruelty. He then titled his head to the side... there over the fields, pale blueness, almost an ethereal whiteness covered the grass. There was a forest just at the edge of the field. Specks of this spiritual light sparkled through the trees like stars and that is when the boy looked up.
Millions and millions of tiny white lights, twinkling, appearing as if they were singing down to him. Filling him with wonderment and joy. The darkness over the town covered it so the stars could never be seen and yet, here this boy saw them in all their glory. He found his feet and stood. Becoming bathed under their skylight and then he saw, what could only be their master (for boys as young as he, come to their own facts and conclusions). A shining orb, brighter than the stars which gave birth to the light that he stood upon. The boy looked back once more into the town and then towards the forest where the light led. Excitedly and gingerly he followed it. Thinking he may cause offence to some holy spirit but no such offence was caused. He quickened his pace, smiling more and more with each step which became quicker and quicker until he disappeared into the forest completely.
Never again, did he fear the dark.
One boy, had such a terrible fear. The light gave him warmth, it revealed what darkness hid and thus, in the light he was safe. He had no home to go to, no bed to curl in, no lights to keep him safe during the night. In the Sun-Hours, he could roam the streets pleasantly. Taking from those who would not miss a little here or there when he could. The boy kept himself fed and in those warm beams, he boldly stepped forward. However, when the shadows crept over those warming beams, turning them to chills, moving from a comforting gentle breeze which wrapped you like a mothers embrace, into a harsh wind which felt like sharpened strings which cut your very skin. That is when the boy ran. That is when he shut his eyes and curled into himself, the darkness of his own making was a great relief from the night that seemed to haunt him. The streets were empty then, no friendly faces, just devils and demons out for their next spoil, out for their next prey.
It was a time such as this, when the boy had to run. He was hidden amongst doorways away from the prying eyes of most, but the night folk had eyes keener than most and they say his huddled body.
"What have we here?" They whispered, words formed like ice.
"Such a small thing, a delicate thing." The boy pretended not to hear, he wanted them to leave but they would not and they had no intention to. Vile creatures such as these have a habit of never leaving.
"He would fetch a high price." The boy fought to keep his eyes closed, his body was so stiff but he knew he could not let himself be caught, he knew of boys and girls just as young as he was, perhaps younger, being bought and sold as easily as a Butcher sells fresh meat.
As bony fingers hooked over the rags the boy used for covers the boy jumped up with all he could muster. Night folk had keen eyes but they did not keep sharp wits. They assumed the boy was still asleep and with that, the boy ran. He ran and ran, so quickly and swiftly that the hunters had now lost their prey and made no effort to give chase yet the boy still ran. Further and further with his muscles burning hotly, his breath became harsh. Every wheeze hurt, he felt as though someone had gripped his lungs tight and squeezed with every breath he took. His heart was close to bursting until he eventually slowed down and did not realize he collapsed on a field.
A soft field.
His fingers grazed around the edges where he lay, soft grass. His nails pressed into the earth feeling the gentleness of it, the warmth of the ground underneath. He turned onto his back. Slow deep breaths escaped from between his dry lips and there he felt it. The comfort of light. Not the warming embrace of the Sun but the gentle paleness of a light, cold to touch yet one which warms your heart. Very much like the touch of a kiss upon a cheek. Soon, as he lay, his breath returned to normal, better than normal... his body and breathing relaxed completely as he stayed there for what seemed like an age, perhaps it felt like days to a boy as young as he but the Sun did not arise during this time. He may have only lay there for a hour or two until he had the strength to sit up. He saw the darkness over the town, black swirling with grey and midnight blues. A thick smoke covering the dens of decay and cruelty. He then titled his head to the side... there over the fields, pale blueness, almost an ethereal whiteness covered the grass. There was a forest just at the edge of the field. Specks of this spiritual light sparkled through the trees like stars and that is when the boy looked up.
Millions and millions of tiny white lights, twinkling, appearing as if they were singing down to him. Filling him with wonderment and joy. The darkness over the town covered it so the stars could never be seen and yet, here this boy saw them in all their glory. He found his feet and stood. Becoming bathed under their skylight and then he saw, what could only be their master (for boys as young as he, come to their own facts and conclusions). A shining orb, brighter than the stars which gave birth to the light that he stood upon. The boy looked back once more into the town and then towards the forest where the light led. Excitedly and gingerly he followed it. Thinking he may cause offence to some holy spirit but no such offence was caused. He quickened his pace, smiling more and more with each step which became quicker and quicker until he disappeared into the forest completely.
Never again, did he fear the dark.
Faevale Cottage
