Where was he? He flailed and struggled, lest the light that was disappearing shone down on him, he would be swallowed whole by this darkness. Alas it took no longer than a cat's sneeze that the darkness had engulfed him. He noticed something else too. The air around him was getting lesser. A little bit left. And then it was gone. He started to choke, he started to lose sight of what he wanted to do. He was but a small insect that was dying out without anyone knowing. He tried to stay awake but he could not. He tried to fight it but he cannot. Death inevitably comes for us all. His last thought before everything vanished into nothingness? Her smile.
And then, what was left was regret.
But he awoke.
His eyes opened once more. The sound of the cicadas were loud and the smell of his sweat made his eyes pop out. In his hand was hers and in the other a sword. He remembered her even if she was young, even if her snow white skin was untouched. It was like it happened yesterday. He was leaning against a tree he recognised, one that he could never forget. But his only thought was; how?
This was three years ago and he was dying just seconds ago. But he remembered. Her eyes opened as he had thought so and she whispered,
"How...?" She let out a small question that hung in the air. He pondered and yet he answered quickly and loud enough for her to hear.
"...You almost died. For a second there I thought you would end up as dinner for the monsters but I managed to save you. I was out looking for prey but I found your near lifeless body instead."
She sat up slowly from him, finding herself, making sure she was in one piece. Soon her breathing found rhythm. "I was sure that I would have died," a small but strong voice, one that suited her.
"You have a pretty face but I have seen better," he accidentally blurted out. What was he thinking, messing up their first precious meeting...all over again.
She stumbled to her feet, she brushed her locks aside and underneath them, she showed a strong pair of eyes. Strong but fragile. "I'm sorry to disappoint for I am not at my best currently."
He chuckled. "So what will my reward be, milady?" He joked for she spoke like how he remembered her. High and noble, full of confidence and yet, it had a hint of sadness.
"Will a thank you suffice?"
"A thank you will do for now. But how about a name? Wouldn't that be better?" He chuckled to himself again. Playing the roundabout game was fun.
She gave him a puzzled look. If this was a dream it was very real. And very similar. He didn't want this encounter to end.
"A-Alyssa," she stuttered but gave out her name. A voice so clear he had goosebumps.
"Alyssa? A fine name. But I know what would make a better reward," he pointed to her chest.
She looked downwards and saw what was there. A necklace of old, one she inherited from her late mother. She held onto it hesitantly but she gave it to him.
He shook his head.
"Thanks milady but I guess this would be better," he neared her and stole a quick kiss from her. She was startled and shocked. But then noticed that her necklace too was missing. She was as he remembered her, naive, innocent but not weak in any regard.
He smiled. He remembered that this was his worst day ever but the meeting between them was what made him change. He would follow the same old boring routine, hunting, going home, cooking and then off to sleep just to wake up to the same tomorrow.
He skipped away from her, swinging the necklace around as if to provoke her.
"Give that back! It's important!" She chased after him.
This made his life change drastically.
A beautiful girl he had never seen before, wandering the outside of his village, her eyes looked lifeless, her body bruised.
"Only if you can catch me!"
He closed his eyes and took deep breaths while trying to outrun her.
"I will catch you!"
He was sure, after everything was over, after his battle had ended, he would find a way back to those days again. If only he could.
He wanted to stop those eyes from going back to the lifeless eyes they once were. He wanted to stay and be hers and for her to be his.
But everything was slowly breaking away. Was this what they would say, your last regret before dying and vanishing into the darkness?
"I guess this is where it ends, I'm sorry Alyssa."
"What? Why? Darren? Darren where are you? Don't...don't leave me behi—"
Her voice that called out to him was cut short.
He had not fulfilled what he wanted to do. There was so much left to do and say but so little time. He was falling away from the dream. As the memory receded and he fell back to the darkness, he heard a soothing voice call out to him.
[Darren...]
His voice wouldn't come out. He tried to talk but he could not.
[Do you want to live again?]
What? Are his ears playing tricks on him? Is this what they call, the devil's embrace?
[Do you want the power...to do what you have not?]
Power? To live again? He pondered what the voice talked to him meant but he knew. Maybe that was why he saw that dream from so long ago.
But the answer to that was simple and crude. He wanted the power, the power to protect that smile, the power to stop her eyes into being the lifeless ones from before, but that was but an empty wish.
[Why? Why do you seek power beyond your reach? Why do you want this power?]
A question that brought his wreck of a mind to a halt. It was clear why he wanted it, why he reached out to the darkness.
[The cost of this power is great...you might not regain the memories from before you died. You might not even remember her and yet, do you still want this power?]
He smiled. That's the trick isn't it? Fate has its ways. He believed that no matter how far and how much he has forgotten, the feelings and memories that linger will never be forgotten. He made a promise to himself, to find her again, no matter how long it will take and how much it would cost.
[Even if it costs you everything?]
Even then, his pained expression had a sense of longing and yearning.
A brief silence ensued and it was only broken by the whisper of the ghastly voice.
[How does it feel? The power that is surging through your body?]
Darren cleared his throat, as if he knew that he had regained his substance.
"Heavy and dark but strangely warm," he let himself speak without reserve, he somehow felt light, revitalised and certain.
[You must remember, the darkness that lingers, shall always follow your trodden path.]
He who had lost himself has found a new purpose, he who has found a power that bears a heavy burden onto his shoulders.
But at what cost did the power came with?
"Darkness...? Thanks...I guess," he murmured after but a short delay.
Light shone from behind him, from inside the dark and hollow place he was at. The light seemingly beckoned to him, called out to him, telling him to wake up. The darkness offered him retreat if he thought that this was reckless but he laughed at the thought.
He smiled as he walked into the light, basking in its glory...
...and the darkness that remained, followed suit.
the first real chapter!! hehehe I hope anybody that reads this, will like it.
Oh and in a week I will post at least thrice if I'm not swarmed with work!