Blank

“What’s worse than being blank?”
“Being empty…because emptiness is something you can’t share.”

Prologue

“Liz…Liz!” The door creaked open an inch, and a pair of curious, smoke-grey eyes peered inside the dark room. Several feet below him, just above the floor, a gray muzzle poked through. “Liiiiz…are you awake?”

He heard someone breathe out slowly, and a candle lit on the dresser. The small flame illuminated the face of a brown-haired girl, her lips pursed close to the candle. She hesitantly picked up the candle, casting a quick glance to the three other beds crammed into the small room before rising from bed. She ducked to avoid several of the wind chimes and glass mobiles that hung from the ceiling before opening the door wider to bathe the short, midnight haired boy in light. He couldn't have been older than eleven and his clothes were far too warm for the house, right down to the pair of gloves he wore. A large, shaggy wolf stood beside him, the tail swishing back and forth with eyes gleaming in the candlelight that spoke of a hidden intelligence.

“Liz, where’s your stuff?” he asked with a hushed voice. She looked at him hopelessly for a moment, before her eyes trailed to the beds and back to him.

“Scip…I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“You’re…not coming?” his fallen tone revealed the bitter disappointment as he played with the handle of his bag. The wolf simply sat and rested her head against his leg.

“I can’t. I just can’t.” Her words caused a stirring from a bed, so she quickly stepped into the hall and gently shut the door behind her.

“Why? Why not?” he demanded, a hint of desperation in his voice. She started to speak, but the boy cut her off. “Liz, you said this place makes us afraid. You wanted to leave. The door is open only a few more minutes - Please…let’s just leave!”

She quickly shushed him before starting, “Scipio, I can’t leave. I have to look out for Dora.”

“Then bring her along!”

Her breath hitched momentarily, but before she could say anything, he cut her off. “I know, I know.” He ran a gloved hand through his hair as he mumbled, “I’m sorry, that was dumb.”

“You’re-you’re really going to go, huh?” Even her voice held the wetness of her tears, her head bowed as if the candle transfixed her to the spot. He simply nodded, afraid that if he opened his mouth to voice anything, he would lose the little courage he had left. “What will you do?”

He cleared his throat and stated, “I have to go. If I stay here…I won’t be here much longer.”

“After Dora-“ she paused, trying to find proper words, “-doesn’t need me anymore, I’ll come after you.”

He half-chuckled almost hopelessly, and heaved his shoulders. “You won’t be able to find me.”

“We’re best friends.” Her lip quivered but she forced a smile. “I can always find you.” Suddenly, struck by a sudden idea, she dropped the candle to the floor and darted back to her room. He bent and picked up the extinguished light source, and she returned just as swiftly.

She cupped her hand to act as a shield around the candle he held, and gently blew across the wick. A flame sputtered and then cheerily shone again.

He looked at the slender knife in her hand, and raised an eyebrow. She took a sharp breath, and drew the blade across her left palm quickly. Dark red stained her skin, and he stared at it in amazement. The wolf's ears perked up at once at the smell of blood.

“May I?” she asked, holding up the knife towards his hand. He hesitated, but nodded before setting the candle down on the floor and removing his glove. She cut his palm open swiftly, causing him to wince. Then she hesitated, both of them standing there dripping blood.

“Get it over with,” he mumbled between teeth clenched in preparation. She nodded, and clasped his hand tightly so the two wounds crossed. He hissed in sharp pain, his eyes snapping shut and his head bowing as he strained against a flood inside. She quickly released his hand and watched as both of their palms sealed, leaving behind a large scar. The wolf gently licked the back of his hand and he smiled as he wiped at the sweat on his face with his sleeve, before replacing his glove.

“We’ve connected. Understand?” she asked him, and picked up the candle. “Wherever you go, I’ll find you.”

He smiled weakly at her. “I hope this bond works through the door, too,” he mumbled, raising the marked hand hidden in the glove.

She nodded, as the candlelight revealed the tears gathering in her eyes. “It’ll work. I know it will. Now…you better hurry or the door will lock, and then you’ll only be leaving inside a royal coach.”

He nodded, and they stood there awkwardly for a moment longer before she cried, “You idiot! Go!”

The wolf turned at her words and started trotting down the hall. Scipio retreated a few steps to follow, before looking back at his friend with a grin. “Liz, no way this is goodbye, right?”

She smiled at him in reassurance. “No way.”

With that, he disappeared up the stairs after the wolf. She looked at the mark on her hand, revealed by the candle’s flickering light. She pressed the flame into her palm, searing the new scar. “Aid Scipio,” she whispered as the flame danced on her skin across the slash line. She cupped it close to her, tightly clenching her eyes. “Aid and protect him.”

The flame, spent, went out.