Within the Darkness

I sat on the gray sand, the sound of lonely waves echoing forlornly in my ears. Black, thick clouds rolled in from the vacant sky. Thunder roared in the distance, summoning darkly colored raindrops to the dormant beach where I was sitting. The wind blew past me, making an eerie sound within my soul.

I was alone, sitting on the secluded island, with no one to feel, see, hear, or touch. A tear escaped my eyes, my heart suddenly satiated with feelings of Remorse, guilt, detestation, excruciating pain, and other terrible things similar to those of which I have just described. The infinitesimal grains of sand turned a darker color as I sobbed, my stinging tears of seclusion dieing the ground I sat upon a murky shade of black. Hearing an abrupt change in the sound of the waves, I looked towards the ocean. My already dilated pupils grew wider as each second passed by. Standing on the angered waves was a being. He had brilliant white hair that whipped around in the crying wind, while his eyes seemed to illuminate the dull world where I was situated with a luminous radiance. They seemed to plead to me, to beg to me. He looked as if he was shedding tears. An unknown voice spoke out of the growing obscurity, sensitively speaking in my direction.

“Why do you dwell in the darkness? Why do you wallow in the pain? Why?”

I stood up, my legs shaking, my hands dripping with cold sweat. Taking one step at a time, I finally reached my preferred destination, the black waves, developing blacker as I stood there, my body weeping with exhaustion.

“It’s okay, come with me…”

He gave me a minuscule smile and reached his hand out to me, beckoning me with his eyes. I looked back at the overwhelming darkness and shuddered, I wanted to get away, so I ran towards him.

Just as I was about to reach his grasp, a colossal wave soared above our heads. My mouth widened in fear, trying to scream a warning. But my voice remained locked behind the doors of my throat. The water crashed down on us, sweeping me away from him. He just stood there, holding his hand out to me, the same smile painted onto his face.

“Do not fear the distance between us, you can overcome it. Just believe in me and we will finally be together.”

I floundered over to him, just to slip away from his hand. A look of determination spread across my face, I would reach him no matter what. I just had to believe I could. Rooting my feet in the sand, I grabbed his hand and the darkness miraculously slipped away.

Instead it was replaced with an ivory colored platform, with three tables in the center.

“Now pick one.”

One object appeared on each of the tables. Stepping closer I made out the form of each object. On the first tabled laid a long Sword, glistening in the dim light, letters unknown to my language printed on the handle. On the second tabled was a Shield, plated in gold with steel carvings engraved on the rim. On the last table was a solid gold breastplate, with silver engravings on the front.

I walked over to the Sword, and touched it lightly with my soiled hands. My eyes watered at the sheer brightness of the blade.

“This is the Sword of Strength, with this you will fight off the shadows and resuscitate the weak.”

I shifted my eyes to the shield, overcome with a sudden interest; I walked over to it and touched it also.

“This is the Shield of Truth, with this you will speak the Truth to unbelievers and defend them from the darkness that speaks lies to them.”

Removing my hand from the shield, I slowly treaded over to the gleaming Breastplate. I reached out to it and brought my hand quickly away from it. I had just realized my hands were too soiled to touch this holy equipment.

“Do not be afraid to touch it, your hands have been cleaned of their culpability.”

I reached out once again and touched it, feeling slight warmth beneath my fingers.

“This is the Breastplate of Righteousness, with this you will protect my word from exploitations and immorality by speaking of my name.”

My eyes slowly moved over to the Sword, It seemed to greatly attract my attention. I decided to take the sword. Walking over to that specific table, I grabbed the Blade and moved it around in my hand.

“So you choose the path of the Warrior? Do you feel this is the path you should be taking?”

I nodded my head, afraid to speak out loud. I felt that this was the path he had chosen for me and I wasn’t afraid to follow that road.

“Very good, you have successfully chosen the path I have planned for you, trust in me and you will never stray from the road.”

A questioning look filled my eyes. I took a step and started to fall. A few minutes passed and I landed in a black void filled with a dimly lit light. I caught a glimpse of my shadow; to my surprise it started to grow into a fearsome figure, towering up above the ground, its red eyes pierced through my soul. I ran away, and stumbled into a puddle filled with darkness.

“Every humans heart is filled with darkness, this is yours.”

I screamed and ran away from it, how can this be the darkness in my heart? There was no possible way I could fight this.

“But if you dig deeper than the darkness, you will find light.”

A new kind of strength filled my body, as I unsheathed my sword and prepared to fight my own fears. Standing up with renewed vigor, I ran towards the monster and stabbed the sword deep within its heart. It let out a deep growl of anguish and disappeared before my eyes.

“Do not be afraid, you are a warrior, made to fight the shadows. I am always with you.”

A bright flash of light blinded my eyes for a few seconds and I found myself on the same beach. The sun was out and children were playing in the warm sunlit sand. White clouds flew by, and the sky was filled with effervescent color. I looked around and saw some darkness fill up the area where the kids were playing, unaware of the shadows, the children continued their games. I pulled out my sword and walked towards them. I knew what I had to do.

“ Now go and help deliver your own kind from the darkness in their hearts. Just remember, within the darkness, there is light.”

The end

By Sarah