Candle in the Darkness

Sasira cowered as her stepfather, Daemon, advanced on her like a wolf stalking his prey. But his prey knew she would lose. It would be no different than what happened yesterday or yesterday’s yesterday. Sasira was trapped in the perpetual darkness of a cycle of never ending abuse.

She hastily ducked as a glass bottler was thrown at her. It shattered inches above her head, but the shards still broke her skin as they fell. Sasira gasped in pain but let not further reaction escape. Daemon would only get angrier if she showed any weakness. And in this house, weakness was fatal.

“Worthless piece of shit,”

Having enough of terrifying his stepchild, Daemon left the room. Sasira let herself relax and she slumped against the wall. Seconds later, Daemon came crashing into her small room. Startled and scared out of her wits, Sasira involuntarily leapt aside. Her movement attracted Daemon’s attention.

“You drank my beer!” Daemon falsely accused. Sasira’s eyes widened and she pressed herself against the wall. Sasira knew she didn’t drink anything, not since her stepfather started abusing her. That was… a loooong time ago. Daemon’s bloodshot eyes darkened in hatred. He stepped forward and pressed his palm against her throat.

Oxygen was cut off from the teenage girl’s system. She opened her mouth but no sound came out. Why waste her precious breath on calling for help when she knew none would arrive? Instead, she clawed at her stepfather’s hand, trying to free herself from his grip.

Daemon held his hand until he saw the vibrancy fade from her amethyst eyes. He released her and she crumpled, taking in choking breathes. Then he cruelly kicked her, knocking the wind out of Sasira again.

“Get me more beer you pathetic weakling!” The chronic drunk ordered. Almost immediately, Sasira left. She had no money to buy anything and if she went back empty-handed… the consequences were too horrid to list.

She had only walked for five minutes when someone pushed her aside. A shot echoed. A body fell. Sasira gasped.

“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” The guy hissed. He shoved a gun into her hand. “We’re trying to win this war while not getting killed.” Sasira nodded numbly and the boy left, skillfully dodging bullets.

A gang war. She was going to die in a gang war. Tremors of fear coursed through her body. Lifetime passed. But Sasira heard police sirens amid the sounds of rapid gunfire. Immediately, people scattered. The sounds of gunfire ceased and all Sasira heard were the pain-filled cries of others as they died.

Sasira still held the gun. A police officer suddenly stood in front of her. Seeing Sasira holding a gun, she raised her own gun.

“Drop it,” She ordered, motioning at the gun. Sasira complied silently, eyes on the gun at her face. “Get up,” She did so.

Numbly, Sasira followed the officer. Among her were the dying or dead bodies of hundreds of gang members. She said nothing. Everything was eerily silent. Even the others that were being rounded up like her said nothing. It was probably their protocol or something of the like.

Sasira found herself sitting next to a silver-eyed teen in the back of a police car. He had messy black hair, a haunted look in his eyes, and a cold anger in his aura. Sasira could almost see the escape plans running past those stormy eyes. Once the boy noticed she was watching, he glared. And those eyes emitted a hatred she’d seen several times in Daemon’s bloodshot eyes.

But this silver-eyed demon was different. She didn’t know him. He didn’t know her. But he hated her nonetheless. Why?

Those eyes haunted her now. They were in her mind, they were all around her, and they were lurking in her sleep. Why did those eyes follow her so?

She saw the silver-eyed demon many times again. His eyes were blank and emotionless; none of the hatred was there. But there was no light either. He wasn’t getting better, he was retreating from reality.

After many weeks, Sasira was set free. She wasn’t released into the care of her stepfather though. He had been arrested a long time ago. Sasira hadn’t seen him since, nor did she want to. Sasira had been released into the care of the police officer that had found her the day of the gang war. She was now under the care of Captain Melisa.

Melisa treated her like a daughter. Sasira liked her. There were no more cruel words or liquors consummations. Sasira was free.

Since Melisa worked at the station, she took Sasira there a lot. She was helpful and often broke up petty fights between the prisoners since she had been there once. Some listened to her; others resented her for getting out clean. But they all admired her. There was just something about her that made people want to be close to her. No one would dare hurt her.

Sasira met Silver Eyes again. At first, they were cold, indifferent, aloof, and apathetic. But soon… that changed. Sasira found out that Silver Eyes was called Griffin and he had an entire history of misery.

“I was only three when my parents abandoned me. I don’t even know my real name.” Sasira placed her hand on Griffin’s knee sympathetically.

“Griffin… if it means anything, maybe it was better that you were abandoned. I mean, you had a family in the Lightenings. If you stayed, would you have ended up like me? Cold, lonely, and abused?”

“You’re right, Sasira. Thank you.” Amethyst eyes sparkled with happiness.

“Sasira, time to go.” Both teens looked up to see Melisa standing at the cell door with the keys.

“I’ll be back tomorrow, Griffin, I promise.”

“I know, Sasira. I’ll be waiting. Bye.”

Sasira simply looked back and smiled that dazzling smile that makes the room light up a bit more. Amethyst eyes danced with joy at seeing her friend. Griffin watched her until she disappeared behind the corner.

Griffin sighed. After two weeks basking in Sasira’s aura, Griffin felt different, more alive, somehow. He felt a connection with Sasira. It ran deeper than friendship, so could it be… love? Was it possible? Was the Ice Prince of the old Lightenings gang be capable of such a strange feeling?

If this light feeling in his heart was love, Griffin liked it.

“Melisa-sama, what is going to happen to Griffin?” Melisa looked up from her work to see Sasira.

“I don’t know Sasira; his trial didn’t go so well. He might be in jail for a while.” Sasira’s eyes grew wide with concern for her friend.

“But he isn’t bad! He has so much good in him!”

“I’ll try, Sasira, to help. I don’t know if it’ll do anything to help but I’ll try.” Sasira smiled brilliantly.

“Thanks, Melisa-sama. I’d really appreciate it.”

The next day, Sasira wanted to try something. She took a candle and a match to the prison. She visited the others first, talking about their lives and such. The police still watched subtlety. Someone would try and hurt her someday. But they didn’t hover over her like before. The prisoners liked this. It showed that the police trusted them somewhat to not hurt Sasira.

Finally, Sasira came to Griffin’s cell. He looked up at her, smiling.

“I want to show you something, Griffin.” Behind her back, she showed him the unlit candle. “In the darkness, everything may seem bleak. But…” She lit the candle. “If you let one person lead you from the darkness, everything will be better.”

Griffin looked at the candle. He took the candle from Sasira’s hands and placed it aside. Moving slowly, he stood and faced her.

“If one person reaches out in the darkness, they can lead you to light.” He said, stroking her skin softly. Sasira smiled slightly, looking up into his warm silver eyes. He leaned forward and brushed his lips past hers. Sasira’s eyes fluttered shut as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

“Sasira, my beautiful light, I love you.”