The Darkness

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BEEP.

The sounds of the unknown surround me. It’s a faint sound – like the one of a ticking time bomb. The sound grows louder. Where am I?

BEEP.

I begin to hear voices around me. Low, grave murmurs coming from the faceless assailants of the darkness that has consumed me.

BEEP.

I’m trapped in a cage of obscurity. I must escape.

BEEP.

The voices are now fading. A shuffle of feet, then three distinct sets of footsteps sound as they prepare to leave.

Two leave, closing the door behind them.

BEEP.

The third stays, walking slowly over to me – observing me. I can feel it; the feel of their eyes fixed intently on me, monitoring my every move.

Wait. I can’t move. Then it registers. I’m lying down, immobile, running along the borders of consciousness and eternal darkness.

BEEP.

Fear strikes into my heart like the lightening during a thunderstorm. I am a tiny wooden rowboat; rocking, swaying and sinking in the midst of the storm.

BEEP.

But maybe I should surrender to the darkness. Maybe I should throw in the towel and give in. Maybe.

BEEP.

The person sits down beside me, leaning in to hold my hand. My fingers brush over the cold touch of a metal watch. His watch. With his right hand, he reaches up to stroke his fingers through my hair. Feelings of safety and relief wash over me, cleaning me of my trepidation.

‘Baby, wake up. Please wake up.’ his deep voice whispers.

BEEP.

He remains silent for a few minutes. Then he lifts himself from the chair beside me and moves to lie down with me. The mattress groans slightly, almost as if surprised by his action.

Carefully, he drapes one arm over me and I find myself wanting to come closer to him. He kisses my cheek, lingering – it’s a lover’s kiss. He’s never kissed me like this before. It feels different. His lips hover near my jaw. Then he begins to speak.

BEEP.

“Do you remember the time we climbed up onto your roof to try and touch the stars? We were twelve and your mum had just died… You wanted to jump off the roof and fly up to be with her. You were ready to jump right off – that is, before I stopped you.

“I was so worried, so I shouted at you and told you that you were stupid for being so reckless… I never told you this, but my heart stopped when I saw you running towards the edge.

“You got so angry with me for stopping you, then you broke down and told me that you just wanted to die. And you were so serious about it – to be honest, it scared the shit out of me.” he laughed. “I have never been so afraid in my entire life. This situation excluded…” he trailed off.

“Later, when I asked you whether you were afraid of dying, you laughed at me and said ‘Death is inevitable. I’ve learnt to accept it, not to fight it.’

“I accepted that. But what you said after that petrified me.”

‘Death is inevitable. I’ve learnt to accept it, not to fight it. Life is useless. You live, maybe procreate then you die. It’s an endless cycle. Death. It ends it all. And sometimes, I want to experience it.’

“You never were the same after that.”

BEEP.

“Ten years have passed since that night on the roof. But I still want you back. I want the chance to tell you how I really feel about you, about me – about us.

“When they called me and said that you’d been in a head on collision with a semi-trailer, my heart stopped for the second time in my life.

“Come back to me. Fight this. Come back.”

BEEP.

He buried his head in my neck and lay still next to me. I could feel myself gaining power over my body. “Mind over matter.” He taught me that.

His words echoed in my head – the light in this darkness. The light almost seemed to speak.

“Don’t surrender. Never yield to the darkness.” It says.

“Come back to me. Fight this. Come back.”

I want to wake up.

I want to live.

I want all the things that you want.

I want life, because you change the cycle.

I want to come back – to you.

“Come back to me. Fight this. Come back.”

Slowly, I feel my eyes fluttering open, flashes of fluorescent light seeping between my eyelids.

My body shifts against his, which captures his attention.

BEEP.

Seeing me awake he whispers, “You’re back.”

I nod.

“I’m back.” I say, meaning every word and in every aspect.

“I’m back.”

A/N: This is just a random short story written for Advanced English showing change. Change of worlds, perspective and of self. I don't usually write anything this dark, so please review and tell me your opinions.