There was something Other sharing her space.
She didn’t know where she was, or how long she’d been there, but for as long as she could remember, it had been with her. It was small at first; she’d barely felt its presence. The more aware she became, however, the more it grew within her. It was silent, but she felt its leering stare on her.
It was dark too. But she didn’t need to see the Other to know that it was there, or that it was watching. She couldn’t see or feel her body; she barely recalled what having a body felt like. Perhaps she had never had one. It was hard to remember things from Before.
The Other grew within her boxed in world until she was pushed to the brink of non-existence. She could feel herself melting away; every millisecond she forgot something else, until she entertained the possibility that maybe she was really just a part of the Other.
That was when it offered her the deal.
HELP. US.
The words passed over her in waves; there was no sound, it was thought, but she felt it impact her being, whatever shape she existed in now. She reached far back into her memory and remembered how to produce words.
What do you want? she asked.
JOIN US, AND BE THE LIGHT KEEPER.
It was so tempting. There was darkness everywhere. And light…she could remember that. She felt it was somewhere far above her, but she didn’t have the strength to reach it. The Other fed on her, kept her down in the darkness. Yes. She could recall that much.
But to see the light again…
What does the Light Keeper do? she asked.
And then it showed her what it was to be hungry.
Tags
Fantasy, science fiction, web series, writing