Shield of Darkness part 1 (425 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesRating: 0.75 on 7 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Arcane <Arcane884.at.yahoo.com> (View user info) at 2004-11-30 08:12:11 EST
How many days had it been? When every day is the same transition of nothingness into then next each day feels like a week, a month and eternity. How could I keep track? Carefully now, fourteen steps forward from the wall turn left and feel the crack in the floor, only I feel nothing. How many times have I done this only to find I still can't get this right? Dare I use my flashlight? No to turn it on is too dangerous, to see the light is to see insanity, fear and myself. I kept feeling the floor with my foot, moving it slowly against the bottom of the cave. First slowly, quietly then with the nauseating feeling of being lost I moved a bit faster increasing the sweeps with the increasing speed at which my heart pounded until enough was enough. I got down on my hands and knees. I put my flashlight in my pocket and the pail of water on the ground. I felt the earth with my hands only this wasn't enough to find that familiar marker. It was easier to use my feet but I was so disoriented I had to use my hands just feel the ground, to know I wasn't falling. Failure. I think I cried out because I could hear the echoes bouncing back at me reminding me of my own frustration. I rolled over in despair only to be filled with hope as my fingers fell in to that familiar dip the ground. Success.
I grabbed my pail and put my foot on the ground to get my bearings. From here it was forty-two steps down the hall to the door. One, two, this time I can't get lost, seventeen, eighteen, almost half way there, forty, forty-one, forty... Damn. Nothing. Hands touched the floor again, moving, feeling, and understanding. It wasn't long before I found a small stone to throw. Again no noise initially only echo but I was getting better at understanding where the echoes wanted me to go so I stood up and hurried to the door. Five more steps this time. My stride had shortened, was that a sign I was getting weaker? How much more of this could I take and how long had I been down here? Knowledge was a door away so I grabbed the lever and stepped inside. A chill entered my lungs and I could feel my breath as it left my mouth. I felt my way to the food and began counting. I had sixteen pieces of corn left. Since I ate five a day it had been at least a month since I last stepped out side. With my food for the day I started my travel back to my sleeping quarters. Emboldened by my accomplishment I was right on the mark for the journey back. I sat down in my chair and started breakfast even though it could be dinner time for all I knew.
Echoes in the distance, the sound of little feet and the furious beat of my heart assaulted my ears and crippled my body. Hiding in the darkness would not save me, I had seen what happened to the foolish, and those who would attempt to escape our attackers by pulling blankets over their heads or closing their eyes. Armed and ready, I stood in the darkness ready to do battle again for those they had taken away and for the right to continue living so that my very existence could spite them. I lived to remind those beasts that they hadn't wiped us all out; they lived for a much darker purpose. Echoes flooded my senses, the sound felt like needles on my skin poised to dig deeper with each step of the beast. My eyes opened but I forced them shut. It didn't matter I had been bathing in darkness for a month now but the desire to see was overwhelming. So I kept them open waiting for my attacker to fill the room with light, to show his face and to show me mine. Louder and faster slow taps in the distance turned to deafening beats of a hammer as it came closer to me. My ears betrayed me the percussion of its feet came from every direction and I could feel the sound pierce my skin all over. What form would it take this time? How would it seek to deceive me? Destroy me?
Light entered my eyes and smothered all sound.
User Reviews
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2004-11-30 12:14:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
You're not.
He's been flinging -2's around like crazy today.
Probably someones alt.
I found some of the wording slightly confusing but good story nevertheless.
Submitted by Critical_Mass (user info) at 2004-11-30 12:13:45 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
You won't be the last...
Submitted by arcane (user info) at 2004-11-30 12:02:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Everything you ever wanted to know about Critical_Mass
User id: 14223
Registered on or around: 2004-11-29 14:30:10
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How did I get the joy of being this guys first target ever.
Submitted by Critical_Mass (user info) at 2004-11-30 11:41:55 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by arcane (user info) at 2004-11-30 09:08:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
The "and then" is part two of course and possibly more if people like it enough.
Submitted by Ivy (user info) at 2004-11-30 09:03:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
And then?
Submitted by Phallic_Cymbals (user info) at 2004-11-30 09:01:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Ooh!
I got drunk and fell into the basement too...
But seriously, this was a good start!