“The forest is a dangerous place, you know.” A mother said as she emerged from the dim light of her son’s room.
“Yes Mother, I know.” Came the strong reply of her daughter.
“And especially at night, but you that too, don’t you?” Her mother’s voice was mocking and condescending.
“Yes Mother. I do.” Her daughter’s voice was impatient as that of any daughter whose wishes are delayed.
“Then you also know how your father died!” The response was short but shape and hung in the air like the crack of a whip.
“Yes Mother! I do know!” The response was as short and as fast as her mother’s, but what followed next had much more sting: “You tell me, remind me, everyday! And every time I even think about going outside you warn me: ‘Beware the shadows’! But let me tell you something,” Venom flowed through her voice as blood through her veins, “Wake up and open your eyes. Shadows that you warn everyone against are around us everywhere we go and are harmless. What I call Shadows… well, you can’t keep them at bay forever…” Innocent anger had given way to an almost confused calm, but her dark eyes betrayed the withering torment within, “Dad taught me that much.” Those words echoed in the barely illuminated room, but they were blown away by an invisible wind that flung the heavy door, leading to a dark nightscape, open. Merely sixteen, her life had only just begun as she walked out and vanished into the all-consuming night. Swallowed by the Shadows. Light from the ongoing fire seeped through the open door, desperately trying to combat the inky darkness, glowing like a beacon. But no beacon, however bright, could ever bring her home again…
(I understand this a little short however I intend it to be a short story/novel, thankyou for reading. Feedback would be much aprciated)
