Young Writers Society

‘What. The. Fuck,’ whispered Rachelle.

Jannah turned to her and see Manisha was grabbing Rachelle’s arm. Both of them had their attentions fixed on the light. Jannah looked back to it. He’s here, as you requested, thought Jannah to herself. What are you going to do now?

What would Mother do in this situation. Take control. Mother’s whisper greeted Jannah’s ears, but it was Father’s words that made her nod. When you meet an ingredient you have no idea of, make an effort to know what it is, and of what use it is to you. ‘Move there,’ said Jannah, pointing to her bed. ‘We’re not going to have a discussion while standing. I’m going to understand you and what help can you give me.’

The light did not say anything. It just floated to the bed. Jannah followed it, and her friends butted behind her. They rested at half side of her bed, while the light was at the other.

‘I have been trying to protect you the moment I was with you,’ said the light. ‘I... am not like the others. They stick in groups, while I am more of a free light. That is why I ran from them. Partly because I am too fed up being bounded by a bunch of lights, but also because I need to find someone to have a bond with.’

Jannah sensed emotions from the light’s voice. Frustration, desperation, all of them were mixed into the torrent of words it spouted out. Realization struck her of how human the light was; it even spoke with a male voice, instead of one you would expect from an animal. Not that it was an animal, but it was certainly close to human. Perhaps she should refer the light as a ‘he’ instead of ‘it’.

‘W - what -’ Rachelle stopped, and cleared her throat. She spoke again. ‘What do you mean? There are others like you? How is that even possible? What are you?’ Then, as if she was embarrassed to say it, she spoke with a tiny voice. ‘Are you... are you a stuck-up spirit?’

Giggles erupted from Jannah and Manisha; it could not be helped. Rachelle seemed to wonder if the light was a ghost, even thought it certainly did not look like one. She was folding her arms looking at them, clearly irritated.

The light huffed in unsatisfaction, its light flickering for a second. ‘Of course not. I’m not a spirit, or a ghost. They are fictional concepts created by you humans, as they do not exist in reality.’

Instead of being offended, Rachelle’s eyes were wide in wonder. She leaned to the light. ‘Are you saying that you don’t see them? The ghosts?’

‘No.’

Rachelle leaned back. Frowning, she said, ‘Ah! What a shame! I thought, you know, what with you being light and all and did weird things for Jannah, you can see ghosts. Apparently, you don’t have the third eye.’ She grinned.

‘You are distracting me, girl. I am here for Jannah, not for you,’ said the light. ‘Jannah, the things I have done to you, those that you have experienced, they are the result of me using my ability. It is called --’

‘Seriously!’ interrupted Rachelle. ‘Why Jannah? What’s so special about her?’ She glanced at Jannah, her eyes gleaming with envy.

Jannah gritted her teeth. What was Rachelle taking about? Why did she have that look for Jannah? Was she thinking it was special, that it was pleasant, for Jannah to experience these weird events she had? Did she think Jannah liked whatever the light was doing to her? Because if she did, then Jannah was determined to prove she was wrong.

Before Jannah spoke up, Manisha grabbed her arm. Her other hand was on Rachelle’s. Being in the middle, Manisha spoke to both of them, her voice soft and calm. ‘This isn’t the time for an argument, both of you. You heard what the light said. We could only have this discussion until Jannah’s mother arrived.’ She pressed harder. ‘Please hear what it says, and don’t interrupt it.’

Jannah forced herself to look at the blue light despite sensing the glare from Rachelle. Manisha was right, but at this moment, Jannah really did not care. Why should she listen to the light instead of making things clear to Rachelle? Rachelle was her friend; this light was a stranger who intruded her life. Even if Rachelle sometimes let loose her unpleasant emotions, at least she was honest. This light was a far cry from that.

‘Ah, Manisha,’ said the light, its voice pleasant. Even its blue brightness increased a bit. ‘You have to listen more to your friend there. Among the three of you, she is the most sensible. I even wonder sometimes if -’ It abruptly stopped itself.

Jannah frowned. It stopped itself. It was tiny detail - it was usual for someone to hold whatever they wanted to say for reasons. However, from her brief conversation with this light, it never hesitated. What was it? What was it that the light wanted to say?

‘Please continue,’ said Manisha, and Jannah was surprised to hear the discomfort in her voice. Even her grip was tighter that it hurt.

Was it possible that Manisha knew the answer to her question?

‘There is another group of light out there,’ said the light. It seemed to gain its composure, and spoke with the smoothness Jannah had slowly familiarized with. ‘The dark lights. They are corrupted, a result of a bright light mixing with a shadow in the most forbidden of way, and they need to be stopped. I cannot stop them alone; as you might have realized, Jannah, my telekinesis ability is weak. If I bond with you, it would increase tenfolds, promising us a power to stop them.

‘That is what I want from you, Jannah. Cooperation. Let me be a part of your life, and I will let you be a part of mine. A strong bond, I realize, comes from deep understanding between the light and its companion, and to do that, I have to make myself visible to you all the time. I have to make myself known, so that you can recognize me as an ally that I can become, and realize the importance my help to you and your people.’

‘I don’t like you,’ blurted Rachelle. All attention were shifted to her, but hers was fixed on the light. ‘You’re a creep, a stalker. You came into Jannah’s life without her permission, heard things without her permission, and saw things without her permission. You didn’t giver her any privacy at all -- why, it was just now that you used the information about her mother to set up this discussion. Couldn’t you realize Jannah was her mother would be arrive home?’ She shook her head. ‘You didn’t even consider her feelings, and yet you ask her to recognize you as an ally.’

She looked at Jannah, and bit her lips. ‘I’m sorry for what I’ve said earlier. I don’t think you’re special - I mean, regarding this light matter. You’re always special to me. I don’t even want to imagine to have someone watching over every movement I’ve made, every word I’ve spoken. I hate that.’ Then, in a tiny voice, she said, ‘I’m sorry, Jannah.’

‘Apologize accepted!’ said Jannah, grinning at Rachelle. She was glad, not just because Rachelle realized what she felt being involved in this matter, but also because their conflict was brief. It should be. This was the bane of their friendship - the three of them; no matter how much they harbored dark feelings towards each other, they knew honesty was key, and that forgiveness was the door. They would never let the thought of being special ruined their firm friendship.

The grip she felt on her arm ceased, and she felt something else. It made her smile. Manisha was holding her hand; looking at Rachelle, Manisha was holding hers too. The three of them smiled at each other, and turned their attention to the light.

Jannah realized this was what she wanted. She knew what to say next. ‘Accept them, light. If you want to be a part of my life, accept them. Know them, understand them, because they are a part of my life. They’re with me on this. You might be able to bond just with me, but you have to bond with them too. Not in the sense of increasing your power, no. In the sense of friendship. It takes more than the two of us to save whatever you want us to save. They’re going to help me with that.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Do what I’ve said, or I won’t cooperate with you.’