The Longest Day

This is for Mikeydred's June Challenge.

Never chase the unknown--some things only live in the shadows

☀️🌿🕶️👣🕯️🌞🌾🌕🕷️🫥🌤️🕸️🌅☀️🌿🕶️👣🕯️🌞🌾🌕🕷️🫥🌤️🕸️🌅

The Summer Solstice dawned... or never set. The sun's rays lingered on house rooftops far longer than they had to. Pastoral and serene, Lysvika was the perfect backdrop for the festivities--the verdant pasture and placid wildlife made the longest day of the year stretch with quiet persistence.

17-year-old Erica was an avid blogger--the solstice gave her the perfect excuse for blog research. Lysvika was the perfect abode for myths and legends--banshees stalked, elves whispered from window eaves, and spirits drifted all summer. Erica set herself on exploring the legend of the Sun Walkers--they scoured the Earth on the longest day, pilfering the shadows from the unwary to keep from fading.

Her grandmother's warnings rang like irritating wind chimes in her ears--"Don't leave home when the sun sets--they come for your shadow." Erica took them with a lifetime of sea salt--they were just another of Grandma's bedtime draugr.

Until he appeared. Right behind her. No footwear. Mirroring her every gesture. 

It was before her. Beside her.

Everywhere.

Erica's legs never moved this fast before--she stumbled into the village church, covered in panicked sweat. Her shadow flickered ominously by the ancient stained glass windows.

She hid until dusk.

A dusk that never appeared.

Erica wasn't in bed the next morning. Her mother found her shoes--by the church altar. 

Erica did reappear. Waiting for someone else. Following. Mimicking their gestures.

Her blog auto-uploads every year-- a figure standing behind.

She no longer chased in the light--some things only survived in the shadows.

☀️🌿🕶️👣🕯️🌞🌾🌕🕷️🫥🌤️🕸️🌅☀️🌿🕶️👣🕯️🌞🌾🌕🕷️🫥🌤️🕸️🌅

☀️🌿🕶️👣🕯️🌞🌾🌕🕷️🫥🌤️🕸️🌅☀️🌿🕶️👣🕯️🌞🌾🌕🕷️🫥🌤️🕸️🌅

Original story by Michelle Liew. AI tags are coincdental.