The Darkness

She didn't know what she was doing or where she was going. All she could think about was getting away from the monstrous darkness, as quickly as possible; her legs were throbbing from the effort.

“Please...please!!!” the scream in her head wanted to come out, but her lungs were unable to form the words.

When she finally saw the forlorn mansion, she couldn't decided which to feel first; surprise or hesitation. It didn't really matter, anything was better than what was behind her. Not bothering to stop, she just sped up and ran across the desolate foggy lawn.

Rushing up the walkway, she slammed her fist against the hard wooden door and started pounding for all that she was worth.

“Let me in...!” she cried either in her head or out loud; neither she was sure of.

No matter how hard she tried, though, the door, refused to come open. It was only when she turned around to look into the foggy, unforgiving, night, did the door suddenly spring open.

As she fell into the mansion, landing unceremoniously, she could see the unforgiving shadows slowly encroaching on where she had been only minutes before; like demons devouring their prey.

When the door finally closed on those shadows, she sat there on the floor wondering which was worse; the darkness outside or the one inside the mansion. Both were suffocating. Yet, the darkness, outside, had at least the dreary moon light to help guide you.

“We've been waiting for you..., Ms.”

It was that voice, that had her instantly turning around and looking behind her. Then just as quickly as she had heard the voice, this astonishing amount of light came forth; where there was impenetrable darkness, there was now this shocking light in front of her eyes. Not just the light, though, there standing in front of her was a group of seemingly familiar people. It made her somewhat happy to see people, when for so long she'd been alone. None of them, though, looked particularly happy to see her.

There was silence for only a second, before an elderly white haired woman said, “Finally..., we can move on from this...” looking scornfully over at her, she continued, “Now that she is here.”

“Yes..., dear...” touching the woman's shoulder, her elderly husband then said, “It's finally over.”

Maybe it was the surprise of seeing all these seemingly familiar people, that finally had her finding her voice, “Who are all of you...?”

There was fifteen people in front of her, and all of them had the most hateful of looks on their faces.

“Figures you wouldn't remember...” scoffing, the young man who had first talked to her, continued, “It's actually really convenient..., Ms.”

“I don't...”

“Save it...you..., after all..., are responsible for all of our deaths.” he motions to everyone, including himself.

The shock that hit her was like a bail of cold water being dumped on her. Yet, before the shock could set in; the realization came like a brick to her face. It was in that very moment, that she remembered, everything, that had happened that bleak night; that she was driving drunk. She had hit fifteen people in a bus; head on. And she had killed not just herself, but all fifteen of these people in front of her.

Yet, before she could even acknowledge the horribleness of this devastating truth; everyone was heading toward the door.

“Please don't leave me...!” she screamed.

As she tried to grab hold of someone, they shrugged her away. And walking out the door, she could hear the elderly woman and man say, “I can't wait to see my momma and poppa.”

“Yes honey, it should be nice.”

“I'm so sorry...” crumbling to the floor, she let out a mournful whimper.

“Please...forgive me...I'm so sorry.”

Yet, the only one who was willing to respond to her pleads, is the young man, that first spoke to her, “And why would we do that, Ms?”

Sobbing and pulling her knees up to her chest, she let herself drift into an unfamiliar sleep.

Some time must of past, when she felt the familiar presence of someone's touch. Slowly coming to, she was surprised, and, at the same time, somewhat frightened to see the same man, who spoke so scornfully to her, standing over her.

Sniffling, she hesitatingly, inquired, “Why...Why did you come back?”

Sighing, the man, leaning down, gently picked her up and replied, “Because I couldn't leave you.”

Carrying her into a dimly, candle, lit living room, he continued, “I thought you to be some sort of monster, and then I saw how truly pathetic you were and felt nothing but pity for you...” stopping to stare at the candle that was gradually burning out on the table next to the window, he continued, as he kissed her on the forehead, “When that happened I found that I couldn't move on...without you.”

Slowly pulling away to glance up at him, she tentatively asked, “So..., what happens next?”

“We stay...” kissing her, he mournfully says, “until both of us, can move on.”

As the candle burned down and eventually out, both the man and woman slowly disappeared. Neither one bothered by their imprisonment; so long as they had one another it didn't seem so bad.