The Light Descending

It left as fast as it arrived. Ray heard barking before it ceased with a whimper. A shuttering frame, the click of a pen. A disorienting wave like the blast of a camera. Poof. Gone. The fading light just milliseconds in the past. It retreated through the slits between blinds in his bedroom window. Little Ray looked skeptically around his room. Toys lay strewn across the floor in an ungainly pile of playdates past. Cosmogirl stood at attention. Her back leg was stable and firm while the front was poised for action. Her long hair was stiff in a permanent curl that hung past her waistband. At her side stood Mark Mayhem. Ray grabbed both of the toys. Orbs of green danced between Cosmogirl’s face mask and Mark Mayhem’s mullet. “What was that?” Ray inquired of his prized duo. He pulled on the string at Cosmogirl’s back.

“I fight for the light.” the heroine exclaimed. Little Ray sighed. It was her only line as of late. He looped his finger through Mayhem’s hoop and pulled.

“Tag me in, Buddy.” The wrestler added in his Texan draw. Ray giggled. He loved that line and always imagined himself ringside reaching as far as he could to save Mayhem. Ray set the toys down and stood with a stumbling gait. The flash had upset his balance and now he struggled to maintain it. Like when his father let him ride Cosmogirl’s Launch at six flags. He was so disoriented. He had wanted to cry but Cosmogirl never cried even when her ship malfunctioned and an army of bloodsucking Zorgans were closing in. And Mark Mayhem always got back up even after taking a steel chair to the face. So Little Ray would do as they did. But he was scared. This was intensified as he heard footsteps rushing up the stairs to his room. “Ray” his Mother half-shouted before bursting through the door. Her hair was disheveled and clothes damp with perspiration. “Hey sweetie you okay?” His mother inquired as she stumbled towards him. Ray rubbed his eyes fiercely, hoping to destroy the orbs that floated across his vision. “What was that?” the boy repeated.

“I- I’m not sure honey but daddy’s checking it out right now. We were both outside but don’t know what it was. Lucky disappeared. We're gonna be ok though. We’ll find her. Are you sure you’re alright?” She frantically scoured the child, looking for changes. Pausing, she looked deep into Ray’s eyes. “You stay here and keep the door locked. I need you to do that for me and daddy, okay Little Ray? Everything is gonna be alr--” she was interrupted by a warm stream running down her lips.

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She dabbed slowly at her mouth to reveal red fingertips, the liquid pooled before falling with a plop onto Cosmogirl’s plastic face. Her eyes widened as she stood, trying to hide her emotion, while attempting to make sense of the chaotic light. She wiped hastily at her fingertips and composed herself for Ray. “I need you to stay here and keep the door locked.” She picked up Mark Mayhem and the bloodstained Cosmogirl, setting them gently into Ray’s hands. I want you to lock the door behind me and go to your happy place when I leave, ok?” Ray nodded slowly.

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He wanted to cry but at what he did not know. Was his mother hurt or sick? Was she afraid? He shook this thought away with certainty. His mom was never scared. She was brave and strong like Cosmogirl and always had her husband to intervene. Ray watched his mother retreat towards the steps. She glanced over her shoulder as she went, as if Ray would teleport away. “Happy place Ray, and make sure to lock the door,” was the last of his mother he heard. The bedroom door was locked and Little Ray bent to peek outside. The doggy door was getting too small for him but remained an ideal fit for Lucky. Still, he squeezed his head through. The stairs were vacant and no longer was his mother’s voice present. He retreated, letting the flap swing gently as he tip-toed to his happy place with his prized duo in tow. Sliding the lid of the toy box open, he gingerly slipped one foot inside. Plastic wheels and rubber appendages poked his bare feet as he ducked his head under the lid and pulled down, shutting himself inside. He shoved some of the older toys aside making space for himself and his two figurines. A slit existed in the toybox allowing him to survey the room from inside. It was hot and stuffy but it was Ray’s happy place. A place he went when he was sad or scared. His toys shifted, surrounding him, but there was just enough room for his little body. He was usually happy here but today was different. Absent-mindedly, he wiped the moisture from his eyes as he thought about his mom and what was happening. He wondered where his father was and wanted to leave so badly. Instead, he wished again for comfort from his favorite toys. “Tag me in, buddy!” Mayhem exclaimed with vigor. Little Ray smiled softly. He carefully reached for Cosmogirl’s back and elicited a shout to lift his spirits. “It’s you and me, hero!” she shouted with steadfast bravery. His favorite line of all his toys. It made him feel like a champion--a cosmic warrior. He squealed with delight and momentarily forgot his sorrows. He was not just a little boy but equal with the likes of Cosmogirl and Mark Mayhem. Little Ray continued to smile through glassy eyes before his tranquility was interrupted. He felt a buzzing from every corner of his body. A slow, gentle vibration. It felt like the rise in Cosmogirl’s Launch. A mounting force that steadily increased. The pressure swelled inside causing his young ears to pop. He began to weep. Slow tears that pooled and fell with zigzags as his body twitched and vibrated with the environment. “Mommy!” He shrieked, but the plea was lost to the mounting pressure. Ray’s heart was sinking as the vibrations quickened. He could almost hear the tick tick tick tick along the track as his boxcar reached its peak. He squeezed his eyes shut and hugged himself as the toy box began to shake violently causing figures and trucks to crash into each other. He sank as far back into the space as he could, expecting to be picked up and thrown in circles like laundry. Tears fell uncontrollably but his sobs were inaudible. The pressure had reached its peak and shook Ray in a violent rhythm that was moving the entire house. Tick tick tick tick. The escalation was gruesome as Ray cradled himself deeper into the toybox. Tick tick tick tick. His heart was in his throat. He would accept the drop if it meant an end. Tick tick tick tick. Stillness. The box was quiet and the vibrations had ceased. The force left Ray with a shrill ringing in his ears. He remained cradled beneath a scattering of toys as stillness swept through the house. An unnatural silence where heartbeats were hushed and breaths held involuntarily. Manic footsteps sounded outside of Ray's room abruptly cutting through the calmness. The regular footfall was accompanied by a bloodcurdling shout, "LITTLE RAY STAY WHERE YOU ARE BAB- mmm mmm" The rest of his mother's words were smothered beneath an unknown force. He could only hear her struggling efforts as clamoring thumps descended down the stairs. "Mommmyyyyyy!!!" Ray shrieked. His heart was torn. He needed his mother. This chaos was without mercy and had gripped him entirely. Hesitantly, he slid the lip back from his happy place and entered into his room. With fallen furniture and cracked picture frames it was a dishevelment of its former self. Ray stepped carefully across the room, sniffing constantly and fighting hard to keep his breath steady as his small heart beat incessantly. "Mommyy," the child cried once more. "Muh muh muh mommyy cuh come buh buh baacckk," Little Ray sobbed pleadingly. He plopped amidst the wreckage of his room and continued to cry for help. A cry for comfort and solace amidst the sprawling chaos that had become his home. Thump thump thump. A soft knock sounded at the door. Ray looked up expectantly, his cheeks glistening with tears. Thump thump thump followed by a soft voice, "you still in there, baby?" Little Ray considered the sound of his mother's voice. “Mommy” he questioned gently as he clumsily rose from the floor. Collecting himself, Ray waddled across the room, his mother’s words muffled through the door. “It’s me baby, come unlock the door for me.”

“What happenin’ outside, mommy?” He was at the door now and reached high for the knob.

“Nothing’s happening. It’s a beautiful day, even. Come open up and let mama show you.” Her words were rushed and the inflections random as if words were bent as they escaped her mouth. “B- but what about the shakin and you yellin?” Ray had gripped the knob and was beginning to twist. “There is no yelling anymore. Only smiles from mommy, Raymond.” Little Ray paused his twist, hand still firmly on the knob. His lips began to quiver on instinct. He released his hand and began to sob. “Am I- I- I- in trouble muh- mommy?” A pounding began on the door, causing it to shake in its hinges. Ray cried louder. She never called him that unless he was due for a spanking and her tone compounded with the constant chaos around him. He knew not why or how he had landed in trouble but somehow he was here and crying was all that he could do. The volume of the sobs was enough to drown the squelching from the other side of the door. A wet undulation of skin pulsated- adjusting bones and tightening muscles- as it cracked across the floor. The matter squirmed and crawled like its own hive mind. The squelching mass formed a tall, burly figure with overbearing chest hair and deep black sunglasses. It called to Ray softly, amidst his sobbing, cutting through his tears--“You alright, buddy?” Little Ray halted his cries as his head whipped to the door. He studied the wood through glassy eyes. “H- Hello,” he called softly. His only response was a slow opening of the doggy door. The flap lifted to reveal an outstretched palm, strong and inviting, beckoning him for companionship. “Tag me in, buddy.” The four words rung in Little Ray’s ears like church bells. He entered into a dream state where movement was reflexive and joy was his only driver. Rising from his previous sadness he teetered to the door as fast as his little legs could carry him. On his tippy toes he twisted the doorknob and pulled the door wide to reveal his hero. Mark Mayhem stood resplendent before him. The heavyweight champion was befit with tight overalls and hulking muscles. Little Ray squealed. He stared googly eyed and almost catatonic at the God before him. Mayhem extended his hand once more, spouting that heroic omen, “Tag me in, buddy.” Little Ray heeded the call, sprinting forward to slap the giant’s hand. Mayhem accepted the tag and scooped the child up. Laughing heartily and grinning with warmth only a hero could give. He towed the boy on his hip and began the descent down the stairs smiling wide as he did so. Little Ray was entranced. He could not take his eyes from the champion. Complete awe was upon him and all he could do was soak it in. Everything peripherally was a blur to Ray as the pair descended the steps into the living room and then the kitchen towards the backdoor. Attention was undivided. So much so that the child did not notice the lifeless corpses of a 31 year old female and 36 year old male in the living room. So much so that he did not notice the waves of violent green light that attacked his neighborhood. So much so that he did not notice the deep black sclera of Mayhem’s eyes behind his glasses. The duo exited the house and arrived at the edge of the woods. A tall woman emerged from the forest. Shadows lifted to reveal a heroine, poised and ready for action. Little Ray was in heaven, he was sure of it. He beamed with glee at the emerging Goddess. “It’s you and me, hero,” she said with a smile. The trio walked hand in hand into the wood towards a green beam which cut through the shadowy forest. They walked away from the lifeless neighborhood and towards the ever welcoming unknown.