The Darkness Within

“Be brave,” Anina muttered to herself. 

She huddled closer to the wall. Candles littered the bathroom. The counters, the tub, and all across the floor their gentle glow gave the room a ceremonial air. She checked the screen on her phone. It’s already been an hour since the city went dark. How much longer before the power comes back? She cursed under her breath as she clenched her fists. She had barely made it when the lights went out. She could feel her sanity slipping. The only thing that saved her this time was her paranoia; she shuddered at the thought of what could have happened had she not kept nightlights in every room. She tried her best to calm down. Take deep breaths. 

Whispers seeped under the door. Mocking her, and demanding her presence. Terror took hold of her heart as she closed her eyes, and tried to block them out. In the dark of her mind was no better. All she could think was how much longer would the flames last? Some of the candles were old and there was always the possibility of a faulty wick; she was prepared, of course. Hundreds of little tea candles packed away and ready to go under the bathroom sink, but what if those ran out too? 

“Stop,” she muttered to herself. “Just stop. You’re fine.”

She only had to last until the power came back on. Or daylight. She hugged her knees closer and slowly rocked herself. A distant memory came back to her as she started to hum. Her mother, holding her close, surrounded by candles on all sides just as Anina was now. Her gentle voice calmed Anina’s frantic heart as her young mind tried to make sense of what was going on. 

That had been the first night the darkness consumed her. She didn’t remember much of what happened. Only that she was covered in blood, and the light from the candles her mother had lit danced over the corpses of her father and brother. 

She shook her head to rid herself of the thought. Now wasn’t the time to think about that. 

“Be brave.”

She had to be brave, like her mother had been. Neither of them knew what was happening to Anina, but her mother never gave up hope there was a solution. The one they found was light. Light seemed to keep the darkness away. So long as she was surrounded by light, everything was fine. Everyone was safe. A small whimper left her lips, and she hugged her knees closer.

It was her fault it happened. They had been traveling for weeks, seeking anyone who may have an idea about Anina’s. . .condition. The sun was starting to set, and Anina had complained of being tired and hot. She wanted to rest, but that would risk exposing them to the coming darkness. Still, her mother indulged her request. They stopped in a diner whose only occupant was the waitress behind the counter. Anina had been so excited. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been somewhere so nice. While her mother ordered fries and burgers to go, she wandered around the diner, taking in all the art on the walls. When she passed the bathrooms, she thought it would best to go. Her mother had always taught her to go before they leave so they wouldn’t have to make any stops along the way. 

As soon as she pushed open the door, the darkness came. Anina had been too young to read the sign on the bathroom door that said it was out of order. The light inside was faulty and had a habit of not turning on. Her mother’s fate was sealed when she came looking for her. What happened after was a blur. Somehow, Anina ended up in foster care where she spent her days avoiding the dark. It wasn’t easy. Numerous mistakes weigh on her shoulders, her nightmares bloody and bleak. 

She hated being this way. How much longer did she have to live like this? If only she had been born different. Normal. She pictured herself as someone else. Maybe she’d be huddled under the covers with her laptop and a bag of chips, using the black out as an opportunity to catch up on her watch list. Or perhaps she’d be going for a walk and enjoying the view of the sky without the city lights. She always dreamed of truly seeing the stars.

A loud bang startled her. Her heart sank as she heard it again. No. How did they find her? Why now? The distinct sound of a door coming off its hinges sent her mind into a panic.

“Search the area!” an authoritative voice said. “She’s gotta be here somewhere!”

“I think she’s in the bathroom, commander!”

No no no no no no–

“Miss Ethne,” the authoritative voice said. “Come out now, and we won’t harm you.”

The voices in the darkness laughed and sneered. She could barely hear the commander over their excitement. She held her head in hands, shaking them away.

“Go away!” she said desperately. “Please!”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that. You need to come with us. Now.”

“No! I can’t!”

“Miss Ethne. This is your last chance to come peacefully.”

Her heart raced, and her breathing was erratic.

“Please,” she whined. “I don’t–”

“All right, boys,” the commander said, backing away. “Break it down.”

“I don’t want to hurt anyone!”

Splintered wood from the bathroom door went flying, some of the candles falling over. Men rushed into the bathroom, putting out the little fires before it could spread. She pleaded over and over for them to stop, to go away. They pinned her to the ground and held her down. She screamed to the top of her lungs as they dragged her towards the darkness. The voices grew louder, welcoming her in. She fought hard against the mens’ grip, but it was all in vain.

“Target is secure. Move out!”

Her protests died in her throat as the darkness took over. Her last lingering thought was of how scared she was. 

One by one, the city lights came back, dotting the landscape with their yellow glow. As the lights in Anina’s apartment returned, the darkness dissipated out of her body like a cloud of exhaled smoke. Her vision was out of focus, and her mind was foggy. She smelled it before she saw it. Blood covered her apartment from ceiling to floor. Bullet holes, and discarded guns showed the signs of a struggle. As her eyes took in the scattered remains of the men that came to take her, a scream worked its way up her throat.