A LIGHT THAT NEVER COMES

Chapter I - CHASTITY

description of murder.

     The gray colt hid in his room, his horn glowing a soft pink.  He was reading the book on the bed in front of him.  He was hiding under a thin blanket, ready to shove it under his pillow.  He heard the door open his horn going out and the book being pushed forward.  He pretended to be asleep, hearing quiet hoofsteps. 

"Calm Mind," a gentle voice called, pressing on his blanket.  "I know you're awake, my love."

Calm Mind peered from under the blanket, his mother smiling at him.  Her horn was glowing a bright blue, casting a light through the dank and dusty room.  The bookcase, clumsily stuffed with books, looked as if it was splintering, and it gave little space to get off the bed.  His room might as well have been a jail cell, a simple 6x10. 

"Are you hungry?"  She whispered, lifting a small, heavily damaged clay bowl.  "I made some soup.  It's still warm."

Calm Mind, although not incredibly hungry, did want some of his mother's soup.  He lit his horn, greedily taking the bowl from her.  She smiled, watching him drink the watery broth. When he finished, she took the bowl back.  Her eyes had bags under them, and her ears were tucked back.  She gave him a kiss on the forehead, their horns clicking. 

"Make sure you're asleep when your father gets home," she whispered,  Calm Mind nodding.  She left the room, leaving the unicorn with a warm belly and a book.  Calm Mind, not yet tired, returned to reading his book.

      What couldn't have been more than an hour had passed, before Calm Mind heard the smashing of dishes and shouting.  He shoved the book back under his pillow, returning to feigning sleep.  He hoped he'd fall asleep before his father came into his room.  If he was actually asleep, his father would leave him be. 
The shouting came closer to his room, but he could hear his mother crying and begging him to stay away.  Calm Mind wished he knew a spell that would make him fall asleep in an instant.  He wished he could teleport, could run away. 
His door swung open, Calm Mind stiffening.  He hoped his father would just leave. 

"Haki," he heard his mother weakly call.  "Haki, please just leave him be."

"Hana," he heard his father snarl back at her.  "If you're just gonna spout the same shit as always, then you can leave."

"I will not leave him!"  Calm Mind heard her cry.  "You stay away from him!"

Calm Mind heard a devastating 'crunch', followed by a scream.  More screaming ensued, Calm Mind's head snapping up and around in horror.  He heard a sickening thud, it sounding like somepony stumbled forward on their hooves.  Slow, sticky steps coming towards his room.
Calm Mind saw his father come into the room, his eyes cold and empty.  His eyes, locked on Calm Mind.  His hind legs were stained crimson, and as he stepped closer, he left matching hoofprints.

"Calm Mind," he called, tapping the edge of the bed.  Calm Mind swiftly crawled forward, his father smiling at him.  It was a nerve-wracking sight.  "You're a good little colt, aren't you?"

Calm Mind swiftly nodded.  His heart was pounding.  His father let out a low chuckle, Calm Mind's blood running cold.

"I knew it," he grumbled, touching Calm Mind's cheek.  "Go to bed."

Calm Mind's ears perked up.

"What about Mommy-"

"Go to bed!"  He hollered, slamming the door as he left the room. 

Calm Mind climbed back under his blanket.  He couldn't get his mind to stop racing.  What happened to his mother?  What was that sound?
     Calm Mind had dozed off at some point.  When he woke back up, he had no idea what time it was.  He lit his horn, hopping down from his bed.  He opened his bedroom door, seeing blood all over the floor.  The pool of blood had been tampered with, as a trail led back to his parent's room.
Calm Mind followed the trail, taking care not to step in it.  He listened, hearing strange, whimpering sounds.  His ear twitched, before he knocked.  The room fell silent, before he heard his father.