SARA'S LANTERN (Short Story)

SARA'S LANTERN

The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon, casting a warm golden glow across the pews. The air was still and quiet, as if the world was holding its breath. The gentle glow of the morning sun creeping in through the stained-glass windows and the scent of candles and incense that fills the air made the world seem to stop and fade outside of these walls. In the center of the chapel stands an ornate altar, decorated with a bouquet of wildflowers and a small candle.

As the morning light filters in through the stained-glass windows, it fell upon a young woman sitting in one of the pews of the chapel. Her skin was radiant, her eyes shining a soft, almost sad blue and her long, dark brown hair falls in gentle curls, flowing down her back and framing her face. Her posture was graceful, yet relaxed, her hands resting thoughtfully in her lap. She wore a simple white dress, adorned with delicate lace.

The young woman appeared to be deep in thought, her gaze fixed upon the intricate patterns of the window before her. Despite the stillness of the chapel, she seemed completely at peace, lost in her own private world.

A chapel like this is where one could gather one's thoughts, find solace in prayer, and grow closer to the divines. But despite what she had been taught, she didn't pray. She simply sat in the silence, soaking it in as if this were a daily ritual.

Then, from out of the dim shadows of the chapel, a dark figure emerged. It was a demon, a creature of darkness with glowing red eyes and razor sharp claws. Its body is covered in scaly black skin, and long sharp horns rose from its head, dark wings folded behind it. As it crawled out of the shadows, the demon let out a deep, guttural growl. Its eyes then fixed on its prey, the demon's progress is slow, but steady as it moves closer and closer to its target. The woman in the pew.

As the woman raised her head, her baby blue eyes met the demon's glowing red ones. She seemed to take in the sight for a few moments, unfazed by the creature before her. Then, she spoke in a soft, gentle voice.

"Hello, friend. What brings you to the chapel this morning?" She offered the demon a warm, kind smile, as though it were an old acquaintance. The demon seemed taken aback by her reaction, but it's clear that the woman has no fear of it.

The demon let out a low growl, visibly confused by the woman's lack of fear. In a deep, gravelly voice, speaks. "It... It shouldn't be possible that you see me," the demon said, "I am a spirit, one that only those who can sense them should be able to see. Who are you, that your eyes can pierce the veil which exists between life and death?"

The woman's beauty was undeniable, with her baby blue eyes, long brown hair, and high cheekbones. But if one were to look more closely, they would see a certain frailty about her. Her skin was almost sickly pale, with dark circles under her eyes. Her movements were delicate and graceful, but they lacked the energy and vitality of a typical young woman.

Despite her frailty, her beauty remains intact, like her features are tinged with heartbreak.

"I know you're surprised, demon," the woman said with a gentle smile. "But you see, I am dying. A terminal illness is eating away at my body, and I am nearing the end of my time in this world. This must be the reason I can see you, for I also exist between life and death."

As the woman finishes speaking, the demon felt a mixture of emotions. Frustration at its inability to understand the human world, but also a deep sense of sadness for this beautiful but sickly young woman. It lets out a low growl, its red eyes fixed on the woman as if it's trying to understand her. "You... you are dying?" It asked.

"They say..." She looked away, turning towards the alter. "They say I should come here to pray for my soul's safe passage if not for healing..." The woman gently tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, sighing. Everything she did, every movement was gentle and beautiful. "But, between you and I...? I come here for the quiet, the peace... This is a place where no one will come to tell me how sorry they are for me, at least while the chapel is empty."