the darkness is equal to death... (Oh hold)

1 ~ IT IS

What is the price of life? The price of death?

 Those are the questions that burden us. Those  questions are the things that make us doubt. And believe me, they keep me up at night.

And just who am I? That is a good question, many people don't even know I am alive. Its exciting really, knowing that I can go and pretend to be someone I'm not, and I don't get in trouble. Its fun and like a game. But I do know that if I do pull a prank, then it has to be on someone who does not know me or my mother.

My name is Tina-Ani Ni, but I am called Annie. My people are a confusing race, they like to name their children the most bizarre things, but the symbolism is the key to names. My name means Lovely Flowers of the Spring, I don't know why. I wasn't born in the Spring, nor do I like flowers. It confuses me. One thing I do like are the clouds. They remind me of freedom, the thing that I will never truly have, for in my tribe, if you leave the village not on a mission from the elders, then you are not allowed to return. It is very harsh, but they believe that if you leave, there is no hope for you to get into Wiku-Pea Shau, or Heaven. I believe that there is hope to get into Heaven, even if you leave.  How do we know that there aren't temples for our god out there?

I really don't want to stress my mother by talking about the outside world. She hates the thought of it, much like the elders. She doesn't want me to be gone forever, but I know that if I do leave, it will be  because of the way my people act. They are so stupid sometimes.

I am not like the other people in the village. They believe that the outside world is filled with demons, and will not accept someone like me. We look like elves; pointed ears, lithe, big eyes. But we aren't. We live to protect nature, the things that mankind lives to destroy. We don't go to war, we live for peace. It has been many years since we wore war paint on our faces, but the women do often receive tattoos of their husband's family crest. I do not wish to even get touched by a man, they are vile creatures, who only use women to make heirs or just to have sex. It is gross really.

My mother was 17 when she had me; she had been forced into a marriage, and was raped by my father. She doesn't like him whatsoever, but once you become married to someone, then you cannot get out. No divorce, nothing to set you free. My father is an abusive man, he slaps Mum and yells at me for not working to keep our already spotless home cleaner. He like to drink, and the alcohol we make is strong enough to make a herd of elephants to go drunk. Its insane.

I told you my kind's society was messed up, especially in my family. We stand for peace, yet we let the men beat their wives. What kind of place is this?

"Mum! I'm home!" I called as I came through the door to our small cabin. It smelled like ale again, damn. I had hoped he might have not come home drunk for once.

My dad stumbled through the curtain that separated the kitchen from the entryway. "Damn woman..." he muttered when he saw me. "Kida-Cu, the brat is home!" he yelled at my mum.

My mum sighed loudly. "Thank you dear. Annie, can you come in here darling?"

I slipped past my dad, who was now chugging down a bottle. That man needs to stop drinking before he kills someone. "Yes mother, dearest?"

I stopped when I saw the man who sat next to her at the table, sipping on a glass of water. He was exceptionally breath-taking. Crisp green eyes, chocolate brown hair, muscles that would make any hormonal girl beg for him to mate with her. Even though he wasn't looking at me, I wasn't able to look away.

"Annie, this is Ziko-Ta Mahan. He seeks your hand in marriage, after, of course, meeting you and getting to know you. He is very respectable here in the village, and has even gone into the outside world."

He didn't look like a man who traveled around, he looked like someone who waited for the women to come around, just to have a bit of fun. I don't like him, even though he was a good-looking man. How is she to expect me to marry him? I wont do it, never.

"Annie? Do you accept this man's friendship?" My mother's gaze was close to a glare.

How am I supposed to say to this? Yes? Never in your life, mother? I mean, come on! I Don't want to get to know this man, but I was supposed to listen to her, but what she says isn't right for me. Am I supposed to accept joyfully, happy that a man has asked for my hand. Heck no, it wont happen.

"We shall see, mother." I grabbed a bottle of blood-orange soda, and popped the top. "You know what I think."

Ziko's eyes scared me. They were the shade of green that is of a cat, cool yet a predator. He scared me more than my daddy when he was drunk. He chuckled as he leaned back in his chair. "You are right Kida, she is a charmer."

I scowled at him. This man had power in his words, as if he was an alpha of a werewolf pack. He clearly didn't like me having an attitude. He should know better than to mess with me. "I'm heading over to Lina-Ki's. I'll be home for dinner."

"Annie! Wait!" Mum followed me out the door, tripping over my passed out father. I ignored her. I was 18, I didn't need her to control my life. I am going to run soon, and she will not know about it.