Darkness

Chapter 2

The land was fertile enough to support a few plants and animals, shrubby trees that bore inedible fruit, animals that shied away from us when we approached. It had been a long flight, and we were exhausted, unused to this exertion. The sun was high in the sky, and it beat down on us.

We alighted on the sandy beach and looked at each other. Some of us had not made it. About a quarter of us had died. The first thing must be to find food. "You three, look for food." I pointed to a cluster of angels that were shivering.

More than once the waves had sprayed up and drenched our wings in frigid water, rendering our wings nearly useless. "Go look for water and shelter." I told everyone else. I waited on the beach, peering around. A few feet away from the beach was a forest of shrubby little trees, but they grew vigorously. Everywhere else on the island they grew few and sparsely. How strange.

They nodded, mutely. The food-gathering angels returned first, with a proliferation of plump orange berries. One of them spoke, "They are sweet and juicy." I noticed his eyes twitching uncontrollably and asked, "Are you alright?"

He fell to the ground, bubbly white froth coming from his mouth. Convulsing like a worm, we tried to help him to his feet but suddenly he was limp in our hands. I was blinded by a flash of light rising from his body.

"Did anyone else see that?" I asked, uncertain if I had really seen it or if I was just imagining it. "No," they chorused.

Those were the last words they spoke before the froth began to come out of their mouths and they died. I felt horrible for telling them to go scavenge for food. They had trusted me, and they died.

In the shadows of the forest, something, or more accurately someone, moved. "Who's there?" my voice quivered. Receding footsteps could be heard. A chill went up my spine.

"I know what you did." The voice was harsh and grating, breathy and deep. My breath rattled in my chest. Who could it be?