A Light in Darkness

Chapter One

Two months earlier.

"Melli!" my younger sister called. "Mell!!" We were outside on the green, green grass that made up our yard. Perennials dotted my view and I sighed, the scents of spring flowing up my nostrils.

"Yes, Jenne?" I responded. She looked at me and cocked her head, playing with the ends of her chestnut hair. The sun rested on her pretty little freckled face as she said,

"Have you ever thought about death?"

Silence.

Staring.

I opened my mouth but no words came out. Jenne just kept cocking her head until it was almost horizontal to the ground. Her mouth stretched into a smile. A wicked smile. "Oh, Melli. It's okay. All people have thought about death, some more than others. It's all a part of life. In fact, it's the most beautiful part. Floating in the great blackness, having eternity to think about yourself and the choices you made in your past life, your insignificant past life; that is my dream. To die and be a servant of the abyss. What is yours?"

I had been picking at the green grass throughout Jenne's speech. I looked up and stared right into Jenne's bright turquoise eyes. Their usual lightheartedness and loving gaze had been replaced by the dark and solemn one I had been seeing a lot lately. She had stood over me, which I also hadn't noticed when I was thinking. Suddenly, her hand shot to my face and grabbed my cheeks. My hazelnut eyes widened in surprise and terror as her grip grew tighter and tighter. I could feel my teeth biting into the soft flesh of my mouth and my tongue growing more and more constricted.

"Jenne... st-stop..." I managed to choke out as I was being slowly strangled from her unwavering pinch. She finally let go of me, running a finger along my cheek as I gasped for air.

"Oh Melli. Oh, my Melli. Can I tell you something? It's reallyyyy important," Jenne said. This time, I held my hand up, not caring what she was about to say. I flicked my eyes to hers.

"No, Jenne. No, I don't want to be a 'servant of the abyss.' Where do those thoughts come from in your mind? I'd like to know because they're dark. REALLY dark. Where do these thoughts come from in a ten-year-old's innocent, pure mind? I certainly didn't prompt them. Neither did Mother or Father. Jenne, I'm fifteen! Even I can't think up of anything like that! Now tell me. Why would you choke me? Why would you think these things, nonetheless bring them up on such a pretty day? You know you could get killed for those thoughts on the Higher Earth. Our Higher Earth. Think about the Council of the Twelve! What would they think of you?" I looked towards Jenne. She was still standing in the same stance she was in when she pinched my cheeks, although the look in her eyes turned from sharp wickedness to sadness. She wanted to be on the Council of Twelve when she grew up; a Council of six men and six women who made the right choices for our planet, the Higher Earth.

The Higher Earth was not a planet. It was a pocket dimension, really, a space of time between the Planet, also known as Earth, and the Lower Planet. We all know what the Lower Planet is... hell. The Higher Earth blocked the way for demons and other terrible entities from reaching the Planet. Sure, a few reach the Planet every now and then, but no one is perfect, although the Council really tries. This dimension is filled with every good thing possible. It is a place where the Heavenly warriors, Guardian Angels, reside. Those Angels fight off the demons and entities from the Lower Planet. Heaven is above the Planet, the Higher Earth is below the Planet, and the Lower Planet is beneath the Higher Earth. If even one of these planets falls to the demons, then the Universe will plunge into chaos and disarray.

"So Jenne. You need to be careful. Now please, tell me where you get these thoughts?" I finished and looked once again at Jenne. She moved to sit down in a patch of grass while staring into nothingness. After what seemed like eternity, she picked up some sticks and started to make a little house.

For fourteen days, none of that talk was ever heard again. Days went by as normal in the Higher Earth, beautiful sunrises and picturesque sunsets happened with not a trace of wicked talk. I kept those words Jenne and I had spoken between us. If Mother and Father had ever found out, we would get in huge trouble. On the Higher Earth, any evil talk is severely reprimanded. This dimension is supposed to be a place full of only light, lest the evil inside of the Lower Planet find a place to strike inside our borders. And, after all, Mother and Father are both part of the Council of Twelve. They would surely tell the others about us, due to the Council's daily meetings in preparation of the week-end report. Every Friday, every bit of news is heralded to us, the people, in the Center of the dimension, a beautiful paved circle with a tall well in the middle. Every person finds a way to crowd around that well, and the latest news is projected from the magical waters to our eyes. Even personal business of the Councilmen and -women that pertains to any immoral thing is shown. The punishment works; if you get projected, you get very embarrassed, and that makes you never want to be bad again.

On the fifteenth day after Jenne's episode, we were gathered around our dinner table, giving thanks to God for our meal, I saw Jenne not taking part. I didn't think anything of it because once when I was tired, I couldn't muster the words. As we sat in the soft, cherry wood chairs, I whispered to Jenne "Are you alright?" She just nodded.

As we ate our meal of mashed potatoes and meatloaf, I sighed. The blue walls around the dining room seemed to close in on us as my parents talked about their work, almost in sync. I heard a clatter as Jenne put down her fork. She looked up at my parents, who had become silent after the noise.

"Yes, Jenne?" Mother asked, "go ahead. We're waiting." With a sinking feeling in my chest, I looked over and saw the same wicked grin come onto Jenne's face as she cocked her head slowly, slowly, slowly.

Her mouth opened.

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Author's Note: oooo cliffhanger!! I hope you guys enjoy my story so far.... it's already picking up a pretty fast pace. Make sure to tell me if I've made any mistakes, grammar or otherwise :P

Keep on reading, my extraordinaires!

xoxo, Ellie