When the light dies

The girl

No one can tell you how your future will go for you. you can never know when you'll die or when something unexpected will go your way. life is just like that. In a world filled with vile creatures, you can only hope that in this life you were born lucky. That's what I wished most of all. All I wanted was a peaceful and normal life. Not one filled with magic and monsters. especially when those same monsters were your parents. Parents that didn't give a shit about you and your ideas. Parents who I would gladly kill myself, but of course even that didn't go right for me.

In this life, all I have is a small room filled with other things that should but can't make me happy for the rest of my life. all I can do is sit and wait. waiting and waiting and waiting until my hideous parents want me to do something. And don't take pity on them. they are the scum on the earth and if you were me you would want a painful death for them as well.

In this story, I will get free, and no one will ever stop me.

I open my bedroom door and look carefully back and forth in the hallway making sure there is no one there to stop me. as I see the all-clear I march on to the kitchen downstairs of the house and make my way to the pantry to gather supplies. as soon as I reach for the bread I heard a soft chuckle behind me. Shit.

"Now I hope that isn't you Lani", the woman said. I turn slowly as if it would make me invisible to the naked eye.

"Mother!" I stated as I backed away slowly towards the door. "I didn't expect you a father to be back from the trip so soon' i exclaimed. Mother came slowly toward me one step at a time glaring at me probably hoping I would explode. " how many times do I have to repeat my self, Lani? You are to remain here always as we agreed."

She made it to me and forcefully grabbed my hand with a haunting smile she said: "I don't want to see you out of your room again, understand?" I tried with all my heart to say anything to her but I froze. Damn her and her magic.

"Do you understand Lani?" She grips my hand tighter while loosening her hold of her magic.

"yes mother I u-understand" I gasped as she abruptly held my neck. She started squeezing tighter and tighter. "I am the only one who can protect you Lani" she releases me and I collapse I the floor coughing, struggling to breathe. She bends down grabbing my chin, lifting my head upwards. " If you think that you can survive without me you are wrong". Still holding my head she forces me to look straight at her. " Do not forget that I am the only one who loves you in this cruel world" She lets go of me and backs away. " I only do this because I love you". She raises her hand and starts chanting a spell.

"Wait!" I yell in desperation.

" Please, mother! I'm sorry, I won't do it again I swear!" I pleaded and pleaded, but there was no stopping her now. I couldn't go back. I can't go back. "Please mother don't!" I scream again.

Mother looks at me with her cold blue eyes and finally stops. "Child, this is the only way you seem to learn" Before I can say anything she waves her hand and I find my self in the hole. The Nest, she calls it. " Mother please!" The Nest was a black pit in her void. The void of her immense magic. "You will stay here until you have learned your lesson." Her voice was in my head like always. Always there telling me what to do. " And when you are done here ill make you your favorite meal, how does that sound?" After that, there was only silence.

" Please don't go Mommy" I curled into a ball and lay in the darkness. The only thing I could do here was to be in my head and try to be less alone. I stay here for most days on end. The least I've had was a day, but I don't think she will go easy on me this time. I don't know what I was thinking. I wanted to get out. I wanted to see the woods. To feel the grass beneath me and the air whistling against my ears. But of course, it wouldn't have worked. Of course, I chose a stupid decision and now facing the consequence of my actions. this is what happens when I have stupid ideas.

All the more reason why I do this then. I chuckle in the silence. Why I was chucking? no clue. But I suppose I find even my ideas to be useless in my life.

Mother always knows best is what she tells me. But I've always wanted to get out of this big house, not just my room. If I listen to my mother then this won't happen again. Maybe if I just stop doing whatever comes in my head and just listen then maybe I can live peacefully. But these are all maybe's. 

Every time I'm in here I say the same things to myself self and once I'm out I start thinking foolish ideas again. Maybe I do enjoy this place like my mother always says. Though she says this I can never actually feel comfort here. It's always felt wrong to be here. It made me feel unwelcome.

I stayed there for what felt like a week. My Mother released the spell and I was suddenly laying on my bed. Out the window, I saw the birds flying and the sun high in the sky. It must be close to midday. Above me was my mother who was staring intensely at me with a smile that can only be described as fake and with no emotion behind it. It looked as if she was disappointed with me. It felt like an eternity of her glaring at me. she went to my desk and placed a plate of food.

"As promised I have made your favorite, chicken, and rice." She said as she set the table in my room. When she finished she came towards me sitting at the edge. Her hand came towards my head and started to stroke my red hair. "I've always loved your curls, Lani, they are always perfect no matter what happens". It was like a ritual when I come from The Nest to touch and pet my hair. She always talks to me about how my hair was lovely and how she wished she could have been born with the same locks. Mother sometimes talks about how my hair was before. My hair was black as a raven when I was little. Then suddenly one day my hair turned red like fire. She never explained why, all she ever said was "Your hair was blessed by the fire themselves". Even though she says this I have a hard time believing her words.

Mother suddenly stood up and walked to the door."Now that you are out and well, why don't we start your lesson's when you are finished with your lunch" She again had on the fake smile never showing her teeth. I did a small nod to mother saying "Yes Mother" Still smiling she exited the room and left me alone with my food. The food was amazing like always. Though her food is the only food that she ever had. Still good none the less.

When finished the delicious plate of chicken I knocked on my door three times. This was to alert mother that I was done. Sure I went out of my room last time but doing it again would put me back in The Nest. Mother was quickly at the door with a smile of anticipation. I like doing the lessons but sometimes I feel like we go too far. "Alright, today we should do some of the usual spells". She waved her hand over the table and her Grimore appeared. The book flipped the pages itself for mother until it was the spell she needed. "Now what happens when a stranger comes into the house?"

"I use a containment spell and then a calling spell to alert you." She smiled brightly at me.

" Yes exactly you never go and fight anyone, Only I can protect you from those creatures". She suddenly spaced out for a bit. That can only mean father is contacting her. It could also mean he's returned from the trip. Father was some sort of head of a council but whenever I asked he always said that it doesn't concern me. Which of course always makes me a bit curious. " It seems your father has returned from the trip, ill go meet him at the front". She hastily cleaned everything with a flick of her hand and when she went to the door she looked at me with her pained smile. "we will continue tomorrow" she said excitedly and ran out towards the hallway. But not before she put a barrier at the door.

I sighed in boredom as I went back to my bed. I laid down just staring at the ceiling wondering what was going to happen. Thinking about it more father might want to do a separate punishment for me. I sighed again. I deserve it

As I laid there I saw a small red harrow bird sitting close to the window. I decided to open the window to welcome the cute birdy to my home. Hopefully, mother won't notice. As I opened the window I noticed a shadow in the woods next to me. I first thought it was imagination but I again saw a shadow of something big. I didn't know if I should tell mother but it also could just be an animal. The birdy then flew away before I could give him a treat. Maybe he'll come later.

When closing the window I saw the shadow once again. Curiosity was engulfing me to no avail. I needed to know what animal it was. Was it a bear? maybe a wild horse? Then out of nowhere, the shadow came out and it reviled itself. I didn't believe it first since mother had a barrier around the house so no one could come through the woods to the clearing. Only animals could come. But in the field, I saw the one thing I have never seen.

A girl.