To Name The Dark

this speed

I wake, feeling disjointed, feet still moving forward as if I am an automaton. I blink rapidly, as if this will change what is in front of me. Endless dunes, rippling towards the horizon. Reddened sand, not the colour of blood, but a gaudy red, too-bright. The all-pervading heat seems to be cooking me, the air dry and dusty. The sun- the two suns, one far too large, a dull red, and the other tiny, a bright white afterthought. I kick up the sand, and a snarling gust of wind blows it back into my face. I splutter, wipe my eyes.

How... how on earth am I here? Is this even Earth? Wait, what? I couldn't hallucinate an entire desert... right? I want to scream these questions into the burning air until my throat is hoarse.

I don't.

"They're here!" a voice screeches, from somewhere in front of me.

I peer through the hazy cloud of sand, expecting to be welcomed. Or at the very least, to have some answers. I notice three things in rapid succession.
1. There are four people a long way from me, silhouetted against the dying sun.
2. None of them are facing me.
3. There are glowing people falling from the sky.

There are glowing people. Falling from the sky.

Actually, it is more of a graceful plunge through the sky than a freefall. The glowing people hit the ground, some rolling then springing up, like show-off superheroes. Maybe ten, fifteen of them.

I do not move, torn between an equal desire to distance myself from this surreal scene... and to watch, like it's something on TV. I guess that is the only way my poor battered brain can cope with the information, the way it used to. Pretend it's not real, pretend you are safe, eyes squeezed shut and hands pressed firmly over ears and scream scream SCREAM to block out this dying desert.

Come on, Thea. Pull yourself together. Find out what the hell (Is this some kind of hell? I suppose it isn't the most unlikely idea...) is going on.

The glowing people are... singing? It's a kind of chant, rising and falling like waves. They sprint towards the four non-glowing figures, the chant still flowing from their mouths.

It's kind of creepy. They don't even look human, just vessels of light and forceful melodies.

My feet still propel me forward. I am guessing that means one of the four (non-glowing) people is Riana?

I am running, now, feet slipping over dunes. I crest a towering dune, and have a perfect vantage point to see the smallest figure thrust out their arms. Which- I can't really tell from this distance, but... they are red from the fingertips to almost the elbow. Gloves, maybe? Or... something worse.

The glowing people are flung back, covered in sand. I want to see what happens next, but a sharp pain in my gut urges me down the dune. In the dip between the dunes I am blinded, and scramble up the next as quickly as possible. In the space of a few seconds, everything has flipped over, switched.

The glowing people move forward, slower now, liquid hunters ready for the kill. Evidently, that weird explosion thing the smallest figure provided only delayed them. They are humming, and it is a disturbing noise, like a bee buzzing too close to your ear and staying there. It makes you want to flinch away.

The four non-glowing people freeze, a split-second of indecision. Then they turn, and run. Right towards me.

I can't stop walking towards them, though! Towards her. And it is Riana. This psychic hook can be a little frustrating. As I get closer, I begin smiling, almost ecstatic, a sense of purpose flooding me. At the same time, the logical remnants of my mind are screaming to RUN. Because I may not know anything about this crazy (hallucination?) land, but I do know that I am not glowing, and the hunters are, and that could be enough to make me their enemy.

Isn't that how all wars (is this a war?) are fought? Soldiers kill the people in a different uniform.

Lost in this thought, I almost crash into the group stampeding towards me, but they swerve around me. Someone grabs my arm, and the sense of pure rightness that fills me tells me it's Riana, and surely now everything will fall into the right pace and make sense. The hook melts away. We are running. Her mouth opens and I am sure she is going to say something profound and meaningful.

"I thought you'd be taller," she says.

'I thought you'd be taller?' That's all she has to say? Really? Not that I'm bothered. Not at all.

We are sprinting. I don't really understand what the rush is at first. Then I sneak a quick glance over my shoulder. Oh. The glowing people are close, all grasping hands and slitted eyes. They look animal, crazed. One of them puts on a burst of speed and lunges forward, tearing a gash in the fabric of my t-shirt.

suddenly:
i am the animal
adrenaline sparking to life in my veins,
run run run
burning muscles
forgotten, just running
mountains loom
sudden
from hazy dust.
i am pulling the dark-skinned girl
riana
along now
i did not know i had this speed
this speed inside me
i never ran much
before.
i can see
the mountains are riddled with holes
caves
refuges
but we won't get there
we won't get there in time.

'Got any good power, now would be the time,' Riana pants.

i try
honest.
i try
but...
no dark tears
nothing
empty.
the girl running next to me
waifish features
spins to face them.
she throws her hands out
like before
BOOM
but silent
and they are flung back.
not for long
the other two running like me
other prey
turn
i don't see what they are doing
my head is down
i only run.
i guess they helped delay them
because there
there are the caves
and we are
inside
inside
inside.

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