A Song of Darkness

Chapter 4

Killian's body slumped down his torso between my thighs. His skin turned grey within seconds, shriveling down to the bones, Hos face turning gaunt, his eyes hollowing into his sockets. Laying there withered and dead. My heart felt like it was being torn into two.

I pulled his body close to my chest. I hadn't noticed I was crying until my breath kept stalling. My weeps were soft and rough almost as if I had been stabbed in the chest.

Looking up to the sky, I stayed there. Allowing for the rays to burn everything away. Wishing it would burn away all my pain and to make me numb. Closing my eyes, I moved to lay next to Killian. Pulling my arms around his torso and holding him there. Then the realization hit me. I wanted this. I did this and I wouldn't let his memory be wasted.

When I opened my eyes to get up, Kilian's body was gone. Everything was gone. I was back in that black void.

The man was back, my memories of killing my sister came back to me, going through the doors. The trials. I had done it. "Kill a memory, Kill the one you love the most." The last one would be the hardest, "Kill thy old self." Killian had told me about the other two, but never the last one. He wouldn't dare speak of what he did.

The old man was back. His hand was out for me to take. I didn't.

Standing up by myself, I dusted off the imaginary dust from my pants.

"Was that even real? What kind of shit was that?"

The old man regarded me with a soft tone, "No, it was only to test your willingness to give everything. To see your reaction to what happens. It's not just your actions but the intentions and the consequences that determine your worthiness."

"What happens if I'm found unworthy?"

"You would die."

I've never actually seen what happens to those who die, where the body goes. Did they feel pain? Where did they go? The council always kept those dark thoughts away. Yet they never seemed to escape me.

"This is the last trial. The one that matters the most."

I have recited the three verses since day one.

"Kill thy old self."

"What does that mean?"

"You are the only one to determine that. You are your own poet." He motioned to a door that appeared to the left of us.

"How many have died?"

This question seemed to take him back, "Your concern is unwarranted."

"Tell me how many haven't made it past."

He sighed, "There will come a day when you will know answers. Today is not that day."

He reached his hand out and guided me to the next door. It was black with the curves of the colophi in bright red. Glowing, intoxicating me. I reached for the door, but the man's voice held me in my place. "Girl, watch yourself. Foolish things happen to those who dwell on the past." His hollow voice booming through the trees. As the door opened, "Foolish things happen to those who doubt me." I pressed through the entrance. Light filling my eyes, brightness swallowing me.

The sun shone through my closed lids, the light causing my eyes to water as they opened. The sun dulled as green filled my view. The meadow sloped down in front of me. The sight seemed like a distant memory. It was. I remember this time. No tricks to the eyes. I remember this place. A place of horror... Aduantas.