The freezing cold winter air flew past me making me shiver and regret my decision. It was past curfew and there I was trying my best for me not to get noticed neither the potion in my coat pocket, and at the same time I was also trying my best to make it back before the sun sets.

I was a lightling. A creature which cannot stay out at night or else will perish, a creature meant to be kind and helpful, a creature meant not to break the rules, which I was currently doing.

I quickly swerved to the side of the snow-covered road and entered into the woods. The second time I'm breaking the rules... Oops? It wasn't just any wood. It was not light property. It was dark property. You may also notice by the name "dark woods" I wasn't supposed to go there, but it was a shortcut back to my home. It was the only way to make it back before dark. I wasn't entirely keen on testing out the potion whilst being torn to shreds. At least that was how the pain was described by my daring grandfather who had gone out in the dark when he was young. He said it was horrible, and warned me not to do so. So I'll drink the potion during the last rays of sunlight. But I only could if I reached early.

I quickly walked, my arms folded to keep from the cold. The strange noises from the various dark creatures sent shivers down my spine. The trees shook spookily and it seemed as if the wind howled my name. Dark creatures were gruesome as well as smart. They knew how to manipulate a person and mess with their minds. But I wasn't going to let them.

I quickened my pace and walked with my head down ignoring the howls of the wind. Finally I exited the woods and spotted my village. I quickly sprinted to the third cottage and knocked on the door four times. The secret code. It was kind of like saying "it's me, not a dark creature in disguise". The door almost immediately creaked open and immediately creaked close before and after I rushed in.

My face was flushed pink and my blonde hair messily outlined my face. "Annabeth, you're five minutes late. It's almost dark, what were you doing?" My mom hissed.

"Sorry mom I got caught up in the weather" I said without missing a beat. I already had the excuse planned out in my mind. She couldn't know that I had a quiet visit to the illegal dark potions shop.

She gave me a doubtful look and then sighed. "I'm sorry, I was just so worried" she said softly. "I know mom, and I'm sorry too, I should have tried to reach earlier" I sugar coated my words.

She gave me a hug. I took in her sweet scent of strawberries. I handed her the package. It contained some vegetables and also aspirin because lately she had a lot of hurting muscles."mom the cabbages were out of stock" I said. Cabbages were growing very slowly lately on the farms, so they costed about seven to eight Orums, which is quite a lot, and many people wanted to buy them while they could. Did you get any change?" She asked suspiciously.

Oh...shit. She knew. She knew I didn't only visit the light fruits and vegetables shop. She must have known that I must've gone somewhere else because I came five minutes late.

Bu I was too smart for her. I knew what to do.

"Yes I did" I said and fished out three Orums, placing them on the table. I reached further into my pocket my fingers searching around for the coins I kept to replace the ones I used to buy the potion. Where are the seven Orums? I must've forgotten to take seven Orums from my share of money with me. Suddenly I remembered placing them on my bedside table scolding myself to remember to take them with me the next morning. "Hmm..." She said dramatically. "I wonder where the remaining seven Orums went. I clearly remember giving you thirty Orums. And the vegetables may have costed about eighteen Orums. The aspirin... Only two. The cabbages were out of stock. So... Explanation?"

I sighed in defeat. Damn that woman. " I went to the dark shop to get the potion" I quickly said and hung my head. She knew exactly what "the" potion meant. Ever since I was a kid I wanted to experience the dark and she knew that very well. She put out her hand. I reached into my other pocket. My fingertips grazed the glass bottle, which was cold as ice. I so badly wanted to test out that potion. 'Why did I forget to take the Orums on my table?' I thought in frustration. I had that clearly thought out and planned and at the end I fell for the trap which I already noticed from a mile away. I got my moms beautiful looks, something which I least wanted. But I didn't get her amazing memory, which seems more handy.

I hated being a lightling. I wanted to be a darkling. I didn't want to be kind and helpful. I wanted to be rude and cruel. I wanted to break each and every rule issued, not follow them. But most of all, I wanted to be able to stay out in the dark. I wonder what it would be like. To not be afraid. I wanted to experience that feeling. And I was going to.

"No" I said quietly, and flew out of the window. "Annabeth!" I heard her scream. But I ignored her. I flew off, my target being the dark woods. The last rays of sunlight slowly disappeared. The once barely visible moon now shined bright in the purple sky. I tried to fly quicker but I couldn't. I could slowly feel it. The pain. It was excruciating. Just like my grandfather proclaimed. It felt as if a hundred pins were all being pushed into my skin at the same time. I felt as if my soul was being ripped out of my body. I felt as if my skin was peeling off. I felt as if I was swimming through lava. I felt as if I was dying.

My speed slowed down. The dark woods were only a few feet away from me, and I was giving up. 'No I can't do this... I won't do this. This will not be how I die!' I pushed all my strength into my ability to fly and zipped into the woods. I couldn't control my speed. I fell onto the icy ground and slid past as fast as the wind. My arm felt as if It was burning due to the friction. At last I slowed down just in time to miss hitting a tree. My head was literally one millimetre away from the tree. I couldn't believe I nearly missed my brains being blown out of my head. The excruciating pain still didn't stop.

The woods were quiet. Except for the sounds of the dark creatures lurking through the trees, and of my heavy breaths. I tried to soften the sound of my inhaling and exhaling. But I couldn't. The pain was too much. I summoned all the strength I had remaining and slowly pushed myself up before slumping against the tree which could have been the death of me. I winced as I felt the pain. It felt as if my flesh was being torn off my bones. I quickly took the vial from my pocket and screwed open the lid before gulping down its contents. The liquid roughly went down my throat. The taste? It almost tasted like nothing. It tasted even more flat than water. I felt the liquid settle in the pit of my stomach. I let out an impolite burp before I could stop it. The feeling of my flesh searing slowly faded away. I sighed in relief.

I felt my white aura slowly turn black. The creatures quieted down. The woods were silent. I looked up at the moon. It was gorgeous. I loved this feeling. The potion only lasted a night, but I was going to enjoy it while I could. I could feel the evil coursing through my veins. It was amazing. I could no longer feel the cold. I felt as if I was immune. I threw off my coat. "Woo hoo!" I shouted in joy as I flew up to the height of the tallest tree. I could see the world from up there. I could see the dark village too.

Lightlings auras are white, and darklings auras are black. Now my aura was black, so I can fit in... Maybe I should pay the dark village a little visit. I smiled to myself.

This... Is going to be very, very interesting.