The darkness was enough to make her lose her mind, but the lights seemed infinitely worse every time they returned. Long periods of darkness led her into delirious fantasies of a world beyond just the light and dark. Visions somewhere between memory and dream- realms of laughter and song haunted her tormented mind. Never was this light more dangerous and destructive than during these times. The twin stars would hover over her prone body, arms spread-eagled to welcome the void yet unable to block the terrible glare. Sometimes the light would descend above her face, inky strands coldly brushing her lips and cheeks. Probing, poking fingers explored every inch of her body. Searching, searching toward an unknown goal. Stabbing needles pierced her arm on countless times. This time, however, the pain of draining accompanied the ritual. The vivid chartreuse light barely touched the darkness, throwing black shadows against the sickly charcoal walls. This light frightened her even more than the stars did, knowing that this light throbbed in time with her heart. The feverish pulse illuminated serpentine tendrils posed inches from her face, some weighing down her legs.
An image of a young child stood next to her head, eyes green as oak leaves in the summer. They gave her face wisdom enough for someone who has known much of life, much more than the age suggested. A sad smile touched her lips, and yet encouraged the other. A spirit broken for many years gained enough strength for her to fight. The black serpents fell off her legs, flailing about and sending glass shattering everywhere. She continued to struggle, thrashing her head about against the chain binding her to the surface. The ones around her wrists gave as much as the collar.
Soon her energy ran out, the light pulsing much slower than before. The girl with the wise eyes was gone, as was her spirit. She glanced over the darkness now littered with tiny green stars. The two largest huddled in a corner, yet their unblinking guard never ceased. She cried then, bitter tears sparkling like the other lights. She closed her eyes and turned her head away from the watching stars. The faint rasp of breath near her outstretched palm caused her to open her eyes with a start. Her steel grey eyes met his, brilliant emeralds lit with an inner fire. They drowsily blinked and focused on her, unshielded like a child's. Two stars even more brilliant than the others, brighter than even her imaginings. She screamed then, terrified of the horrors that this light could bring.
An image of a young child stood next to her head, eyes green as oak leaves in the summer. They gave her face wisdom enough for someone who has known much of life, much more than the age suggested. A sad smile touched her lips, and yet encouraged the other. A spirit broken for many years gained enough strength for her to fight. The black serpents fell off her legs, flailing about and sending glass shattering everywhere. She continued to struggle, thrashing her head about against the chain binding her to the surface. The ones around her wrists gave as much as the collar.
Soon her energy ran out, the light pulsing much slower than before. The girl with the wise eyes was gone, as was her spirit. She glanced over the darkness now littered with tiny green stars. The two largest huddled in a corner, yet their unblinking guard never ceased. She cried then, bitter tears sparkling like the other lights. She closed her eyes and turned her head away from the watching stars. The faint rasp of breath near her outstretched palm caused her to open her eyes with a start. Her steel grey eyes met his, brilliant emeralds lit with an inner fire. They drowsily blinked and focused on her, unshielded like a child's. Two stars even more brilliant than the others, brighter than even her imaginings. She screamed then, terrified of the horrors that this light could bring.