She didn't want to see it. She didn't want to. But his words echoed in her mind. "You'll need it ahead."

Her hands shook as she slid the box open with her finger, pulling a wooden match out. She heard a low hiss, or maybe all she heard was the emptiness that surrounded her, and filled her. The scratch of the match against the box was real, though. The flare that burned her eyes and steadied into a solid, tall flame did not flicker, or waver. There was a low endless howl that did not begin, and did not continue. She couldn't tell if she imagined it or it just echoed forever in her mind.

The darkness did not abate, but she moved foward, more confident, in the pitch black. Her feet were sure, and she walked, step after step, one foot directly in front of the other.

It was quiet, but he thought he had heard something, or maybe just sensed the idea of something. Something lurking, waiting, and tonight, every night, he hoped that thing were a monster, some demon or ghost haunting his closet. It was all too often something else, something tangible, something horribly real, yet surreal all at once.

He hugged his knees, the darkness surrounding him, the soundless echo of a noise... a noise he could not name or describe, in his ears. He was suddenly aware of how tired he was, and how very... very unalone he was. There was someone, or something close by. He held his breath, and the silence grew louder in his ears, a constant, pressuring anti-sound.

She felt she had been walking for hours. She worried she'd been walking in circles, a slight curve to the left or right, and who could know where she was? How vast could this tunnel be? If she could find a wall.. perhaps reach out and touch stone, she could trace that, but she did not care to risk touching something else.

The flame did not ebb or become smaller, instead, it burned continuously, tall and bright. Small, pitifully small against the pressing blanket of darkness that surrounded her. She could barely see her finger tips holding it. Still, she followed it, on and on.

Dear Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Dear father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Dear father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdome come, thy will be done--

Something grabbed his wrist.

She stopped walking. Her knee had hit something solid. Not hard, but solid enough to stop her steps. She reached out, and her heart leapt in her chest as her hand clasped something warm, and very flesh like. She pulled back, and her shaking hand pointed the match closer to whatever it was.

There was a little boy sitting on a bed, staring wide eyed into the darkness.

"Bobby?"

His heart was pounding. Something whispered his name, and he whimpered, squeezing his eyes shut. Something touched his hand again, but ... it was almost polite, sort of gently tapping his knuckle until he opened his eyes again. He so very much did not want to open his eyes, but he did, anyway.

There was a girl looking at him. Her face was illuminated faintly by a match, but she was staring at him, wide eyed. She was scared, too.

"Alex?" He reached out his hands to her, and she scooted onto the bed next to him, pulling her feet quickly off of the floor.

"I'm scared." She put the match between them, and he cupped his hand around it, pulling the blankets around her shoulders. She shivered.

"It's okay now." He looked at her, but her face was barely visible in the dark. "It can't get us when we're together. It almost got me, though."

"It almost got me, earlier." She hunted look passed over her face, but he couldn't see it. He sensed it, anyway.

"We gotta stay together." He squeezed her hand.

"We will." Her voice was louder when she said this, and he felt hopeful.

The flame burned a bit brighter. Something, or maybe nothing, shrieked, the sound fading away slowly.

She jumped as something hit the surface under her. She opened her eyes to see a styrofoam cup next to her nose. She sat up slowly, and rubbed her eyes.

"Hey," He smiled at her, his tie was loose, and he wasn't wearing his jacket.

"Hi." She stretched slightly, and took a deep breath.

"You should go home."

"Look who's talking." She picked up the cup and took a sip. "Thanks."

"You feeling okay?"

"Yeah.. just not sleeping too well lately."

"What else is new." He finished his own coffee, and pitched it.

"What time is it?"

"Late."

"How late?"

"Too late. Let's get out of here." He picked up his jacket, and reached for hers.

"I'm not arguing." She stood up and smiled as he held her coat open for her.