To light a candle is to cast a shadow. ~ Ursula K. Le Guin
Ryou had never been so thankful for a candle in his life. Granted, he had known that the storm would be harsh, but he hadn't been expecting a power outage. He placed the candle on his desk and tried to get back to the homework he had been working prior to the loss of electricity.
(The candle flickered, sending the shadows into a sort of chaotic dance.)
It was literature, easy enough right? He just had to write a personal narrative. "The most life changing event in your life thus far". Ryou starred at his blank sheet of paper, and told himself that any snickering he heard must have been the wind.
(The candle flickered on, the shadows now resuming their composure and wrapped themselves around the light.)
The answer to that prompt was easy. But it was also unbelievable, frightening and tragic. Something best left unspoken.
(The candle waned and the shadows quickly pounced on it, trying to extinguish the light while it was down.)
Ryou found that scene to bear an uncanny resemblance to his life. It seemed as if every since he had gotten that ring, he was always fighting. Pushing back the shadows, trying to keep his light. Pointless as it was, because the shadows were stronger, (he was just one candle after all) because he had been tainted anyway. These thoughts didn't hurt as much when he removed himself from the equation and viewed the world from outside of his body. Away from things like emotions and memories and saw things as they truly were. He was but a candle that was slowly being blown out.
(And yet, the candle flickered on.)
Thunder roared, lightning flashed and Ryou felt the ring's familiar warm glow against his chest. Ryou sighed and took one last look at his shadowy apartment before willingly giving up control.
(The candle was still flickering when he blacked out.)
A/N This chapter = Meh. Okay so it's been ten chapters since I last ask this question, so I guess I'll ask it again. What chapter is your favorite? Why? Has anything changed, anything stayed the same?
