MISPER

Flashlight

''Ugh…'' Mikan moaned, but tried not to be too loud. She did not want Persona to hear her.

''Uf, uf, uf… Oh…'' she pressed her teeth together as she was lying on the wooden floor, clenching at the flashlight to release pressure. The cramps started to open her up, but she knew that it is going to take many hours to reach the point of actually bringing her child to the world.

''Youichi… Be patient…'' she whispered to herself as she was moving around her legs, stretching and bending, to help her body relax. She breathed in through the nose and breathed out through the mouth. After a few moments, the cramps stopped and she relaxed.

She thought about what to do now. If she brought her child out here, Persona would take him away and leave her in here. If she called for him, he might bring her out and she would get a chance to do something.

She sighed.

Who was she kidding.

Youichi was on his way out and she was weak. She did not stand a chance. She should at least make it easier. But maybe…

She slowly sat up, groaning and moaning in slight pain. She could feel something going on down there and in there. She put the big, warm blanket around her shoulders and kept holding the flashlight.

She heard the wooden cover being opened up. Persona came to check up on her like every night.

''Miss, is everything all right?'' he asked like always.

Mikan thought how to answer. She had to decide.

''Miss?''

''No! Please help me! I'm having cramps!'' she told him, clenching at the flashlight under the blanket.

''Is it time?'' he wanted to know. She could hardly see him because it was dark inside and outside.

''I don't know, but I'm in terrible pain!'' she waited.

''All right. One moment.'' She heard him walk away then come back. She stepped away as a ladder was pushed inside. ''Climb up, Miss.''

Mikan pressed her eyes together, whimpering. This was it. This was her walk up to death. With her blanket around her and the flashlight in her hand, she carefully started climbing up the ladder. She could feel the air starting changing. It tasted sweeter, fresh. She took a deep breath. It had been a long time since she was outside; since she saw the sky; since she opened her eyes and had the world in front of her. As she climbed to the top, she saw Persona in person.

It was dark outside, stars were shining and the moon was illuminating the face of the smiling monster. He was tall with long black hair and pale skin. He also wore dark clothes and seemed like death himself. She was not scared of death. She was scared of him. He gave her his hand to take and come from the ladder.

''You can leave the blanket here.'' He told her, helping her step on the ground. Her legs wobled a little from the pain, the weight, and from being trapped in a small space for so long.

''But it's cold.'' She whined, holding the flashlight closer to herself. She did not know why, but the flashlight was important to her. It represented light for her, hope. She did not want him to take it away.

''There's no need for you to keep the blanket. I'll take you to a warm place. Come.'' He demanded gently, causing goose bumps of creep spreading all over her body. She gulped and slowly let the blanked slide down her body.

The night was cool and fresh. But the sky was clear and she glanced up one last time, before making a big decision. There was this moment she learned in psychology classes. She felt it inside her.

Fight or flight.

Now or never.

What will she do?

Live or die?

She let the blanket fall down and clenched at the flashlight. Persona just glanced away.

She decided.

With a quick move, she raised her hand, and swung the flashlight right into his head. She heard a loud crack and his scream, but she was already running. She had no idea where she was, but there were trees and a forest and she rushed inside, her feet hitting the ground in steady steps, leaving behind the clearing.

She heard him run after her, cursing her name.

She had no time to think.

She ran for her life.