Bloodlines of Archaea I. Afira
When those who Whisper in the Shadows Cower in the Darkness

Wind howled, a familiar dark feeling squished its way into my bones. “Akuma, Akuma wake up,” I yelled, shaking his shoulders. “They’re here,” I whispered, looking up at the sky and feeling a chill run up my spine. He jumped to his feet quickly, drawing his sword. “No,” I said, “use this.” I handed him a lit torch.

“Why?” he asked, putting his father’s blade away.

“Just trust me ” I whispered, bringing a flame to my hand, watching it grow as we waited in the silent darkness.

“Look, the boy is ready for a fight,” a familiar voice like a rusty door frame said, as a gust of wind blew the four torches at the edge of the boat out.

“Show yourself!” I yelled into the darkness, noticing that the stars were no longer in view at all, the world around us an endless pit.

“Oh, and the girl can speak. What a surprise.” They guffawed, swooping in the sky, their long hands creeping up the sides of the boat.

“Leave us, and you may return home,” I called, menacingly. Wicked laughter came from above.

“Oh children, so naive. The way you talk shows how little you really know of our world.” The shadows screeched, diving down towards us, their long, bony arms outstretched, their beady black eyes with red centers stared at us, unblinking.

“You have sealed your fate,” I called, throwing my flame into the darkness, watching a laughing creature disintegrate, sending ash raining from the sky. This made the creatures swarm around the boat, swiping at us with sharp, claw-like nails. Akuma swung the torch swiftly at any of the creatures which came close enough. Ash raining from the sky, shadows screaming, we fought the shadow creatures off.

“We will give you one last chance,” I yelled at the screaming creatures.

“Leave us, and you may return home.” Akuma continued, his voice deep and commanding. He looked out at the shadows, holding his torch up, forcing the shadows to move farther into the sky, higher and higher above us.

The creatures fled, “tell the stories of those who have allowed you to live, for the next time your kind may attack us, we will not give you the chance to live.” I yelled after the fleeing creatures, relighting the torches after a few moments of sitting in silence.

Once the torches were lit, I pulled out my oar, once again beginning to row. Akuma looked into my eyes, smiling and for the first time since our journey began, they reflected a tiny flicker of hope.