The Flicker

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. The dancing flame flickered. At the edge of the cabin. Leaning against the wall was a frightened lady. Her nails were neatly manicured and painted with red and blue, berry juice. Her face was stained with tears, and her hair looked perfect. But her loose dress was covered with blood and dirt. She was mesmerized by the moving shadows created by the light of the flame. She had never seen a shadow or so it seemed, yet she had lit the burning candle. The oddly shaped matches had been hers. But there was no shadow reflecting from her figure. She gazed around the room, looking for someone to comfort her but she was the only one there.

Three days ago she had been part of a pack. Which had been sent to this habitat to observe. Carolmark would have been explaining the science of this new territory to the group, and Mariashe would have been providing something for them to eat. But in the fight, her pack had gotten separated. In fact, she was the only member who seemed to have made it here.

She had been attired in clothes that would make her blend into the current society, but her mind was not configured for her new location.

She was fighting with her mind. She knew she had to push past her fears.

Her body passed right through the shadows. They appeared to not be a solid form. Could gas harm her or were the shadows something else.

They had agreed that she would go by the name Sara. A rather strange name. She was the only member of the pack who was supposed to be seen. The others were dressed in their culture's traditional clothing. She wondered what had happened to them.

Sara had the bag they had prepared for her. It had cut paper with drawings on it. The people here called it money. She laughed amazed that this flimsy sheet had value. The blood was only on her dress, she had one clean one which she slipped on.

There was a brick structure that had a tube that ran up out of the roof. Sara placed her stained dress under the logs which were scattered in the structure. They looked half-rotted like they had been there for years. She removed the candle from the window and lit the bloodstained dress on fire. She smiled and heated some of the food that had been in her bag. She knew fire, in fact, it helped her feel safe. The contained fire was her friend. Sara fell asleep.

When she awoke the fire had died, and the shifting shapes were gone. The cabin was ablaze in light. Not a flicker of light, she was surrounded by a mass of light.

Most people had not noticed her presence. Outside the cabin, another young woman seemed lost and confused and slightly chilly. She was afraid to approach the inhabitant of the cabin. She was not dressed for this location. She had heard how this society locked up people who did not conform. They took away your freedom. Mariashe did not know what to do. She looked around for her missing companions.

Mariashe heard a noise. She froze in an attempt to not be seen. She was hoping she would blend into the environment. She was startled when the door opened and there stood the woman in her pack, who they were calling Sara. Both women smiled and laughed. They both felt much more relaxed.