The Lights in the Darkness

Ember wakes with a start. She had the dream again. Sighing, she rolls over and turns her lamp on, illuminating her attic bedroom in comforting light. Swiping the back of her hand across her sweat-covered brow, Ember sits up and groans. “Why can’t I just get a good night’s sleep?” Her whisper attracted her tabby cat, Neena, who jumped onto her bed. She stretched, her claws digging into Ember’s comforter, before sitting and looking curiously at her human.

Ember sighs again, reaching out to scratch Neena’s head between her ears. “I’m okay, pumpkin. Just had that dream again.” She continues to scratch her cat’s head as she stared at the wall, thinking about her dream.

She began having the dream on her 18th birthday. Ember had come home after working her shift as a server at her local café. It was like any other night- regulars stopped in for their usual, and the random folks passing through the small town of Vinton, Iowa would stop in for a bite. Her drive home was uneventful, aside from the adorable husky pup she saw. Nothing was out of place in her studio apartment, and her nightly routine went as planned- eat, shower, and get ready for bed. It was all normal … until she fell asleep.

It starts with what seems to be a boy, close to Ember’s age, walking from the darkness that surrounds her. His silver hair and striking green eyes seem to glow in the surrounding darkness. Ember’s breath catches in her throat. “He’s stunning. How can my mind create someone so perfect?” She can’t seem to gather herself as he walks closer and closer. He stops, close enough that Ember can see he is quite a bit taller than her. She tilts her head back slightly trying to read his face. “Impossible. He is impossible to read.” Ember just opens her mouth to ask him who he is when suddenly, he smiles, stopping the words from escaping her lips. In an instant, she feels unsafe as his smile disappears as quickly as it had appeared. Her eyes move back to his to see him glaring past her.

Ember begins to turn around, but as she did the boy appears next to her, wrapping his arm around her waist to move her further from whatever was behind her. He places himself in between Ember and the threat, and he turns to look at her, his face mere inches from hers. “They are looking for you. I am here to keep them from getting to you.” Ember blinks, confused. Who are they? Why are they looking for me? Who IS this guy? Before she can ask, the boy swiftly turns around and disappears back into the darkness at a run. She yells “come back!” But just as she gets the words out, she always jerks awake.

“I need to figure out what these dreams mean.” Ember says to Neena, who responds with a soft mew. Ember chuckles. “Sometimes I think you really do understand me.” She throws the blankets away from her to get up and go to the bathroom. Halfway down the stairs, Ember comes to a dead stop. Something isn’t right. Suddenly, her gut twists up, and she starts sweating again. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. She stands frozen, knowing there is someone in her home. “You may as well come down, dear. Running will do you no good.” A man’s voice sliced through the silence, causing every hair on Ember’s body to stand on end. She starts to tremble uncontrollably, unsure if she should run or face him.

The man appeared at the bottom of the stairs. Ember’s gut twisted even harder. His eyes were black, causing her to tremble even harder. He was wearing a tight-fitting, black turtleneck, long sleeve shirt showing a very muscular set of shoulders, arms, and a broad chest. Below that, a pair of black straight cut jeans, ending with black shoes. Ember suddenly realized that the boy with the silver hair had been wearing the same thing. Maybe that boy isn’t as friendly as my dreams think he is, she thought.

Her thoughts are interrupted when she feels a presence appear behind her. There’s another one. Are they going to kill me? Ember can’t bring herself to turn around. She can’t take her eyes off the first man. “I won’t let you touch her.” The presence behind her … that voice … Ember, without a second thought, spins around to see the boy with the silver hair at the top of the stairs. He was looking past her, his eyes locked on the man behind her. Without moving his gaze, he extended his arm out to offer Ember his hand. For some reason, she did it without hesitation. I can trust him. She didn’t understand why, but as soon as her hand was in his she knew she was safe.

The boy pulls Ember to him, placing her behind him, his eyes never wavering from the man at the bottom of the stairs. She finally looks back at the man, who now looked angry. “Give it up, Derrick. She must be taken. It is the path her parents chose” Ember’s breathing comes to a quick stop. My parents? I don’t even remember my parents. They gave me away at birth … How could they possibly have an influence on my life? Her thoughts were halted by the boy with silver hair, who must be Derrick, speaking up. “She shouldn’t have to pay for her parent’s mistakes. You won’t get to her.” The man charges forward from the bottom of the stairs. He was barely halfway up when Derrick extended his arm, his hand flat and palm facing the man, and the man flew back down the stairs onto the floor. Ember gasps as Derrick turns around, wrapping his arm around Ember’s waist, and suddenly they are surrounded by darkness.

Ember jerks out of his arm, pushing him away. She crumples to the floor. My legs feel so weak. It must be an adrenaline crash. She looks up to see Derrick sitting down next to her. Before he could sit next to her, she blurted “You need to tell me who you are. Where am I? Who was that man? What was he talking about?” The words rushed out in one breath. Derrick sighs and looks at her with pity shining behind his green eyes. Huh. They seem darker than in my dreams.

“My name is Derrick. I’m a fallen angel here to protect you from the spirits your parents made a horrid deal with. In exchange for access to the spiritual realm, where all things can be made possible, your parents had to agree to their first born’s soul being taken at the age of 18. These spirits have a horrible desire to snuff out life at its prime, so they wait until you’ve tasted adulthood. Your parents never meant to have a child and curse them with this agreement, but life had other plans.” Ember is shocked. How could her parents be so selfish? How could they endanger another life like that? How could ANYONE curse another being with this existence? Derrick must have seen all the confusion, hurt, and anger, because his voice softens. “We can talk more later, if you want. I’m not going to overwhelm you. I understand it’s a lot to take in. But as I’ve told you- I am here to protect you.” He smiles sweetly. Ember knows he is telling the truth. She isn’t sure why she trusts him. She just… does. “Let’s get you somewhere more comfortable,” Derrick says sweetly. Ember blinked. She had forgotten they are …. nowhere? Derrick grabs her hand, and they are once again transported.

When the darkness clears, Ember gasps. She finds herself standing in a gorgeous bedroom- grander than anything she had ever pictured herself in. The vaulted, dome-shaped ceiling featured a beautiful skylight in the center, showing the millions of stars in the night sky. The walls are a lavender purple, soft, and calming complemented by black curtains. To the left she could see a walk-in closet, full of an assortment of dresses, jeans, tops, shoes, jewelry, everything an 18-year-old girl could need. Ember was never much of a fashionista, but that didn’t mean she doesn’t appreciate a good selection. Just outside of the closet was a silver-outlined vanity mirror proudly perched on a gorgeous solid cherrywood desk. To her right, Ember looked over to see a king canopy bed adorning see-through black canopy curtains, silver posts, and a black silk sheet set covered with a deep purple comforter. A stack of fuzzy black and purple pillows sat invitingly at the head of the bed. So, he clearly knows my favorite colors. What else does he know about me? She speculates this as she walks toward the door to the bathroom, stationed to the right of the bed. Once again, she gasps upon entry. In the left corner is a jacuzzi tub made entirely of onyx. In the right corner was a glass-encased shower featuring 8 shower heads on both walls and 10 on the ceiling.

Ember turns around and looks at Derrick. “What is all of this, and why does it seem completely customized to suit me?” She isn’t trying to sound accusatory, but she barely talks to anyone. How could he have all this information? “Our minds were linked at your birth. I can’t read your thoughts, but I can sense your feelings. From that, I can gauge your reactions to anything from colors to boys.” He gives a little wink. Ember feels her face heating up. Oh god, he knows I think he’s cute. Great. Derrick chuckled. “No need to feel embarrassed. It was the best way to ensure when we met, I could make you feel as comfortable as possible and that I could make sure they didn’t come after you before you turned 18. I wasn’t sure if they had known about your parents entrusting your safety to me. If they had, they would have captured and held you until your birthday. That’s why I could never approach you before now.” He looked sad for a moment, but it quickly went away. “Your parents met me in this world.” Derrick walks over to the large window on the far side of the room and opened the curtains. This time, she doesn’t gasp. She is simply too stunned.

Past the glass, they are surrounded by a million shining stars. In between the stars, there are portals, each shining differently than the last. She could see glimpses of people in the portals, showing any different worlds. “Each of these portals is home to a spirit like me. I’ve customized mine to suit you, as I have been on Earth to protect you since you were born. No need for a home when I had a job to do.” Derrick smiled. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Ember looked up at him, trying to understand what he meant but too afraid to ask. She’s had enough mind blowers today. She gasped for the millionth time, exclaiming, “MY CAT!” Her eyes start to fill with tears when Derrick quickly turns her to look at the bed again. There, cuddled up and fast asleep on the pillows, was Neena. Ember almost collapses again from the relief. “How did you- “ she starts to ask, but he quickly answers. “I transported her here before I announced my presence. As I said, I know you very well. I knew you’d have been devastated if anything had happened.” Ember’s eyes filled with tears again. This time with gratitude. She turns around and hugs him. “Thank you.” He seems surprised but hugs her back.

He relaxes into the hug, and as he does, he spoke again, this time even softer than before. “I am so sorry that your parents got you into this. If they had known what an amazing girl you are, maybe they wouldn’t have done it.” Derrick pulls back to look Ember in her eyes. “I will make sure you don’t pay for their mistakes.” Ember was about to ask him how he plans to do that when suddenly there was a sharp pain in her chest. She yells out and crumples into his arms. “No. Not yet. It can’t happen yet!” Derrick’s eyes go black. “They lied to me.” Ember can barely breathe. Her chest feels like it is being crushed. Agony was coursing through her torso, causing her to scream out in pain, her vision grey and blurry if she opened her eyes. “What’s … happening … to… me …” She collapses onto the ground as the pain intensifies. Derrick quickly runs over to the bed, grabs Neena from her spot amongst the pillows, and rushes back to Ember’s side. Placing his hand on her shoulder, he transports them to a cabin a discrete contact had left for him to use on earth. The 50-acre property is covered with trail cameras, so they would know if anyone were there long before they made it to the cabin.

Ember gasps in a breath of air as the pain subsides, blinking her vision back to normal. Her pain subsided, but her heartrate was still high. It doesn’t feel like it is going to explode anymore at least. As she slows her breathing and her heart, Derrick walks to sit on the foot of the bed, placing his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. “I’m sorry. Your parents had told me you would have longer to last in the spirit world before it claimed you.” He looks up, making eye contact with Ember. “Your parents didn’t just offer your life for the taking. They also offered your soul. If you are to enter the spirit world and stay for more than a day, your heart would stop and you’d be a spirit, too.” He sighs. “Either they lied to me or those they made the deal with did.” Running his hands threw his hair, he chuckles, “Who knows.”

Ember thinks for a second, and having finally calmed her heart and breathing, stands up and walks over to sit next to Derrick. She rests her hand on his shoulder. “I’m sure you’ve seen I haven’t made much of a life for myself. I have never been able to make friends, I don’t have any family to speak of, my adoptive parents basically ignored me, I was working a dead-end job that barely paid the bills and I hated. I don’t have much to live for on earth. And hey, the spirit world must not be too bad if my parents were willing to kill for it.” Derrick looks at her, surprised by the last statement. Ember simply winks. He smiles. “Only you could make jokes like that after almost dying and finding out your parents were the reason.” She shrugs, smiling back at him. “What I’m trying to say is maybe being a part of the spirit world would be a good thing for me. No, I don’t want to feel that pain again, it sucked. But if I do, I know I at least have one friend, finally.” Ember nudges Derrick playfully with her elbow. “And if there’s more people like you there, I’d sure love to meet them.” Ember smile reassuringly. Derrick looks back at the floor. “This isn’t a decision to take lightly,” he says quietly. “Once it’s made, it cannot be undone. Can you tell me with absolute certainty there is nothing you’ll regret leaving behind?”

Ember smiles even bigger than she ever had before. “I think you’ll agree that making a choice to live on with good spirits who care about me is a much better option than living a life running from the bad ones.” Derrick smiles bigger than she had seen from him. She gulps. He is GORGEOUS. Maybe I could use a boyfriend too. She shakes the thought away for now. He stands up. “Well then, let’s go!,” he says excitedly. Ember turns to grab Neena from her place on the bed behind her. After she’s in her arms, Derrick offers a hand. “Ready?” He asks, still smiling. Ember places her had in his, knowing she is making the right decision. “Ready.”

. . .

Over the next few weeks, Derrick shows Ember different corners of the spiritual realm, from the dreams of children to the fallen angels he remained allies with during their fall into the spirit world. Ember finally has true happiness in the spirit realm, making new friends almost every day. She is finally surrounded by people who care about her. Of course, there are doors that will remain closed for her. Not every piece of the spirit world was light. There are the spirits that used their abilities making horrible deals with the living, seeking only pain. Derrick, Ember, and all the spirits that surround them will spend eternity trying to protect those people from the dark ones that roam and search.