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A short story. More like a flash fiction. Incomplete, with the final action being unfolded in the next, concluding chapter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I held my breath with all my might and prayed. Being an atheist throughout my life till the moment of horror and the sudden acceptance of an existing Almighty was unreasonable as it is, and yet, it showed the true hues of a human nature which, when working on the average scales, switches to the side which offers maximum security. I would run to the God to save myself from the Devil and would hide in the Devil’s shadow to escape the God’s wrath. Unlike the legend of Faustus, who was drowned in his ambitions to seek glory and transcend his assigned place in nature, that of a human being. Fickle is our nature; weak is our strength; muddled is our vision; and full of fear of the unknown remains, infecting the core.

 

As I help my breath, holding back my tears of sheer horror and making furious promises of repentance, I somehow knew that there was no hope left for me. In the closed space of my cupboard, I held onto the latch, ignoring the trembling that coursed through my hands and the sweat which seemed to make its way out of every pore of my body. My senses felt numb yet, highly alert at the same time. The absence of light was absolute and I blinked furiously, trying in vain to picture the outlines of the things spread around me.

 

The basement was always secure and the cupboard, which was hidden behind a neatly stacked, and forgotten, set of cardboard boxes beneath the stone staircase. It was permanently shrouded in darkness and for the first time, I felt thankful for this impenetrable cover of shadows which was my only defense against the terror that lurked outside.

 

If I tell you to not think of sheep, absolutely anything in the wide range of things there are except one, that is the sheep, what will be the first thought or image that crops in your mind? Now you know how the dreadful images of the past stormed into my mind and I relived the tormenting moments which would have been better off forgotten, forever.

Author's Note

I wanted to break the story into two parts. Here's the first one, with the description of the fear. The second part of the story builds up the reason for this fear.

P.S. - Please suggest a title. :)

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[Samantha ~virginpoet]

The absence of light
maybe