Shadows

This is what I am working on right now. Read it if you want... no pressure though.

Shadows
I stood still. As still as a tree in the wind could stand. A strong tree though, I did not waver. My limbs quivered a little. My fingers trembled like leaves but I could do nothing about it. I could no more stop my fingers from shaking than a tree can stop its leaves from rustling in the breeze. I could stand still though, and so I did. I watched as darkness deepened upon the midnight ground. I saw time and time again the passing blackness upon what had already seemed black. Sometimes it passed quickly, running anxiously. Sometimes it seemed to crawl unbearably slow and I felt that the long line would never end. I did not move at all, I hardly dared to breathe for fear that one of the shadows might stop. The thought terrified me and I struggled to distract myself.
“How can they cast shadows in the darkness?” I heard Jade ask innocently. I almost turned to quiet him, but I realized it was only in my head. He was not here, thank goodness he was not here. Yes thank goodness or whatever was left of it. I heard myself reply to him in the hushed whisper of my memory. I could almost see the my little brother curled up in a blanket on the couch. I could almost feel the warmth of the glowing fire. Almost.
“There are two kinds of darkness, Jade. There is a natural darkness of peace and then there is their darkness.” I sighed. “Can you expect them to allow any kind of peace?” He shook his head and we both shivered even though we sat comfortably by the fire.
I shook my head too, as if I could shake myself back to consciousness. As if the pictures in my mind were the screen of an etch-a-sketch and I could clear them away if I shook hard enough. I didn't want to forget them, but it did me no good to retrace them now. I needed to distract myself from thinking of what the shadows belonged to, but I could not afford to distract myself from where I was and what I was doing. “Shadows” probably wasn't the right word for whatever they were. Jade was right, shadows required light, these things were like pure darkness, like they sucked away all the light and then made it darker. I had never in my life been afraid of the dark, but this was different it wasn't just plain darkness. It was a deep, black emptiness a lack of all light. I shivered again. Once again I concentrated on being as still as possible. I lifted my head slowly and stared into the night waiting to see something.
I'm not sure how long my eyes had been closed, the darkness felt the same either way. But when I felt the ground beneath me and my side lying against the cool soil and grass, I knew I must have fallen asleep. Instinctively, my eyes shot open and I jumped to my feet, then I remembered I had to be quiet. I resumed my former frozen position. I hoped I hadn't been out long. I didn't want to think about what
that kind of unconsciousness could cost me. My plan didn't cover set backs. There was no “Plan B.”
It was precisely step by step or entirely hopeless.
Somewhere in the distance I heard feet, running rapidly now. That could only mean one of two things; either they were looking for me or they were running from the light. I prepared myself for both. I was ready to run. Relief shot through me as the light came. One...two...three...four... I counted in my head ...five! And I took off running. I knew within ten seconds that I was safe. I had made it into the clearing and they wouldn't come anywhere near me. I was halfway across the opening before I realized I wasn't alone. I crashed into something hard and warm and I screamed with pain.
“Shh...” I was shocked by its warmth and its soothing tone. It sounded so human. I shook more uncontrollably than before and I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I tried to turn and run, even though I knew it would be hopeless, but warm hands wrapped around my wrists tightly. I could not escape. I kicked and thrashed and tried not to scream. Noise would only bring it backup.
“Shh... Shh. You're okay.” the soothing voice repeated. I cringed in confusion. Was this what they were supposed to sound like? Was it part of their twisted trick? I wanted to trust this voice, but I knew I shouldn't.
“What are you doing?” It was more of a demand than a question.
“We'll talk later now come on.” He whispered. I assumed it was a he anyway.
“No.” I planted my feet in the ground and fought against his arms.
“Fine, I'll carry you.” He picked me up and carried me in his arms.
“Put me down!” I had always hated being picked up, by anyone let alone some stranger in the woods. I couldn't see his face, or anything about him it was too bright and my eyes would not adjust.
“I will when we get there.” He said dryly. He walked quickly towards the trees and back into the darkness.
“Where are we going? I have to get out!” I was furious now. I thrashed around as much as I could but he laughed quietly and told me to stop making so much noise. I fought until I was beyond exhausted.
“So are you kidnapping me or what?” I whispered.
“Yes, yes I am kidnapping you. Now would you just be quiet?”
“Fine.”
I probably should have been quieter. There had to be more “shadows” around somewhere. I couldn't decide whether to be afraid of, or amused with my situation. I was fighting harder and harder to stay awake. I thought I should be worried but my thoughts were making less and less sense.
“I can't keep my eyes open.” I mumbled. “I think I'm tired.” I could hear my words slurring together but I couldn't help it and I didn't really care.
“Shhh.”
“But I might fall asleep.” I groaned.
“Please do.” He said.
I tried to roll my eyes but they were already closed. As I felt myself drift off I wondered if I was safe at all. Then I was dreaming. I dreamed of black and when I woke up I saw black.
“Jade, Jade?” I asked in a panic. If I hadn't made it out this morning then what had happened and where was I? More importantly, where was Jade? What had I done? I sat up frantically looking around. I felt across the ground, and then realized I was on a floor.
“Shh.” He's asleep” I heard a vaguely familiar voice say. “Sorry did I scare you? I guess you are in a strange place.”
“ Do you mean now? Or when you kidnapped me?” I snapped as my memory returned.
“I didn't kidnap you! I saved your life.” He spat.
“Yeah right, like I would have died.”
“Not right away, but I doubt you would have lived through an explosion while standing in the midst of the targets.”
“What?” I was confused.
“They are going to blow it all up today. They'll probably transport soon. That way we won't know where we are or how to get help, we'll be lost.”
“But how can they blow things up, explosions make light.”
“ I don't know, I haven't figured that out yet.”
“Well then how do you know this isn't just more scare tactics?” I asked.
“I don't. But what if...”
“You don't even know? You kidnapped me to save my life from some potential threat that probably isn't even real!” I wanted to yell, but I didn't want to wake Jade.
“No...I just don't want you dead.”
“You don't even know me.”
Why on earth did he care whether I lived or not? I doubted any of us were going to make it out any time soon anyway. Why watch out for me of all people?
“ I know you are one of the few people still trying to get out.”
“Well everyone else in this place has just given up. I have no choice.”
Everyone had given up. I was stupid for still trying. What good would it do me to get out now? They would probably catch me, kill me. There was no use, but there was no use sitting around either. Honestly if it wasn't for Jade, I wouldn't care if they caught me. I'd be trying to escape every hour of everyday. Stop! I thought to myself. No need to be suicidal. Life is still worth living. Don't let them take that away, life is always worth living.
“I don't blame you for it. I just don't wanna see you die trying.”
“Better to die trying than to die here.”
“Oh really? And what about Jade?”
“He'll take care of himself if he has to.”
“No, he needs you.”
I knew he was right. I would never admit it out loud. I wasn't about to lose an argument to some stranger who saved my life against my will. He was right though, I had to admit that.