Memories hidden in darkness
I don't like writing on paper—any paper trail is bad, too easy to trace, too clear your intent and words said. Yet, I fear in this case I can't help myself and wish the truth known. The events that followed were too much not to have any written words as proof, even if only for me to read before my mind is no longer clear, assuming my fear this is a ruse is true.
I made my choice as those that followed me did, and we embrace the dark. Yet I fear what we may become when the darkness no longer cares to keep us human. So in desperate hope and as proof I was real and able to choose before I became a monster, I write at least this: it was a choice we made willingly. The alternative was death, so please don't judge us too harshly and make it a clean death if we are no different than the blight in the night the light hunts.
Fragment page lost to time from Rick Smith, embracing the dark.
Phase ?, Day Four
Humans are odd creatures. I always knew that—made deals easier, knowing what to expect. But this gathering of like-minded individuals still threw me for a loop.
Two more days passed and... nothing.
Sunny skies, calm weather, and no coming of death. No shouts from a new god or wrath from a goddess. Yet morale kept sinking more each day. We kept gathering early with those willing to listen and kept families close—at least those willing to listen—but it seemed there might be a shift soon if this kept up.
Mr. Tanner's side was going to great lengths to use this time to celebrate and party, and remind us daily since death did not come within the hour it was announced to remind us they were still quite well and enjoying their lives while we huddled waiting for death.
Even I wanted to doubt what I heard, and I was there. I saw it...
A drink appeared near me, blocking my view of the ground—a slender arm with a small hand offering it to me.
"Rick, dear, any news?" It was Elizabeth asking for the fourth time just today...
I did not blame her as I took the drink with my thanks, but did not respond beyond that, and she did not press... She knew I knew as much as her, but she still felt the need to press some sense of hope I knew more...
"I know what I saw and heard," Rick said coolly, once more watching the ground.
"Of course, dear." I jerked my head up, assuming she was mocking me, but saw only a sad fear in her eyes while she fanned her face, looking elsewhere.
"It will happen within the week." He said, drawing her attention for real.
"Pardon, dear?"
"They will come within the week. They're gathering their power." I was facing the ground, not wanting to see the doubt in her face. It was a gamble on my part—I did not know if they ever would come here.
A gasp made me jerk up, fearing she saw them here now, but she was watching me, hand covering her mouth, trying to process the shock of what he just said.
"Are you sure?" It was asked, laced in doubt but wanting confirmation so she could spread the word...
So how far will we ride this bet?
"Yes."
And with that, she was gone, spreading word as he drew another one of his personal-made cigarettes—one of the few luxuries he loved doing for himself. But it was done less for comfort now and more of waiting for the finality of it all.
The real test was who will be left when it's all done.
Phase ?, Day Six
Days passed with the same mocking and nothing new. Yet today was different. It was a false pretense, he knew, but Mr. Tanner invited them all to a party. Even the strongest supporters wanted a taste of their old life and wanted to attend. He felt shamed agreeing with them.
He felt if nothing happened soon, he would give in, bow his head, admit defeat—hopeful to be able to slink away into a shadow and still get some recognition. He hoped this would not destroy whatever reputation Elizabeth's family had. He never followed her business too closely beyond knowing a few trade times.
He arrived a little late, feeling shame, not wanting to be early to this gala. And it seemed he was in time for Mr. Tanner in the middle of a speech.
"We're still here enjoying our festivities, so let me make it clear: I have no hard feelings."
It seemed he was trying to convert the people who he could. And if things were different, I would be fading into his shadow there... Yet once more, the fierceness of Ms. Lee surprised him.
"Save your breath. Mr. Smith—Rick—has assured us death is coming and soon. Within the week, this will be your last chance. I know it."
Nobody looked his way, but he still flushed red, hearing her so openly proclaim him and his bluff as certainty.
"Ms. Lee, please stop this farce. Today is a friendly gathering. I offer you mercy and you still offer me scorn?"
Ms. Lee blushed at that, now seeming to stand alone with no one to support her. And damn it, she was looking at me with sad hope in those eyes, and with that, all others noticed me...
And as if by cue, the crowd parted around me, leaving me center of attention.
"AHA, MR... SMITH..." Mr. Tanner said, openly mocking me, but frowned as if debating how much mercy he should show me. A glint in his eye knew well how to place this... as would I if I was more bold.
"Please, share your wisdom that keeps leading us to this... better... outcome. I fear we are a bit slow and need helping learning..."
It got a mix of giggles, whispers, and chuckles, but the majority of those on his side—he just saw lack of sleep and wanting something more to hold onto. They gambled this long and it felt like they were losing it all on a bet they never said was going to pay off...
So I did the only thing a con could: I lied.
"FOR A FACT. TODAY." My face burned in shame from the attention, but also from a sourness at having to lie—not for profit, that was easy to lie for—but to maybe save those from a worse fate.
Mr. Tanner frowned among the sea of whispers, surprising him. A few of the partygoers even shifted to his side. He wasn't sure if any left his side before now—he never paid close attention to faces, just deals and routes, names as needed if they had enough worth... He left the details to the real thieves and players. He was more a side piece in the grand scheme of things.
"A bold claim, Mr. Smith. Your proof?"
"MY WORD." I said it louder than needed, but had to lest it come as a whisper and be met with laughter and I'd be able to speak no more.
Mr. Tanner smiled and seized on this easily... "HIS WORD, FOLKS!" as he looked around, making sure he got all eyes on him.
"AND WHAT HAS HIS... WORD GIVEN US SO FAR? HMMM?"
"FEAR. DOUBT. LIES."
"So thank you for your word... Mr. Smith. But those with more wit than fear will enjoy this party."
It was the perfect blow. No coming back from that. Even the strongest supporters needed something more than that. If Mr. Tanner told him to kneel and he would welcome him back, he probably would—he did not have that much pride to defy an offer like that.
So the random gasps and screams in the crowd and fleeing from the left were drawing eyes and confusion.
A walking form of darkness in the shape of a child, with eyes that somehow were still pure darkness, was watching all with curiosity. Once the panic calmed—seeing it wasn't attacking but walking to the center... no, walking near me—it caused me to panic and freeze up.
It stopped, glancing at all, and stared directly at me. A certainty in its eyes—it knew I was the one it sought—and spoke clearly with a childlike voice.
"A choice was given and a choice is brought: drink of the dark or join the rot."
The child held up his hand and, like a gentle waterfall, darkness flowed from his hand in a slow stream.
"All may drink, but all are only given one chance. Choose." The child said it calmly to the room, but only watched him, and he knew.
They came to him first. They gave him what? Four? No... seven days to convince them. Whatever happened after this was on them...
The devil you know versus the one you don't... A simple motto that let him work with really bad people and live. This was just a new devil, but he didn't know them... which made it worse.
The hand never wavered. The darkness never stopped. He wasn't sure how long the child would wait and feared it getting bored before he chose.
So he swallowed what little doubt and pride he had left and drank. The darkness went deep within him and he feared poison, mind control, burning, rot, anything—not a calm certainty that he was safe and loved?
Absurd...
When he finally was able to focus, he saw Elizabeth not hesitating, drinking next, and a line forming with others willing to do the same. The child never moved, just watching him...
Before, he saw an unknown madness in darkness form. Yet now? He felt kin, hope, home... He could almost feel the child's thoughts whispering: You will be safe... Was this the subtle shift of consuming my mind with a calm peace?
A clever poison, if true. Everyone fears the painful death, but dies with a smile when it's done—worth a kindness. Especially one they never really knew.
He watched as those supporters of—and even Mr. Tanner—backed away. A few even threw up, watching them willingly drink what could be poison.
Now that he had this calm and knew the truth, he felt he could genuinely offer a final warning that he knew was true. So he spoke calmly to those watching in fear or disdain.
"This will be no chance after this. You're free to choose."
The fear and disgust spoke louder than any of the open mocking that came before. And after the ones on our side drank, the child of darkness—who never stopped watching me—spoke one last time.
"Those here made their choice and will be offered no other. But before nightfall, you are free to offer others one last chance, for the coming of the light will be their last day."
The darkness that pooled on the ground from the endless flow now turned into a bottle, surprising them, as the child spoke:
"Offer this to those you wish to save, but be warned: we have eyes. Those that scorn us will taste only poison. The rest, it is a gift."
And with those words, it ran away like an excited kid rushing away to go play.
"WE WON!" Mr. Tanner's words confused me as I listened. "THE DEVIL CAME TO TEMPT US AND WE DID NOT DRINK ITS LIES. AND LOOK... WE LIVE."
"THE GODDESS IS WITH US!" A series of applause and cheers went up from his side, and all I felt was a certainty their death was assured...
"Elizabeth," I whispered, but it was loud enough she heard, even among the cheers for Mr. Tanner and jeers for them.
"Yes, Rick?"
"Tell the others, as the child said: for those that do not drink, there will be no tomorrow to try again."
"Thank you, Rick."
He did not know why she was thanking him. Even if they lived, there was no promise what this new world will be they're going into... The devil you know...
Phase ?, Day Seven
The king sat sober—rare these days since the messenger angel's last meeting. Yet the king could not touch a drop since the fire in the slums and the removal of all the thieves everywhere. No, insomnia and paranoia consumed him instead.
He knew something was beyond him, and when his spy came back with word of what happened and to wait for them to come to him, he knew it was bad...
The spy did not wish to be idle, and he needed to know too. Watching should be allowed—they just told him to wait, not that he could not observe. And he was a king, after all. It was his right to watch his kingdom.
Well, even if he was wrong, he was tired of always fearing death. If this was all it took for them to want to slip a dagger in his side, so be it. He already had enough to fear from the goddess—what was a little more?
Or so he thought.
The days since then seemed fine at first. The church was gaining power—who cares? The slums were under their thumb—old news as far as he was aware—and nothing was happening in the middle or upper class.
Till the revolt...
Then it kind of became a blur. He kept his knights close to the walls, but the revolt never came for him. Yes, there was killing and bad things here and there, but honestly? To him, it looked like a controlled burn to avoid a brush fire, so he wasn't sure how to take this.
That was before the fog of darkness started spreading and talk of children of darkness running in the night, people throwing up puddles of darkness, DRINKING the darkness—it was absurdity, really. He wanted to see for himself. It all sounded like horseshit and was being openly mocked.
But seeing the fear and sweat pour from his master spy's face—when before all he felt was contempt—was sobering. None of his spies came up missing, but all refused to enter the fog, and it spread more each day until now it was past the upper class, surrounding even his walls.
He debated surrounding himself with guards—a final desperate strike to defend their king—and wanted to laugh. Yeah... What can mortals do against a power that can consume a whole city in days? And if the goddess did nothing to stop it? What use was she as a god?
He stayed at his empty cup, debating: if this was truly the end of ends, why not go out with a drink?
An unknown hand poured it to full and handed it to him, shocking him. He was alone in the palace, door shut, guards out front...
Yet a man—looking like a knight? He wasn't sure. The man had a cold certainty that anything he did was all that mattered, and was smiling at him, handing him the cup. "Drink, my lord. Today is a day to celebrate." He began, inclining his head just enough to be proper. "I come not as a subject, but a man with an offer."
Dumbfounded, the king could not help but take the drink and wonder how he appeared here as the man went on. "You watched us. You know what we've done. All that's left is for you to choose. We already offered everyone else in your castle the same."
The man looked to the door with a frown. "Only a few took my offer. It seems they had more blind faith in a goddess than what I offered." And looked back at me.
"So you're not going to kill me?" the king asked casually, having no reason to doubt his words. He dealt with messengers for gods—he was used to supernatural things.
The man tilted his head slightly, as if in thought. "I have no desire to kill anyone. It was always an end to a means."
"AHA!" The king barked a laugh, making the man frown, but the king waved his hand, trying to calm him. "Sorry, it amused me is all. Those in power always speak humbly, but the choice is always the same: my way or death."
The man judged his words carefully before speaking. "A fair point, I concede." Then his gaze grew cold, chilling the king as he knew he might have pushed his luck too far. "But a choice will be had."
"W-what is the choice?" The king tried to remain calm, but now knowing death was here, his apathy cleared up and he very much wanted to live.
"Enjoy the drink in your hand and it ends here—you will be no more." A flick of his wrist and a goblet of overflowing darkness appeared.
"Or drink from this and join us. You will keep your throne, your title, your life. We have no interest in ruling kings and queens—only in offering a choice."
The king lost his mirth but knew this was something supernatural. What surprised him was he was being allowed to rule, even as a figurehead. Setting down his goblet and taking the one of darkness, he did not trust it, but really, what choice did he have?
Drinking deeply, for the first time he felt a calm enter him and a certainty that all would be well. He never felt that with the goddess—always fear, always expecting death. He felt now he had a choice.
True, it was a choice by coercion, but still a choice. As a king, he'd done that countless times with indifference, so it happening to him felt like fair game.
The palace room filled with a fog, then seemed to fade into the background—as if not really there—but he knew it was. The air was sweeter? Fresh. He did not even know he was suffocating before. How? Suffocating? Why? The light?
"Would you allow me to stay and advise you?" the man spoke, surprising him. He was still here—he thought he would fade with the coming of shadows.
"Why do you ask?" The king's voice carried a bitter edge. "Choice? You've turned my entire city. What choice is there left to give?"
The man shook his head. "We did not attack unprovoked. The end goal was always to seek to advise you, but I was slow. When they targeted our people in the slums, when the church and dealings with thieves forced our hand—we hoped to avoid this scale of... persuasion. But we had to ensure everyone understood the new reality. Still, even now—choice remains."
Really, the king thought, turning an entire city to darkness was just avoiding 'persuasion'? Well... maybe for whoever this was, it was.
"Abaddon does not wish to control like the goddess, but allow choice. He did not want a city divided, so gave all a choice." The man paused for a second, thinking. "The goddess demands worship through fear. We offer partnership through understanding. True, the alternative was death, but a choice was given. Now that you've chosen life, how you live it remains yours to decide."
The man's gaze grew steady as he watched the king. "The goddess would have you kneel and obey without question—you know this. Yet we ask: would you allow me to stay and advise you? Not command. Not control. Advise. Abaddon rules all without question, but still needs people to run the kingdoms he will build and control."
The man's gaze was calm as he watched the king. "If you were a better king, this could have been avoided and we would have remained unseen. I say that not to slander, but as a truth."
His cheeks burned with shame, surprising him. He thought for sure he would lose his free will and control, but this man was talking to him normally. Like an equal. Before, that would have been an insult, but now he knew it was this man giving him the most respect...
"May I have your name?"
"Tom."
The king wanted to laugh. Such a simple name for a man who brought a god of death—it felt... unfitting. "Marcus is my name, Tom. It would be a pleasure to work with someone with competence."
He looked away to his glass, wondering if he could still enjoy its taste after the goblet of darkness. To his surprise, it tasted even better, making him smile as he continued to speak. "I was a fool, blinded by fear of the light. It seems I will do well among the dark. I welcome your insight, Tom."
Tom smiled and stood beside him at his throne. He would need to get him a chair, and he needed more people. It was nice talking for a change versus just ordering. Why was he always alone here? Aha, a king... A petty title. This was the start of a new nation, maybe an empire? It would be interesting to see where it went from here. He never knew how much he needed change.
A shadow flowed from the side—he sensed more than saw—and he knew it was his master spy, kneeling to them both before speaking. "It is good to see you chose well, my lord. I was not looking forward to another."
The king laughed at that. "Sure you could not wait to be rid of me, but I fear you will have to wait longer for that."
The spymaster was surprised at the king's mirth. He assumed he would be taking this the worst of all, but it seemed it freed him from a burden he did not want to bear. "I just wanted to report: all is well. Nowhere in the city does our reach not reach, and any... others have met their fates."
Tom nodded. "The matter now is reforming trade, which will need to be handled more carefully, and spread the word of the true power that will offer a choice unless provoked."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZhywWd2rK
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