Mona's Sacrifice (From my upcoming novel Secrets and Sins)

Darkness covered the earth, wrapping the demons and half-breed monsters in it's chilled embraced. In this time before time, only the mean survived. Compassion was a myth no one dared believed in.

Sazu understood this way of life. He had lived it for hundreds of years. Any creature that tried to face him was ripped apart, torn limb from limb. He bathed in their blood as he chewed on their flesh. Even Mona, the mother of all the half-breeds, did not get in his way.

Perched on a rock, he stares into the endless night sky. It comfort him because he knew no matter how much his world changed the dark sky never would.

In the distance, the sky lightened to a soft blue. He felt fear for the first time as it approached him, swallowing the beautiful black sky. The world itself seemed to lighten as well. The rock he sat on was no longer was black but was now gray. Panicking, he stood.

He didn't know what was happening as a strange, acidly smell filled his nostrils. He didn't understanding that the world was completely changing right before his eyes.

A giant orb of light rose from the ground, in the far distance. His eyes stung as his skin burned. Staring at the smoke rising from his skin, he wasn't sure what to do. It was the light shining on his flesh that was causing him pain.

Anger filled him as he watched his skin bubble. He snapped out with his teeth to bite the light on his arms. He tasted his own blood before pulling back. He couldn't hurt it. Howling his pain and frustration, he ran for cover.

His eyes narrowed on the cave in the distance. It wasn't too far for him to run. Dropping to all fours, he ran as fast as he could and made it to safety. The sweat rolled into his eyes as he batted at the flames on his body.

He crouched in the dark cave as he waited with the other demons and monsters. Waited for the dark to come or the world to end.

The heat the light brought with it chased them further into the cave. Huddled together, they didn't know what to do. Comfort wasn't in them to give.

Finally, the cave darkened as the air-cooled. Could it be? Did the light die on it's own? Sazu, being the strongest in his mind, had to do something. Swaying from side to side he walked out of the cave. He was ready to duck back into the cave at a moment's notice. The light was gone.

His fangs hung over his bottom lip as his smile spread across his face. The night was back. Roaring the news to the others, he raced out into the world. The dusty plains were a beautiful sight to him. Hearing a fellow demon nearby, he knew it was time to feed. With the light forgotten he slipped back into his old ways; feeding, fighting, and running.

The air was thick with the stench of rotten flesh. He knew there was a dead monster somewhere nearby, he only hoped there was still meat on it. He found a horde of demons huddled around it, picking its bones clean. Sazu had been too late. Disappointment flashed in his eyes.

The feasting stopped as the demons took notice of him. His claws extended as he braced himself for the fight. Fear glowed in their eyes as they stared passed him. Bewildered, he watched them run for the caves.

He felt the rising heat first and then noticed the world was getting lighter. The smell of his burning flesh filled his nostrils. He looked back. The orb had returned. Fear filled him as he made a run for the caves. He knew there were a number of caves in the hills that surrounded him. All he needed was one.

Once he was safe within a cave he knew they had problems, and by the confused looks on his brothers' faces he knew they were aware of the problem as well.

Mona called her children into her cave, which lay in the center of the earth. Her children were hurt and that meant she was hurt.

Sazu silently listened as they spoke of the orb of light. If only one of them could knock it from the sky and eat it, then all would be well But none could. Its rays of light protected it. While it was in the sky, their sky, none of them could leave the safety of the caves.

Mona, being the mother, had a plan. She would use the light to create her next child. It would have the ability to go into it, but would have the demon's hunger for destruction as well. With her ability to control her children she would guide it in the destruction of the light. The earth would be theirs again.

The demons and monsters watched in wonder as she opened the earth to set herself free. The light burned her, but being the oldest and the strongest she was used to the feeling of pain. Gathering the light with in her womb, she felt it merge with her eggs. She would have it's child. With the job done she went back into hiding until it was time for the birth.

Every night the demons roamed the earth, free to do as they willed. During the day they were forced to hide. Their hatred for the light grew more and more each day. Sazu had witnessed many try to take down the orb them selves, but they always bust into flames before they could even get close to it.

Mona's body baked a little more each day. The light within her stole her strength. Fluid wept from her open wounds. The demons and monsters silently mourned for her.

Her screams filled the air as the children from the light ripped open her belly. Twisting and turning, they got themselves free. The light ate away at Mona's remains as her youngest children walked free.

Unlike their brothers hiding in the caves, they liked the light. They enjoyed its warmth on their soft skin. They had even named the giant orb in the sky. They called it the sun.

The demons were angry at the youngest, convinced they had betrayed them. But they had betrayed nothing. They were true to the light that was in them. At night wars raged and blood was shed, but during the day all on earth was calm.

The young ones made their own homes and devised weapons. They were much smarter than the demons and monsters. After years of this deadly game of hide and seek it was obvious to the demons that the sun and the young ones were here to stay. Anger filled them as they decided to give them a name; man.

Numb

Jamie stood at the counter oblivious to her world. The customers came and went, never making a permitted impression on her. Large popcorn, small nacho; they all wanted the same.

In her mind dark thoughts painted with pain and longing kept her immune to anything anyone would say. She watched their mouths move, not caring for the words. Interesting is all she would think as she watched their lips push out and then pull back.

Weird. Her brows frowned. Do mine do that? She wanted to see, but she was already considered strange. Best for her not to do anything to make her co-workers think she was crazy.

Her body felt numb as she waited for the beat of her heart. It didn't come. I'm already dead, she mentally sighed, secure in the truth of the words. Standing in her spot she hid within herself, not wanting much but for the pain to end. The sky softened to velvet and she finally got to go.

But where, she wondered as she walked to her car. Keys in hand she honestly didn't know. Her stuff was scattered. She had no place to call home. Her men used her and her family smiled as they let her go.

I don't want to be here, she realized as the houses went by her window. It was all-fake. The world was fake. None of it mattered except for the life in the trees and the blood in the veins. But even that would pass. Her flesh felt cold.

She parked in her parents' driveway. Inside her mother slept, like always. She had given up on the world long ago, but not before it stole the strength she needed to finish the job. Jamie had the strength. She knew this world was bullshit. Filled with nothing more than lies and tears, and at nineteen she had seen more than her share of both.

She smiled at her cats as she walked to her room. She wanted to touch them, feel their soft fur one last time. But she wouldn't. Her fingers were numb like the rest of her. The thought of not being able to feel the few little beings that truly loved her was almost too much for her to take, so she decided not to think about it.

In her room, beneath her pillow, laid her savior. She had thought about this night for days, mentally preparing for the quick sting ahead. She didn't believe she would really do it. But after witnessing the mindless use of her body by others, and the neglect of her heart and mind she knew she couldn't stay in a world so cold. It was her choice, and she was making it.

One last shower and one last change, she was ready. The cold steel didn't penetrate the lonely cape she had wrapped around herself years ago. The red was beautiful against her creamy skin. A slight smile crossed her lips as she laid down to rest. Her soul was tired. The relaxing, forgiving music that was sleep filled her.

How much as she suffered at others' hands? How many fights had she gone through that wasn't her own? Too many; too much. This was her own. It was her choice and her doing. She left no note to explain. Why should she? No one had ever explained to her.

The beautiful music filling her soothed her mind as it healed her wounds. Yes, she had made the right choice. She was sure of it as she faded into the blackness filling her.

The blood soaking into her bed and sheets never bothered her as she mentally whispered her final goodbye to the world; the world that didn't care for the ones that lived in it. It couldn't, and if it couldn't then how could we?

Not Today

Janet stared into the unknown, wondering if she should go. No she would tell herself when the urge was too great. It may be dangerous. Someday she would care. Someday she would be brave and run out into the unknown to face the world she belongs to now. Someday; but not today.

Closing her window, she sat back on her bed and closed her eyes. She covered her ears. She became deaf and blind to all that was around her, and ignored the shame that filled her. This was her choice. Why should she be ashamed?

Feeling cold inside she wrapped herself in her blanket. This would warm her; heal her. It would make her feel strong again. This was all she could do to feel normal and right.

What had made her this way? She didn't remember. Had it been the lovers that had abandoned her after the harsh ways they used her body? Or was it the insults her family so easily threw at her in their drunken state? She really didn't know. But she did know that this was not the day she was willing to find out.

Ducking her head in the covers she closed herself off. Someday she would care. Someday she really would be brave and forgive, but that was not this day.