Light

So this is just a sketch. I think the idea is cool but I'm not sure if I'm completely satisfied with the results just yet. Please tell me what you think so I can know where I should fix it or how I can make it better. Thanks!

She held a light.

It was small, barely noticeable. But it glowed around her, illuminating the small patch of concrete she stood on. There wasn't much around, except the concrete and the light. She pulled the light closer to her chest, hoping that it wouldn't go out, because it flickered and dimmed but would then brighten. If the light went out, there would be nothing but the darkness. Nothing but the shadows.

But for now, she stood there in the light, with the fringes of the abyss reaching toward her, but still held at bay. She liked it that way. She could see the abyss, she could see the darkness, but it couldn't touch her. She was safe.

But for how long?

The light flickered again, sending little rays to push at the dark but then returning as it pulled back. It wasn't a normal kind of darkness. It didn't seem content to stay at the edges, it wanted to reach out and touch her. Reach out and pull her in. She wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. What would she do if it reached her? What would she do if it didn't stop until there was nothing but the black night?

She wasn't sure if she was content to simply sit there in the darkness, with nothing but the light to keep her safe. What if just this little light wasn't enough and the shadows and darkness grabbed her? She needed to move, move forward, sideways, or backwards, it didn't matter. She just needed to get away from her small slab of concrete. She needed to find her way out of the dark and into the light. Because there had to be light. She didn't know why, but she knew that there couldn't always just be dark everywhere. Somewhere, some place, there was light, and she needed to find it. It was very important.

Very. . . important. . . She took a step. The ground quivered a little bit, and the light flickered threateningly. She shivered, but didn't stop. She needed to keep moving. If she didn't move, then nothing would happen. And that was bad. Wasn't it? Her mouth felt funny, like something was different about it. It felt strange. She swallowed to make it go away, but the feeling remained. Her steps were coming faster now, and she had to keep herself from bolting forward. She needed to be careful. She didn't want to trip.

Wait. . . what was a trip? But she knew. . . she knew that tripping was when you fell. She couldn't fall. It was vital, if she fell, her light might go out. She pulled her light closer again, her heart beating frantically. The light must not go out. It must never be allowed to go out.

The sounds of her steps echoed against the blackness. Instead of swallowing it up, it seemed to bounce back at her, each step a soft thud. The girl took a deep breath, feeling something surge in her chest. It felt a little like the light, or a balloon, but inside her. She blew it out and whistled, the tune simple but sweet. It was easy to keep track of, easy to walk to, and the sound bounced off the darkness and wrapped around her. Like a blanket. She whistled louder. Her light grew brighter and the night seemed to push back a little, freeing her even more. The concrete wasn't so plain now. There were little specs of color in it, like glitter. The girl rubbed her foot along the floor, feeling the roughness, the texture. It was then that she realized that she was barefoot, the ground rough against her feet. It felt nice, and she wiggled her toes as she walked, revealing in the feeling of the ground beneath them.

The light was very bright then. It shined around her like a halo, brightening her step and sending her music floating through the air. She twisted, letting herself dance. Her feet played across the ground, sending her through the steps gracefully. She was alone, but she was free. She was beautiful. There was a silver dress that draped her frame, and it swung out as she spun. The material was soft, glistening in the brilliant light around her. She laughed, the sound breaking the darkness apart. Bits of it cracked, and the light sped into them, illuminating the area all around. There was still blackness, but the light was large, so that the girl could see a great many things around her.

The ground was no longer just concrete, but tiles, smooth and brilliant. There were cracks in it, large and jagged pieces torn up from the ground and leaving large chasms gaping in the earth. The girl paused, surprised at the ugliness the light illuminated. Her light grew smaller, the sights disappearing before her, until the light was just a small circle around her once more.

The darkness hid the torn up ground, but now she was afraid. She stopped, and stood there for a moment, clutching the light to her chest. She was afraid that it would go out, but she was also afraid of what it might show.

But then she saw the other lights. Dim, and far away, but she could see them. They were yellow, or white, far away and in the distance, but they were definitely there. Were there people in those lights? Were there others like her? She took another step forward, but was afraid to keep going. What would she find? Or would she fall into the gaping chasms around her? But. . . how could she keep going if she couldn't see?

She had to see.

“Melanie!” The voice echoed along the darkness, but the girl recognized it. “Melanie!” it was a name. It was her name. Melanie felt the light grow brighter, and she was aware of the tile beneath her feet and the dress hanging on her shoulders. It felt nice, and carefully, she pressed her lips together and sent out the little tune. An answering whistle drifted back through the darkness. She smiled, and with one bounce of her heels, ran toward the sound.

Melanie's light grew brighter, the glow illuminating her steps once again as she danced, but now more lights were alongside hers. They didn't touch, but she could see them. Other people, men and women, all dancing with their lights glowing around them. Many of them laughed, all were smiling, and all looked at her with a bright joy in their eyes. Their eyes! They were green, gold, brown, black, blue, and every shade between. One of the girls ran to her and threw her arms around her, “Melanie,” she said, holding her shoulders and pulling back. She wore a golden dress, with the same design as the girl. Her name was. . .

“Jill,” The girl whispered. Jill smiled and took her hand. Their lights both grew brighter, illuminating four times as much as when they stood alone. The others turned toward them and hesitated, but Melanie gestured for them to come forward. One boy took a breath and called out the whistle, and Melanie and Jill answered. The boy came forward. He wore a plain white t-shirt and tan pants. He approached them cautiously, since they were standing still. Melanie held out her hand, and he took it. They both grinned widely as the light broke forward, and though it illuminated broken landscape and wrecked grounds, the light was beautiful. Like crystal or gems. The boy was named Michael.

“Michael,” Melanie whispered. He nodded, then turned his gaze out to the people still in the dark. Their lights were strong, but when they stood together it was stronger.

“Jacob,” Michael said, holding out his hand. Another boy stepped forward, hesitantly, but with determination. Jill held out her hand as well. He came forward and grasped it. Michael clapped his free hand and clapped him on the shoulder. There were tears in his eyes, but the light grew so bright that they glittered like precious stones upon his face. The others were out there still. But they came. One at a time. And they clasped the free hands of the people who had joined the circle. They clasped the hands until everyone was together, all connected in a great line. Their light was so bright that there was no spec of darkness in the entire area. It was all filled with light.

And the sight was beautifully terrifying.

There were people. Lying down in the once darkness. Their faces cracked, their eyes shut, their limbs splayed apart on the floor. All of them lay on the ground, all of them had tracks of tears rolling down their cheeks. There were men and women, with different clothing and hairstyles, with different skin colors and facial features. They were all so different, and yet all the same. Because all looked so very alone.

Melanie pulled her hands free of Jill and Michael. They stared at her, reaching out to grab hold of her again, but she pushed them gently away. It was hard to pull away from the crowd and approach the still bodies on the floor. Part of her wanted to flee back to the safety of the others, but she pushed herself onward. If she had been on the ground, she would hope that someone would come to her. She knelt by the person closest to their group. She knew him. His name was Richard. She pulled him gently toward her. Pulling him into her lap. “Richard?” she whispered, brushing back his hair, “Richard?” his eyes fluttered and new tears began to fall. As the brilliant green eyes opened he only stared at her, then shook his head, mouthing a silent denial.

“It's okay,” Melanie said. And the world shattered. The words weren't just a name. They were a confirmation. Something new, something different. “It's okay.” Melanie said again. The world wasn't being destroyed. The shatter cracked open the light, bringing forth something. . . more. The other bodies began to stir, a little light resting gently upon their chest. Melanie helped Richard to his feet, and the others began to help the waking ones.

As more of them were helped to their feet, the light began to overcome everything. There was no darkness now, no shadows or hidden areas. It was beautiful and it was frightening. Though many were stirring, the bodies stretched into the distance, lying on their backs or their bellies, as still as death, and the landscape was still broken and terrifying. But the light showed it all. Melanie straightened her back and took a step forward, the others following behind her. The way was rough, many had fallen, but they were here now.

And their lights had yet to go out.