The Dark Before The Light

Groggily, she woke, realizing she'd tumbled off the bed. She stood, scratching her neck, and padded out of the room towards Tosic's, where they kept the collected rainwater. She reached for her green plastic cup, nestled beside Henry's black one. A small scoop of water, cool and refreshing, quenched her thirst. Returning her cup to the table, she turned it upside down and left the room. As she walked back towards her shared space, a faint whisper drifted through the stillness.

"Poppy..."

'Hm? Jia?' Poppy rubbed her eyes, a sleepy haze still clinging to her. She moved slowly, instinctively drawn towards the sound, and whispered back, "Jia?"

"...Yes?"

'It is Jia!' A small smile touched Poppy's lips. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

"...I couldn't," Jia's voice was barely a breath, "because I'm... hungry."

"I can't give you food, though," Poppy whispered back, her voice tinged with regret. "We don't have enough."

"I'll eat anything," Jia's voice was a hesitant, almost fragile whisper. "I don't mind how little. Please... let me in."

'But Henry would be mad, and Dad would be even madder!' Poppy thought, shifting her weight from foot to foot. 'What if I just give her a tiny piece without letting her inside? That's still good, right?'

"Wait, I'll grab something quick," Poppy whispered, tiptoeing towards Tosic's room, her movements precise to avoid a single creak. Inside, she moved to a covered pot, lifting the lid with utmost care to retrieve a single piece of dried meat. She straightened, then padded back to the door. Stretching her free hand, she silently flicked the lock open, creating a narrow gap. "Here."

Poppy waited for Jia to take the offering, but instead, Jia's hand shot out, seizing Poppy's wrist. Jia pulled Poppy's face close to the open crack. "That won't satisfy me... Please don't hate me. I like you a lot, and I don't want... to lose you. But I'll keep our memories safe and live for you."

"Live for me?" Poppy tilted her head, confusion clouding her features. "I don't understand, and you're hurting me." A sharp pain radiated from Jia's grip.

"I will become you. I'll take care of your dad and Henry. I want to grow up, but I can't unless I eat and change every once in a while... so please understand..." Jia's voice cracked, tears streaming down her face as she violently pushed the door open. Poppy instantly struggled to push it back, the fear of the wood crushing her arm etched onto her face.

"Let go of me, this isn't funny!" Poppy cried, tears stinging her eyes as she desperately tried to free her hand from Jia's vice-like grip. The dried meat, long forgotten, tumbled to the floor. Jia strained to open the door with a terrifying strength that chilled Poppy to the bone. 'How is she so strong?'

Suddenly, Jia released Poppy's hand and, with a surge of power, shoved the door wide open, sending Poppy stumbling to the ground.

"I'm sorry, I truly liked you. If you were like me, we would've grown up together," Jia mumbled, panting as she looked down at Poppy. A grotesque second face stretched from her own, a chilling fusion of two visages with dual-colored hair. Jia slowly patted the nascent face. "She was my friend too, and you will be right here as well, forever."

With a sickening crack, Jia's face snapped back as Henry appeared, wielding a metal bat. He swung repeatedly at Jia's face. "I will send you to the abyss, you ugly shit," Henry snarled, putting more force into the final blow. Jia crumpled to the ground, a mixture of blood and a green substance splattering across the floor. Poppy's tail fur bristling, immediately scrambled behind Henry, fear gripping her.

"Poppy..." Jia sobbed, reaching a hand out towards Poppy.

"Don't... don't call my name, you monster." Poppy, peeking from behind Henry's shoulder, watched in horror as Jia's eyes widened before her hand slowly dropped to the floor. Henry stepped closer, raising the bat. He delivered a harsh blow, instantly rendering her unconscious. He stared down in disgust before grabbing one of her legs and dragging her inside. He slammed the door shut and locked it. Henry then retrieved a rope and a black cloth. He returned and bound Jia's hands and legs, covering her face with the black cloth. He huffed, stepping away from Jia, and leaned against the wall.

"Henry... what is she? Why did—" Poppy began, but Henry cut her off.

"I told you not to open the damn door, but you didn't listen because you're still stuck in your stupid fantasies! Is it because Tosic has been making everything comfortable for us? Is that why you've forgotten the kind of world we live in? If I hadn't noticed you were gone, you would have died, and that thing would have eaten you, eaten me, and maybe Tosic as well because you are so stupid and you can't assimilate a simple instruction!" Henry yelled, his voice sharp with fury. "What do you think will happen next in this intense situation?"

Tears streamed down Poppy's cheeks as she clutched the hem of her top. "How was I supposed to know?! I thought she was my friend, I just wanted to help her."

"Then you should've asked me! Woken me up and asked if it was okay! I'm right here, I'm always here because I want you to rely on me whenever you're in trouble. Your grandma's dying wish was for you to be protected and safe, but how can I fulfil that promise when you can't even protect yourself." Henry's voice was harsh, but as he continued, it slowly softened. Poppy felt a lump in her throat and remained silent, her head bowed low, tears dripping onto the floor.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be a burden. Please don't be angry anymore," Poppy whispered, her lower lip trembling.

'Please, forgive me. I didn't mean it.'

Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around her, gently patting her hair.

"It's okay, don't cry," Henry said, his tone now relaxed. Poppy immediately hugged him back. "I didn't mean to yell, I'm sorry."

They held each other for a few minutes. Poppy slowly stopped crying, then pulled away from the hug, wiping her tears with her sleeve.

"What do we do about her?" she asked, glancing towards the unconscious Jia.

"We'll wait till morning and report to Kel. That's who Tosic said to find in case of anything suspicious," Henry said, tapping his chin. "Now that I think about it, did they all know?"

"Who?" Poppy tilted her head, confused. Henry glanced at her for a moment, then shook his head.

"Nothing. Go to bed. I'll keep an eye on her," he reassured her.

"Okay..." Poppy said, slowly walking towards the room. She turned to glance at the unconscious Jia before stepping inside and lying down on the bed. She remembered Henry's reaction when Jia first knocked and Acacia's reaction when Jia got injured. 'Does Senior and Henry know about Jia? Are they hiding something? Her mind raced with thoughts of Jia. I thought I had a friend, but Henry's right, the world isn't safe anymore. I don't want to burden anyone again.' Poppy slowly closed her eyes and drifted into an instant sleep.

Acacia's POV

Acacia's eyes locked onto Vincent, the axe in her grip swaying, a silent threat. But her stride faltered and then halted as Maximus staggered into view, his face contorted in a grimace of raw pain. With a sharp snap of her fingers, the ethereal butterflies and the axe vanished. She surged forward, just as Maximus's body buckled and crumpled to the floor. Shoving Vincent aside with a desperate cry, she dropped to her knees beside him.

"What's wrong?!" Acacia demanded, her gaze raking over him, searching for the source of his agony. Her breath hitched. A dark, spiderweb-like network of veins pulsed beneath his skin, spreading from the back of his neck, crawling over his shoulders, and gripping his jaw. 'Did he swallow my poison?'

His breathing grew ragged; each gasps a shallow struggle. Her mind raced, a chaotic storm, and her wings twitched uncontrollably, a frantic beat of anxiety.

'Please don't die.'

With a fierce urgency, Acacia rolled him onto his side. She lowered her head, pressing her mouth to the vulnerable skin of his neck. Her teeth sank in, a desperate bite, and she began to suck, drawing the poison from his flesh. She fought to focus, to concentrate solely on the insidious venom, to ignore the metallic tang of his blood mingling with the bitter poison. She pulled away, her eyes fixed on his pallid face, her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat of terror. She pressed her fingers against the bite mark, trying to force more of the darkness out, then leaned down again, sucking, emptying, until the acrid taste of the poison was gone, replaced by a desperate, hopeful emptiness.

She pulled away again, pressing her ear to his chest, desperate for a sound. Her heart instantly unclenched when she found it, a steady if slightly accelerated, beat. Pulling back, she studied his face. The agony was gone, replaced by a profound weakness. Acacia buried her face in her hands, fighting to regulate her own ragged breathing. 'Did I stab him somehow?' She desperately tried to recall the chaotic moments before.

Acacia's eyes flickered, images of Kel and the others flashing through her mind. 'I'll find out later.' Right now, we need to head back immediately. She stood up just as Maximus groaned, slowly pushing himself upright. "I'm sorry, I didn't..." Acacia's words caught in her throat as she met his gaze, but he simply looked up at her and offered a reassuring smile.

'Do not... look at me like that.' Acacia averted her gaze, gritting her teeth. Suddenly, Vincent's voice cut through the tension.

"I don't mean any harm, and I don't want anyone to get hurt, but please, we need to talk." Vincent raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

"Kill him, already!" Tosic's voice boomed, close by, his heavy breathing audible as he approached.

"I really mean no harm, please." Vincent looked from Tosic to Acacia, his gaze pleading.

"We'll talk on the way, we need to get back." Acacia noticed Maximus trying to stand and quickly helped him. "Are you alright? Can you walk?" Maximus grunted his approval, ruffling her hair and rubbing the back of his neck.

"You want to take him back?" Tosic questioned, disbelief in his voice.

"I know you want to kill him and believe me, I want to do the same, but I have questions. And you," Acacia glared at Vincent, who slowly lowered his hands, "will answer every single one."

"This is crazy," Tosic groaned. "Is that all the hostile ones?"

"No, one is still unconscious in the building," Vincent said.

"Get them and hurry," Acacia ordered, and Vincent rushed inside. Acacia followed him, calling out, "Behemoth!" Instantly, she felt something crawl up her back and settle on her neck, hissing softly.

She watched Vincent emerge from the building with the unconscious fake Celeste slung over his back. Acacia's gaze followed him, then she moved towards the bathroom and peered at Celeste's limp form on the floor. A slight churn twisted in her stomach. "I hope you find peace," she murmured, closing the door. Once outside, she walked over to Maximus, her eyes fixed on his neck, scrutinizing it for any lingering anomalies.

"Aren't you worried he'll just run away?" Tosic grumbled, his gaze fixed on Vincent's retreating back.

"Then I'll simply kill them both," Acacia replied, her voice flat, devoid of emotion. They pressed on, the rhythmic thud of their footsteps against the earth the only sound slicing through the night. Vincent, a reluctant guide, was deliberately kept a few paces ahead.

"I won't run away," Vincent offered, his voice surprisingly calm despite the circumstances. "And... are you a vessel?"

Acacia remained silent for a beat, her eyes scanning the unconscious figure slung over his shoulder before settling on the unseen path ahead. "I am. Are you working for Ciflith?"

"Do you know him?" Vincent countered, his pace unwavering.

"I have a rough idea. He's the architect of your... transformation, isn't he?" Acacia's words were a quiet probe.

"Yes. He granted our deepest desires, asking for nothing in return. It was a blessing, to finally think beyond primal urges. But now... now, understanding so much, it feels like a curse. Ignorance, simply following instinct like wild beasts, might have been a kinder fate. I felt no guilt then, only the pure, brutal drive to survive, to be predator or prey. Now? I don't even know what I am anymore. I feel like a lie, a delusion." Vincent's voice faded, with a distant, haunted quality to it. "Even when I try to help, the hunger for flesh whispers in the back of my mind. So, I focused on other creatures. It was enough, for a time. But once you've tasted the forbidden... it's a hell of a path to unlearn."

"You're disgusting," Tosic spat, his voice laced with irritation.

"You're confused. You're feeling things you shouldn't," Acacia countered, her gaze unwavering on Vincent. "You wouldn't normally feel guilty for eating. That's an emotion you've picked up from consuming so much, from mimicking people when you're only meant to mimic voices. It's ingrained in your instinct; you can only copy what you see. You don't actually feel the things you think you do. You don't care that your friends are dead."

"That's not true!" Vincent stopped dead, turning to face her, adjusting his grip on the unconscious figure slung over his shoulder.