l i g h t in the darkness }} delta's dp

It's only a matter of seconds before blood stains the swamp floor. Knives fly, axes swing, and my eyes finally focus on our attackers faces. I recognize them, not by name, but I know them. How do you forget the faces of the people you're meant to kill? They're almost all younger than me, weapons tossed into the hands of children. My eyes flash to each of their weapons and then back down to the knife in my hand with the dried blood of yesterday still on the handle. That's when I realize just how ridiculous this is. I open my mouth to speak, maybe ask for peace, I'm not sure, but before I have any type of chance my mouth fills with the tang of my own blood. My hand finds its way to my cheek and in moments it's covered in blood. I lift my arm to retaliate, but not a second later another flash of pain hits me. The gentle fabric of my shirt tears, and blood begins to stain what's left of it.

That's when I begin to hear the gentle sounds of Death knocking at my door.

I quickly block them out, not letting them take me just yet. I promised myself that I would keep pushing, that I wouldn't go down without a fight. So even though it hurts, and all I want to do is lay down, I somehow manage to keep myself upright. There's a slight opening , and I don't hesitate any longer to make my move. I lash out with my dagger and try to force myself to smile. I can't see myself, but I'm sure it's way to distorted and filled with pain to be recognizable. I go to wipe off the boy's blood on my shirt, but that's when I realize it's no use. It's already drenched from my own, and the severity of my injuries begin to hit me. My head starts to feel light and the world around me begins to spin uncontrollably. My eyes shut tightly, trying to bring everything back into perspective. I finally open them again, letting hell come back into view. But it's only a brief moment before I feel my feet give way underneath me. The world crashing down around me.

And everything turns black once more.

Darkness surrounds me and I sit in a pool of my own blood and dirt. A light shines from above me, showing me there's a way out. I shakily get to my feet, my knees buckling beneath me, and my hands grope the muddy wall, searching for anything that will help me out, help me back into the path of death. Not even a minute passes and I see a hand reaching down, and I don't even have to look to know that it's Ezero. I grab on, and feel my feet lift from the ground. My eyes flutter briefly as the bright light of the swamp hits me. His lips move, and I know he's talking to me, but the ringing in my ears is too strong to hear anything. The anger is written across his face, and I realize that I don't have to hear him to know what he's asking. My eyes quickly flash to the red head standing behind him, and in seconds his knife is spiraling towards her. I turn and face our attackers, eyes narrowing. They make their towards me, and I can see their mouths moving.

Talking to me like an old friend, walking me with their words into death.

A flash of pain hits me and the bones in my jaw shatter like glass. My breath catches and I can feel the last strand of my life, just waiting to snap. My eyes flash over to my allies filling up with tears, but I refuse to let them spill over. Waves of pain continue to crash over me, making me dizzy. My legs sway beneath me, and it takes my last ounce of strength to keep myself from collapsing. I silently plead with them, asking for them to put an end to my pain. "Please," the word comes from deep in my throat, barely more than a whisper. There's no more time for any other words, it's too late. A knife flies towards me, flames beautifully following it through the air. My muscles tense, but they refuse to move. I prepare myself, feet planted into the ground, for what I know will be my last breaths. The blade slices through my hand, and I watch with wide eyes, as the flames catch on my skin. They slowly track their way up my arm, tickling softly. I know that it's supposed to hurt, but I can't feel any more pain. Maybe I've become numb. Maybe I'm already dead. Ezero rushes towards me, trying to put out the flames. I open my mouth to try and say something, to tell him to stop. Because I cannot be extinguished.

Because I will not fade.

A dance of yellow and orange replaces my vision, and the sound of the roaring flames fills my ears. I try to cry out, but I can't hear any sound. My screams are lost as the fire finally consumes my body. All I can see are the flames as they bounce back and forth. At first it's just an array of red, yellow, and orange. A pointless mixture really. But then, figures start to form, and I squint my eyes, trying to make them out more clearly. It doesn't take long for me to realize that it's my family. First my mother, walking with me as a small child, hand in hand. Then Sigma, sitting braiding my hair and laughing. My other siblings appear, reminding me of all the memories. Reminding me of a simpler time. And finally it's my father, standing there with an out stretched hand, beckoning for me to come with him. He's different though. His eyes aren't full of anger and he doesn't seem like he wants to yell. Instead, he stands there, looking down at me, sympathy in his eyes and a sad, soft smile placed upon his lips. He takes a step forward, reaching out towards me.

And for once I'm not afraid to grab his hand.

table inspired by rook
rave owns my soul for this