Darkness Rising by Kevin Strachan

Author:Kevin Strachan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Lauren had gone to bed, and Ernie was once again sitting in his beanbag. He had his knees tucked up to his body and had his arms folded on the top of them so he could rest his chin on his elbows. He looked around at the familiar darkness of the room until he settled upon a framed photograph of Lauren and her family.

"Are you imaginary?" he wondered aloud, "or a ghost or..."

I WONDERED WHEN YOU WOULD ASK ME THIS, the Darkness said, it's low rumble softer than usual.

Ernie didn't even flinch at the sudden interjection,

"Lauren thinks I've invented you," he said, "that you're some kind of psychological substitute for my dad."

The Darkness said nothing

"I know that you're real though," he said unhappily.

I AM REAL.

"Humph," Ernie said irritably.

I AM AS REAL AS YOU OR ANYONE ELSE, The Darkness said.

"So why didn't you talk to Lauren?" Ernie asked.

I DIDN'T THINK IT APPROPRIATE,

"You didn't think it appropriate?" Ernie repeated, "You made me look like a fool in front of my best friend,"

YOU DID NOT CONSULT WITH ME, The Darkness said, IF YOU HAD, I WOULD HAVE WARNED YOU AGAINST THE COURSE OF ACTION THAT YOU TOOK,

"Why?" Ernie asked,

NOT EVERYONE CAN ACCEPT WHAT THEY HEAR,

"You don't know that," Ernie said angrily," You didn't give her a chance!"

I DIDN'T HAVE TO, it said, I HAVE WATCHED HER AND SHE IS NOT READY,

"You've been spying on her?" Ernie asked,

I DO NOT SPY, the Darkness said defensively, I OBSERVE. YOU KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE.

Ernie sighed,

"Yeah, yeah," he said dismissively.

"She thinks I'm mad," Ernie said,

SHE IS CONCERNED FOR YOU, The Darkness said, I SENSE NOTHING OTHER THAN COMPASSION FROM HER

"I was wondering," Ernie said, "It is a coincidence, you coming to me like this. Talking to me..."

The Darkness said nothing,

"It strikes me that perhaps there's a chance that you might be..."

Ernie hesitated, afraid of the question, but more afraid of the answer,

"Are you my father?" he whispered.

The Darkness did not speak, but Ernie felt it sigh in his chest and head. His hope leapt up inside him,

"You are, aren't you?" he asked excitedly, "You're my father, that's why you're trying to help me?"

Tears were suddenly running down Ernie's cheeks. Still, the Darkness did not answer.

"I've...I've missed you so much Dad," Ernie said, The Darkness remained silent, allowing Ernie the space to talk,

"Why did you go? Why did you leave us alone?" Ernie asked he was sobbing now," You should have stayed. You could have stayed..."

Ernie's head slumped forward onto his folded arms, and he cried into the soft material of his jumper. After a few minutes, he raised his head again. He wiped his eyes on his sleeves and then sniffed loudly.

"You're not my father, are you?" he whispered into the gloom,

I'M SORRY, The Darkness said.

Ernie nodded, "I knew it," he said, "you know, deep down,"

He tapped his chest, "I can feel you here," he said, "but it's not the same feeling as my Dad."

I REALLY AM SORRY, the Darkness said, gently.

"It's okay," Ernie said unhappily, "I knew really, I just.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.