9

Walking through the shadows was wonderous in a distantly horrifying way. There were no reflections or defuse light and despite the dark, the only shadow was the one she cast on Mensha. The shifting wall of darkness ate their footsteps and crafted a dismal silence only made bearable by the indecipherable ambiance of the city above – leaving her regretfully thankful for the occasional screams.

She shuddered to imagine what would’ve happened if they hadn’t been tied together – all it would take is a few steps to be lost.

Yet despite the fear – and encouraged by Mensha’s instance to smell the proverbial roses, she could admit it was beautiful.

Like she was walking amid a dark night sky. The world silent around her, wrapped in a bundle of warmth and light as the shadows drifted by. Their twin breaths and slow steps the playing a familiar rhythm in this alien small bubble.

The occasional abandoned car or lightless building emerged from the dark like the ruins of a lost civilization. Though as they passed by a faintly humming car engine – its driver nailed through by a pillar and encased in its own bubble of light, she felt the analogy might be too apt.

A sense of loss pervaded the dark world adding melancholy to what otherwise could have been a wondrous experience. She supposed there was a kind of romance there if she looked. She let the beautiful fantasy distract her from how lost they were, and how every bright light shining through the void was tied to a life ended – at least they were the only bodies they’d found.

“Do you think were the only ones left,” Mensha whispered his tone matching the melancholic void.

“No.” her voice was sad too, but all her conviction backed it.

“How can you be so sure?” his sad eyes turned to her.

“You didn’t give up on me when we were chased, I didn’t give up on you. Even if the world went to shit.” She didn’t need to gesture. “I know there are people out there still struggling, people who we can help.”

They fell silent, he stared vacantly before taking a breath and standing straight, “Thanks, I’m just worried about my brother,”

She was stung by the thought of her own friends and was relieved she didn’t have a family to worry about. “If they’re out there, we’ll find them,” she said for them both.

They continued through their sad wonderland.

The illusion was broken as a black blob lunged from the dark.

Flaring she took a step back and raised her bat to strike it down, but it was already too close. It wrapped around her waist and squeezed.

She looked down and froze a small head nestled into her stomach, she glanced at Mensha raising his knife.

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“Stop!” Stab half complete he did and stared at her with utter confusion. “It’s a kid?” She said mostly to herself and stared back at the silhouette wrapped around her.

It was difficult to tell, like trying to pick apart one clump of fog in a cloud, but with their shaking body pressed so tightly to hers she could. Hesitantly she lowered her hand to the head of the child she only now realized was crying. Silent despite their shoulders clearly heaving.

She let their weight pull her to the floor as she tried her best to reassure the crying shadow. They were cold yet soft like any person, and she could feel their hair curl in her hands and their little fingers press into her skin.

She looked up, her partner looked as confused as she felt and still held the knife in hand and seemed stuck between menacing the child and putting it away.

Eventually, as the little shade warmed its way onto her lap he decided to keep it in hand while swapping glances between the shadow in their midst and the ones surrounding them.

I hit her then, “Fuck where surrounded,” She muttered quietly.

“Yes, maybe?” Mensha replied in a tone full of all the peace she knew they didn’t have. He glanced back at the dark child – their soundless weeping slowing. “Be careful with that it might be dangerous.”

“Really,” she glared at him.

“The last thing we met tricked us, why couldn’t this,” he gestured “be as well?”

She looked at the silhouette in her arms, their cold body relaxed save for the occasional hic. They didn’t feel dangerous, she dearly hoped they weren’t. “I will,” she managed though she didn’t stop her slow reassurance.

Mensha sighed and walked to her side, no doubt standing beside the seated pair with a face full of reluctance. Or would it be disappointment?

She kept her head lowered as her thoughts swirled and the shadow calmed in her arms. The glow of her skin disappeared into them.

The child wriggled and she let them free, they stood invisible against the darkness that surrounded them, though she knew they weren’t a step away.

Their cool hands wrapped around hers as she stood, and they shook her hand as strongly as they could. She felt like they said something, yet it was hard to tell if they had a mouth let alone opened it. It was only her high angle that allowed her to see them depart melting into the darkness.

A few dark stains on her clothes and an awkward silence the only indications they’d ever arrived.

After staring into the dark for a time, she turned to Mensha expecting a stern look or the beginning of an argument. Instead, he pensively stared into the void.

He turned and met her gaze. “We should be more careful the next one might not be so benign.”

“Aren’t you upset?” she instantly regrated asking.

“About what,” her confused look then returned to his surveillance.

“I took a needless risk,” she took a breath, “especially after the last one ended so” her voice hitched, “so poorly.”

His attention snapped back to her, ”This isn’t the best place but it seems important,”

She stewed in the pause that followed. She was trying her best like she always did, but now as it had so often in the past it made things worse. She didn’t want to give up on doing the right thing, but, her mind flashed the many bodies and her loves face when she’d thought she lost him.

“How long have we been together,”

“five,” she answered annoyed by the non-sequitur.

If he noticed he didn’t let it slow him, “and after five years and a proposal you don’t think I know the kind of person you are.”

“and what kind is that,” she asked frustrated but now largely at herself.

“the kind that helps people.” Her frustration died, ”and the kind that does stupid things to help people they don’t know,” she didn’t know how to feel about that. “So while this” the emphasis wasn’t needed. “Is not what is signed up for, it’s not unexpected.”

The ring was suddenly much heavier..

“But while I won’t tell you toughen up or any such nonsense. Do keep in mind I’d like to live to see my wedding,” he said in his usual dry tone – she tried to hide how easily it made her worries wash away.

“I’ll make sure,” she meant it.