Lights End

1

It was all because of light. Alex lay on one side in his rickety wooden bed. His spindly elbow pressed into the thin mattress. It was dark enough outside that even the moon couldn’t cast a shadow in his attic room. Nonetheless, Alex’s pasty, white skin was as visible as the sun in its midday position. Now sixteen and three days, he had noticed some interesting changes happening to him—not the normal changes that take place in a boy of his age, but far more terrifying, yet interesting, ones.

No, I shouldn’t, but I want to so bad. Alex looked out his window and checked for patrols. Satisfied it was clear, he opened his palm and stared at it compellingly. Come on, come on, come on. Nothing happened. Again he looked at his hand, knowing that it would eventually happen again, just as it had the previous night. He did everything he could to make it happen: he thought of a torch; he thought of lanterns; and finally, he thought of the sun.

AGHH! he yelled when a huge ball of Light erupted from his hand and shot across the room to where he was looking. It was a mere foot in diameter, but it burned with the brightness of the sun. As it touched the rough wood-clad wall near his door, a long black scorch mark trailed behind it. Panicked, Alex waved his hand to get the Light to stop its destructive course. Much to his dismay, it moved in the same direction his hand did.

OH GODS, HELP ME! Helplessly, he watched the ball scorch and warp the wall. The distinct smell of burning wood filled the room.

Alex, what’s that ruckus you are making up there? his father shouted from the downstairs of their shack-like home.

Nothing. Bad dream! he replied in the calmest voice he could muster. Now in full panic mode, he watched the ball blacken the wall with its intense heat.

Go to bed and stop acting like a child. You’re a man of sixteen now!

Yes, sir! he replied, frantically waving his arms, but that only spread burn marks around the room. I’m so dead...

He backed up, clad only in his night shorts, and his foot struck his chamber pot, which caused his urine to splash violently into the air. The stale smell spread through the room as it mixed with the charred wood. He searched for a way to end this madness. I’ve got it!

Quickly he turned his body toward the bed and the trail of destruction followed the ball. I hope this works and doesn’t kill me! In his panic, the ball had seemingly increased in size and power. Alex jerked his hand across his bed. The rough wool blanket immediately smoldered from the heat and smoke rose as the frayed stitching burned.

He aimed his hands toward the chamber pot, and the ball followed, careening into his legs. He cringed, expecting to feel the searing pain that would surely follow, but there was none. Looking down, half blinded, he could see the outline of the brass pot.

He thrust his arms into his own urine; the wetness coated them. He imagined he had plunged his arms into the river that flowed behind his house, a far less disgusting alternative. The Light flickered and steamed in the foul liquid before it ultimately went out.

Sweating, Alex slumped next to his bed. His heart pounded in his chest and ears and drowned out the sounds of the outside world.

What in hell was that? How did I do that? The thoughts fled his mind quickly as he smelled something new. The room began to glow with a darker, more orange, light. He looked at his hands. It’s not me... He sprang to his feet and turned toward his bed, where he saw the real problem.

Flames had engulfed the straw-filled burlap sack he used as a pillow. Panic took hold of him again. He grabbed his wool blanket and tried to beat out the flames. Boff. Boff. Boff. The blanket struck the makeshift pillow. Boff. Boff. Boff. Come on, come on! Go out! Go out! he frantically chanted.

The blanket finally beat out the flames, but a new, even more disgusting, smell enveloped the room. Damn, I spilled piss on my bed!

The sound of footsteps ascending the stairs followed the outside of his room’s wall. Oh hell... Thinking as fast as his sixteen-year-old mind would allow, he grabbed a clearly unburned candle and held it in his hand.

His father surveyed the room. What the hell happened in here?

Nothing, sir.

His father walked further in, his own burning candle in hand, looking puzzled. You expect me to believe nothing happened? Look at the walls! His father was clearly agitated. Now, BOY, I expect you to tell me the truth. What in the gods’ names happened here?

Alex hoisted the unburned candle into the air. Accidently tipped this over sir. I was able to put it out all by myself, just like a man! He hoped his father would buy the excuse. It was the best he had to offer. Even he wasn’t sure exactly what happened.

Stepping closer to Alex, his father grabbed his wrist and examined the candle. BOY, this candle ain’t ever been lit, and there is no way a candle caused the burn marks that cover these walls. He paused. What the hell have you got on your arms? They’re all wet. He released the grip on Alex’s wrist, raised his hand to his nose, and took a large, analyzing sniff.

Terrified, Alex watched him gag on the scent. You got piss on you! What is this...? His father looked at the marks, and almost at once Alex could tell his father knew what had caused them. NO!... NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! Not my boy. His face crinkled like wadded up parchment.

Alex knew what his father was thinking and why it horrified him. His son had an ancient power developing inside him, and it wouldn’t be long before they found him. There was a good chance they had seen the light show because there was very little light from the moon.

He looked at his father, helplessly, the way only a child can. I’m sorry, Father, I didn’t mean to... He cowered at the foot of his bed. What do we do?

I need a minute to think. Go clean yourself off, then wake your mother. We have much to talk about and... And I fear we have little time to talk about it.

He did as he was told and descended the stairs and went through the large open room that served as the kitchen and dining room. He moved through it as quickly and as quietly as he could so he did not prematurely wake his mother. The downstairs had only one exit, toward the front of the house. Alex moved to the wood-plank door held to the frame by rusting iron hinges. He grabbed the cool metal handle and pulled open the door, causing a loud creaking that broke the chirp of the crickets singing their night song.

He stepped outside and realized he was barefoot. He felt the cool stone and grass under his feet as he lightly treaded across the yard. He made his way to the back where the wash was done. Under the cover of darkness, Alex approached the large, brown bucket reserved for washing the dirt off his family’s clothes. He looked down at the water that filled it and gazed at the sky’s reflection. As he slid his arms into the cool water, he slumped forward against the rim.

He sighed. Things were going to change very soon, and he would not have a choice in the matter. He leaned there, watching the clouds reflected in the water, dreading what was coming. It was all because of the Light.

The songs of the crickets resumed and the bullfrogs croaked from the river bank a mere fifty or so yards behind his house. He tried his best to fill his mind with those songs and block out the night’s events. His heart rate slowed, and he just leaned on the rim of the tub, soaking his arms in the water.

A new, more distant noise, a dull roar, filled the air. He was unable to figure out for a minute what caused it. Then, it hit him... Horses! They are coming! The patrols must have seen the Light!

His heart raced, and the nighttime noises were once again drowned out by its heavy beat pounding in his ears. The clopping of the horses’ hooves grew ever closer. In a moment of sheer panic all he could think was RUN!

Alex looked toward the river. Still clad in only his shorts, he bolted toward it, running as fast as his colorless teenage legs would go. He made it to the river just as the horses rounded the bend into the commoners’ area of the village, where the Regulars lived. What little light there was reflected brightly off his pale skin. He knew they would be sure to see him if he stood in the open.

Being trapped between the road and the river, he did the only thing he could. He turned and dove into the murky, brown river water. Thankfully it was a warm summer night. The water masked his white skin as he swam toward a thicket of tall, green reeds and cattails. He refused to take his eyes off the shack his family shared, even though the panic made him want to dive underwater and swim away. The house was the only place he had ever lived, and he knew there was a good chance he might never see it again. And a good chance he would never see his family again.

Alex centered himself in the thicket and sank deeper into the muddy, weed-filled water until only his eyes and forehead protruded above the surface. He forced himself to stay calm so that his hearing would return. He could see them now, as they made their way toward his house, hear them talking as they rode in, see their white-trimmed, blue cloaks and dark trousers. Their horses moved like those of the Royals, but these men were not Royals. They were NighGuard!

Alex shook with fear as he watched the NighGuard approached, wielding great balls of Light much like the one he had nearly burned the house down with. The notable exception was they seemed to have actual control over the Light and could move it precisely, and they used it to illuminate their approach. Alex raised his ears above the water to listen.

You have your orders. This is the house. I can smell the char. Get the boy and let us be gone from here, the middle rider commanded the others. They dismounted. From his position in the reeds, Alex counted four NighGuard plus the commander. They tied the horses to the rail that lined the front of his family home.

My family... What will they do with my family if they can’t find me?

The NighGuard approached his house. They extinguished the balls of Light and entered without a word.

Surely his father had heard them approach and he too had known that NighGuard would be coming, but he could not see his father’s outline through any of the windows. It was odd that no noise came from the house. A strange blue glow emitted from under the intruding NighGuard.

What caused the glow? Are they burning down my house? No, it can’t be. Fire doesn’t burn that blue, and they haven’t even searched the whole house for me yet. He could not see his parent’s bedroom; it was blocked by a wall his father had built to give them added privacy. He could, however, see the upstairs room his sister Sevna occupied. His parents thought it unfitting that a young man of sixteen share a room with his eight-year-old sister. Shit... He thought he saw the blue aura enter Sevna’s room.

Alex had watched the NighGuard before, mostly from his room’s window. On occasion, they used their Light magic at night, but Alex had never seen the blue light that was coming from his house now. What are they doing? I hope it isn’t harming my family. Tears formed in his eyes while he floated in the river, terrified for his family.

His thoughts raced. He remembered stories that he had heard over his sixteen years in Lunai City. Regulars were people without the ability that the Lights possessed. His mother had told him on many occasions stories of the bloody battles of Light versus Light and the thousands upon thousands of Regulars who had lost their lives.

His mother told him that his great-grandfather had lost his life in the Light wars. The battle took place almost a hundred years ago, she had told him. Royals felt threatened by the Lights but possessed an army capable of wiping out a great many. In a moment of genius, the Royals made an offer of mutual protection in order to minimize casualties. This offer split the Lights into two groups: those who sided with the Royals and pledged them protection in return for a good life and care of their family, and those who chose to fight against them and to live free. Stories were told that the Lights faced off, attacking each other in brutal combat. It was said that Lunai smelled of burning flesh for years following the Light conflict.

A flash caught Alex’s eye. He looked back toward the house. The dull blue light had moved into his room. The NighGuard cast a ball of Light in his room and looked inquisitively at the scorched walls. He heard commotion and saw a brighter flash of blue light.

Suddenly, the NighGuard flared his Light and shoved it repeatedly into the area where Alex’s bed was, decimating it. Wood splinters flew through the air above the windowsill as the NighGuard pushed his Light through the frame. Once the bed was no longer a solid object, it was thrown from his window, surrounded by a translucent blue light.

His father yelled. More blue glow filled the room. He could see through his sister Sevna’s window that her room shone with blue luminescence as well. The NighGuard had his family captive now. He listened closely as the upheaval ceased.

Where is the boy? the NighGuard Commander inquired, his hand wrapped around his father’s neck, choking him.

Guydontknow, was all his father could muster in reply.

In the name of the Royal Family Winston, I command you to surrender the boy, he demanded.

Gah, I, can’t. I dhon know where, his father tried to reply, but the choke cut him off.

The Commander leaned in, Need I remind you that harboring a Light is punishable by DEATH?

Alex could see the distress on his father’s face. The room was still illuminated with the blue- and white-colored lights, giving him a morbid view of what was happening to his father. He could see him shaking his head in reply to the Commander.

Very well, we have our orders. Kill the family. The boy can’t hide forever! the man said to the NighGuard.

NO! NO! I AM HERE! I AM HERE! Alex screamed at the top of his lungs. He rushed as fast as he could out of the water and toward tthe house. STOP! I BEG YOU! The Commander smiled as he looked out the window and locked his eyes on Alex.

Alex rounded the front corner and passed the horses. The door was still open from when the NighGuard had entered. He plunged inside. A hand grabbed his naked neck, stopping him dead in his tracks.

Halt, boy, a voice sounded from the darkness. "Do as I say and your family will not be harmed. Do you understand?

Weeping and terrified, Alex sobbed and nodded. He covered his eyes tightly, unsure of what was to come. Suddenly he was scooped up by the man who had grabbed him, the one who he had seen enter the house first. He was a tall man, over six feet, and full of muscle. Alex knew it was him because his long, dark beard poked him on his bare chest. The two moved to where the horses had been left tied.

Listen, boy, you need to be strong and sit up on the horse to avoid doing things the hard way. You are going to be a NighGuard, or you are going to be dead. The choice is yours, but you need to make it now, he said to Alex.

Leave them, get the boy on the horse, and let us take our leave, the Commander ordered.

Choose now, boy, the bearded NighGuard said to Alex.

I need to be strong, for my family. I need them to know I will be okay or it will surely destroy them. Alex removed his hands from his face and wiped the tears from his eyes. Please set me down. Let me walk from here as an adult rather than a baby.

The bearded NighGuard nodded. Good choice. He set Alex down onto his own two feet.

Alex’s family had gathered at the doorway, not daring to go outside, afraid they might offend the NighGuard.

Sir, may I say goodbye? Alex asked.

You may not speak, as your words may betray you, but a wave from atop my horse is acceptable. From this point forward, you may call me Master Daamen. I am your NighGuard Overseer.

Alex nodded and climbed onto Master Daamen’s horse. Daamen took his place upon the horse and spurred it along as Alex gave his final, tearful wave to his family.

2

Alex stood, facing the wooden figure, listening to the crackles and sizzles of other trainees’ Light smashing into the wood.

Feel the Light inside you! a voice echoed