a flash story by David G Shrock
Waving like a curtain, the white fire burned across the horizon. Streams of pale green reached for the stars. Nyx felt the light on her face, a cool kiss tickling her cheek. Unlike any aurora she knew, this ghost curtain buzzed with energy. And it was in the west.
Glancing east, Nyx spotted red embers burning on the horizon. Dawn was on her way. Would the morning eat the nocturnal ghost light?
Tugging at her dress, she gathered the darkness about her. She stormed west over the hills, a river of darkness flowing behind her. The insects sang to the twinkling stars, and the wind moaned. The strange light in the west burned brighter. Pulling her hat down, she shielded her eyes. The tickle on her cheek became a fire.
Men exited the trees. Some formed packs while others stood alone, all peering west at the blazing spectral curtain. On the heels of Nyx, darkness swept in, a cold blanket chilling the land. Men dove away from the flooding darkness, bounding into the trees and into their homes. The river of night poured into the valley crashing into a barrier.
Peering through slanted eyes, Nyx gazed at the light. Her face burned. Unlike the warm kiss of her lost lover, the ghost fire’s touch felt like a freezing heat, licks of frost between jolts of scorching venom. The air crackled. Her hair flared out pushing hat higher. She clenched her dress to throat, summoning the darkness about her, and peered into the veil.
Men tended the fields, milked cows, and washed clothing in the river. Watching them felt like peering into secret things she had only imagined before. Children chased each other darting as a group. The flock ran to a thatched hut then burst into the trees. Among a circle of huts, adults spoke to each other, their faces smiling. They swatted at the air, at the sparking currents, but otherwise seemed unaware of the energy burning around them. They basked within the false day.
Spotting a familiar face, Nyx stepped back in surprise. Across the barrier the young man dressed in dark furs stood staring back at her with a crooked grin.
“The border,” said Nyx. Spotting Dusk Sword hanging from his belt, the weapon she had given him ages ago, she nodded. “Why have you abandoned your post?”
“Look.” He pointed over his shoulder.
She glanced at the children running around, at the adults working. The false day appeared nearly as pale as moonlight. Peering up, she took in the height of the shimmering veil. Reaching out, she touched the surface feeling the hot sparking energy. Running her fingers across left a wake of green spirals fading back to white.
“They don’t need to fear you anymore.” His voice carried a grim satisfaction.
“What is this?”
“From the sky.” Peering up, he gazed at the handful of stars twinkling within the veil. “An icy ball burst into fire and crashed.” Head dropping, he looked at the ground. “Brighter than day, fiery clouds reached into the sky. And left this.”
Peering inside, Nyx watched the men absently swiping at the energy. They appeared weak turning pale. Reaching out, she pushed against the barrier. She took a step, but the crackling energy pushed back.
“Now,” said the bearer of Dusk Sword, “I can see my sister again.”
Glancing over her shoulder, Nyx saw the burning eastern horizon. She recalled the day, not its warm touch, but the brightness, the mark of a lover’s kiss left upon her cheek. Turning her cold glare on the young man, she said, “You deceive these men by guarding this pale light.”
The young man set his hand on sword gripping the handle.
The world took a breath chilling the air.
“Dear brother,” a voice said, a soothing whisper. The young woman approached like a warm current, the grasses waving around her bare feet. Her nude golden flesh sparkled, and long red hair waved and wriggled about her. In her left hand she held Dawn Sword, the fiery blade sparking into the sky. “What are you doing here?”
There was no time for a reunion; the day would not wait. Reaching out, Nyx snatched the woman’s hand and tugged. They pressed through the barrier, energy rippling up the ghost curtain. The man backpedaled, stumbling. He released Dusk Sword. The blade glowed red then darkened, eating the pale light. Feeling the curtain’s energy fade, Nyx charged pushing a wake of darkness to each side. Dawn floated through the pale light.
Nyx snatched the retreating arm, and there she stood with a sibling in each hand.
Men glanced around confused by the night caught between sunrise and a false sunset within the pale light. Some ran into huts while others stood staring.
The day fire burned into the sky extinguishing the stars. Warm hand slipping away, Nyx latched onto the cool hand. Standing at the edge between light and dark, she watched the world fade away. Wind pulled at her dress. She clasped her hat, and the world returned in a breath.
Glancing west, Nyx spotted the burning horizon. Looking east, she saw the back edge of the false day, a wriggling curtain on the dark horizon. Already, it appeared weakened without its misguided guardian.
Releasing the arm, she pushed the guardian away. She glared at him. Head lowered, he sheathed his sword and marched west. Embers sank into the horizon, and stars filled the sky.
Spinning around, Nyx headed into the mountains. Darkness was her dress flowing over the land. Never sleeping, she raged on. The night was hers, and she was the night. Nyx moved on.
