Short Story

Into the Shadows

        “Come on Zoticus we have to hurry”,  I say as we rush over to the site. I know we have to get there quickly, so I hop in the other world–the shadows, and hang on to Zoticus to see the girl. Most people don’t know about my special powers, except those that have been hurt. I don’t mean fall off your bike hurt. I mean–abuse, loved ones dying, bullying, divorce, or you yourself are dying. I’m the one who helps those people start over. I’m kind of like their guardian angel, more like their guardian shadow. We rush over to her from the shadow world. Once there, I jump into the real world and slowly approach her.

        “Hi, are you okay?” I ask

        “Who are you?” she turns her head inquisitively

        “I’m…..I’m–Rose”

        “Where’d you just come from?”

        “It’s hard to explain, who hurt you?”

        “My, my fiancé”, she replied back.

        “Why?”

        “Becau–”, but she was interrupted by a tall dark figure looming over us.

        “Don’t say another word Isabelle. Unless you want to get hurt again, and your friend too”, said the tall man who I assumed was her fiancé.

        He stepped forward fist raised in the direction of Isabelle. I couldn’t allow this to happen. It’s not okay, I need to fix this, someway somehow. I decided that punching him wasn’t going to do much, so I took her and ran as far and as fast as I could. As we were running I saw Zoticus and I pulled her and I on top of him as we dove into the shadows.

        “You’ll be alright now”, I said.

        “Wh.Where are we? How did we get here? Is this a dragon?,” asked Isabelle.

        “Funny most people ask about the dragon first.”

        “Most? What do you mean most? There’ve been others? Where are you taking me?”

        “Somewhere where you’ll be safe”

For a while, they flew along in silence. Then they arrived at the Cove.

        “Now just be careful when stepping off the dragon and I’ll get you situated”

        Isabelle stepped off the dragon very shakily. Rose led her down into the Cove. As they were walking in other protectors, stopped and noticed the new rundown soul. And Isabelle saw other people like her; a kid who looked to be around 6 or 7 who looked badly beaten up, a young boy with scars on his wrists, and a young couple.

As Rose was walking in, she sees others whispering and pointing at her.

        “I see you brought another one in. Is he allowing you to protect again? Already?” said Elliot.

       “What does that me–”, but Isabelle was interrupted.

        “Oh let it go, Elliot. That was years ago”.

        “Or are you doing this without his permission?”, asked Elliot.

        “That’s enough. Everyone back to what you were doing. NOW! That includes you, Elliot.”

        Everyone immediately went back to what they were doing as soon as they realized whose words those belonged to – the Leader of the Cove.

        “Sorry Marcus”, he said as he cowered away in fear.

        “Hello, Rose. Sorry about that. I’m Marcus, I didn’t get your name?”, he held out his hand to Isabelle for a shake.

        “Oh, uhhhh uhhh uhhh, it…it…it…it.. it’s–Isabelle”, she stammered.

        “Well greetings Isabelle, and welcome to the Cove, I’m glad you’re here”

        “Th..th..th–thanks” she swallowed.

        “I see you’re nervous. Well, there’s no reason to be. I’ll have Rose here show you around and get you situated. And then I’ll show you what the Cove’s all about. Sound good?”

        “Yeah”

        “Alright this way”, said Rose.

        As they walked further away from all the people, Isabelle built up the courage to ask Rose a question that’s been pestering her.

        “Who was that?”

        “Who? The disgusting blob of garbage? Or the tall man?”

        Isabelle looked astonished as soon as Rose spoke.

        “The blob is Elliot, and he’s not worth anyone’s time. And the tall man is Marcus and he’s the leader of this whole operation”.

        “So I’m guessing that you don’t like Elliot? Right?”

        “Right”

        “Any reason why?”

        “He just can’t let some things go”, I say remembering the terrible events of that day.

        “Come on, tell me more”, she prods.

        “No. It’s nothing. It’s a long story, and you just won’t understand.”

        “I’ll understand, I’ve been in drama before”

        “Your fight with your boyfriend at Prom doesn’t count. This isn’t like one of your human problems. It’s a lot more complex and includes subject matter way out of your brain capacity”

        “Alright fine”

        “I’m sorry let’s just get on with the tour”.

        They walked the whole way in silence until they reached the corridor for newcomers.

        “Alright, I’ll take it from here”, spoke Marcus.

        “No no no. I have it under control”

        “Come on Rose, just go,” Marcus walks up to her and whispers to her, so that only she can hear it. “We don’t want another incident like last time, do we? That caused a lot of problems, we’ve healed since then. We don’t need another Charlotte”.

        “Marc, I’ve got it”

        “Okay. But if the same thing happens like last time, you’re done. For good”, he says as he walks away.                  End of Part 1.