dark

i peer around the corner, trying to view into the darkness.

it’s only a matter of time until they catch up with me.
darkness worries me, you never know what’s coming from what you can’t see. but the darkness never scared me, no, i was never scared of the dark. you need to meet the dark to see what the night has been trying to offer.
i’ve been running for days. sometimes, when you fight for what you think is righteous, you go too far. sometimes, in that pursuit, you make the wrong enemies.

crumbling footsteps waver across the air, shocking me out of my monologue. it’s freezing cold, my breath forms ghostly clouds in the air. i’m worried, irrationally, that they might see the wisps. industrial pipes and glass walkways span the sky. ancient malls and public spaces make better hiding spots than one might think.
it’s about time i move again. slinking through the shadows, i cut across a decrepit courtyard to a long-closed store i’ve been eyeing for a while.
this should be a good hiding place from this patrol

ever since i ambushed that one group… well, let’s just say they’re a bit more cautious and a bit less willing to walk into walled-off spaces. this store works just perfect to exploit those fears. the doors keep entrance restricted to one person at a time. the shelves are hiding places. i’m lucky the last person to close for the night lowered the window bars.
is this a safe spot or a prison?
maybe i should stop fighting back. it’s been months since i’ve seen my family. i can’t risk seeing my friends. sometimes, i visit old meeting spots from childhood and find supplies. i know they’re watching out for me. i can’t let them down.
what is this all for? do i care about making their efforts worthwhile?
every morning is like another turn in the path. the future is impenetrable, shadowed from my sight. i can’t predict what each day will bring, yet i keep peaking the corners, keep peering into the dark.

falling into the wrong crowd is a mistake you can’t take back
there was a point i peaked the wrong corner and spoke with some shady folk.
it was all an innocent mistake, you were trying to do the right thing.
“a mistake, maybe. trying to do the right thing, certainly. but if there’s one thing i’m not, it’s innocent.”
maybe not. but if faltering in your pursuit of purity is a crime, then everyone is a sinner.
sinners. that’s what this was all about. they were criminals and tyrants. they couldn’t be allowed to rule anymore. if nobody else was going to stop them, i was. or at least, i thought i was. i was a vengeful deity, ego-tripping and saving the people. pride leads to ego-death.
and you were prideful.
“and i was prideful.”
mistakes were made. by me, and by the Rising as well. but it should go without mention that the most impactful, the most horrible mistakes were made by them.

“stop. the new eye says we check every corner now.”

that’s not good. that’s a new voice, and a new overseer means they’ll be all riled up like a disturbed nest until i smoke them out again.
unfortunately, it appears they have to check my temporary sanctuary now.
there are grumbles of anger—likely at following new orders—but more comfortingly, of worry. they remember what few stories remain of the most recent of my few victories.

as they should.
“after all, they should learn why they once feared the dark.”