sid | New Story, Always Darkest (Reply)

Here is a very short story that popped into my head yesterday. It's Jack's POV, and that's all I'm going to say.

Rated G.

"Always Darkest"

ETA: I forgot to salute my betas! Loads of thanks to Wraith and Trika for helping me figure out the ending!

ALWAYS DARKEST

Apophis’ eyes glowed as his lips curled back in a feral snarl of pleasure. There was a sickening sound, as, with a quick twist of his powerful hands, he snapped the neck of the man in his grasp.

Daniel’s lifeless body crumpled to the floor.

Jack shouted in horror and rage, but no sound came out. He felt the ground tilt beneath his feet, as his world went black. He tumbled into a dark, endless void.

Jack shot upright in his bed, heart thudding wildly. Incoherent sounds poured from his mouth. He struggled free of the covers, but when his feet met the floor, it seemed to shift beneath him. Still half-dreaming, he slid to the floor beside his bed, legs sprawled. One hand braced against the floor, supporting his upper body, which sagged with the weight of his grief.

The sound of his sobs was loud enough to shock him into full awareness.

It was 5:37 am, and Jack knew he was not going to get any more sleep this morning. Still reeling in the aftermath of his dream, he made his way into the bathroom. He unrolled a wad of toilet paper, and blew his nose. He used the toilet, and then turned on the shower. He waited, shivering, for the water to get hot.

Just after 6 o’clock, Jack was in his truck and driving to the nearest fast food place. He went through the drive-thru, purchasing a cup of coffee. Then he pulled into one of the parking spots, and shut off his engine and headlights. Face and eyes blank, he stared out into the blackness of an early winter morning, sipping his coffee slowly.

He thought of all the things he had never told Daniel, and his heart ached.

The sky was beginning to turn to gray when he put his coffee into the cup-holder, and started up his engine. Spinning the wheel angrily, he pulled the truck out into the street. His face was set in grim lines as he drove, much too fast, to his destination.

Daniel’s apartment.

Jack hesitated outside Daniel’s door. He swallowed painfully. He fought back a strong urge to ring the doorbell. It felt wrong, but he finally used his key to open the lock.

Once inside, he stood for a moment, letting his eyes adjust to the gloom after the bright lights of the hallway. Then he moved further into the apartment, into the living room, wandering from one place to another, picking up and putting down the items that lined Daniel’s shelves, that stood on his tables. Books and artifacts everywhere. Artwork. The room was filled with Daniel’s personality, his interests.

His presence.

Daniel was everywhere in this room. Jack stood still, drinking it all in.

Then he moved into the bedroom. He sank to the floor just inside the door, leaning back against Daniel’s dresser, and sat, motionless, breathing quietly.

Beyond the half-open curtains, the early morning sky grew lighter by the minute, and the shadows began to lift from Jack’s heart. As he sat there, the sky turned to pink, and then a faint gold. But Jack wasn’t watching the sky. He was gazing at the bed. He almost imagined that he could make out the features of Daniel’s face now, pressed against the pillows as he slept.

He smiled slowly, a sense of calm flooding his soul. He waited patiently for the sun to climb a little higher in the sky, and send its soft rays through the window to illuminate the face of the man he loved.

THE END