Darkness. It consumes all. And defeats all. But within darkness there is light. Darkness may swallow it, but it shall always be there. Most say that darkness dwells in the past. So where does the light dwell? Light is in the future as opposed to the past.
Cheyenne hadn’t spoken a word since the “incident.” And I don’t blame her. This trip to St. Lucia was supposed to be a life-changer but not in the way it went down a few hours ago. I turned away from our suite bedroom and closed my eyes in search of the soothing sound of breaking waves. But there wasn’t any solace in the sound. I could still see the expression on Cheyenne’s blood splattered face when it was all over. I don’t think she will ever look at me innocently again.
My past reared its demonic head from the depths of the great Abyss shortly before Cheyenne and I were supposed to return to the States. Our taxi driver drove us to a secluded part of the island instead of taking us to the airport. It turned out the taxi driver was an operative for the organization once known as Missio Dei.
Even though Azrael exposed Missio Dei and its leader committed suicide, there were rumors it had gone underground. And the contract on my head was still active. Long story short, Cheyenne had the wherewithal to create a distraction that allowed me to make the operative disappear. But she’d never seen this side of me before. She’d never seen my dark side.
Since Cheyenne wasn’t ready to talk I went for a walk on the beach. I sat on the gray sand, the sound of lonely waves echoing in my ears. Black, thick clouds rolled in from the vacant sky. Thunder roared in the distance, summoning darkly colored raindrops to the dormant beach where I was sitting. The wind blew past me, making an eerie sound within my soul.
Hearing an abrupt change in the sound of the waves, I looked towards the ocean. My already dilated pupils grew wider as each second passed by. Standing on the angered waves was a being. He was dressed in white and had brilliant black hair that whipped around in the crying wind, while his eyes seemed to illuminate the dull world where I was situated with a luminous radiance. They spoke to me. A familiar voice spoke out of the growing obscurity, sensitively speaking in my direction.
“Why do you dwell in the darkness? Why do you wallow in the pain? Why?”
I stood up, my legs shaking, my hands dripping with cold sweat. Taking one step at a time, I finally reached my preferred destination, the black waves, developing blacker as I stood there, my body battered by emotions.
“Xion, it's okay. It’s me, Xandor.”
He gave me a minuscule smile and reached his hand out to me. I looked back at the overwhelming darkness and shuddered. I wanted to get away, so I ran towards my former mentor.
Just as I was about to reach his grasp, a colossal wave soared above our heads. My mouth widened in fear, trying to scream a warning. But my voice remained locked behind the doors of my throat. The water crashed down on us, sweeping me away from him. He just stood there, holding his hand out to me, the same smile painted onto his face. “Do not fear the distance between us, you can overcome it. I once knew this darkness too. And I overcame it.”
I floundered over to him, just to slip away from his hand. A look of determination spread across my face, I would reach him no matter what. I just had to believe I could. Rooting my feet in the sand, I grabbed his hand and the darkness miraculously slipped away.
Everything turned to glory.
“Xion, do not fear that path we were given by Missio Dei. The original Missio Dei. The Mission of God. We surrendered our lives to an eternal mission, not some corrupt organization masquerading as a benevolent entity. I gave my life so true believers in the mission could rise above the darkness. I left you a legacy, not only in Union Battleground, but in life. It’s time you embraced it.”
I shook my head defiantly but the words would not come out.
“You’re afraid of losing Cheyenne, much like I feared losing Amanda and Kaydence. You can’t decide Cheyenne’s destiny. Let her decide on her own if her path will continue with yours and have faith that your love transcends all. Again, my error in life with Amanda. There is something in Cheyenne that ADONAI sees as essential for you. Therefore, let her come to terms with what she experienced and let her decide how to proceed.”
I nodded humbly.
“For now concentrate on the growing evil of Salvation in Union Battleground. The contract will be dealt with soon. But much like Missio Dei, Salvation is a plague that must be thwarted. You will face persecution and injustice but I know you will stand tall in the end.”
A questioning look filled my eyes. I took a step and started to fall. A few minutes passed and I landed in a black void filled with a dimly lit light. I caught a glimpse of my shadow; to my surprise it started to grow into a fearsome figure, towering up above the ground, its red eyes pierced through my soul. I ran away, and stumbled into a puddle filled with darkness.
“Every human’s heart is filled with darkness, this is yours.”
I retreated from it. How can this be the darkness in my heart? There was no possible way I could fight this. “But if you dig deeper than the darkness, you will find light.”
A new kind of strength filled my body as I prepared to fight my fears. Standing up with renewed vigor, I ran towards the monster and tore out its heart. It let out a deep growl of anguish and disappeared before my eyes.
“Do not be afraid, you are a warrior, made to fight the darkness. It begins with Kreature at L!GHTS OUT #14. And remember I am always with you.”
A bright flash of light blinded my eyes for a few seconds and I found myself on the same beach. The sun was out and children were playing in the warm sunlit sand. White clouds flew by, and the sky was filled with color. I looked around and Cheyenne was walking towards me from the hotel. She was my light. And I knew what I had to do.
“Now go and help deliver Union Battleground from the darkness of Salvation. And remember, within the darkness, there is light.”
