Through Glass

by Rebecca Ethington

  I kept the screech of fear locked in my chest as I fell, my hands fumbling through the air in an attempt to stop me as I searched for something to grab onto. I reached for the porcelain of the toilet, my hands clawing at the slick surface in a frantic search for friction, but found nothing. My already wet hands slipped against the saturated surface and I continued down, the edge of my eye ramming right into the hard corner of the sink.

  The scream was out before I could stop it. The pain in my head too deep for me to be able to restrain it. My hands reached toward my head as the searing pain radiated, burning through my eye and right to the back of my skull. I tried to put pressure on it to take the agony away, but it only grew the harder I pressed into my head. The pain surged into a throb of fire that shot through me. My teeth clamped against my tongue, my lips pursing in a desperate attempt to cover my mouth enough to keep the scream inside. It didn’t work. Pain continued to pulse through me and everything kept coming.

  My body writhed as I tried to control the scream, tried to get it to stop before it was too late. I couldn’t, though, everything hurt too much. The pain was too strong and the scream only grew until a shriek louder than my own hit my ears. The pain no longer seemed as important as what was coming. I writhed as the pain throbbed, my own scream building as the other did. I clenched my hands to my ears as I howled and the screech that would herald my death filled my ears.

  They were coming for me.

  The screech grew as I heard the front door to my house grind open, as I heard the quick click of talons against the floor. I tensed, everything tight inside of me as I tried to fight the cry that still flowed from my mouth. I clawed at it, my ears tuned to every sound as I listened, waited.

  No.

  This was not what I had chosen. This was not what I had fought for. I hadn’t fought hunger, starvation, darkness and loneliness only to end up like all the others; a circle of ash in the darkness.

  This couldn’t be happening.

  I wouldn’t wait. I couldn’t let this happen.

  “No!” I yelled in fear and pain as the screech attempted to incapacitate me, however my voice was barely able to make it above the sound that filled my house.

  I pulled myself up, trying my best to ignore the weakness of my body and the pain in my eyes as the scaly feet of the monster that had come to kill me stepped into view. The clawed toes clicked against the slick linoleum.

  “NOOOO!” I screamed at him, my voice rocking as I screamed in its face. Its eyes looked at me from behind the sharp, black spines that covered it, the obsidian of them dark in anger.

  Do not defy us.

  I could hardly see how that mattered anymore. How the rules mattered. They didn’t and I wouldn’t let them.

  I glared at the thing with all the strength I could muster in my gaze, my teeth grinding themselves together with each pulse of anger I felt. I didn’t care that I had just broken another rule. I didn’t care if it was here to kill me. I wouldn’t let it.

  It raised its hands, each finger a large, golden talon waiting to dig into me. I squared my jaw as I looked at the ugly half-human being in front of me. Determination thrumming angrily through me.

  My heart beat heavily in my ears, my pulse quick through my body as the fear that was threatening to take over met with my anger and swelled into something tangible. It rocked through me and I screamed.

  It wasn’t a scream of fear, it was a battle cry that ripped out of my tender vocal cords until I tasted the blood that now lined my throat. I didn’t care if it was useless, I wasn’t going to end like this.

  I refused.

  “NOOO!” I screamed again as I rushed it. My tiny body running into the heavy torso of the Ulama. The screech of the monster increased in confusion as I made contact with the razor sharp feathers that covered its body. A million points of pain and pressure cut into my skin as I collided with it. The sharp point of each spine cutting into my skin and seeping warm, wet trails of my own blood out of my body.

  I ignored the pain, I didn’t care. I would not just let him win so easily. It was my life and I would fight for it. I screamed as I pushed against the Ulama, my hand moving into a fist as I swung blindly through the air until it impacted with the glossy black jaw of the monster.

  My fist made contact as another scream rippled out of my throat. The hundreds of bones in my hands enflamed in agony at the contact. The steel-like jaw of the creature in front of me didn’t so much as move, the pressure reflecting back through the bones of my arm.

  I howled as the pain shot up my arm, the call of the creature growing as its mouth opened in a screech, the jaw stretching unnaturally.

  I staggered back a step as the noise hit me, the pain strong in my ears. My head swelled as the noise grew, its usual attempt at control attempting to cripple me. The thing moved, its arm swinging through the air as it brought the large talons down on me, the glint of gold attempting to signal my end.

  “No!” I screamed again as the gold flashed before me, my feet stumbling backwards in my attempt to get away from its attack.

  I felt the smooth backside of the talons press against the skin of my stomach, the cold pressure of death surging through me. I would not die like this, I couldn’t. If I could just get past him, I could grab a banister from the pile of weapons in my room. Then at least I would have a chance. I could fight back.

  I rushed the monster again, lunging forward as I attempted to move past the thing and make it to my room. I pushed the creature back a step at the impact. Our bodies stumbled backwards together before the human arms of the monster lunged forward, shoving me back into the bathroom in an attempt to get me away from him. I hurled through the air, my back hitting against the wall of the shower where I slid down to land on the soggy clothes that littered the bottom.

  A deep groan of agony escaped me at the impact that sent a ripple of agony through my weak body. Of course this wasn’t going to be easy; even with a weapon the chances of me coming out unscathed were slim to none. Without a weapon… we had come to that. My chest heaved as I gasped for breath, my pain filtering away from my body. I had felt pain before. Pain was nothing new to me now. I lifted my head to face the thing in front of me, willing it forward, daring it to end me.

  Daring it to try.

  The onyx eyes of the monster seemed to flash in the darkness before the screech in my head elevated in volume. The sound rippled through me as it continued to grow until my eyes were watering, the pain too much for my tiny body to handle. It felt the same as it had that very first day when I had huddled in the darkness. The pain stretched over me the same, my head swelling as my body weakened. I screamed alongside the sound that filled me, fighting the weapon that threatened to subdue me. My voice raised as my body began to shake, my head screaming in pain as I felt the rivers of blood begin to flow from my nose. The swelling pain growing from behind my eyes.

  It was the same as that first day except this time he wouldn’t leave me incapacitated, he would end me. I couldn’t let that happen. My body began to shake as I fought the pain, fought the weakness that covered me. My teeth clenched and I raised my head to the monster, my eyes digging into it.

  “No,” I hissed through my clenched teeth, my voice deep and menacing as I threatened him, even though my body was trying to give in to the pain and pressure that filled me.

  Not yet, I would die fighting if that’s how this ended.

  The creature cocked its head at me as I fought it. The confusion was clear through its emotionless face. I grabbed one of the many water bottles that littered the bottom of the tub I sat in. I plucked them out from amongst the clothes, my weak arm throwing it at the thing that moved toward me only to bounce off his wide torso.

  One after another I threw them, my voice screaming in panic as I uselessly tried to get the thing away from me at the same time as I tried to fight the pressure that pulsed against my head.

  I grabbed another water bottle, the pressure in my head popping small white lights in my e
yes. I screamed against it, I fought it. The white lights changed to blackness as my vision left. I threw the bottle without seeing, my aim going wide as tears streamed down my cheeks and my heart thumped uselessly in defeat. The water bottle hit against the wall near the doorframe, the plastic bottle slamming into the light switch.

  The light turned on.

  A new pain shot through my head as the light hit it, the brightness scorching my eyes. The burning in my eyeballs added to the pain I already felt; the sensations vibrating through my skull. I covered my face in an attempt to stop the smoldering burn, to stop the light from hitting my sensitive eyes, leaving me with only a dull, red glow as the light fought its way through my hands and eyelids. The monster screamed as the light hit it, its pain echoing through the small room.

  Light.

  I kept my face covered as the screams of the creature faded, leaving only a faint buzzing that I hadn’t heard in years. I listened to the buzzing while hoping the monster had gone and yet scared he would use this time to attack.

  I had known from the beginning that they were afraid of the light. Now, I needed to know why. I tried to see through the red light of my hands, see if I could tell, to find out what had happened, but I saw nothing. The burn in my eyes lessening as my eyes adjusted, as the light flickered to nothing and I was left, alone, in the darkness.

  It had been two years. Two, long years without power; how was there light? The creatures had banned it. I had tried to create it without success. Yet now, in the bathroom, moments before my death, a light had flickered on.

  I lowered my arm curiously, my eyes continuing to sting from the light. I blinked furiously, waiting for my eyes to adjust, and then gasped when the empty bathroom came into focus. The dirty room was dimly illuminated by the light above my head which clearly revealed the wide circle of white ash covering the floor.

  My heart sped up in my chest as I stared at it. The joints in my body tensing at the circle of white. I couldn’t look away from it. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to. From the very beginning, I had known that light would do something to them. It had been obvious; they had taken away the sky as well as destroyed anything that could create fire. However, I hadn’t expected this.

  I hadn’t anticipated it to destroy them as simply as a flash of their talons destroyed us. I wanted to relax. I wanted to rejoice in the close call I had just experienced; the disposal of the thing that had tried to kill me. I knew better, though; they would be back. My only hope was that they may not know yet of this one’s death. That maybe I would have some time.

  Or at least a weapon to keep them at bay.

  I raised my eyes to the still glowing light above my head without understanding how it had gone on or why. I pulled myself out of the tub, the pain in my head and body fighting against the movement. My joints still ached from the Ulama’s attack on my body, my head throbbed as my nose still bled. As much as I wanted to race toward the light, I couldn’t. Everything in me was too sore and slow. I reached toward walls and toilets, my hands clinging to the slick surfaces as I shuffled toward the light switch that I had all but forgotten was there; my feet carefully making their way around the wide circle of ash.

  I flicked the switch slowly— up down, up down—but nothing happened. No light came on, no buzzing of electricity. There had to be something I was missing.

  I pulled myself onto the toilet and then onto the sink, carefully lifting myself to standing as my hands trailed along the slimy wall like a ladder.

  The light above me was completely dark now, the large, box shape looking strangely bright against the dark wall, almost as if it was still glowing somehow. Glow-in-the-dark. How could I have forgotten something so simple? The concept had been long forgotten to me and felt new; as though I was learning it for the first time. The thought scared me. The possibilities of what else I had forgotten were unwanted.

  I ran my fingers along the groove of the light, digging my long fingernails into the metal bracket that attached it to the ceiling before giving it one sharp pull. The box shifted, pulling down an inch before stopping. I readjusted my grip, clinging to the box as I pulled. The wires that held it into place snapped as I sent it to the ground.

  I looked at it from where I was perched on the sink, my head turning to the side like a curious kitten. Four batteries lined the back of the light. Back-up power. It was an emergency light.

  And the light had chased the Ulama away.

  This light would change everything. I had a weapon. A real weapon, not a piece of wood. It would keep them away and if they got too close, it would kill them.

  Excitement coursed through me, making my skin tingle as the adrenaline settled in place. I could get to Cohen. I could get out of this prison. We could get out of here.

  I climbed carefully down from the sink, my long fingers wrapping around the large square box as I searched for a switch that could turn it on. I found it, nestled against the wide rim. The rippled toggle switch was hard under my fingers. I flicked it back and forth, over and over in an attempt to get the light to turn back on, but nothing happened.

  I pushed the batteries back in place, but still nothing. I clenched my teeth as I tried again, unwilling to accept that after two years the batteries could be dead after one use or that the light could be broken. It would have to be the batteries. I didn’t want to think of it being anything else. A broken light only meant I was a sitting duck, waiting for them to take me.

  I would have to find batteries, Cohen could help me. Between the two of us we would have to find something, and then we would be free from them. We would be together. I sighed heavily before I ran from the bathroom, hugging the light to my chest.

  I could get us out.

  I repeated it to myself over and over. My hope growing dangerous as I ran into my room. I gently placed the light on my bed, my fingers running over the surface like it was the skin of a newborn; precious and breakable.

  I could get us out.

  I smiled at the light like a fool before throwing an old t-shirt on over my underwear. My feet took me to the window before I was even fully dressed.

  I didn’t hesitate, I threw the curtain open, situating myself in front of the window. Part of me didn’t expect him to be there and the dread of having to wait terrified me. We needed to find batteries and get out of here as quickly as we could. There he was, his eyes wide in panic, his face red and bloodshot.

  Everything inside of me seized at the look on his face. My nerves clinched in fear that he had been attacked at the same time that I was under attack. I jumped at the sensation, my nerves ready to fight before I remembered. He had heard the whole thing. He had heard my screams, heard the call of the Ulama. He thought I was dead.

  He looked at me and his jaw dropped, his whole body coming to press right up against the glass in his desperate attempt to get closer to me.

  I gaped at the action, pressing my hand against the glass. My whole body shook in anticipation over what I was about to tell him; the adrenaline and fear from the attack only barely starting to wear off.

  “Are you all right?” he signed, his fingers moving furiously fast as he fumbled over the letters, his eyes widening as he continued to stare at me.

  My heart beat painfully at the look in his eyes. My head was spinning around, expecting to see one of the monsters standing behind me, even though I had already checked. I looked around, still trying to make sense of his continued panic when I saw the strips of blood that were beginning to seep through the dirty fabric of my shirt. In everything, I had forgotten that I had been hurt.

  My arms and chest were covered with the shallow gashes from their razors, and from the stinging I felt, I am sure my face was as well. Looking at it this way, it was a miracle that I had survived the attack at all.

  I waved at Cohen, grateful when the movement of my hand caught his attention.

  “Cohen,” I signed. “I’m okay. I’m alive. It’s okay.”

  He merely looked at me and I could see the doubt in
his eyes, the guilt and worry that he had been absorbing as he had been forced to listen helplessly to what he had assumed was my death. His heavy emotions mixed in the black heat of his eyes, combining in a look that took my breath away.

  “I’m okay,” I signed again, needing him to calm. I wanted him to look at me, to know I was okay. I didn’t like seeing him so scared when I knew that I was okay. I kissed my fingers and placed them against the glass, needing him to know I was all right. I was grateful when his body started to relax. His hand coming to mirror mine against the window.

  “I killed an Ulama,” I signed the moment his shoulders had loosened. His eyes went wide as he began to understand what I had signed to him.

  “In the bathroom,” I signed, having to start over a few times, my excitement causing my hands to jump over the signs a bit. “They attacked me. The light came on. It turned to ash.”

  I kept it simple, knowing he was already freaking out over my having been attacked.

  “The light killed them?” he asked, his eyes widening in shock and confusion as his mind was finally able to move off what had happened.

  “We can get out?” he asked. I bobbed my head enthusiastically at him in answer. “I can be with you?”

  “Yes,” I mouthed, both of our smiles widening at that one simple word.

  After all this time, we didn’t have to be alone anymore. No more glass. No more air to separate us. No more monsters haunting us. We could get out and we could fight them. We could move beyond it. Perhaps, even find the sun.

  “The first thing I am going to do,” he signed, the wide smile on his face making him look more like he used to, like my fun loving best friend, the guy I had fallen in love with, “is kiss you.”

  I had searched the house for hours. I went through every room, upturning piles of trash that I had discounted so many times before and tearing apart rooms further in my mad attempt to find anything. I had pulled out cabinets, looked through broken bits of couches and ransacked closets in search of D batteries, wiring and anything else that might help me to get the light running. I pulled this house apart as quietly as I could, searching everywhere. Well, almost everywhere. I wouldn’t go into the other bedrooms. I knew I wouldn’t find anything in there anyway, not after the first day.