The Loss of Innocence

[Twilight Semner]

Terrified screams ring out from a small farmhouse on the outskirts of the City of Greyhawk, nestled too far in the countryside for any to rush to the aid of its residents. Though, even if some brave soul were able, it would only add to the carnage that lies within. By the door sits the crumpled heap that used to be a father and husband, his once stout physique now torn asunder.  From the blood-drenched floor, a mother reaches in desperation for her child, who whimpers beneath a table, unable to believe his eyes. "Semner, ru-" she tries to beg before she is cut short by a hand around her neck. As she is lifted into the air, she is able to look upon her son one last time before the teeth are at her throat. Within seconds, her once loving eyes are dull and lifeless and her corpse is tossed aside.

The cold, other-worldly laughter of a young woman fills the air. A pair of shining eyes peers through the darkness and straight into those of young Semner as he sits paralyzed by fear. As she licks what remained of his mother's life-blood from her slender, pale fingers, she approaches him, gliding gracefully across the room. Panicked, he backs up against the wall, his feet slipping in the sanguine pools on the wooden boards where he used to play. In a moment, she is upon him. He has nowhere to run. Her glittering eyes seem to drink up his horror, as she runs a soft hand across his cheek. Leaning in, she whispers, and her sibilant voice sends chills up his spine:

"I will always be with you, child. In the depths of your soul, you will remember me. I will haunt you in your darkest nightmares. You will try to fight it, but the darkness will come for you. And, someday, it will consume you."

Kissing his forehead, she turns and, within moments, is gone, disappearing into the fog. Looking about the tattered remains of his home, his family, his innocence, the young boy weeps.

[Twilight Semner]

Time passes.

The orphanage treats Semner well, doing its best to more or less provide him a sense of normalcy. It doesn't ease the pain, nor calm the fears. It doesn't prevent the nightmares. But it does the best it can. He tries to relate to the other children, but it's difficult. They cannot understand his loss. Granted, they've all had their own share of heartache, but none had lost their family in a manner so foul. None of them had seen what he's seen.

Nights are the worst. During the day he can put on a smile and pretend all is right with the world, but when the sun sets, he becomes vulnerable. There's no telling what lurks in the darkness, but he knows it's watching him. As promised the dreams don't stop, filled with visions of the pale lady, as she murders his family over, and over, again, and again... Each time he tries to save them. Each time he fails utterly. Eventually, he just watches silently, waiting for morning to free him from his solitary hell.

The weight grows heavier each day, nearly crushing the child's spirit. Just as soon as he thinks he can't bear the load any longer, another stone is added. The dreams grow more intense, the nights become darker, invisible eyes watch from nowhere and everywhere. Some nights, he swears he can hear a whisper on the wind taunting, "You are mine."

He makes friends, if you can call them that. They treat him well enough, but he finds it difficult to get close to any of them. They play, as children do, running through the fields, playing games with knights and monsters. He plays the monster. Sometimes he plays too rough. The other children cry. Still, they are quick to forgive, and they grow on him. When the dreams begin to change, he wishes he hadn't made friends. Nightmares of the other children lying disemboweled on the floor of his childhood home forces him to keep them at an even greater distance.

Some nights, when the pain is too much and he doesn't dare sleep, Semner sneaks outside. The cold air soothes his nerves and calms his restless heart, but over time it becomes less effective. He becomes restless and agitated. He fights more often with his friends. The old woman watching over them warns that he won't be able to stay if he doesn't do something about his "attitude." She calls him a problem. He doesn't argue. He knows he's the problem, and he hates himself for it.

[Twilight Semner]

Semner doesn't play with the other children anymore. He can't look at them without imagining them lying mangled on the floor. If he doesn't see them, he reasons, he doesn't have to think about them. He spends more time wandering the fields during the night. The voices frighten him, but they're the only company he has. They make him feel like he's not alone. They tell him things... thing about himself, things they want him to do. He pretends not to listen.

The pain grows, but it's changing now. It begins to feel like an empty hunger, tugging at his core. He wishes it would stop, but it doesn't. As the voices get louder, it becomes harder not to listen. The other children seem scared of him, and he doesn't blame them. The old woman doesn't get any kinder. One night, he comes across a lamb, grazing in the field. It must not have been able to sleep either. Its eyes meet his, soft and peaceful. Why can't he have that kind of peace? Why can't he have those eyes? Those should be his eyes! That should be his peace! He grows angry. "Do it! Feed your hunger!" the voices scream. He shakes his head, tears welling up in his eyes. He can't. He doesn't want to. But he's so angry! The lamb moves closer and rubs its nose against his leg. Why won't it just leave? Can't it hear the voices too? They're so loud now! It looks up at the boy with its peaceful eyes. He can't stand it.

Semner stands. At his feet lies the lamb, its eyes now dull and lifeless. The voices quiet. The hunger subsides. For a moment he feels whole. That night he sleeps. No nightmares tonight. The next morning, he wakes up refreshed. He even plays with the other children. They don't seem to be as scared as they were before. The old woman gives him a pat on the back and tells him he's doing much better.

Time passes.