Lost Light

During one of the hottest dry seasons in Ular remembrance. Families living in the dwellings open their screen windows to allow random breezes to travel through the brick buildings. Several structures stand over fifty meters tall while majority are just over thirty. The city is several thousand years old according to history passed down through oral tradition. Constant repairs are needed during this season due to heat damage; scaffolding is dispersed between buildings with some worse than others.

The building showed its age from the exterior. The interior was not too different and with each step made by the adolescent creaks echoed throughout the home, "I shouldn't be up." Discoloration of the bricks were visible enough to tell someone smokes sweet leaf in the household. Not every dwelling was occupied even though travelers from across the Altering Hills poured in daily.

Sneaking is near impossible but her persistence to clear the creaky portions of the floor is the goal. Step by step carefully being place to navigate a minefield of sound she finally reaches the window. Lured over by the faint steps which seem choreographic, she watches on from the window as adults march in formation in columns of three; dressed in uniformed grey cloaks. Leading the formation were three distinct silhouettes, lighting the way with a bright source that made the eyes follow and creates minute involuntary muscle movement which is unconscious.

She stepped away from the window, backtracking her way to avoid the creaks. In doing so she wanted check the other rooms of the house. The first stop was the bathroom, with no windows it was safe to turn on the light. Looking in the mirror the tall chubby girl washed the beads of sweat off her face. Her dark brown eyes undergoing myosis was now able to show the hint of silver hidden by the dilation. Left over water dripped from her full lips back into the sink while she wrapped her locs for the last time that evening. "Even during moon hours this heat is unbearable. How could those adults walk for such long periods in those dowdy robes is beyond me" she said in a disgusted tone. "It's beyond you because you aren't suppose to know." A soft spoken masculine voice said from the other side of the door. "Zhiya, day hours are soon, please no more sneaking, you know the consequences if you are caught ri-."

"I know..." Zhiya's voice was full of heartbreak knowing the obvious danger she put her family in. "Here I come. It won't happen again brother." She turned off the light and proceeded to leave the bathroom heading straight to the bed she shares with her two younger sisters and baby cousin. "Goodnight Jahull" hoping he would return to his room before she did, yet he stood their waiting for her to close the door. "I'll see you in the daylight sister, goodnight" Zhiya, disappointed from her brother's reaction closed the door in a controlled temper then preceded to bed.

Interested in what Zhiya was looking at outside, Jahull strolled to the window not caring much about the creaks. "What was this girl looking f-" staring directly at the window was one of the formation leaders; as if it knew someone was watching from the window before and patiently waiting for their return. Extending out four arms perpendicular to it's hips, the formation leader wearing an emerald cloak begun oscillate it's arms generating sparks. Hesitant to move Jahull was caught in the mesmerizing motion of the creatures four limbs. With each spark Jahull's body would jolt slightly and with increasing frequency of the energy being created by the formation leader, Jahull's body would move more involuntarily. As if operating a tamper Jahull's body was soon vibrating none stop only to be tackled to the ground.

With a break in the trance the formation leader drifted off between labyrinth of buildings. "JAHULL! JAHULL!" Faint knocking came from the neighbors above and below hinting to Zhiya to lower her voice. "Jahull, speak say something" his body was no longer vibrating but his eyes were completely dilated hiding all the silver. Watching his chest rise and lower and feeling his pulse, Zhiya sat with her brother until he regained consciousness.