"Oh, you're back again," The darkness crooned.

The smile in its voice was palpable,

"How long have you come to play?"

Vidya's arms outstretched before her as she stumbled into the blackness -- feeling for the walls of the familiar inky coridor.

Almost instantaneously, pools of light flooded around her, illuminating the thick muddy walls and swamp-like paths. Everything she touched began to gl...

The yellowness leaked into the corners of the crypt, signaling that it was Above day.

I stretched myself in preparation, giddy with possibility.

Perhaps today would be the day.

Perhaps I wouldn't be alone anymore.

_3..._

_2..._

_1..._

I lurched my body into yellow, pushing up and against the sand as it flooded around me. There was a slight resistance before the sudden break, and then I was...

I waited for you

I walked for miles with worn ankles and shoulders burnt from the sun's gravelly rays

I waded in the shallowest grave of discernment

I struck matches against my fingernails

and drowned in solitude

I waited for you

pretending to be lighter than I am

more gawdy

more willing

pretending to know love like tendrils of muscle

the tempered underbelly

pretending to have feeling

I waited fo...