Last Light

By Caroline N. Chandler   

So many promises. So little time.

I raced over the mossy ground.

We’re counting on you, Spark.

My sister, Quietus’s words rang through my mind like bells in the village square. She was right. No one else could do this. I just had to crest the next ridge. Only a few more steps—

“Spark Spaulding!”

I stopped with a groan. I don’t have time for this.

A tall man stepped into my path, an arrow nocked in his bow.

“Not now, Lamond.”

“You agreed to be here two hours ago. You slandered my name and now expect to escape unscathed?”

“Just wait. This is life or death I’m dealing with.”

“Whose death?”

“My sister’s betrothed, Alexei. He’s been cursed with an illness—one not even she can heal—and she’s the most skilled sorceress for miles.” I shifted restlessly. “If we don’t find the cure by the last light of today, he’ll die. We have all the ingredients for the elixir, but it’ll take another hour to distill. We don’t have that.”

“And you plan to what? Stop time?”

“If I get past that ridge and shine my light over town, maybe I can trick the curse.”

Lamond scoffed. “You can’t ‘trick’ magic.”

“I have to try. If I let him die, my sister would never forgive me.”

Quietus’ emotions had always been a bit turbulent.

“Should have thought of that before you insulted me.” He aimed his bow at my chest.

A yellow beam flew from my hands. Lamond fell to his knees, rubbing his eyelids.

I dodged around him, taking off at a run toward the hill.

I hadn’t meant to insult Lamond yesterday. But my quick mouth and racing mind made a dangerous pair. I was running late to pick up the wedding rings from the blacksmith. Lamond had been in my way, and I made a snide comment when I brushed past him. Nothing to cause a scene about.

Except in his world.

Pain jolted up my leg. I tripped to the ground and glanced back to see an arrow protruding from my calf. Grimacing, I jerked it out and limped on.

Nearly dark now.

An arrow zipped overhead. I prayed the next one would also miss.

Suddenly, Lamond was on my back, thrusting my face into the dirt.

“You die today, boy.”

He flipped me over, gripping my neck, pressing hard. I tried to suck in a breath, but my windpipe was forced shut. Darkness clouded over my view—or maybe night had finally fallen.

I tore at his arms. My powers surged in uncontrollable waves, heat and light radiating from my palms.

Lamond yelped and jumped back, his forearms blistered.

“Monster!” He bolted away.

I stared up at the rapidly dimming sky. The clouds, which some moments ago had been ablaze with orange sunlight, were now only dark silhouettes. I needed to rise. Needed to fulfill my promise to Quietus. But my limbs were leaden, and my chest and throat still burned.

I took a deep breath, struggling to my feet as stars brightened above. Cupping my hands together, I formed a little ball of light. It swelled to the size of a large melon. I squeezed my eyes shut against the brightness and colored afterimages emblazoned across my vision.

I had no idea how long I stood there, but I kept the orb glowing until I couldn’t any longer.

Deciding it had been long enough, I let the orb dissipate, and I limped back home, my hands numb.

Ten minutes later, I arrived at my family’s little cottage. Sighing through my ragged windpipe, I pushed open the door.

“Quietus?”

“He’s dead.” My sister’s voice was hard and icy, a stark contrast to her flushed cheeks and watery eyes.

“But you said—”

“He’s dead.”

“I-I’m sorry.” I pulled her into an embrace, letting her cry into my shirt while I held back my own tears. Alexei was to be my brother-in-law in a week, and he already felt like family.

“It should’ve worked. All my books said it should’ve worked,” she mumbled.

“The sky was dark by the time I got up there. I thought I made it, but I don’t know.”

“But you left early enough…”

“Lamond showed up. It cost me some time.”

“Lamond? The one who challenged you? The one you said wouldn’t be a problem?”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know he would—”

She pushed me away. “So, if you hadn’t insulted him, Alexei would be fine?”

“No…” But she was right. My carelessness cost Alexei his life. “I just ran out of time.”

“That’s what you’re always saying. Not enough time.” The accusation in her tone hurt worse than my bleeding leg.

“But—”

She walked to the bookcase, pulling out a dusty tome. “Let’s make sure that never happens again,” she whispered.

The cottage rang with an ominous silence, still as the grave.

“What?”

Her eyes rolled back as she spoke. “Spark Spaulding, you are cursed to roam the universe for eternity.”

I had never heard such dark fury from her before, not even in our worst arguments.

“Never growing older, you will travel always, throughout time, for the rest of eternity, yet banished from the only time you know.”

“Quietus, stop this.” I could barely hear myself over the roar of wind inside the cottage.

“It’s too late. You killed my love.”

“Wait!”

The cottage vanished in a burst of heat and light.

I blinked, and huge, shining buildings towered all around. My boots scraped against rough white stone. And the noise. Constant and fathomless.

I had never seen so many people in one place before. And the clothes! They were all bright colors and odd textures.

Where am I? Or…when am I?

Quietus had said I would be traveling through time. I could only wonder exactly what time I had landed in.

Well, I had plenty of time to find out. That’s all I had now. Too much time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Caroline N. Chandler is a very random person. She likes random things like swing sets, sci-fi with heart, books featuring unfortunate children, and listening to Christian metal. Her random hobbies include sketching, writing (obviously), eating pasta of any kind, and basing her entire personality on her current read. Above everything else, she loves God and believes that all things (yes, even stories) should be made for His glory and the spread of His gospel.

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