Warmth To The Dark

Terrier grasped the corners of the desk tight, haunched over it and trying to pull himself together as he tried to ignore the knocking on the door. It wasn't locked, why didn't he just enter? He did every other time. The tapping was only frustrating him more and stormed up the steps and pulled the door open. To his suprise, for the second time that week, he was staring at a ten year old girl. He shut the door quickly behind him.

"Hi Terrier!" Chloe exclaimed happily, "What are you up to down there?"

"Nothing," he replied quickly, "Boring adult stuff. Your Mum here again?"

"Yeah," she replied, "She's with Uncle Cameron."

Terrier hid a cringe at the fact she was calling the man an uncle, and instead changed the subject quickly, "How'd you like to see my room?"

"Yeah!"she was enthusiastic. She had an energy about her that made even him smile through his recent depression. He led the way down the hall to another room that came off it, his room. It wasn't much, but he slept there. An old wooden bed and dresser, dark curtains to block out the sunlight. He was even lucky enough to have a small stack of books. He watched the little girl walk forwards and draw open the curtains. She turned to him.

"You need sunlight in here so you can see," she commented, "it'll add some warmth to the dark."

Terrier smiled at her absently, without replying. She was so beautiful, and innocent. She shouldn't be in this house. It would only rid her of those qualities.

"You know Terrier, I don't think that name suits you. Do you think I could call you Uncle T?"

The teen blinked and stared at her. Yet while she was here, she was bringing beauty back into his world he seemed to have lost. He had to return that sanity. "Yeah, Uncle T's good."

"Oh Uncle T, we're going to be great friends!"

The boy let a grim smile slip. He didn't want to feed her with false hope, but there was something about her that made him glow inside. It made him want to do what he'd longed to stop: live.

"I tell you what," Terrior replied, discarding his thoughts, "I've got something for you."

He turned to the dresser, and pulled open the top drawer. His eyes fell to the shark tooth necklace that sat curled on top of a pair of socks. He lifted it up and eyed the tooth carefully. He'd worn it the night he'd met Cameron... and never again... he turned back to Chloe.

"I want you to have it."

He watched for a moment as the girl's eyes lit up. That was the start of their friendship together. They just didn't know the toll it would have.

[470 words]