The shadow descended across the landscape. I hated it. Its progress marked the return to the caves where I lived with my younger brother and mother. I sat in my favorite lookout spot, overlooking the canyon below. A deep feeling of dread and despair rose within me. I choked back a tear as I saw the shadow move swiftly across the landscape. I’m going to figure out why we’re here.
Walking back towards our family’s cave, I said hello to my family. Kyle was his usual sullen self, brooding over his meal. Our dinner table was a flat rock in the cave, and we were using some large rocks as uncomfortable stools.
My mom greeted me. “Hi sweetie. Look, I’ve got your favorite! One of the families came from a party and it was breakfast-themed. They have pancakes!” she said, and she offered me a plate. My stomach was still in knots as I stopped and looked around our sad cave. We arrived with nothing, so we had to beg and borrow for everything. I sat down next to my brother and looked at the pancakes.
“Thanks, mom.” I replied, fingering at my plate. I took a few bites.
Kyle pushed away his food and asked, “When are we getting out of here?”
She looked at him sternly. “You know that talk is foolishness. We’ve got to make the best of it.”
Kyle stabbed his fork into his food. “But none of us have any memories before a month ago! And new people keep arriving every day! What is up with these caves? Why does it get dark so quickly? How do we go home?”
“That’s enough!” my mom said, looking wild-eyed and flustered. She turned her back and fussed in our makeshift kitchen. It was nothing more than a pitcher of water, a few plates and cups, and some utensils. I could see her brushing away tears.
Kyle leaped from the stone table. “I want to go home!” he yelled, and he ran out into the darkness.
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My mom and I locked eyes. We agreed we would never go outside after sunset, and definitely not alone.
“Maya! Go!” she yelled.
I ran after my brother into the night, stumbling my way through the darkness. There was no moon, but only a faint light, as I called for my brother. “Kyle! Kyle!” I screamed. There was a muffled, “Go away!” in the distance and I ran towards the sound. Minutes went by, and I realized we must be far from our cave. I had no idea where we were anymore and didn’t know how we would find our way back.
I heard a yell of pain a little way ahead, and my heart quickened. “Kyle!” I called out again.
“Maya!” he shouted, and I spotted him on the ground.
I caught up with him and looked him over. He had tears staining his face and he looked pitiful. I quickly inspected him and found it was only a scrape. Glaring at him, I began to scold. “Kyle, you -”
A bright light suddenly illuminated the sky. Shielding my eyes, I looked away until I could see clearly again. When I turned around, Kyle had disappeared. I swiveled and spotted him in front of a bright, silver light which extended far off into the distance.
“Kyle, what are you doing? Get back here!” I said, as I ran towards him.
Kyle looked at me, paused, then stubbornly reached out to touch the light. I watched in horror as it immediately started eating away his fingers, then his entire hand.
“Maya, what’s happening?” he said, his voice filled with shock. He tried to pull away, but his arm was stuck. The silver light continued to eat away at Kyle’s arm, and it reached his shoulder as I arrived to help. I tried to pull him away, but the light had an immovable grip.
“Help!” Kyle yelled, and he began struggling vigorously, his shoulder connecting with my jaw. I stumbled and fell, hitting my head on the ground. Stars swam in my vision as I tried to get back up. I looked at Kyle’s face one last time, and then his entire body snapped out of existence.
Where Kyle had been, there was only empty space. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. The light he had touched was still there, and I looked up at it, hoping to see him. But the only thing I saw was a reflection of myself.
I got to my feet, holding my throbbing head, and looked at the mirror as it stretched far off into the distance. Apart from me, the only thing it showed was a reflection of the canyon below.