Night descended quickly across the canyon. I hated it. Moments earlier, the hopeful valley and its tender trees filled me with solace and peace. In this favorite spot, I could slip into a daydream of shady hammocks and lemonade, remembering the gabs and prattles of the untroubled. Friends and family laughing through the humid mist of summer. But now, this black curtain had violated my inner thoughts, devouring the landscape with its terrible pace. On previous evenings, its unnatural speed brought limp anger to bear, a shaky fist held against a dark tsunami. But this time, when the silent flood swept over me, I made a defiant vow.

I’m going to get us out of here.

My tide of emotion drained into the shadows as the minutes wore on. First the passion, then the anger, then the frustration, until I was still again. What remained was a gem of conviction, small yet powerful, a memento of my promise. I held onto it, feeling stability and control, letting my mind return to normalcy.

Night also signaled my return to the austere grotto where I lived with my mom and younger brother. A mother’s worry was not something to ignore, and the tension pulled me out of my brooding thoughts. Rising from my perch, my bare feet barely made a sound in the lifeless night.

Other families arrived just like us, and each claimed a space in the canyon. Faint discussions drifted across the wind. We were family acquaintances plucked out of time and placed in a steep gorge with no apparent exit. None could explain our shared predicament. The hole in our understanding brought hope on the surface but mistrust underneath. Who had placed us here? How long would we stay?

* * *

The flicker of a candle was a beacon to guide me back to the cave, and I paused outside the reach of its light. Meals were served on a flat boulder and Kyle sat on one of the uncomfortable rocks. He picked at his food without enthusiasm and his usual cloud of sullenness thickened the air. Mom was fussing in our makeshift kitchen, showing the burden she carried for all three of us. Closing my eyes, I breathed deeply, remembering my vow. Then I stepped into the cave and my mom turned to greet me.

“Hi sweetie. The Andersons brought over some pancakes! Come on over.”

My stomach simmered with nausea, but I accepted the offered food. We arrived in the canyon with nothing, so we had to beg and borrow the forks and plates we used for tonight’s meal. The rest of her kitchen was a large rock and a single towel, yet she managed to spend significant time cooking and cleaning. I recognized the comfort of a psychological escape, and I hugged her with my free arm, breathing in her hair.

The plate clinked on the boulder as I joined my brother.

“Hey,” I said.

He continued to stare, twisting his fork into a mangled pancake, letting his silence answer for him. I reached across to touch his arm and he recoiled, his face shifting to irritation.

“When are we getting out of here?” he said, turning to his mom.

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She looked at him sternly. “You know that talk is foolishness. We need to make the best of it.”

Kyle stabbed his fork into his food. “But Mom, no one remembers how they got here! Why does night come so quickly? How do we go home?”

“That’s enough!” my mom said, looking wild-eyed and flustered. She turned her back to us and fussed with the kitchen towel, unfolding and refolding it. Her shoulders trembled, and she lifted a hand to her face, brushing away tears. Kyle’s fork scraped viciously on the plate, as if he wanted to gouge his way to freedom. The grating noise cascaded off the walls, tearing at our sanity.

“Kyle, stop it!” I said.

The fork released and it flew off the plate, pancake erupting onto the boulder. He leapt from his seat and let out a strangled cry as he ran into the night, his arms flailing behind him.

My mom and I locked eyes, sharing that neither of us was in a caretaking mood. But this haunted world was not home, and although it had always seemed empty, we did not want a nighttime predator to prove us wrong.

“Maya, go!” she said, as she unfolded the towel and folded it again, not holding my gaze. She sniffed and her eyes appeared to be lost in an old memory. I left the pancake and followed after my brother, taking on the love that my mom was unable to give.

“Kyle!” I called, following the crashing noises in the undergrowth.

A muffled “Go away!” came from the darkness, and I pursued more swiftly towards his voice. Minutes went by as I traced the sounds of Kyle’s passage, and I thought of my earlier vow. The precious gem of conviction was already slipping away, and I was afraid it would slip through my fingers in between breaths. A little skip and this world would steal back my power.

A yell of pain startled me, and my heart quickened.

“Kyle!” I called again.

“Maya!” he shouted, and I spotted him on the ground ahead.

Catching up with him, I looked him over. He appeared pitiful with tears staining his face. I quickly inspected his body for injury 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 left my side. 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!”

He glanced at me, paused, then reached out stubbornly to touch the light. I watched in horror as his fingers started disappearing, followed by his entire hand.

“Maya, what’s happening?” he said, his voice filled with shock. He attempted to pull back but his hand was stuck. The silver light continued to dissolve 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!” he yelled, and he struggled vigorously, his shoulder connecting with my jaw. The blow knocked me down and my head struck the earth. Stars swam in my vision and I looked at Kyle’s face one last time. Then his entire body snapped out of existence.

Silence rang in my ears, and my heart stopped. He was erased from view, a gust of air carrying the last of his presence. The light remained unperturbed, exuding power and indifference. I stared directly at it, hoping to see a trace of Kyle. But within the mirrored surface, I only saw a reflection of myself, staring back.