Lost Sun

The light had been gone for years now. Our torches provided some small area we could dare to call somewhat safe. Ever since the sun went black, we haven't been the top species. The dwellers hunted in the dark, some of them got hungry enough to brave the light long enough to grab one of us. Most of the time they left us alone if we had light. Tonight wasn't any different to any other night. It'll be quiet, dangerous, and most of all, restless. I had first watch, It'd been a while since my last watch but I was ready. I sat on one of the water buckets we had, my crossbow was already loaded amd ready for any of the lurkers that decided we looked like easy prey. It was only one shot but that's all we needed. Killing a dweller is unheard of but we can scare them. The light works most of the time but the ones that get brave, or hungry, enough to endure the light just need a poke to break them. The silence always gets to me. I had forgotten how much I hated being on watch. It's the kind of silence that deafens you. The kind that burrows into your skull, hollows it out, and fills it with all the wrong memories. I was a married man once. I wish I could say the Dwellers killed her. No, one of those damned leeches ran into our camp and dragged her out. It bit her and left her to seize and scream as it's disease took her. I told the others I couldn't find her. I told them she was gone. I couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger before she turned. I couldn't. I still see her sometimes. She's different now, she's been eating well. It was during this deep thought that I heard something, the sound of a twig snapping. I whip around, pointing my crossbow where I heard it. Obviously, I can't see anything in the pitch blackness beyond our torch light, but that's why we have glow sticks. I reach into my jacket pocket and produce one. Snapping and shaking it, I toss the light towards the origin of the sound. I see a few dwellers run away from the light, their screeching filling the night. The others haven't had enough sleep to be anything other than heavy sleepers so no one roused. Then I saw her. She stood there, blood covering her body as she tilted her head. My crossbow was aimed right at her. All I need to do is pull the trigger. She takes a step closer. I just need to squeeze. Another step. Just pull the trigger. Another step. I need to pull the trigger! Another step. I drop the weapon. I fall to my knees. I can't do it. I still can't do it. Even though I know it won't kill her, I can't pull the trigger. She steps even closer. Maybe she isn't hungry. Step. Maybe she's lonely. Step. Maybe she's come to take me away. Step. We could be together again. Step. Soon. It'll all be over soon.