The small town was on the edge of the cliff, high in the mountains. There was one path leading to the town, which was watched extremely carefully by the townspeople above.
During the night, a volunteer watches the path with a single lantern. They watch the path and the valley below, and many marvel at the bright lights. The only lights they had were candles and lanterns, and the valley lights seemed to be unnatural in nature.
Tonight was his turn to do the watch, which was his first time. It seemed very straightforward. Although, he did think it was strange that the elders informed him to never speak during his watch until the sun rises.
He lit his lantern with the sacred flame from the town center before the town retired to their homes. As his vow his silence began, he walked to the path entrance. He sat on a small stool, usually used by the older members of the town.
While he was wondering why there needed to be a guard, he heard a small sound come from the path. He stood and looked down the path, holding the lantern out in front of himself.
The sound stopped as the moon shone down on him. Sitting back down on the stool, he thanked his deity that the moon was full that night. The lantern helped, but now he could see farther than usual.
The sound happened again and he held up the lantern again. It sounded like someone was walking up the winding road, but he couldn't see any movement. He wondered if he was allowed to leave his post to investigate, but then the noise ceased.
The wind blew through the few trees along the path, creating an almost deafening hum against the otherwise silent night. He wearily sat back, noticing that every time he seemed to relax the movement was start.
He heard more shuffling. He waited, but as he didn't move, the movement continued. He leaned forward. The noise stopped. After a moment of him leaning forward, the movement slowly started again. He turned his head to see a shadow at the end of the path.
It seemed to be staring at the lantern. He moved it up and down, and what seemed to be the head of the shadow bobbed with the lantern. He frowned, actually terrified of the somewhat intelligent shadow.
While staring at it, the shadow crept forward. As it came forward, it started to shift in shape. Out of the shadow, a little girl appeared and walked toward him. He looked for the shadow, but it had dissipated.
"Sir, I'm lost. Will you tell me how to get back to my village?" the girl asked sweetly.
He held the lantern next to her and frowned. She looked deathly ill, with ashy skin and sunken eyes. However he said nothing in return.
"Sir? I need help. Will you help me?"
He looked around, waiting for something to happen.
"Sir!"
He said nothing as he looked at the little girl. Her eyes were completely black, and she looked angry.
"Don't you ignore me!"
Her voice went unnaturally deep as he stared at her in disbelief. He held up his lantern again to show that he wasn't ignoring her, but she hissed and scrambled backward.
"How dare you!"
He looked down at his lantern, wondering if it was the sacred flame. He held it closer to her and she leaped backward with a shriek.
"Stop that! I need your help!"
He again said nothing, devoted to his vow of silence. He wondered if his silence was the key to his safety.
"If you don't reply, I will die. I need your help!"
Nothing left his lips.
"You bastard! My death is going to be on your hands, and you will have to deal with that for the rest of your life!"
He stepped forward with the lantern, causing the girl to retreat a few more feet.
"Are you mute? Or just dumb? Were you ever able to speak? Or was your intelligence always this low?"
Her words made no difference to his demeanor. He leaned forward with the lantern with a smirk on his lips.
"Have you no heart?"
He simply shrugged before sitting back down. The girl hadn't attacked him or done anything to warrant his fear any longer. He waved his hand, motioning for her to leave.
"How dare you!" she hissed. The girl was angrier than he had ever seen before in anyone. "You think that you can dismiss me so easily? I do not succumb to you, or anyone in your disgusting village!"
He glared, thinking that the name calling was a little unnecessary. She laughed at him and then pointed at him.
"Are you supposed to be the guard? You? The scrawny little boy? How old are you? Ten? Twelve?"
He ignored her taunts and he rested one leg over the other knee.
"Oh no, a teenager! A village trusted you for this job? A lowly teenage boy?"
He bit the inside of his cheek, reminding himself that his silence was his safety. She wanted him to say something.
"And I wonder what your mother thought about leaving you out here all night? What would she do without her little boy?" she cooed, creeping forward. "I wonder if she would take the moment to find someone to warm her bed."
Anger flared in his eyes in a moment of weakness. He threw the lantern at the girl, who shrieked in return. The lantern shattered and lit the path ablaze around her, trapping her. He smiled.
He watched, wondering if the fires would die out and if she would attack. However, she continued her screaming as she dodged the licks of flame. She danced through the night until the sun rose.
When the sun peeked over the mountains, the girl shouted in terror. Within seconds the girl disintegrated in front of him as the fire circle disappeared. He stood, in shock, and found an intact lantern on the ground where the shadow girl was.
He picked it up, noting the sacred flame still burning inside. Smiling, he walked back into the village equipped with the lantern.
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