[ WP ] You live in a world where people 's shadows show who they truly are at their core . Some shadows look like monsters , some look like animals . You are the only person in the world with no shadow .

Now here I lay, in a pool of my own blood that's growing larger by the second. The man with the shadow of the Chimera stands in front of me laughing, while Lauren sits unconscious up against a wall to my right, her mouse shadow cast sadly and weakly before her. Things are getting hazy. Why? Why was I chosen to live this life? No shadow. No identity. No purpose. I'm weak. I'm dying. I was never meant to be, I'm just a blip in the system. A hiccup. Its over. I'd say I had a good run, but I'd be lying. 
 
 My whole life I've been an outcast. Everyone around me lives their lives with their personalities trailing behind them; they wear their shadows like proud badges of who they are, what they stand for, and what they are capable of. Shadows are like an ever present flag of personal nationalism -- the nation of `` Me'' -- and you wave your flag proudly. So you can imagine my distress of having to live without a shadow. I feel... 
 Empty. 
 
 My mother always told me that I was an amazing gift, always telling me not to focus on what was n't there, but rather, what was. She said that I was a light in a world of shadows. Which, surely enough, is how I got my name, Orion, meaning `` light of the heavens.'' 
 
 I want to believe my mother, but I simply ca n't. Life is difficult being a shadowless face in a world dictated by shadows. I've been treated differently my entire life. In school, I was bullied relentlessly by the jackals and the sharks. There was nothing I could do, they were strong, savage and relentless -- qualities I did n't have. Not even those with lion shadows, who were supposed to have kind, strong hearts would help me. Everyone treated me as a monster, never going near me, fearing what they did not understand. Everyone but Lauren. 
 
 Lauren is my only real friend, and the the only person other than my mother who treats me with love. But that is n't too surprising, seeing as Lauren has a mouse shadow. She's timid and reserved, but wants nothing but peace and love. With Lauren's personality there's no shortage of people who will step all over her, which breaks my heart. 
 Funny, I was n't sure I had a heart. 
 
 Lauren and I are walking through town, receiving a significant amount of foul gazes. I can read it on their faces `` Freak.'' `` Weirdo.'' `` Disgrace.'' I notice a man has been following us for a while, but he does n't seem too harmful, and his shadow is a horse, so I'm not worried. How wrong I was. After following us for about 15 minutes, the man runs towards us, swipes Lauren's purse and darts into an alleyway. Lauren goes runs ahead of me after the man. I get to the alleyway just in time to see the man strike Lauren in the face, knocking her out. Now I see what the man's shadow really is. He's a monster. He has the shadow of the Chimera. What the hell do I do now? 
 
 The most terrifying thing about people with monster shadows is that they have the ability to hide their shadow's true form. So now I'm staring down a Chimera -- part lion, part goat, part snake -- a very devious and powerful creature. The man pulls out a knife and begins to laugh wildly. I do n't have the power to face him. 
 What will I do? How can I save Lauren? 
 Well, the answers seem simple. 
 
 I ca n't do anything. I ca n't save Lauren. After all, I'm just a man without a shadow 
 
 The man lunges toward me with a menacing cackle, swinging his knife with ruthless speed. I manage to dodge his swings and we get into a struggle. Then I feel it. The cold steel slips its way into my body. The man's grin widens and his eyes narrow. He rips the blade out to the side, tearing me further. As I slowly fall to my knees, he begins laughing again. 
 
 Now here I lay, in a pool of my own blood. Things are getting hazy. Why? Why was I chosen to live this life? No shadow. No identity. No purpose. I'm weak. I'm dying. I was never meant to be, I'm just a blip in the system. A hiccup. Its over. I'd say I had a good run, but I'd be lying. 
 
 No. I'm done believing that. I wo n't be extinguished. Not yet 
 
 I do n't need a shadow to define me. I have no parameters which I need be confined. The flag I fly is on of freedom and strength of will. I will rise above the shadows. I will become something worth being. I feel the pride of the lion. The strength of the Chimera. I feel the honor of the wolf and the wisdom of the raven. I have the stability of the trees and courage of the human. 
 
 I stand up. I charge at the man with fire in my eyes. 
 
 I have been chosen 
 To walk the world without shadows 
 
 I am the light.
