[ WP ] Torn lives in a world constantly kept alight by bright lights to stop 'them ' claiming people in the darkness , he has never known any different . When walking home one night along a long stretch of road under the bright lights they slowly begin to go out , one by one ...

The whistle blew, and the familiar sound of the workers downing tools began. The low murmur of conversation mumbled around The Shed as they trooped out, red overalls greasy and nails blackened. Nora merged in to the mass headed for the door, eyes down. Guards, faceless and nameless, barely watched as they shuffled in to the twilight air. 
 
 This was Nora's favourite time of the day at her favourite time of year. The leaves were just starting to fall and the air felt as crisp as the ground beneath her feet. The Shed was so stuffy, so confined. The shock of the night air as it found the sweat on her neck brought a shiver. She looked up to the sky. 
 
 Twilight. Everything about twilight is whimsical. The dark blue of the Sky fading to yellows and greens as the deep black advances westward. The still moments as the world pauses. Silhouettes of strangers. It's fleeting - twilight never lasts long. The lighting system should come on immediately but there's always a delay. Nora wished it would last just a few more minutes tonight. The stars were just beginning to show. The siren was just beginning to wail. The drawn out howl that warns daylight is over. The humming began to build, the lights were coming on. The stars were extinguished. Nora looked back to the floor. 
 
 Nora walked back alone. With her family living so close to The Fence there weren'tmany neighbours. The other workers of The Shed filtered down to the town, only the traces of their tired conversation left in the electric coloured night. 
 
 The walk home was a familiar one. All the paths on this side of the district were red, dusty earth. She dragged her feet through the soft parts, a satisfying feeling to leave a dust trail in her wake. The Fence, lit by its yellowing lights, a familiar landmark. She walked with it at her side, ignoring the guards at the one gate she passed twice a day as they ignored her. She would often look through in to the murky darkness beyond, imagining what lay onward. It looked so peaceful, so free. Sometimes she would stop and look for too long and frighten herself, then she would walk home a little faster than usual. Once you start thinking of the stories, it's difficult to stop. She thought of them now; the things in the dark. Thought of them watching, maybe even following. That urgent walk was starting to show as she saw the front door of home. The dusty, wooden house a safe haven from monsters with no names. She closed the door without looking back. 
 
 Nora hung her dirty orange jacket in the hall and wandered to the kitchen. Her mother had left some stew in the bowl on the wooden kitchen table. In was thinner than usual, and the rations were getting smaller every week. After so many hours in The Shed Nora knew she should be hungry, but it was if her body was too tired to eat. She let down her hair, soft brown curls that fell over her eyes and discarded dust on to the table. Mournfully, she ate. 
 
 `` Nora? ``, her mother called to her. `` Hello, sweetheart''. Her mother, slight and petite, slid in to the seat next to her. 
 `` Hi, mom'', she motioned to the stew in front of her.,'' Thank you''. 
 `` It's not much, I know'', a look of sadness in her brown eyes, `` and we do n't have wood to burn to heat it back up. I'm sorry''. Nora gave her a smile of thanks. 
 `` It's ok, it's good''. Her mother smiled and stroked her hair, leaving the table to climb the stairs to bed. Nora looked out of the window over her food. The light outside shone dimly. 
 
 `` Nora!'' Darkness. `` Nora, something's wrong!''. Something was definitely wrong. Something was different. Her mother was at her bed, shaking her, voice strained but quiet. `` Nora, please!''. Nora was awake, alert. Something is wrong. Something is very wrong. `` Nora, the lights are out!''. 
 Nora looked around the room in panic. Nothing. Just stillness and her mothers voice. No lights. There were no lights. It was dark. Nora was out of bed and getting dressed. `` What do we do, Nora?'' 
 `` We have to get to town, we're too close to The Fence here''. Nora did not want to leave the comforting walls of her house, but the proximity of The Fence frightened her. 
 `` We ca n't go out in to the dark, Nora'', her voice almost pleading, `` we ca n't''. Somewhere in the distance somebody was shooting. 
 `` It's safer in town than here'', she finished getting dressed, `` and it's safer to go now''. She felt around the bed for her mother who was clinging helplessly to the wall. `` Come on, mom, we have to go''. Her mother gave a whimper, and Nora felt cold fear run through her. Her mother was scared. She helped her down the stairs. 
 
 The outdoors yawned into a blackened expanse outside of the front door. The silhouettes of the fields no longer inviting. They were terrifying, holding unknowns. The world looked foreign to her. She looked both ways, took her mother under her arm, and quickly left down the dirt road towards The Shed. Nora did n't dare to look at The Fence as they stumbled parallel in the night, their vision improving just enough to see no guards at the gate. The gate looked ajar. Nora forced herself not to look. The was a glow coming from town, orange and red, flickering here and there. The workers were making their own light. They were burning. Shots were ringing out quicker now - some solitary, some in bursts, but still sporadic in nature. They hurried on. 
 `` Stop!'' The unexpectedness brought Nora and her mother to the floor with a cry. `` Stay still!'' 
 `` Please! ``, shouted Nora, the only word she could force from her closing throat. `` Please!''. Somebody was approaching. The voice was male, the footsteps heavy, the silhouette approaching. `` Help, please'', she begged as tears pricked her eyes. A rough hand picked her up and dragged her to her feet. Nora kept hold of her mother, half dragging her up with her. 
 `` Are you a citizen?'' The voice was rough. It had edges as a workers hand would have calluses. Nora was lost. `` I work at The Shed, please help us''. More men approached from the same direction. They had weapons. `` Take these, too''. A voice in the dark. `` Put them in the town with the rest''. 
 
 The walk to town was at a forced pace. Hands holding their arms, Nora and her mother were half dragged up the track to the turning towards town. The glow was getting brighter. The sounds of flames crackling on the edge of hearing until Nora could see the red pulsing through the smoke. The Shed was burning. She looked on in horror, catching her mothers face wide eyed in the burning light. Everything had changed. They locked eyes for an instant. Something has gone horribly wrong. They arrived in town. More men, mostly armed. They watched impassively as they were lead the the centre. There was light here. It shone on the rest of the workers gathered there. The armed men stood on the perimeter, guarding. But not guarding outward. They were watching the workers. Where were the normal guards? Nora and her mother was pushed towards the crowd. A voice was beginning to shout. The crowd hushed down. A tall man, thick set, walked out of the other armed men. He had a rough look, bearded and windswept. He carried no weapon, but carried himself as a warrior. 
 
 `` Settle down,'' he began, `` we are not here to hurt you. We are here to help you.'' A small scraping feet from the crowd as the workers looked at each other, Nora found her mothers hand. `` Your guards are gone. Cast off your shackles, and leave this place with us. Rise up from your oppressors, and find freedom with us!'' He looked at the silent workers, still mostly dirty. The workers looked back, and to each other. `` Leave with us,'' he continued, `` and leave this life of slavery behind''. 
 
 Silence. Deafening silence. The workers looked at each other, and then to the ground. A young man Nora recognised from The Shed stepped forward. 
 `` Leave with you?, he raised a finger, `` out there?'' 
 `` Yes, far away from here'' said the speaker. `` Why would n't you?'' 
 `` Because we ai n't got no light!'' Shouted a woman on the other side of the group. 
 `` Then we'll leave in the dark!'' Shouted the speaker, drawing a laugh from the armed men standing around us. 
 `` We ca n't go in the dark, the monsters will get us'' shouted another incredulous voice. `` The Senate has to keep our lights on to stop them coming in''. A murmur of approval for an instant. 
 A wry smile played on the speakers face. `` Well,'' he looked around to his followers, `` to the Senate, we are the monsters in the dark''. 
 
 
 
 

