Teaser

Dark. It was dark.

The man opened his eyes. The painful feeling in his side transformed his face in an ugly grimace. His hand instinctively reached for his ribs and his fingers felt a sticky liquid. He followed the course of the blood oozing from his body and his hand touched the puddle of blood beneath him. Suddenly, he felt nauseated but couldn’t turn on his side to vomit. The warm liquid ran down his cheek, dripping onto his neck.

He heaved with his arms in desperation and managed to turn onto his good side. He slowly rotated his head, eyes scanning all around.

Dark. Everything was dark.

Forcing his eyes to stay open, he perceived rocks all around him as well as trees. If he had been able to look up, he probably would have seen stars shining over his head. Stars could be better seen in the mountains he remembered.

He tried moving again. The effort produced only a strangled cry of anguish. He felt his strength abandoning him.

Tears started to roll down his cheeks. This expedition into the mountains was about to cost him his life. In the distance, he imagined he could see the lights of the town.

Here, everything was dark.

He closed his eyes again and gave up the struggle. His hand, groping, seized onto a chain hanging from his neck. His fingers ran along the links and closed around a pendant he gripped with what little strength left he had. His lips, barely open, weakly formed words that came from the depths of his throat.

“Fugaces labuntur anni(1) …”

The man’s eyes opened once more and the words came resolutely.

“Cor unum et anima una(2) “

Louder.

“De profundis clamavi(3) “

Faster.

“Dis aliter visum(4) “

“Manet alta mente repostum(5) “

He suddenly choked yet again.

“Pulvis et umbra sumus(6) “

“Per inania regna(7) “

His grip loosened.

His eyes slowly closed one last time. Darkness became absolute.

“Et tenebrae factae sunt(8) “

Behind the dead body, illuminating the dark night, a white flash of light suddenly materialized, quickly turning fire orange.

Notes :

1. Years quickly fade away
2. One heart, one soul
3. From the depths I implore
4. Gods have decided otherwise
5. Memories remain deeply engraved in my heart
6. We’re just shadow and dust
7. In the kingdom of darkness
8. And shadows are there