Bleak Beauty

By Esme Robina R

The bleakness clad me in darkness that I sunk deep in its intense glare. It seemed like every way out was cut off and I was lost in its labyrinth. There wasn’t a single light, not even a trace. I curled myself up in a corner and waited for some help. I waited and waited; it didn’t come. Drowned in hopelessness I sat still, wishing that my story would be different, filled with wonder and beauty but all was gloomy. I wondered if someone was listening to my story, if I was narrating it or was it just an illusion. Well, where did the wind come from? There must be a way out.

Hope broke the stillness and my stiff body awoke and I started to run. Where? I didn’t know but I ran and ran. Weary and lonely, I came to a halt. This wasn’t doing anything, I was still lost in the gargantuan void. The leaves rustled nearby. I froze. When had leaves come in the picture?

A grim reaper kind of figure stood in front of me. It felt like my eyes were adjusted to look through the darkness. “You look lost,” said the man arrayed in a black long hoodie. I blinked in the darkness unable to speak.

“Sorry, let me introduce myself. I am Dope. Who are you?”

My lips moved involuntarily, “I am Zara and I am not lost.” I lied.

“Want to come to my realm? It’s really dope.”

“But isn’t your name Dope?” I asked.

“Oh, I meant it in an addictive way, implying that my realm is really cool. So what do you say, wanna hang out?” He said.

“Nah, I think I’ll pass, I’m actually looking for something. Thanks for the offer anyway, bye.” I turned to leave.

“If you want to leave this bleakness, then you have to go through my world. But I think you just want to roam in the darkness. Okay then, your wish, it’s not like every day you get invited by the great and awesome Dope. Don’t regret it later. See you.”

“Wait.” I cried. “If I go through your realm, then I can be out of this place?” I asked expectantly.

“Well, of course.” Dope said.

“Alright. I’ll come with you.”

“A great choice Zara, let’s go. Give me your hand.”

I laid my hand on his and it chilled and within a wink, the world around us transformed into an obsessive one. It was so cool that all I could think of was staying in this place. There were lot of appeals that left me wanting more. It was an ongoing thing, I couldn’t stop and I fell for one addiction and then the other. Time flew by and then I realized that I couldn’t think. I saw a faint glow of a flickering butterfly and suddenly I sensed something wrong.

How did I get here and with who? I couldn’t remember. I looked around and saw lots of people like me having fun and at the center of it all I saw a man clad in black and he was laughing devilishly and relishing it all as if he had orchestrated it all and then I knew it was Dope who had grabbed these people in his lair. He had deceived everyone.

I didn’t know if I could escape this place but still I sought an exit. Out of the blue Dope was in front of me. He tried to lure me again but this time I ran and ran until I entered the darkness. And again I ran in the path of the faint breeze that brushed my cheek.

I was exhausted, desolate and starving. “You seem hungry,” said a sweet voice. I turned and faced a young girl with dark, shiny eyes.

I looked at the bread that she was eating and she sighed.

“Here have some, you seem like you might fall anytime.”

“Who are you?” I asked.

“O Sorry! I am Flavour and you must be Zara.”

“Umm…how do you know my name?” I asked suspiciously.

“Just a lucky guess, don’t you wanna escape from this place, come with me I will take you to my realm, there is a door that leads you out of this place,” she replied. “And just so you know I have loads of food, you can regain your strength there, what do you say?”

The food beckoned and my doubts faded and before I knew it, I was in a world filled with all kinds of food. And I couldn’t control myself, I ate and ate and kept on eating. I don’t know till when. A silhouette of a butterfly glowing vaguely tiptoed in the periphery of my eyes.

Spontaneously, a memory came into my mind… me struggling in Flavour’s arms as she dragged me here. Maybe I was drugged…As soon as I came to my senses, Flavour ran to me screaming, “How did your eyes open? That’s impossible.” I saw a faint glow on my right and ran again until I arrived into the darkness.

My supply of hope was running low and my sprit was faint. That’s when I ran into a handsome and an alluring man. All I could was stare. He extended his arm to me and send, “Come. I am Entice and you are mine.”

And I simply went. His realm was super awesome. You could have anything in the world and you could do whatever you want. I was happy and did everything I craved but deep down I was sad and I didn’t know why. “Who am I”, I thought. And the shadowy thought just faded away as I reveled excessively with others.

Days went by and sadness snuck in my life and I didn’t have peace and genuine mirth. My life felt as if it was corrupted by the venom of Entices’ realm. My emotions seemed subdued, I felt like a bot without access to one’s own thinking power. What did it mean? My mind couldn’t comprehend anything.

And then I saw a gleam but I couldn’t reach it. It felt as if I was tied in chains and couldn’t move. I put all my strength to grasp it but to no avail. Tears of fear and pain poured in cascades and I desperately wished for an escape. Unexpectedly I was free and I sprinted towards the gleam as if it were my lifeline. I heard voices shouting as Entice commanded his people to catch me but I did not turn back and with determination I ran.

Again I reached the darkness and I didn’t know what to do. I fell down crying, dejected with my life. I felt filthy and tainted. A feeling of rejection and abandonment seeped in my mind.

Then I saw the vivid light that shimmered and it called me by name. But I felt unworthy to even look or touch it. But it called to me with love that I hadn’t experienced before and I opened my heart towards the light and in a wink I found peace. I couldn’t recall my dejection and I felt free.

That’s when I knew that even tough life is tough and you get caught up in its snare, the light guides you when you least expect. It is rife with magic and enigma. And it can turn the paths of those who earn for a change in their life. Darkness is everywhere, all you have to do is believe and find grandeur in it.

The bleak became a beauty and life turned kaleidoscopic.

By Esme Robina R