Shades and Shadows - Part One

A catastrophe, is one way of describing it. People just kept dropping like flies one day. Everyone just collapsed dead on the ground. And now, two strangers in San Luis Valley, Colorado are forced into a climatic battle over the fate of their family.

~Part One~

Marlena Ford woke to the screams of her five year old daughter, and rushed to her side. Rebecca had been having night terrors for the past couple of weeks, and Marlena had no idea what was triggering them. She had taken her to the doctors several times before, but without avail.

Rebecca would describe horrible creatures that come to her at night clawing at her legs, arms, and face. The signs of these supposed "attacks" did leave visible marks on Rebecca's body. The doctors dismissed them as being self-inflected injuries, and that they were common with night terrors. Some doctors would perscribe mild tranquelizers, but Marlena didn't like the fact of medicating her daughter.

"Mommy, they're back!" cried Rebecca,

"It's alright honey, I'm here. No one can hurt you now." replied Marlena,

"No mommy, they're outside. The monsters are outside."

"There are no monsters outside honey. It's only a dream."

"But mommy, you're not listening. Look outside."

Marlene was puzzled at how calm and collected her daughter was that night. It was as if she was sure she saw something. She decided to check outside Rebecca's bedroom window, just to reassure her that there was nothing to fear. And just as she reached the window, she saw them. They were scatted all around the yards and streets. Hundreds and hundreds of dark figures laying still on the ground. The sheer shock of the scene sent Marlene darting to the front door.

"Stay in bed honey. I'll be right back." said Marlene,

As she reached the door he hesitated a bit. She kept telling herself that she must be seeing things, but the truth of the matter is that she wasn't. She opened the door and there they were. They were everywhere. Marlene walked out into the yard with her hand covering he mouth, as the figures began to come into focus. Branded like cattle, the "monsters" Rebecca was talking about to were people. People with bloodshot eyes, pale skin, and white hair. There was Amanda, her 72 year old neighbor, Marcus, her daughters schoolmate, and Jeanine, Marlene's best friend since high-school. What had happened to them is a mystery that, Marlene decided, she doesn't want to uncover.

She ran upstairs, grabbed a few clothes from her and her daughters cupboard and tossed them in an old bag. She carried her daughter and headed to her 1992 Jeep Cherokee. She started the engine and just sat there for a while, trying to process what was happening. There was no warning, nothing on the news, the radio's dead, her phone didn't work. What was happening to her was the stuff nightmares are made of. She kept telling her daughter to cover her eyes. She put the car into gear, clasped her hand on the steering wheel, pushed her foot down on the accelerator, and dove off into the night.


As she drove off into the distance, two words echoed in her mind. Two words that would give her hope for a better future. Two words that would keep her going. One of them is faith, and the other is love.