From Light Unto Darkness

We drove.

And drove.

From light that faded to darkness, we drove.

I sat basking in the warm rays of the sun that sang through the windows like a harmonious laugh. Nicco drove at the front, staring at the road under the shadows that touched his face with cool fingers. Olrick was reading some maps and stuff on his phone.

I slept for a while, the tiredness of the days past overwhelming my senses until I could breathe no more. The car’s tires hummed along the road until I opened my eyes once more.

Welcome to Idaho!

A sign greeted us in cheery procession. Idaho. We were in Idaho. We had moved through four different states and now we lay in Idaho. I couldn’t help but let my heart skip a beat. Look how far I’ve come…

The landscape where we drove was barren and unfamiliar. Shrinking in my seat was the only way I could feel away from the territory that I did not know. I closed my eyes and willed sleep to crash over me like tidal waves.

“We’re here.”

I opened my eyes as the words echoed through my dark mind. Yawning, Nicco helped me out of the car and to stand by myself. He passed me a small smile, one that made me blush and look down to my shoes.

We stood in front of a barn just off a dirt road. No wonder the car had bounced and jiggled while I slept! Nicco whispered some words to Olrick, who quickly took the car and drove off, leaving a whisper of dirt in his wake, the last sight I would have of him for the time being.

I looked around nervously. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. I had allowed myself to be taken from my home willingly, but was that such a smart thought? Nicco took my hand, lacing his fingers through mine. Another course of blushing heat sparked my veins.

Nicco led the way into the little barn with the slots in the roof just big enough to see the sun. Little rays of sun peered through the wood enough to illuminate the dim room. Nicco looked to a wall, flipping the switch with his free hand.

Lamps and hanging lights filled the barn. The floor was wood and looked as if someone had recently brushed all the debris outside. There were rugs and stairs to lead to what might be a bedroom in the loft. There was a small kitchen section and faucet. It had all the necessities.

“Is this where you live?” I asked him. Nicco nodded.

“Furnished it myself. I run my operations out of here.” He gestured. His hand tightened around mine in a protective way. I smiled lightly. At least he seemed like a nice guy.

“What now?” I asked softly. The boy dragged me alongside him as he led me like a puppy to the stairs. We climbed them together as he explained, “You’ll live upstairs in the guest bedroom. Over the next few months, I’ll train you how to disarm and attack your opponent. We have to always be aware for attacks from the Greys.” He explained. I looked at him curiously.

“The Greys?”

“The grey men.” We stepped into the bedroom. It was simply furnished. There were two beds, each with a dresser and side table. There were no pictures on the wall, only a little bulletin board. A bookshelf had historical non-fiction books on the top shelf.

“I have a little karate training, if that helps.” I gulped. Nicco turned to me, dropping my hand. I longed to pick it back up once more. He was a comforting, soothing source.

“Oh, for sure.” He whispered before turning to his bulletin board, taking a pencil, and scratching out something.

I think I could live here.

**
One Year Later…

Sweat was dripping off my brow. The world was spinning but my target was in focus. Nicco grinned devilishly as his blade swung towards me. I easily dodged it and made a flying leap towards his torso, knocking him down.

“Good! Good! Aim higher, next time.” He corrected me as I rolled off wiping my forehead. The beads quickly fell to the mats of the training floor back in the corner of the barn.

“Thanks, Nic.” I grinned. He twisted the blade in his and before setting it back on a rack of other assorted dangerous items. There were guns locked in safes that the man had taught me to shoot. There were swords glimmering under the sun streaming through the windows that I was shown how to swing.

Everything and anything became my weapon.

For the past year, Nicco had trained me non-stop. Every afternoon, we’d spends four hours warming up, practicing different techniques, and sparring together. Some days would be more bruising than others, but all were well spent.

Some of my favorite days were the ones where Nicco would take me to the mowed field out back and give me a variety of different items, from junk lamps and chairs he had found in trips to the town miles from here to small objects, such as pencils, pens, and even hairbrushes. Everything became my weapon.

I was taught different pressure points to cause extreme pain, those to knock an opponent out, and the ones to paralyze. There were spots that if you hit hard enough, would kill a man instantly.

At first, Nicco attempted to get me into close up attacks, such as doing hand to hand and rushing in to combat. No, we had figured out soon enough that it wasn’t my strong point. Sure, I could hold myself in a spar against him for about five minutes, but I’d have to retreat and I struggled to be in close range with a foe.

It was three months ago when we found my strong point: Traps and ranged combat. I could shoot well with a bow. My best weapons were arrows and anything I could set up to be used later, such as nets, Indian rabbit traps, and darts.

Every few weeks, we took one day out of our schedule to go and play my favorite game. Hide-and-seek was the game that I could beat Nicco at. But instead of calling it that, we called it Light and Darkness.

He was the Darkness. I was the Light. He was the Greys. I was the good guy, hunting them down.

We would travel out to a new location every time we played the game. I would always get to the place first, so I had about ten minutes to set up any traps or hide in any place that I wanted to. Usually, I took two minutes to scout out and find the highest place in the location. From there, I would take any available rope and make Indian rabbit traps, which were just a basic leg trap to tangle the legs and make the prey immobile. That and nets. On the rare occasion I could find such a prize, I would make net traps. They almost always worked.

The point of the game was that Nicco would come through the location, trying to ‘tag’ me. I would hide and try to capture him before he could find me. Sometimes I took him out with blunt arrows, but most of the time the traps worked their magic.

“Zila!” He called from the couch. I snapped out of my thoughts, trotting over to him. “Sit.” He gestured. I smiled and lay down on the couch, putting my head in his lap like a little puppy. His hand stroked my hair gently. Humming happily, I nuzzled my head back into his chest, begging for more.

Nicco smiled down at me as I caught his eye. I could help but match his grin. His fingers tangled into my hair, gently brushing it out.

This was our usual routine. I’d lay down on the couch with my head in his lap as he read a book or watched TV or relaxed. He’d mumble something about sending scouts out for a certain target or tell me about the latest sightings of the Greys that his men had reported.

They never came here, his scouts. He told me about them, but he never had them here. I begged to see them, but Nicco would shake his head and drop the subject. I’ve never seen them, but they always bring news.

Nicco shifted his weight, pulling me up so that he could lay down on the couch with me lying between his legs, head under his chin. I absentmindedly ran my hands over his biceps, seeing the veins pop out of his muscles. He kissed the top of my head and ran his fingers down my spine.

“My dear, I have news of another Grey in the area. This one, he is close.” He told me sweetly. I looked up at him, green eyes shining.

“Nic, where is he? Is he near us?” I asked excitedly. Nicco has told me many things about the Greys. Many things, terrible, terrible. The boy nodded in response.

“He is very near. He rides with other men, all other Greys. They are unusual, my sweet. They do not wear much grey clothing, for they are more dangerous.” He hissed the word, as if the thought of the evil men pained him. I looked to his face for more information. His lips pursed in thought.

“What are they like? What do they wear? What have they done?” I couldn’t help but contain the questions. Nicco gave me a stern glance that said I must be quiet. I shut my mouth. I rested my arms on his chest, tilting my head in patient curiosity.

“They ride together, five of them. They wear dark clothing, typically black. The men are high profile figures, so taking them out will not be easy, but I’m working with Olrick to get their records cleared for the big hunt.” He stroked my cheek, his fingers running along my neck and making me shiver. My neck was always a sensitive spot.

“But what have they done?” I whispered. Nicco tangled his hands in my hair, running his nails along my scalp.

“They take little girls like you. They would’ve taken you, my pretty girl. They would’ve taken you and they would’ve sold you for things that violate and destroy people. They would’ve raped and killed you, my precious darling.” He cooed. My face fell, but at the realization of what he was talking about, my frown turned to anger and rage.

“Did they take her? Did they take my mom?” I growled. Nicco cupped my face gently.

“I’m sure of it.” He whispered. My fists balled around his shirt until Nicco lifted my face. I met his dark orbs, anger clouding my vision.

“Let me go after them, Nicco. Let me take them out. You said I could have a mission soon! Let me take them out and let me find my mother!” I pleaded. Nicco thought.

“I am not sure you’ve had enough training…”

“Please! Let me kill them! Let me spill their blood and get my answers! I need to find her, you know that, Nicco! Let me kill them and let me put my practice to good use!” I pleaded. Nicco’s fingers traced my jaw, easing my anger just slightly.

He seemed to be thinking before a smirk slowly spread across his face. “You really want this, don’t you?”

I nodded. “Nicco, I need this.” I whispered. His eyelids shut over his dazzling orbs, pensively examining every possible outcome, like he always did when it came to these situations.

Normally, he’d send his scouts to take out the Greys that he could find. For the past six months, I had begged and pleaded for Nicco to let me go out, just on one mission. But no, Nicco had refused every request.

“Fine. I want you to take out just one, the leader of that squadron of Greys. The rest of the scouts will take over the days after.” Nicco relented. I squealed in joy!

I can finally take revenge!

“Please, who is it? Who must I take out?” I asked quickly. Nicco’s hands ran across my back as I grinned down at him.

“His name is Austin Carlile. Take him out, and the others shall fall easily.” I nodded to his words.

“I shall find him and I shall kill him. Easily done.”

“Remember, my dear. We are the Light. We are the good guys. When shadow and light meet, light shall always defeat the shadows.” He whispered. I nodded.

“I am the Light.” I whispered. He leaned up, pressing a kiss to the corner of my lips. My cheeks heated a bright red. He seemed to revel in my reaction.

“Austin is in a band, a very high profile band. Use caution when taking him out. You’ll leave tomorrow to get to the town on time. You are my girl, mine and only mine. I don’t want anything to happen to you.” He grabbed my hips roughly, affirming it. I whimpered a little bit before nuzzling under his chin.

“I love you, Nicco.” Tentatively, I waited for his reaction. He wasn’t a very affectionate person, but I loved him and I knew he loved me.

“I love you too, Zila.”

Notes

Hello everyone! Don't forget to comment/vote/subscribe to this story! It's going to get a lot more interesting now that we have a target!

But here's an interesting question!!!!

Wasn't Austin Carlile one of the good guys in Rage? Wasn't he helping Rory out?

Why are they now hunting him? What has he done?

Ohhhh and aren't Nicco and Zila soooo cute together :) Comment what you think below!!