《Dark & Light》


 Chapter 1 : No Justice

    Everything in this world has some contrast balance. Thus create harmony with two opposite things.


    Good and Bad.


    Tolerance and Grudge.


    Diligent and Slothful.


    Envy and Sincere.


    Beautiful and Ugly.


    Even Life and Death.


    Every Aspect has to be equal to protect the strict rule the Mighty One set in stone. Therefore All-Mighty creates two being that able to contains and stable them. Balance two opposite things from the world, Dark and Light.


    "So, Do you think you''re Balanced enough in your life?"


    ***


    Every single person on earth didn''t own equality from the moment they were born.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Said the mind of a teenage girl in her class wearing a school uniform, thick red-framed glasses, and two braids on each of her shoulders. She''s only looked at the desk in front of her, feeling sad and miserable. The desk that full of garbage on top of it and inside the girl''s bag. But surprisingly, she''s not angry.


    There''s always someone more fortunate than you are. And the more pitiful than you exist too.


    A group of girls that caused trouble chuckled softly, trying hard to suppress the urge for laughing out loud. And then from-distance far-enough so the smell is bearable for them, one of them said.


    "Oh! I''m sorry, I thought your desk and bag was the new trash bin." Then all of them burst out laughing.


    Foul odor from her desk made every student stay away from her, ignoring the poor girl in their sight. Maybe, they''re afraid it''ll be their turn next time if they tried to help the pitiful classmate.


    The grown-ups always say Justice will Prevail. But no, there''s no such word in my eyes.


    There''s no Justice in this world.


    ***


    The school was long over. The clouds were turned more reddish as time flies. There''s no student insight that dusk, only the glasses girl slowly walked on the front page. One and Half hours needed to dry her bag so she could bring it home. At the School Gate, someone is standing still on their back from the girl. A man fiddled with his phone.


    He heard the sound of rustling from the shoes walking by behind. Then he stopped playing with his smart-phone and turn around to her.


    "Let''s go home together, Arisa."The teenage boy said with a smile on his face. He has waited for the girl-Arisa for almost two hours now.


    "Ravi?! Were you waiting for me?" Shocked, Arisa replied. Ravi reacted with a nod. Still with the smile on his face. Arisa returned him with her smile, a smile with a different mean on her face.


    ''His name is Ravi Ashford. He is my little brother. He is a smart, diligent, gifted person in every aspect, good-looking, and has a kind heart.''


    Arisa and Ravi walked through the city. Arisa walked timidly in front of him as he is following her. The sides road begun to become dark, and the street bulb started popping light on every corner of the street, dropping a light spot on the sidewalk.


    Sometimes, cars headlight directed towards them. Couldn''t help the brightness. They blinked as intense light goes through their eyes.


    ''He is a person who was born with many fortunes in his life.''


    Arisa is still talking to herself about Ravi as they climbed the pedestrian bridge. Above, they could see all the lights in the city have lit.


    ''He has many friends. Everybody liked him.''


    ''As anyone would, I love him pretty much. He is my proud little brother. But sometimes my mind says to me that...''


    As the noise of vehicles below continued to pass by, her minds wander until she found the facts that.


    ''I want him to disappear...''

 Chapter 2 : The Fake

    Both of them walked through the alley back home. Ravi and Arisa didn''t say anything. But his stare held a lot of meaning. Mainly, He''s staring at Arisa''s bag. Soon, the two will reach the intersection of the roads. As they arrived, both stopped walking. The right crossbar-board said St. Maria Hospital, while the left said Asoka Street. Arisa and Ravi stood there in a couple of seconds. And then, Ravi broke the cold silence with his words.


    "I... wants to visit mom in the hospital. Do you want to come with me?" Said Ravi with a doubtful tone. As if he said something that Arisa will hate hearing.


    ''As he said, our mother has blood cancer. It has been one year since her hospitalization. Because the spinal surgery didn''t work last year, She has a total paralyze now. It seems dead of our father still burden her until now.'' Arisa said in her mind.


    ''How many days, how many weeks, and months it is since I didn''t visit her? Even I pay a visit to her now. I don''t think she will be happier than Ravi''s visit.''


    ''And I''m sure of it. mom doesn''t want to see me after what I have done...''


    Arisa started to step her feet on the left road. That''s a clear rejection of his brother''s question.


    "You know, The Doctor said mom only has three months left..."Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    What Ravi said made Arisa freeze on the ground. Then complete silence struck her mouth.


    "Since dad has died, you always be like this... You didn''t want to visit mom. Never once open up your heart to us." Ravi started to talk.


    "You always restrain what you''d feel from us with the fake smile you''ve shown me earlier."


    "Do you hate mom? No, you didn''t hate her."


    "You hated me!"


    Ravi raised his tone. Deep in negative emotions. But he tried to stay calm. He doesn''t want the conversation to become toxic. He restrained how he feels now with a hard grip of the right fist. And he continued.


    "You... You didn''t want to see mom. Because of my existence!"


    Arisa listened to his brother''s quivering voice but do not say anything back yet. She readied to be smitten by her brother''s emotions.


    "It''s okay. It''s doesn''t matter that you hated me. But please, do not hate our mother." Ravi said with a pledge tone.


    "Mom loves you pretty much. She always asked me when you''re going to see her. She wanted to see you at her last moment. You, me, and her as family."


    "So, let''s go visit her. Before it''s too late." Ravi extended his arm to Arisa that still not turning back at him. But only silence come to him.


    And at last, a couple of words come out from his tight-mouthed sister, a soft quivering tone.


    "I... used to hate you. But I never hated mother, not even once." Her body trembles a little.


    "I know... I already knew if I don''t visit our mother now. I will regret it all my life. But I.. I..."


    "I don''t have the right to do so... I don''t deserve her love."


    The tears start falling from her cheek as she speaks in a trembling voice. The brother who listed her sister carefully couldn''t bring himself to understand what Arisa was saying. But He replies doubtlessly.


    "You deserve it! She is your mother!! What ridiculous thing you said-"


    Before Ravi completed his sentence, Arisa reached the highest of her tone. Her tear splash out of her eyes in every direction as she yelled.


    "Real son like you couldn''t understand a Fake like me!"


    As soon as she roared to the sky, she ran away from her brother, leaving Ravi in a speechless state. She ran while her tears run dry from her eyes.

 Chapter 3 : Consequence

    Arisa walked in the crowded street aimlessly. She didn''t want to go home. It is too hard for her to see Ravi''s face after the scene she had caused. She lost in mind, without knowing where her legs lead her. The day became night. She still walked through a dark alley, a gap between buildings. The way gradually becomes darker as she walked further. She could be careless. Arisa just wanted to be alone with the dark.


    Further in, Arisa''s got her sense back when. She heard some strange sounds at the right intersection forward. Weird sound sloshing and slicking.


    ''W-what sounds it is?'' She thought.


    She stopped and walked more carefully. Someone''s doing something on the right corner of her way. But it is way too dark to see what happened. Arisa took a peek at what is happening in the right corner. Her curiosity has beaten the fear she felt for knowing. When her eyes get used to the dark, she saw that.


    Blood splattered on the ground. The iron stench filled Arisa''s nose. One of her shoes stepped on the puddle of blood. A man with a clown mask on his face stabbed a teenage girl her age endlessly with a broken glass bottle. The blood won''t stop splotching from the stabs even the girl has died.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Die!! DIE!!" He said as the stabs continued.


    Surprised, Arisa shut her mouth with both of her palms to suppressed her scream. Then she is slowly walking backward step by step. Unfortunately, she stepped on a plastic bottle with her left foot. The rustling sound soon made the man realize Arisa''s presence. He looked at the corner, Stand up, and walking fast to Arisa. If she doesn''t run now, she''s dead.


    "H-help..."


    She muttered as she tried to run. Panicking, she slipped and fell. Then, soon she looked up. She found The man already standing above her.


    "HELP!!"


    He pinned her down with his body, shut her mouth with his left bloody palm. He swang his broken bottle at Arisa''s chest. At that moment, she only could surrender to fate as she spoke her thoughts.


    ''This is.. my punishment.'' She recalled the words she said to her parents as tears fell her cheeks.


    It''s better not to have you as my parents.


    ''Mom, Dad... Ravi. I''m sorry.''


    THUD!!


    The man has blown away by mysterious dark clouds that accelerated in the alleyway. The clouds pinned the man on the wall behind him.


    "Darkness has completely taken over his soul. I can''t save him anymore." The clouds said as it transformed into human-shaped full black.


    Its right arm gripped the man''s sinciput. The man screamed in agony as the black thing force something out of his head. A black-gritty cloud came out. And the man disappeared instantly. He became a black fog that vaporized in the air.


    As the black thing swallowed the black cloud from the killer''s body, it shapeshifted into the form of a man in a black suit. His hair is pure black, with red eyes that shine beautifully.


    "If only I arrived sooner... I''m sorry." He said with a sad look on his face as he looked at the girl corpse he couldn''t save.

 Chapter 4 : Man in Black

    "If only I arrived sooner... I''m sorry." The man in black felt responsible for the death of the girl in front of him.


    "W-who are you?" Arisa said in a trembling voice. She still couldn''t comprehend what happened before.


    "At least, you saved the other."


    A voice heard from the man''s left hand, a young girl''s voice. Arisa focused on searching who''s talking. It turned out that voice came out by the silver bracelet the man wore. Arisa was shocked for the second time.


    "T-that bracelet... It spoke! Where is the killer? What are the black clouds wandering around you?! Who are you?!!" Panicked, Arisa threw question after question.


    "She can see your aura, Dark!! How so?!" Spoke the bracelet.


    "I neither know, Light. But we have to get away from here, fast!" The man-Dark replied. And then, Dark walked toward Arisa that still sit on the ground.


    "W-what you want to do!!! Go away!!" Scared, she trying to reach something with her hands. And she found the broken glass-bottle the killer used to murder before. She threw it at Dark''s face and ran away. Along the alley path.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    But when she turned left, Dark has awaited her. He clutched the top of her head with his left hand like the man before. Scared and panicked, she yelled.


    "Let go of me!! LET GO!"


    "Calm down!! Don''t be afraid! I will not cause you any harm!" Said Dark.


    "C''mon Dark! You must be fast!! Her movement became erratic!!"


    The bracelet-Light yelled. Dark knew He must be fast. He inserted the black cloud from his left hand in the head of Arisa. She covered with the black mist.


    "With this, she will not remember anything."


    But the moment Dark released his hand, Arisa back to running as fast as she could. Not convicted Her memory has erased, Light said.


    "Um, I don''t think so. I''m sure with that reaction. The girl still remembers." Light said.


    "... How?" Spoke Dark with a confused look on his face.


    Arisa ran away with all her strength. And when she took a look behind her. The black clouds chased her with unbelievable speed, lurking from the murky alley. Engulf half of her body. Until she close to the crowded street in front, the clouds gave up chasing her. She bumped some people in that crowded street, but she could be careless about the swear of the people she bumped. She only cared about getting away from the chaser.


    On the other hand, Dark has lost track of her just standing on the tall building nearby the crowded street.


    Arisa''s breathing heavily on the side road surrounded by trees after she passed the crowded street. She is out of breath, tired, frightened, and stress out. The bloodstains, the dirt, messed her school uniform so badly.


    She needed rest. She could just back home, take a bath, changed her clothes, and rest in her fluffy bed. But Ravi''s face still haunting her. She can''t come back home now.


    Then she found an abandoned old western-style house above the hill, on the left side of the road. She leisurely walked into it.


    She tried to open the door, but it''s locked. She gave up and sat on the floor, leaned her back on the wall. And carelessly sleep on the terrace with a tear on her face.


    A mysterious man saw Arisa sleeping. The man in black.

 Chapter 5 : Keeper of the Dark

    Arisa waked up on the alley-ground as the girl she saw has been murdered. Trembled, she saw the man in black above her, pin her down with his body. She breathed heavily, both of her eyes looking in every direction to understand what happened to her.


    Then, the man stretched his left hand upon her. Noticed the movement, Arisa struggled all of her limbs viciously. She slapped, punched, and hit the man with her hands. Her mind was in a frenzy. She tried so hard to get away from the man.


    Soon after, she gave up. Her breathing became stable. Gradually, she calmed down. The man said.


    Are you calm enough to listen?


    It''s odd to saw the man spoke with his mouth shut. The voice sounds fuzzy. It''s like he sent his minds directly to Arisa''s brain. His left hand still touched the top of her head. Confused, Arisa asked her mind.


    What are you?


    Even though she didn''t say it out loud, The man seemed to understand her thoughts. And he replied.


    I''m The Keeper of the Darkness. The name is Dark.


    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    Arisa''s showed little surprise on her face. She guessed that he''s not a man not long after she met him. But to make sure, she asked anyway.


    You are, not human?


    The man shooked his head. Looking at his clear answer, Arisa asked more questions.


    Where are we?


    We are in your Nightmare. I invaded your dream. I found you sleeping on the terrace of our hideout.


    Our?


    The bracelet on my right hand, She''s the same as me.


    Ithought so. But I don''t see it anywhere on your arm now.


    She has the opposite nature from me.


    It seems you got a very traumatic event in your past, similar to this situation.


    Dark''s words make Arisa remembers the past she wanted to forget. The black suit man looked into her eyes. Then some scenes appeared. The knife, the blood, a man pinned her down on the ground, and the flesh being stabbed by him. She turned pale.


    Noticed how uncomfortably her memories are made him looked away and said to her.


    I''m sorry for the insensitive things I''ve said to you. I get it now. It''s must be painful for you.


    Arisa''s face color back to normal. As she saw the shine of Dark''s red eyes, she felt his gaze empathize with her for the past she had. The pained expression the man possessed. It''s like he experienced it himself. They stare at each other for a moment, having a conversation without words. And then, something unexpected happened.


    Arisa felt everything around her became blurry. The buildings, the grounds, humans, and everything sucked into the sky. The shaking is unbelievably powerful.


    What?! What''s happening?!!


    Arisa Panicked after looking around her. The view is unreal. As Dark looked around too, He said.


    You are about to wake up from your sleep.


    Listen Arisa. I know your problem. Why would you walk the dark alley and the reasons you didn''t want to get home.


    In the panic, Arisa felt more confused after she heard Dark''s words. Just how the man knew her name even she didn''t tell him? And Arisa more dazed after hearing the next sentence.


    "And how much hatred you felt toward Ravi."


    Dark said the word at the same time with her fading consciousness. And leave her with a complete mystery.

 Chapter 6 : Malice of the World

    Arisa opened her eyes. The first thing she saw is the unfamiliar ceiling with many cobwebs on it. She looked around her, seems like she has been moved to one of the house''s rooms by Dark. She''s been sleeping on a dusty bed with an old blanket covered her. The other side of the bed has broken. She found Dark stared her beside the bed. He is sitting on a broken chair that still managed to occupy. Unlike the last time they met, Arisa didn''t make a ruckus this time. She seemed to relax.


    "How''s the sleep feels?" Dark said half-joking.


    "Terrible." Looked away, Arisa spoke.


    "You seem relaxed. What are you talking about in the dream, Dark?" The bracelet tone sounds curious.


    "Nothing special. I only confirm the misunderstanding between us."


    "Suspicious..." Light replied. It''s the first time for Arisa to heard a bracelet sounds so playful.


    "So, what are you meant back then?" Arisa said with a serious look on her face. Dark listened with a deep gaze to her eyes.


    "About my hatred for him." Arisa continued the sentence.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "You know the best what it is. Your feeling." He said with a sharp look on the face.


    "Don''t you think as you understand how I feel..." Not backing off, Arisa returned the glare at Dark.


    ''Seriously, what happened inside the dream?'' Light thought as she saw them glaring at each other.


    "In the dream, you claimed yourself as The Keeper of the Darkness. How could you keep it? How was it possible for you to read my mind, my emotion, and my past? Because of Darkness? What is Darkness anyway?" Arisa spilled the questions she been holding since she''s awake.


    "The corruption of every being."


    Dark stood up, looking at the veranda behind him. Stared at the full moon that no longer hidden by the night clouds. A stream of light shined the dim-gloomy room. And black aura Dark released made the scene looked more mystic.


    "The negative emotion of beings, the death of the living, chaotic event caused by a natural disaster, malice, and every wicked thing in this world possessed. All those misfortune are Darkness."


    "Including what you felt about yourself. It is indeed a Darkness." And then he turned around to meet Arisa on the eye.


    "Is it okay for you to tell her?" Light said, worried.


    "Doesn''t matter. Even if the girl speaks, nobody will believe her anyway." Dark firmly replied.


    "..." The bracelet didn''t say anything. Light couldn''t agree more.


    Arisa still stared Dark with an opposing gaze. Dark turn around and walked to the veranda. He lifted his body, floating on the spot. Then he said to her.


    "I got something to do."


    "I know you don''t want to go home. You are free to stay."


    "But you''d better not to get involved with us." He continued as he flew away to the night sky.


    Arisa could only grip the blanket with her hands. Dark has been reading her emotion like an open book. The feeling she always hid in front of anyone, including her foster parents and Ravi. Because of that, she felt frustrated.


    On the other hand, Dark seemed like he didn''t do the wrong thing. He flew above the city, focusing only on the work he must complete.


    "Was it okay to just left her like that?" Light said with a worried tone.


    "Don''t worry. The girl will not leave the house. That''s what she wants." Dark replied.


    ¡°Your attitude was mean, Dark.¡±

 Chapter 7 : Envy

    Arisa still has a blank stare in her eyes, looking to the full-moon above her from the veranda. She couldn''t sleep, so she stared at the starry night with the shine of the moonlight. It''s comforted her a little, ease her heart for just a moment. Even so, sadness still appeared on her face. She seemed conflicted after the conversation she had before.


    ''Is it the right thing to do?'' She thought.


    ''Runaway from everything painful to me instead of facing it... Is it what I wanted?''


    The murky-feeling enveloped her when she felt self-doubt in her heart. The dark mist came out from her back without her realized it. A black cloud more intense than the killer had. And then, it reformed itself to a black fox-like shape. It had a wicked aura around like what Dark have.


    No, this is not what you wanted.


    It whispered on Arisa''s back. The voice sounds evil but convincing. It is still connected to Arisa''s shoulder and has red-blood eyes. Arisa felt a little frightened of its presence. Then she asked with her mind.


    ''What are you?''


    I''m you. I''m what you hid.


    ''Hid?''


    I''m what you wanted. I''m your desire. Surrender yourself, Arisa. I will do what you couldn''t in your place.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ''If I surrender myself, will my suffering, gone?''


    Yes. I will free you out of it.


    Arisa entrusted her whole body to the being. And then, the mist invaded her from the back. Until her body gradually enveloped by the darkness. Later the black fox said excitingly.


    Yes, submit to me more. And peace shall await you.


    Arisa gently closed her eyes until everything became pitch-black. She relinquished all of her existence so her heart can be at peace.


    Moments later, Dark flew back to the house. He''s carrying new clothes for Arisa and a paper bag of food. He sensed something wrong when looking at the hideout from above.


    "What happens, Dark?"


    "Arisa, I can''t feel her presence. She left the house!"


    He landed at the veranda to find Arisa. He searched for her in the other room and downstairs. But she nowhere to find.


    "Did you say she will not?" Light replied.


    "I got a bad feeling about this. I will search for the girl." Dark flew away from the veranda again, looking for Arisa.


    "But didn''t you rather Arisa not get involved with us? You are contradicting yourself!"


    "Yes, but she was too unstable comparing to the usual human. She was nowhere near balance. Her life was full of darkness. I don''t think you can sense the light in her when you''re awake. Yet I''m sure she hasn''t infected by the darkness."


    "Or maybe, she has been infected long before we met. And I couldn''t sense it. But how?"


    "And I''m sure she will not leave the house when I looked at her desire from her eyes."


    "The Darkness and The Light in one''s mind never lied. They stay true to themself. So why?"


    "You must find her to understand." Light replied.


    "Certainly!"


    Quite far away from their hideout. One of Arisa''s bully alone in her home. It seemed like her parents still on work for a few days. The bully is still awake in her room. She played with her phone, chatting with her friends. She typed.


    [You looked at that nerd''s face when she found out her desk''s full of wet trash. It''s hilarious.]


    [Lol lol, you mean this?] Her friend Eriza send Arisa''s picture.


    [Lol! She needs to suffer more!! It''s not enough for leaving the group] Again, someone replied, her name''s Asley.


    [Let''s discuss her next abuse.]


    She''s so focused on her phone. Then she heard noises from her window. When she opened the curtain on her window, Arisa has been there with a knife in her right hand. She looked at the girl with her red eyes. The girl shocked, freezing for a moment. Then she asked.


    "A-Arisa, what are you doing on my balcony? W-wait isn''t this 23 floor?" Her legs are trembling.


    "I got you..."


    Then the window shredded to pieces mysteriously. Even though Arisa only stood on the balcony, like some kind of sorcery.