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This is my first fic in this series "Fear of Darkness"

I sat cowering, my knees drawn up to my chin, in the back of a locked closet. I couldn't get out. I had been locked in for some unknown reason, but it wasn't like it hadn't happened before. I was dreading the moment of truth. The beatings. Bruises covered my thinly covered body, with clothes that barely were whole. My green eyes betrayed depths of horror, despair, but had a tiny glimpse of clinging hope. Clinging hope that someday I'd get free from this hateful beast.

Then it came. Thudding footsteps starting at the base of the stairs on the first floor, leading up to my bedroom. I cringed inwardly in absolute terror. A crackling sound could be heard, but very faintly. I had my eyes closed tightly, as to prolong the sight of my nightmare. A slowly ascending step could be heard thudding, as HE took a slow agonizing step toward me. The crackling sound didn't register in my mind, until now, since it was getting louder by the moment. I looked around seeking the sound, my terror subsiding for the moment. The crackling quietened down. I looked around puzzled, as a step resounded right outside my door. My eyes widened in horror, as the key turned in the lock. The handle turned slowly. The tall door creaked open. I crept backwards as far as I could. Blonde straggles of unkempt hair fell across my face. I nervously slid them aside, and dimly was aware that there was a crackling noise, growing louder, by the moment. I looked down, and saw what appeared to be electricity sparks shimmering around me. That was soon forgotten by a brusque snarl.

"Well, have you had enough, boy!? Do you need a beating?" I looked up into the visage of a ugly man, in his 40s, and clad only in overalls. His thick hand raised up in the air, as his face was set in a scowl.

Those words refueled my terror, long enough for the crackling to envelope me in a gulf of noise and a white flash.

The towering man stood still for a few long moments, puzzled, his hand slowly returning to his side. What had happened to him? What was that? I will beat his hide off next time I see him! This last thought triggered a slow burning rage that would smolder and erupt if he had ever seen me again.

A white flash exploded out in midair, over the deep oceans near South Taphini, to admit a confused boy.

My last thought was, / [ I'm FREE! At last! ] / , then I knew no more as I plunged abruptly into the ocean's depth. Conciousness was no more.

A young man, lanky, around his upper teens, snapped his head up.

[ I'm FREE! At last! ] reverberated inside his head rather loudly. He stood up quickly, and vanished in a white implosion. Another loud white implosion appeared to admit the same lanky individual, as he plunged into the ocean, to fish the mysterious new breakout out, and see what was going on. He was always warned of an imminent breakout. This might be a special case, he mused to himself....He imploded along with the boy in a white static burst.

[end part 1]