From Darkness It Comes

Demand Denied

"I'm not going anywhere." Darrin says firmly, "Not until you tell me what I want to know."

Lisa takes a step back, away from Mr. Stark, as he looks up at Darrin with narrowed eyes. His thin frame seems to fill out as he rises to stand before Darrin, towering over him slightly. His lips are narrow and barely open as he speaks in a low gravely voice. "You dare make demands of me?"

Darrin tries to stand his ground, but his voice wavers slightly. "You make them of me. I am only returning the favor."

"I made nothing of you." The old man says in his barely audible growl. "You were chosen by prophecy. I only..."

"Yes, Prophecy." Darrin interrupts. "That you thrust upon me and expect me just to take on your word."

"You can't..." Mr. Stark starts to say.

"I'm not done yet!" Darrin snaps. "You thrust this upon me and then don't tell me a damn thing I find useful. You expect me to fight this darkness but then try and blow me off before actually telling me how I am supposed to do that."

Mr. Stark just stands there glaring down at Darrin. His lips tightly pursed and eyes narrowed to nothing but slivers. The only sound or movement coming from him is the low rasp of his shallow breaths. Darrin feels as though the room is growing colder as they stand there, waiting for one of them to break.

Lisa is the first to snap, pulling on Darrin's sleeve, and in a wavering frightened voice says, "Come on, let's just go."

Darrin says nothing, just staring back at him.

"Well then," Lisa says, letting his arm go. "I guess I am going alone. Have fun with your little stare down." She waits a few seconds for a reply and then turns to leave, back down the long dark hallway.

"Go." Mr. Stark rasps. "I have nothing more to share right now, but we will speak again before the end. Right now I must rest and you need time." His face solidifies back into firm resolve.

Darrin sneers. "Fine." He turns and grabs his knife and box. "But I'm not done yet. I will return for those answers." On that picks up the lantern and walks towards Lisa, who is standing in the hall just outside the room.

She takes the lantern from his hand with her right and grips the now empty hand with her left. In a soft voice she speaks. "Let's get out of here."

Together they walk down the long hall to the metal door. They leave the lantern sitting on a box and head back out into the near blinding sunlight. They look at each other finally let their faces show the fear and stress of the last hour as it passes through them like a shudder.

Allowing the moment to pass Darrin raises the box in his hand to show Lisa. "I should get this back to my room before something happens to it."

Lisa nods and asks, "Do you want me to come with you? Or do you need some alone time?"

Darrin squeezes her hand and smiles despite the pain of fear on his face. In a low tone he replies...