MicroHorror

“What are we?” she asked.

“We are now the form we assume by an ancient hex,” he replied. “The curse was levied on the ancestors of the one who made me.”

“When you were in Ghana?”

“Yes, my child, while I toured Africa, and she found me as I found you.”

She could see only a flickering light, and it was only when he spoke. “How long will we be this?”

“We must be captured to be set free. Now come be close to me.”

She did not know how to move, but she found she could. She willed the movement of this strange body, and then felt what was like wings fluttering and moved close to the light.

Children’s laughter came through the night.

“Who are they?” she asked.

“They are the ones who will capture us. Now stay very close, so that I might guide you.”

She waited and listened. The laughter grew louder, closer.

“Do I flicker when I speak, as you do?”

“Of course, my child, but not as bright. They might not even see you. That is why you must stay close and be captured with me.”

He began to chant. It sounded like gibberish and she realized he was doing it to make his light glow brighter. A feeling like being in a vacuum overcame her. A metallic sound preceded cheers of joy. The night seemed to move by.

“Have we been captured?”

“Yes, my child. Now you must resist the urge to speak again, and you must be very still. They will take us to their home and think that we are dead and discard us.”

She knew she was supposed to be quiet, but she had one last question. “What do we do then?”

He laughed. “What we do then, young adze, is cease to be fireflies, rise into our immortal forms and drink the blood of those who have set us free.”