Zero Time Dilemma

“Hi there”, that’s always how my newest friend starts the conversation. And, that’s always when it happens. Silence, so deep, I can feel my breath, air flowing out of my lungs. Only the air stops as soon as I exhale. Everything stops, time freezes and I don’t know how to make it run again.

I still remember the darned day, the day I shouted, a little too loud maybe, but that’s expected for a father who is just about to lose his daughter. My little girl was going to be crushed by a car. I shouted and something happened, something breaking the very thread of the universe. For a moment, everything froze! “Hi, there” someone called out, a dark creature, small like my daughter, but very dark. Almost a shadow. “I’ll save her-” it said grinning “- but I’ll stay with you from now”.

“Anything… anything. I’ll do anything for you. You can stay with us as long as you want.” I wasn’t thinking. How could I? My daughter’s life was at stake and this thing, this shadow claimed the ability to save her.

Now two weeks later, I dread that voice. I dread that day. If only I had paid more attention to her, grabbed her before she ran after that ice cream guy. If only I had seen the Mercedes a moment earlier. This was meant to be. I failed as a father that day and this creature is my punishment for it. At least I have my daughter back, she’s the only one keeping my sanity in check.

“You hungry?” the thin voice asked. No, I’m not. I never was and I never will be. Not for what you ask.

“What now? Who do you want next? You said you’ll live with me, not about this hunger you have!”

“I don’t care! You accepted my terms that day. I can still take you back to that day, leave you to your fate.” the creature grinned, it’s teeth white, glowing against the dark shadowy body.

“No, please! Tell me what you want now?” I pleaded

“Your daughter has a classmate, a boy you know. He… he is not good to her. He hurts her and I can’t allow it. I came here as her guardian when you called me over that day. I only ask what’s necessary!”

“But does he have to disappear like the others? Like that Mercedes driver? It wasn’t his fault and you know that. And this time, I think you are overreaching. It’s a kid you are asking for, and that’s where I draw a line!”

“I was expecting this. The time’s not coming back until I get what I want. I thought you learned your lesson already with the first kill.” Of course, I had. The first one on the creature’s kill list was the Mercedes man. He was easy to get too, of course. The creature refused to resume time until I made sure he would die. I had tried everything, the first thing, of course, was removing my daughter from the road and out of any danger. I stalled him, talked with him, tried to talk him out of this. This went on for hours, I think even days although it’s hard to know when time itself had stopped. I even tried killing myself to no avail. He wouldn’t let me die. It was my daughter’s turn, not mine and he wanted a life, someone he wanted, in exchange for hers. I eventually caved in and decided to give it to him.

But not this time. I will not let this continue. Is my daughter worth a thousand lives? Yes, she is, she is to me. But I can’t be that selfish, I can’t let the darkness take me over, hold her captive every time it wants something from me.

I am not proud of it, not one bit. No father should see her daughter die. But to kill her himself, to sign her death warrant with his own hands is sure to make the life a living hell. Today, I choose darkness — the darkness of life in favor of the darkness of the soul. Today, I choose to let go of my demon and my angel, both together and I wish one happiness in the afterlife and another a life away from my universe.