Challenge [192]: Walls

[l-forevermore.livejournal.com]

Challenge: [192]: Walls
Title: Break Me Down
Word Count: 305
Notes: It's still the 5th 'round here, and I just found this, so I hope I caught it in time. I'm also brand new, so I hope I did all this right. LJ cut is the definition of wall from Wikipedia. =D
 

The Darkness grows.

It thrives under Riku’s feet, curls around his ankles and hinders every step he forward he takes. It’s deceptively soft, makes him think of clouds or pillows, almost makes him consider just falling back into them and giving into sleep, of letting night take over. But he keeps on, weary, and behind him – beside him, before him, surrounding him completely – the Darkness rages. And it grows again.

It’s a sinister kind of garden. It twists and turns along his path, bending into archways above him, brushing his skin ever-so-gently as though calling him into his depths, to stray from the path and explore its secrets. It’s tempting to “stop and smell the roses,” per se, but Riku forces himself onward and tries to ignore the call of the shadowy sirens. The Darkness grows again, and with it, its fury at being refused.

But Riku is not without his defenses. He builds a fortress around himself, with sand-castle towers and ocean-water moats. Flags of sunny smiles and blue eyes wave over parapets of palm leaves. It’s his haven, even as the wild, darkened jungle grows around him. The vines curl around his fortress, chipping and weathering the stone, slowly attempting to break down his walls of twilight.

And Riku faces it with a smirk, because he knows the path to dawn now, and midnight will no longer take him and lock his heart away. He’ll choose his own prison.

The Darkness grows. It rages and screams and curls over him, threatening to suffocate him beneath the murk and decay, but Riku fights on with dreams of the sun. Someday, he’ll tear down the walls that protect him. Someday, he won’t need them anymore.

He’ll just settle for the broken stones of blue sky and smiles. For him, just the pieces will be enough.
 

 

Comments

[greedchan.livejournal.com]

Oh, wowies!
I like this view of things. :3 The description of the darkness was super interesting, and I loved Riku's defense. It's so cute, but it's really sad, too.
Also, lol@finding another Wiki nerd? <3
And, Brand New-tan, welcome to the community! :3 And good luck!

[l-forevermore.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm a total Wiki nerd... It's my time-waster of choice (and comes in handy when I have to write a paper that I forgot about in the middle of the night).

Thank you!

[iki-teru.livejournal.com]

sand castle towers and ocean water moats absolutely lovely imagery

[l-forevermore.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked it! That was one of my favorite lines. Thank you for reading!

[excellente.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you had a go at this. ^^

[l-forevermore.livejournal.com]

*glomps* I'm glad you told me about it! It really helped get the creativity flowing~

[singwithin.livejournal.com]

Oh man, this was beautifully done, and totally gave me chills. I love your descriptions, and all the parallels, and Riku's facing the Darkness because he knows the path to dawn now. Fantastic job, and welcome! ^^

[l-forevermore.livejournal.com]

I'm happy that you liked it so much! (Mwaha, I'm chill-inducing~) Thanks for reading!