A cry in the dark

There was the sound of retreating footsteps and then there was a thunk - the sound of something hitting the floor. Noople listened hard but couldn’t hear anymore footsteps.

“Poople, did you hear that?”

There was no reply.

“Poople?”

Noople turned around and reached out towards the direction she last remembered seeing her friend. “Poople?” She stretched out her hands and slowly walked forward. “Don’t move. I think we should stay together in the dark.”

Noople hit her shin on something. She reached down with a hand and felt Poople.

“You’re crying. Are you okay?”

Poople was shaking. She tried to talk but could only cry. Noople knelt down and hugged her friend tight. “It’s okay, Poople. Whatever that demon is, it knows nothing. It has no sense of what the truth is, or how logic works.”

“Why did you call it a liar?”

“I suppose it isn’t a liar. Perhaps fool would be a better word.”

Poople’s crying slowed down while Noople held her tight. After a few minutes, everything became silent again.

“I think I’m okay now,” Poople said.

Noople let go of the hug and then they stood up.

“Oh wow. It’s crazy dark,” Poople said. “What the heck do we do now?”