Darkness. Red sparks of fire flew into the sky and devastated this dark eternity. Bright blue eyes, almost as bright as the fire that captured the small cabin, could be seen. Almost silently, the wood cracked as it was destroyed by the flames and clouds of smoke, carried away by the wind, filled the air. 

The darkness was everywhere and not even the blazing fire was able to change that. But Laurence was neither afraid of the darkness nor of the fire. On the contrary - he enjoyed every single moment. He trusted the flames and the darkness even more than his best friends - if he ever had any. 

Just a few steps away stood someone else, who looked up at the fire and shuddered. It was something she wanted to escape from, if only because of the terrible feeling these destructive flames gave her. Outside, where it was freezing cold and the only source of heat was destroying a person's work of many weeks in a couple of minutes. It was like a knife in her heart, even though she didn't care at all about the person who was now losing their home. No, she only cared about Laurence and what would happen if anyone found out. 

"How beautiful the fire is ... Now he gets what he deserves." He laughed haughtily with every flame that flew up. "Nothing is more beautiful than that. Let's burn our enemies down to get some light inside." 

"Laurence, please, you don't earn anything with this! You can't burn down the whole world! I know he isn't a nice person, but that won't make him any better." She took a deep breath. "Laurence, please, just stop this fight." 

He didn't answer, but watched as the flames rose higher and higher into the air. He loved the darkness, and he knew if he got away with it, he would get away with anything he wanted. He only wanted to win once, and that was the only way he knew how. 

Cathleen swallowed, her glance focussing on the clouds of smoke that filled the night sky. She realised how ordinary this hatred had become so far. She understood Laurence, but still she knew that one day this unending rage would be the end of him. 

"I will not lose. I can't lose! He deserved it, and I will never try to apologise for it. I will fight till the end, till all is over. Any price I have to pay to win is worth it." 

"Why? Why are you doing this, Laurence? What if someone finds out you're burning all this down? Just because he has beaten you? I'm sure your parents would have found a better way. Oh Laurence, what will be, what will happen?" 

"There's no other way I can go along. I will never be able to be as merciful and gracious as my parents. Times have changed." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. There was no joy in his glance anymore. He turned around until he was standing in front of Cathleen and bowed his head. 

"Winning isn't everything." Then she fell silent - Laurence still understood. He could lose very quickly if he allowed his temper to control his thoughts. He could lose more than just a fight. He could lose himself, but with the darkness on his side, he had already partially lost himself. 

"There's no way back." When he heard those words, Laurence shuddered. But he also knew: he had already lost the right path in the darkness. 

In the silence, they watched as the flames left only a small part of the cabin. Now they no longer flew upwards, but died on the stone foundations. The last spark of light went out and darkness enveloped Laurence and Cathleen. 

An oppressive silence had fallen over the small farm, which was to have two inhabitants in a few days' time. The fire had disappeared and there were only a few traces left of what had happened here in the last few hours. 

"Hate can never help us. Once you declare the flame of darkness your friend, it will never leave you." Cathleen's voice trembled with every word spoken. 

"You can't turn back time. His new home is burned to the ground now, and deep in their hearts, everyone will know I did this. But until someone can prove it..." he said, before falling silent. Deep in his heart, he knew he would do it a second time if he had the chance. 

"And this is supposed to be our future?" she called out in a fragile voice. She knew that trying to change it would do no good. The future would come and the darkness would remain. 

It was the end of a time when Laurence accepted not being the winner by fighting properly. It was the end of a time when Cathleen believed in the indestructible good in everyone. It was the end of a time when truth was the most important thing. And it was the beginning of a time when darkness was the path to follow. 

Once you declare the flame of darkness your friend, it will never leave you again---