It is said that even the purest souls do sometimes linger; not by choice, but for a noble purpose only they can fulfill.

Jessica didn't realise this until she had found herself gliding effortlessly from one peculiar world to another. She passed chocolate rivers, cotton candy clouds and lollipop forests. Then came pumpkin carriages, red-haired princesses and dancing pixies. Then came splendid suns, clear skies and joyous birds. Then, without a warning, came a veil of darkness, filling the air with the suffocating odour of utter desolation and crushing every hope with its merciless grip.

In this place, Jessica's footsteps became heavy and slow as if she was treading in mud. She couldn't make out anything but a few shapes lurking at both sides of the seemingly endless road. The wind began to howl, threatening her to retreat, but the girl's determination was like a blaze of fire, stolen by Prometheus to illuminate the dark paths for all mankind - to make them feel safe.

Jessica continued to walk, tempted beyond words by the gloom of this land, for it was unlike anything she had seen before. At the corner of her eyes danced an ominous picture of men with no features trying to claw at her with their knife-like nails. However, an invisible barrier seemed to protect Jessica from their desperate attempts, and every heartbeat urged her forward towards her destination, which was nearer than she thought.

And then she saw him. A young boy, not so much older than herself was whimpering on the ground, face hidden behind the palms of his quivering hands. Jessica's pity rose and drove her in the direction of her peer. She summoned up a bright smile on her way, and with a most reassuring tone said, "It's okay, they won't hurt you."

The boy lowered his hands and looked up at her. His face was tear-stained, and it was astonishing how every detail of his visage was visible despite the absence of light. There came from his mouth no response whatsoever, so Jessica said, "Just look at them."

The boy turned his head to the men surrounding him, and as though the moon had just awoken from a long slumber (and as if the moon ever sleeps), a faint ray was cast upon them, revealing what the boy precisely had to see. The men, fearsome and harrowing as their appearance was, could not move an inch away from their spots. Their feet penetrated the soil beneath them like roots of ancient trees, and henceforth made them harmless as long as Jessica and the boy weren't within their reach.

"See?" grinned Jessica. "Told you they won't hurt you."

The boy merely nodded.

"So what's your name?" Jessica sat opposite him and observed his face with immense interest.

"Alex," replied the boy. Then after a pause he said, "What about you?"

"Jessica."

"It's nice to meet you, Jessica," said Alex, extending his hand for her to shake. But the invisible barrier, which had previously been a shield against the men, didn't allow him to touch her.

"This is strange," Alex muttered. "Why can't I..."

Jessica merely let out a chuckle.

"Why can't I touch you?" Alex inquired.

"Who knows? But it's nice to meet you, too," said Jessica, either ignoring or unaware of the boy's evident bewilderment. "Hope you feel okay now."

"I do," Alex answered. "Thanks to you."

"No, I did nothing," Jessica gave a casual wave of her hand.

"No, you did everything," returned the boy.

"Well, if you insist," Jessica giggled, tilting her head a little. Then with an abrupt change in countenance, from cheerful to serious, she rose to her feet. "Sorry but I have to go now."

"Wait," grunted Alex as he too stood up. "Will I ever see you again?"

"You will," said Jessica. "I will always be here if you want."

"Like a friend?" Alex wondered after a moment's silence. "My mum always said that's what friends do."

"Yeah," Jessica beamed, "just like a friend."

But they didn't see each other again until Alex became an adolescent. Jessica as well had grown; and although her appearance was gradually drifting away from that of a child's, she still had within her the everlasting spirit of one.

Another thing that had undergone remarkable changes was the darkness in which Jessica and Alex first met. It became denser and more smothering, and from it emanated a soft whisper, barely intelligible, yet sinister. It sent shivers down Jessica's spine, but she was able to maintain her composure as she dragged her feet forward. Alex was only a few meters ahead of her, sitting upon the ground like she last saw him, but this time he was weeping loudly.

"Don't listen to it, Alex!" Jessica called. "Please don't listen to it!"

"I can't," Alex sobbed. "It's speaking to me. I'm scared, Jessica."

"Just ignore it," pleaded Jessica. "You are the only one who can make it stop!"

"I - I can't!"

"You can!"

"I can't!"

"Alex, I believe in you," Jessica said weakly. "I know you can do it!"

And Jessica's faith was all Alex needed to subdue his fear and replace it with yet another flash of moonlight. He took a deep breath and looked into Jessica's eyes, which twinkled like a pair of lodestars in a sky of eternal darkness, resurrecting in him a strength he knew not of its prior existence.

Then the voices stopped, and silence fell. The simplicity of it all was too absurd to be real.

"Well done, Alex!" Jessica clapped her hands in delight. "I am so proud of you!"

"I couldn't have done it without you, Jessica," Alex grinned, taking a few steps towards her. "Thank you."

"I did nothing."

"You did everything."

"Well, if you insist."

They both chuckled. And in order to show his genuine gratitude, Alex attempted to hold Jessica's hand. Yet the unseen barrier was still there and prevented any sort of physical interaction between the two.

"Why can't I touch you, Jessica?" Alex repeated the same question he had asked before.

"Who knows?" said Jessica with a small shrug.

"But this is weird," Alex frowned.

"The world is a weird place, my friend," replied Jessica. "Anyway, I need to go now. Stay well for me, will you?"

"Wait, you are leaving?" said Alex. "We haven't -"

"Don't worry, I will be back," Jessica told him with a smile. "I promise."

"Okay," Alex nodded, though reluctantly. "I will wait for you then. Because that's what friends do."

More years had passed before the chance came for them to meet again. Alex had become a man and Jessica a woman; and this time the darkness itself had taken a new form much worse than its usual: it became a sea of mountainous waves, crashing into each other with matchless vehemence as though venting their long suppressed rage.

On either side of these rough waters stood Jessica and Alex, the former shouting words of comfort, and the latter staring with blank eyes at the sight of his approaching doom.

"Cross it, Alex!" Jessica yelled, her voice drowned out by the sound of waves. "I believe in you, you can do it!"

Still gazing at the sea before him, Alex shook his head.

"Come on, Alex, please," the tears welled up in Jessica's eyes on seeing the evident despair upon his face. "It isn't as deep as it looks, I swear. You are far stronger than it."

"I am not," said Alex in a feeble voice, and surprisingly Jessica could hear him clearly. "I'm going to drown in it... there's no way I will survive."

"You will survive," Jessica gulped back a sob. "You will survive for me, Alex. You would never break my heart like this, you wonderful man."

Alex lifted his eyes. "I'm so sorry."

"NO!" Jessica's shouts became frantic as she saw the tide rise and submerge Alex who stood immobile on the shore. "Do something, Alex! Resist it! Don't just lose hope, I beg you! Don't... no..."

Jessica fell to her knees with the unbearable weight of her grief, and there was no longer any sound to be heard but the wails emitting from her mouth. And though the land beneath her had dried, her running tears were determined to create a new sea of their own. She shivered, and even the warm touch she felt upon her shoulders couldn't dissipate the algid sensation that dominated every bit of her insides.

"Jessica?"

Jessica's head shot up, and the surprise made her spring to her feet to face the man standing before her.

"Alex," she said, almost in a whisper, "I should have saved you, I am so -"

"Hey, it's okay," Alex smiled, pulling her into a tight hug. "There is nothing to worry about anymore."

"No, you don't understand," said Jessica softly, the warmth she felt between Alex's arms soothing her a little. "This accursed night should have come to an end, the sun should have risen and after that… after that I should have moved on."

Alex's long fingers ran through Jessica's hair as he leaned and gave her forehead a kiss. "At least we are together, and I can finally hold your hand in mine. Let's go now, shall we?"

"Go where?"

"Wherever we are needed to be," responded Alex. "Wherever we can save a life."

And with that the two walked away, guided by the faint gleam of light which the moon sent down. Alex was glad to leave behind the darkness that had haunted him his entire life, and to finally be with the woman of his dreams.

That beautiful woman he saw in his dreams.

***
Author's note:

So this is my entry for the amazing #DeadlyKisses contest held by ParanormalLovers

I'm not entirely proud of it, but hope you enjoyed it anyway. Thanks for reading. ❤