Dusk

Just a little short story I did for a contest. The theme is Light and Shadow. Whoever gets the symbolism gets one free internets.

                       

   

    Artemis sat in the dark corner of the diner, gazing out into the rain, picking a his meal like a buzzard at a corpse.
   “Supposed to rain all this week,” said Dia, sipping her coke through a long pink straw.
   “Yeah,” Artemis replied. He wasn’t in the mood to talk, he hardly ever was.
   “You seem down, what’s wrong?” Dia chirped. Artemis sighed.
   “Nothing,”
    “Come on, you know you can talk to me,”
   “Whatever. Never mind, let’s just leave,” Artemis felt anxious, more than usual. He pushed a soggy french fry around his plate.
   “Okay, you’re paying though, right?” Dia replied jokingly.
   “Fine,”
   “I was kidding, I’ll pay. Favor between friends, right?” Dia grinned from across the table, flashing perfect white teeth.
   “Yeah, sure,”

    “Don’t you just love the rain?” Dia bounced under a streetlight, face upturned to greet the falling water.
   “Not when I have to walk three blocks through it,” Artemis scowled through the downpour to Dia. This was her stupid idea. He trudged after his friend with crossed arms, clearly not satisfied with the  day’s events. “Now I need to change when I get home, thanks a lot,”
   “Gosh, you’re such a winer!” Dia giggled, “Remind me why I’m your roommate again?” Artemis wondered the same thing. No one likes poor Artemis, not even Artemis likes Artemis.
   “Because we’re best friends,” He imitated Dia sarcastically.
   “Oh yeah!” she laughed, punching him lightly on the arm, “By the way, imitation is just a form of flattery,”
   “I’m sure,” Artemis moaned.
   “I’m sure, I’m Artemis!” Dia mocked.
   “I’m flattered,”

    Dia skipped up the steps to the apartment complex, holding open the heavy green door for Artemis. As he walked by he caught a sent of her flowery perfume and felt an itch. He felt like something would happen that evening. A flash of hatred came over him, but it was gone as abruptly as it had came. Artemis sat down on the dingy sofa of their shared apartment, bathed in the harsh lighting of a naked bulb hanging from the ceiling.
   “I don’t think I ever truly realized how much of a hole this place is,”
   “You realized yesterday. And the day before,” Dia glanced at her roommate through the corner of her eye. The faucet groaned as she filled up the heavy steel kettle. “Want some tea?”
   “I hate tea. How do you keep forgetting?”
Dia chuckled.
   “You hate so many things. It’s impossible to keep track,” Artemis gazed out the dusty window at the setting sun. The itch was back. The hatred. He knew exactly what he had to do, but he didn’t know if he could do it.
What is wrong with me? Artemis thought to himself, staring down at his pale palms. He couldn’t stop it. It was cosmic. Artemis was never superstitious, but to him it almost felt like fate. It was unavoidable.

    Artemis’ hands started to shake. He slowly rose from his spot in the sofa, his eyes in a blank stare. He walked over the faded vinyl and stood over Dia.
   “Whats up?” Dia asked without looking up. Artemis was just staring. The universe went silent as he raised his open palm. He swung down his hand with tremendous force, knocking Dia off balance. She was too stunned to speak. She sat on the kitchen floor, slack jawed and wide eyed. A droplet of blood began to form on her lip and slowly ran down her chin. Artemis stood over her, panting.
   “I don’t want to kill you, my love. But I must,” his voice was smooth and calm, as if it wasn’t really Artemis talking. An expression of peace came over Dia’s face.
    “I know,” her voice was just as cool as Artemis’. The two remained that way until the blood on Dia’s lip was dry and crusted, darkened to a deep crimson. Eventually Artemis fell to one knee and slid her fingers around Dia’s neck, behind her light blonde hair. The movement was gentle, as if it where an act of love and not murder.

    Dia didn’t struggle as Artemis’ fingers tightened, and soon her eyes had shut and all the life had left her body. It was done. The itch had been scratched. He didn’t need Dia anymore, not for now, anyway. All was well. Dusk had finished, but the night had just begun.