Chase

A few Hylin stood in front of Vlohrir, who almost resembled that of a carcass. Here eat up! a Hylin threw a big piece of meat to the dwarf. The dwarf was busy writing some thing in his notebook. The meat fell on the ground next to him. He looked away from his writing on to the meat that was on the ground. And then he looked at the Hylin who stood there. He spoke in a weak tone " Where was the light you promised us?" he asked them. What? they laughed at him. We can't hear you! A Hylin came forward and looked at him fiercely. She held on to the bars and said it again." Speak again?" Where was the light you promised us? he asked with fervor. You were promised nothing, said the Hylin as she removed the mask. He looked at the Hylin "There was a big scar that stretched over her face". Vlohrir then realized why they all had a mask on their faces. They all must have it, he realized. A race ruined by vain. A planet ruined by vain! The darkness suits us, she said to him. You are the only one who knows why we wear a mask, she said and put the mask on her face back. And you too will die! and she laughed a wicked laugh.

Vlohrir began to sketch her face in his book. Eat up! they said to him and walked away. He carefully sketched her face in the book. All this for beauty! he murmured. After he was done doing the sketches, he picked up the piece of meat which was on the floor. He wiped the dust with a wet cloth that he had. He had a plate with him and he put the meat on the plate ang gouged it like a wild animal. His skeletal body began to digest the meat.

Later on, that night, Akira visited him. Here, he said to her and gave her the book. What is this? she asked him. It is something personal. Promise me, that you will not read it. These words are meant only for a dwarf, he said to her. He handed her over the books, and as he gave the book to her. His hands held hers and shivered. She looked at his hands and then over at his eyes. It too shivered. Thank you! he said to her. For what? she asked him. For showing me that even the worst of us sometimes deserve a chance. He let go of her hands, and there was tears that fell from his eyes, and on to the ground. You are a special dwarf, she said to him. Why? he asked her back. Because you do not look like one. Even in this fragile state your face has these strong characteristics. She removed her mask and showed her face to him. It was one of the most beautiful faces he had seen in his life. The moonlight gently flowed through her face. You don't have a scar across your face, he said to her. I guess I'm special too, she said to him. His tears dried up wrapped in her beauty. He wanted to touch her hands again. She put her mask on and walked away with the diary. Vlohrir went and sat in his cell, well knowing that it was his last day on this planet.