Chapter 1: Part 2

Jasper

“Light Keepers!?” I yell, You mean the ones that the whole world is hunting for. Those Light Keepers?”

“Shhhh, keep your voice down, you don’t want to wake up the children, do you?”

“I’m sorry, I just can’t believe you would say something like that. The words Light Keepers are so taboo, especially around a stranger.”

“Well, it's already been said now,” she replies nonchalantly.

“Mercy, woman, you’re reckless.” I hesitate, “but yes, I kn- I mean I’ve heard about the Lightkeepers.”

“What are Light Keepers?” a soft voice said as she used her hand to wipe the sleep from her eyes. It was the young girl; she looked older than she was, but I could tell she was around 10 years old. She had a small, dauntless frame, mostly from a lack of nourishment due to the neglect of the slave traders. She also had a shaved blonde head with a tattoo on her shoulder that all of us had. A tattoo that was used to brand livestock. That’s all we were to them, nothing more than lowly livestock that only warranted a number. But it was her eyes that drew me in; they were two different colors, one as green as an emerald gemstone worn by the wealthiest of people, and the other a soft grey, like a stone found at a creek bed. Behind her was the other kid, a young boy younger than her, with skin as deep and brown as the red clay found in the mountains. He had a nasty scar that reached from the top of his lip to the bottom of his chin, which perverted his child-like features. He had hair a little longer than the girl’s that was straight like a pin needle and black as the darkest coal.

“Hey, why are you two up? You should be in bed asleep.” I spoke

“We were woken up by your voices and couldn’t go back to sleep, that’s why we’re here.” The young boy replied timidly.

“Well, since you’re u,p you might as well come in and listen. Umm, do you two even have names?”

“I’m Noah,” said the young girl, “and this is Mishael! But I call him Meesh; our mothers were good friends, so we grew up together like siblings. Wherever I go, he goes no exceptions!” She said as she stomped her foot on the ground. The serious expression on her face, coupled with her action,s made me chuckle a little. She is a little spitfire that’s for sure, but I can’t ignore the peculiarity of their names. Makes me wonder . . .

“What’s your name, mister?”

“I’m Jasper.”

“Oh wow, well thank you Mister Jasper sir, for rescuing us back there. We greatly appreciate it.” She said with a grin.

“Yeah, well, don’t mention it, and it's just Jasper.”

“Mishael, Noah, Jasper, Nice to meet you all, I’m Sarah. Now, come here, little ones, let old Miss Sarah tell you all about the Light Keepers.” The two children came and sat on Sarah’s lap. “There, comfy?” They nodded their heads, “Now the Light Keepers are a group of people who believe in The Great Light. They believe that with him, man can achieve great good. Treat fellow humans with kindness, love, and respect. Without the Great Light, the world is constantly consumed by darkness, and humanity takes part in evil deeds such as greed, hatred, and oppression. The main goal for the Light Keepers is to keep the light alive and to show human beings the way out of the darkness, so that they may have peace in their souls.”

“So, the reason you helped us today is that you believe in The Great Light, too, Miss Sarah! You’re a Lightkeeper!” Noah exclaimed with excitement.

“Yes, child but you can’t go around telling people in the streets, because we serve The Great Light the forces of darkness don’t want the rest of the world exposed to it, so they send their evil agents, the ones driven by greed, hatred, and fear to try and snuff out the light by killing anyone who claims to be a Light Keeper. “

“That is why you don’t see many Light Keepers just out in the open. They are all looking for this fictional place called The New Promised Land, where they believe they will find refuge.” I hesitate and turn my eyes down toward my knees underneath my blanket. Or so they say, “But yet knowing all of that, you still helped us,” I said quietly, “Thank you again, there was no reason for you to put yourself in danger like that for complete strangers.”

“No worries, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat,” she said with a genuine smile, “Now off you two, go back to bed, we’ll see you in the morning.”

“Goodnight, Miss Sarah, goodnight, Mr. Jasper, sir!”

“Hey, it’s just Jasper!” The two children waved and closed the door. With a heavy sigh, I shake my head. See, this is why I don’t mess with kids. I could feel the gaze of Sarah’s eyes as I turned to look at her.

“What’s your real name, Jasper?”

“What?! I say astonished, “Jasper is my real name, lady, what are you talking about?” My eyes dart back and forth, trying to avoid eye contact.

“For someone who has only heard about the Light Keepers, you seem to know plenty about them. The story I told the kids didn’t even phase you.”

“Yeah, wel,l who hasn’t heard of the Lightkeepers, you would have to be living under a rock.” Sarah gives me a hard look, her face undaunting, “Look, that’s all behind me now. My name is Jasper, nothing more, nothing less.” I see from the corner of my eye that Sarah shakes her head from side to side.

“Look Jasper, I don’t know what you’ve been through in life to get you to where you’re at, but if I had to guess, it seems like you’ve fallen into the deep pit of despair yourself. Like you’ve tried everything this world has to offer, and yet your soul has no rest.”

“Yeah, well, did you ever stop to think maybe that’s all life is, a deep dark pit that sucks your soul dry? Humanity is cursed, and there is nothing that can save it, not even The Great Light.”

“You don’t honestly believe that otherwise, those two children over there wouldn’t be here.” Her words cut like a knife. It’s true if the world really was dark like I said, and if I truly believed that, then I wouldn’t have stepped in as I did. I would have just left those kids alone. So why? Why did I help them when I had enough issues to worry about?

“Yeah, well, whatever, maybe I just felt like it, I guess.”

“Hmm, maybe, or maybe you still have a little light left in you after all,” she says as she rises from her chair. “Goodnight, Jasper.”

“Goodnight, Sarah.” My fingers instinctively reach up to the top left side of my breast as I feel for that familiar note-bound leather. I squeeze the book as if my life depended on it. Tears silently began to fall from my eyes as I lay my head to sleep.