Step into the Light

by Daniel Jarvis

“Step into the light, I dare you,” Marshall said as he struggled to contain his laughter.

“What will happen when I do?” I asked with trepidation.

“How am I supposed to know?” Marshall responded. “Just do it.”

Despite my reservations, I obliged my overbearing friend. He had a way with words, after all.

“How long do I have to stay under the light?” I asked after succumbing to Marshall’s dare.

“Until I say you can step out,” he replied.

An orbicular-shaped device concentrated the sun’s light into a searing beam on the concrete. A Land Eater, as we called them, stared through the glass object. Nasty, vile, despicable creatures those Land Eaters.

The beam of light heated the surface at my feet, and I struggled to maintain my composure.

Marshall laughed as I lost my footing and wilted on the ground. The sun’s rays ignited my body and crumpled my frame. Another, more amplified sound of laughter erupted from the Land Eater.

“Why did you dare me to step into the light?” I inquired as I gasped for air and my body melted.

Marshall snickered in response. It occurred to me that listening to Marshall always ended badly for all involved.

As I gasped for my final breath, I heard Marshall call over a mutual friend.

“Hey Kevin! I dare you to step into the light.”

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Daniel Jarvis is a fiction writer and sports blogger for bigbluenationsports.com. He has also contributed to kysportsconnection.com. He lives in Las Vegas and spends a lot of time outdoors, gaining inspiration from nature and his interactions with other people. Follow him on Twitter at dsjarvisbbns.