Flames encase the city, smog floats in a hideous yellow cloud above the buildings, broken glass and broken dreams are strewn through the torn up roads. I walk through it all, long coat brushing the dirt, mask pulled over my nose, long heavy ax swinging at my side. My eyes are trained on every alley corner and every dark window, hoping to see what I have come for. 

I see a figure, crouched frightened behind a dented green dumpster in a shadowy passageway. His curly hair was a faded purple color, his eyes filled with tears. When he saw me coming, he quickly backed away. I could feel every ounce of his pain and loss, every fear and doubt. It broke me to see him there, bleeding and bruised with no one to comfort him. 

I walked over to him, crouching down. I pulled my mask slowly off my grime covered face. 

"Please, don't be afraid," I said to him in a soothing voice. "I'm here to help you. I know somewhere safe you can go, somewhere full of hope and joy. Will you come with me?" I asked, stretching out my hand for him. 

He looked at me, then down at the blood on his clothes and the stains of misery that were blotted all over. He quietly nodded. Helping him up, I let him lean on me. I still could feel his doubt, but he still limped alongside me. 

Somewhere in the distance, I heard an alarm start to blare, wailing its call of hopelessness. 

"Why are you doing this?" asked the boy, "why don't you give up too? There's so many lost people, you couldn't ever help them all." 

"I'm doing this because it's my job," I said, struggling to hold him up, "I refuse to give up because if I do, who else would stand? I know there's so many lost and broken people here, but to every one I help get to the light, it makes a difference to them and to me." 

Around us, I could see those terrible monsters, the Shadows, surrounding us. The boy collapsed at my side, beginning to cry again. I lifted my ax, staring at the Shadows stubbornly, daring them to come closer. 

"They won't go away," sobbed the boy. 

"I'll make them go away!" I screamed, swinging at the creatures. One of them was caught by my blade, exploding as it vanished. All the while, I tried to sooth my crying friend. One by one, the shadows began to drift away, and those who weren't became obliterated. 

Soon, the boy stood up again, ready to continue our journey. Although the trip was dangerous and difficult, I was able to get him to the boarder, between the place of light and this burning dystopia. 

"This is it," I told him, "now go, feel hope and joy again." He stepped over the boarder. The last glimpse of him I had was of his sudden, grateful smile.