(Reverence 7, 59 / 12:00PM)

  It was sunny.

  On top of a rge hill on the outskirts of Dodgerock, id the same old white adobe. Inside the rge concrete house, was a garden, filled with rge treens that waved through the desert air, leaving the leaves to bristle with sand.

  Fruits, vegetables, the leaves swayed relentlessly under the afternoon warm breeze.

  But in that same garden, id four wooden crosses.

  In front of these four graves, a rge audience of soldiers had their hands in their waist or pockets. Silence booming their ears, their eyes pushed down, and the old man in the center looked softly at one of the tombstones.

  The tombstone he squinted into had a writing engraved into it.

  “Kenichi Honda”

  “Junius 10, 38 - Reverence 6, 59”

  “A Loving Boy Who Lost A Soul”

  Kenichi’s tombstone wasn’t the only one.

  To the left of it was another tombstone, having the shape of a wooden crucifix the same as Kenichi.

  “Johnny Zirardge”

  “Automonath 25, 49 - Reverence 6, 59”

  “Loving Boyfriend Gone Too Soon”

  And to the left of Johnny’s grave were two other crucifixes, with these two being really close to one another. The edges of the wood being inches apart, both crosses said…

  “Manny Hernando”         “Christopher Hernando”

  “Reverence 1, 46 - Maiores 15, 55”   “Ostermonath 2, 51 - Reverence 4, 59”

  “Strongest of Man”         “Bundle of Joy”

  (Kenji) You’ve all dealt with the worst card…

  Kenji whispered the words. His head low, his hands and fingers shivering softly, he couldn’t look back to see his soldiers or his guests.

  A single tear ran down his right eye.

  Letting it stall onto his jaw, it fluttered down to the red dirt below. Clearing his throat, he lifted his head and pulled back the tears that wanted to pry out of his eyelids. Pushing it deep down into the pit of his stomach, he cracked his knuckles and turned around with red-pinkish eyes.

  (Kenji) Today we honor the legacies of these four men. Their memories, stories; all will be stored throughout our hearts and words.

  He pced his hands on his lower back, clutching them together as his fingers interlocked. Straightening his back, the warm wind breezed through his robe, leaving it to ripple against the air.

  His face already lifted, he looked at every single of his soldiers, along with The Dark Angels. All of them wearing bck suits, suited for the situation and event, he tightened the grip along his fingers.

  (Kenji) Three of these gentlemen used to be sons of mine … and one of these gentlemen ascertained their worth to the very end…

  He let go of his hands and had them motionless to his sides. Gulping a ball of saliva down his throat, it bulged his Adam's apple and cleared his throat like a vacuum.

  Putting his pupils onto Christian, who was the nearest to both Manny and Chris’s graves, stared solemnly at the ground in between them. Seeing him infatuated, lost in thought, Kenji moved his numb feet, allowing his toes to direct him to the tanned man.

  Standing next to him, he lifted his hand and cmped it onto his shoulder.

  (Kenji) You did all you could son. Both of your brothers chose their fates, not you.

  (Christian) But Boss…

  (Kenji) Manny could have run away and never looked back, leaving you, Pacifica, and Chris to be taken from us … but he didn’t.

  He remembered that day like it was yesterday.

  Letting the gunshot ricochet through the ice cream parlor’s walls, piercing through his ears and chaining their souls, he felt fear. For such a long time, he felt fear.

  Manny did too, and he knew the outcome. Forcing the three of them to run and get help, he knew he would be long gone by the time they would arrive.

  (Kenji) Chris always wanted to explore the outside world, and he knew the fangs it would bear… but he continued walking.

  He also remembered the neverending demands from him, making him feel like his ears might bleed out. His memory was vague, as he remembered his reddened cheeks whenever he told him no…

  No, no, no. That’s all he said to him.

  (Christian's thoughts) If only I said yes at least—

  (Kenji) And you and Pacifica need to walk forward as well.

  He puckered his lips.

  Biting them down, sealing it, he plunged the tears from out of his eyes. Allowing them to transcend down to his cheeks and jaw, he sniffled heavily as his breathing turned rampant…

  As he felt his hands and feet go numb.

  Letting go of Christian’s shoulder, Pacifica cried along with him, her tears streaming out from the corners of her eyes. Sputtering them onto her bck dress, she had her head leaning onto Christian’s arm, as both brother and sister mourned.

  (Kenji’s thoughts) We all need to walk forward … as one.

  Two girls walked to Johnny and Kenichi’s graves, but the things they carried differed. In front of Johnny’s crucifix, a cat-girl carried a thin brown jacket. Instead of the jacket being folded, it was wrinkled and outstretched, meaning it could be used…

  As a bnket, and that was what Elizabeth did.

  Covering the grave with his brown thin jacket, her fingers quivered. She tried to smile, but her lips wanted to frown, creating an equilibrium force between her fttened face.

  (Elizabeth) It’s to keep you warm…

  And in front of Kenichi’s crucifix, a monolid woman with gsses held a bouquet of roses. The stems wielding thorns, but the pedals shaded in a ginger orange, she knelt down…

  To give him flowers.

  The pedals millimeters from caressing the wood, she soon stood up, without uttering a mendicant tear. Clutching her hands together, she rubbed her thumbs across her knuckles. From behind, another walked, stopping right next to her shoulder.

  Having dark purple hair, her cheeks were stained and marked from tears, tears she didn’t want anyone to see … yet everyone did.

  (Jenny) Oh, Kenny…

  Iris remained silent, her frown creasing her wrinkles the more she stared at his cross. Even though her frown strained her face, she didn’t look cold … no … she looked …

  Exhausted.

  Her body still, she looked like she was stuck at a frozen point of time. Backpedaling into the crowd of soldiers, she had her head lowered, her rge bck fedora hat unletting the sun to bargain her face.

  Everyone had paid their respects in their way, even The Dark Angels did.

  (Luke’s thoughts) Never thought Johnny would die…

  He stared at those same four wooden crosses, allowing his eyes to directly pinpoint Johnny’s tombstone. Hearing about what happened to him, and what Doug did, it only left a huge hole in his heart, because in a way…

  He and Johnny were simir; in that they were forced into lives they could not escape.

  Luke curled his fingers into his palms. Having his nails dig into his skin, it didn’t puncture out any blood, but it was enough for him to wrinkle his forehead. Hope noticed this, and pced her hand onto his upper back.

  (Hope) It’s not your fault…

  He uncurled his hands.

  Letting them rest on his thighs, his fingers trickled the fabric of his pants. The hot wind, blowing through everyone as it parched their skin and clothes relentlessly, started to slow once Luke lifted his head.

  And ceased his frown.

  (Luke) Hope…

  (Hope) It’s not your fault.

  (Luke) I could’ve done more. Or—

  (Hope) It’s not … your … fault…

  He shed a single tear, letting it stream down his left cheek. Stalling on his jaw, he sniffled once before he pushed down his head again, leaving him to stare at the red dirt below.

  Unwilling to squeeze his fingers or his hands, he kept them stationary to his waist as he sniffled even more. Gasping out small breaths of air, charring his throat dry, he raised his right sleeve to his face.

  Wiping away a small stream of mucus and tears, he slobbered it onto the leather, staining it under the desert breeze.

  (Luke’s thoughts) Why … Why do I hate myself so much…?

  Every one of his friends, Hope, Luna, Jack, Sean, Benn, and Miles; all huddled in the back of Luke. Feeling their compassion, their loyalty, bonded onto him not like a chain, but by an elegant strand of yarn, it was…

  It was soul-warming.

  Kenji walked to the center in front of everyone, his back facing the wooden crosses as the sun began to brighten. Already tanning his face, he squinted and clutched his hands together. Moving them to his lower back, he lifted his head.

  (Kenji) These poor souls … wouldn’t want us to sulk here more than we should be …

  The warm wind from the horizon dimmed down, leaving his old and hoarse voice to bristle through the desert air. Having the sun bze down onto their heads, cooking the dirt and bathing the leaves with its harsh glow, Kenji still kept his eyes darkened.

  (Kenji) In the te evening, we’re going to host a party for these souls. Instead of shedding tears, we’ll shed ughter. Instead of remembering the past, we’ll talk about the future. So everyone … everyone!

  He made everyone stiff.

  The eyelids that acted as reservoirs, the nostrils that acted as dams; they all tightened like a government lockdown. His yell, which pierced through everyone’s sunken souls, shook up their trembling bodies.

  As he lowered his voice once more.

  (Kenji) Start getting the tables ready.

  There was a brief moment of silence, with everyone having their feet glued to the red soil below. In two seconds, one or two soldiers walked to the adobe, their heads lowered and darkened. Like a domino effect, three to four, then five, then six …

  Everyone soon followed suit, as their boots pushed chunks of soil from its roots. The Dark Angels, Christian and Pacifica, and Elizabeth and Jenny, all followed the soldiers inside, leaving Kenji to be the only one in the garden.

  He saw Jenny be the st person to enter, and she gnced from behind to look at her father. Turning her attention back to the group, she closed the door.

  (Kenji’s thoughts) Alone at st…

  He let his feet take him to the other end of the garden, his sandals sprinkling the dirt that he walked below. His hands pced onto his lower back, his face was wrinkled and pale, once he reached where he wanted to go.

  Which was a tombstone, molded in stone.

  Without saying a single word, he extended his right hand to the top of the tombstone, his hand jumping and shivering under its chilling touch. And without shedding a tear, he pushed his cheeks up to his lower eyelids.

  (Kenji’s thoughts) Take care of them like our children … my dear …

  The tombstone read—

  “Erina Sumiko Mathers”

  “Loving Mother and Wife”

  ______________________________________________________________________________

  (Reverence 7, 59 / 7:48PM)

  Several hours ter.

  As the sun started to settle into the desert horizon, there was noise.

  But it wasn’t from the bustling crowds of pedestrians of Dodgerock, nor the heavy wind blowing from the North. No, it was a noise of joy, freedom…

  Of one to let themselves go.

  Inside the rge white adobe, or rather inside the courtyard, was a bountiful party full of men and women. Wearing brown outdoor jackets, khaki pants, and shots of whiskey in their hands; they thrived.

  Laughed, smiled, grinned; they did everything to push away their saddened hidden tears. They did it so well that they seemed to forget about everything that had happened. Even the guests, who wore bck leather jackets and bck pants, had their bodies loosened from the stench and taste of beer and whiskey—

  Except for two.

  (Luke and Benn’s thoughts) Can’t drink…

  Both Luke and Benn were the only ones—yes! Only ones to not indulge in the taste of liquor. One man pushed his right lip to the corner of his ear, a man who had ginger hair and elf ears.

  (Sean) You two are such party poopers! Lighten up for once!

  (Luke) Hey, you could have fun without being drunk.

  (Sean) That’s what all losers say!

  Lifting the gss shot to his lips, he let the smell and taste of whiskey molest his teeth and guns. Circling it around like mouthwash, he gulped the hard liquid down his throat, as he felt his vocals burn and char.

  Gasping out air, Luke inhaled the fumes of Sean’s breath, causing him to pinch his nose shut. Taking a couple of steps back, he felt like his eyes would roll to the back of his head.

  (Luke) H-How many shots have you taken down!?

  (Sean) This is my fifth one. What? Trying to do a friendly competition?

  (Luke) I already told you … I can’t even handle beer!

  (Miles) Take it easy Sean. Everyone is different when handling alcohol.

  Miles held a gss shot the same as Sean, looking like he had already drunk the liquor. But unlike Sean, he carried a small bowl with his left hand, and within that bowl…

  There were fifteen gss shots.

  By just speaking directly to Sean, Miles’ breath streamed out through his parched mouth. Once it made contact with Sean’s face, Sean almost tumbled back, his feet losing their grip on the dirt.

  (Sean) What the hell are you made out of?!

  (Miles) My mom drank a lot of alcohol in her younger years, so I got that trait passed down—

  (Sean) That still doesn’t expin how you’re not drunk yet!

  (Miles) … skill issue.

  (Sean) ‘Skill issue’ my ass.

  Sean grumbled his words before he let his eyes avert to Jack. Seeing he was a little bit tipsy, his eyelids were doused with eyebags, as he stared point bnk onto a patch of concrete wall.

  Swaying from side to side, Sean took a couple of steps forward, and by using his left hand, he tugged his shoulder softly. With just the smallest of shoves, Jack jumped straight up and raised both of his to cover his face.

  Making a defensive stance, it was depleted in less than a second, looking like he was brought back to reality.

  (Sean) You don’t look happy.

  (Jack) I drove all night to get here. What did you expect?

  (Sean) Hey, any one of us help you? You don’t always have to be our driver.

  (Jack) And like I always say. I’m … the … driver.

  Too exhausted to churn a frown, and completely exhausted to push up a smile, he had his head hunched forward while speaking to Sean. His posture aching his back, he barely had the energy to straighten it out, leaving him to look like a hunchback.

  Luke, being one of the very few people to not indulge in alcohol, let his eyes light up. Remembering the bag of gold he filled up, just moments before the train had plunged to the canyon below, he wanted to…

  (Luke) Hey Sean, do you know where you put the gold?

  (Sean) It’s in my room. Why?

  (Luke) I know it’s a party and all, but I want to discuss what we should do with the gold we have. You know, pn out what to do with it.

  (Sean) Uhh … sure.

  Luke gave him a nod before he walked toward the inside of the adobe. Closing the door behind him, The Dark Angels were down a leader, but he would return shortly.

  The group heard a crowd of footsteps, making them turn around to see another group simir to them. Pacifica, Christian, Stan, Fred, Gary, Diego, Loraine, Elizabeth, David, Jenny, and Iris; all stood in front of them with gsses of whiskey in their hands.

  Except for Loraine, because she’s still a child.

  (Sean) So what brings you all here?

  (Christian) Where’s Luke? Don’t tell me he’s the first one out.

  (Sean) Nah, he’s just bringing the three bags of gold we collected. He should be coming back soon.

  (Christian) Well then …

  In unison, all of them gave The Dark Angels a 60-degree bow, followed by their hands pced together as if they were praying. Seeing them all bow, Sean and the others took a step back, widening their eyes at the sudden praise.

  Sean gulped down whatever saliva that was stuck inside his throat, letting it sink down to his stomach as he kept his eyes on Christian. Keeping their postures steady, all of them had their eyes closed, with the forefront of the group being Christian.

  (Christian) Please give him our thanks. If it weren’t for him, The Boss would’ve lost another family retive…

  (Sean) Oh…

  (Christian) And about what The Boss said. How I and Pacifica should continue to walk forward…

  All of them soon straightened out their backs, along with their eyes flickering open to let themselves view their saviors. Even though all of them were stuck in the same train cart, dwindled in darkness, their thanks to Luke were passed down to his friends.

  And they weren’t just going to let it go to waste.

  The Dark Angels watched and heard with opened eyes and ears, their eardrums perceiving and sulking in whatever words would come out of Christian’s mouth.

  (Christian) After the funeral … I asked him if I could be the next person in line to lead the Pacithiests.

  (Miles) Wait really? What did he say?

  Christian raised his hand toward the right side of his chest, as he took off the metallic badge vished in gold. Extending his right arm forward, he pushed up a small smirk, leaving the barely settling sun to shine a glow on the badge.

  Sean and the others squinted at its metal interior, seeing it shimmer and gleam.

  (Christian) He gave me this badge; and called me Boss. Pretty cool right?

  All of them let their jaws drop. Stunned, too shocked to formute their thoughts and breaths with words, they let their tongues quiver and stutter.

  (Jack) No way you’re officially the Pacithiest Boss! Just like that!?

  (Christian) Yes sir. And don’t worry, I pn to continue the alliance with us and you guys.

  (Benn’s thoughts) We’re finally making connections.

  The Dark Angels turned to Stan’s group, seeing Pacifica having her left arm wrapped around Stan’s right arm. Noticing that Fred, Gary, and Diego looked to be a little jealous, or rather frustrated at the public dispy of affection, a smug grin pstered onto Sean’s face.

  As he let his eyes trail to both Stan and Pacifica.

  (Sean) I guess you guys are a couple huh?

  (Pacifica) Jealous pretty boy?

  (Stan) Don’t worry, I’m still going to support Luke and everyone else like normal.

  Stan had a casual smile, his freckles gleaming with joy as he turned toward his friend group. Seeing their faces fluster red, they all grumbled and jumbled, which made Stan sway his head back and forth.

  Tugging Pacifica closer, she wrapped her left arm evermore, leaving him to push up his smile.

  (Stan) The only thing changing is she’s coming with me. I’m down a hand, so I need all the help I can get.

  (Miles’s thoughts) For a chick who’s borderline racist, she sure loves elves…

  Pacifica raised her right lip, allowing her to form a devilish smile that only flustered Stan’s group exponentially. Letting them seethe and clench down the back ends of their mors, she let the toxic side of her personality show.

  Ignoring the group of boys, she stuck out her thumb and pointed it to herself.

  (Pacifica) And I pn to see the world that Chris wanted to explore. This means the leaf licker and his boy group will accompany me on your travels-travels.

  (Stan) Why do you like calling me leaf-licker?

  (Pacifica) It-It suits you. You eat leaves right?

  (Stan’s thoughts) I’m not even going to respond to that…

  Everyone swayed their heads, ignoring the somewhat bigoted remark. Rolling his eyes, he exhaled a sigh by pushing out air from his nostrils, leaving him to parch his upper lip with his breath.

  The boy group, who remained silent in every single discussion ever since they got to Haxouburg, finally spoke out. Once they did, they even made Luna and Benn stare at them intently, as if they had taken both their ears and eyes.

  (Fred) All three of us have been sidelined this entire time. Me and Gary … are pnning on returning to our roots.

  (Jack) Meaning?

  (Fred) We two are going to invent new tech and gadgets not just for Luke, but for all of you guys too.

  They let their smiles widen.

  Their lips gleamed with happiness, and their eyes sparkled. Even Luna and Benn, who both had resting antisocial faces, let their faces soften. Nodding their heads, and looking at one another, Jack was the one to give them a big thumbs up.

  (Jack) About time we get new toys.

  Diego pced both of his hands into his pants pockets, his body swelling up with sweat as he tried to push the words out. Squeezing his hands, he pushed the words that quivered in his throat.

  (Diego) I’m not much of an inventor, but I know engines. I could tap into the van and make some self-improvement if you want…

  (Sean) Anything that will help us out in the long run, is fine by me.

  The group turned toward David, who had a darkened expression despite the party being at its climax. His hands were inside his jacket’s pockets, he had his head pushed down, leaving his facial expression to be unrecognizable.

  Next to him, was Elizabeth, who happened to have the same facial expression as him; but for a different reason.

  (Sean) Is anything wrong David?

  (David) I’m going to say this once … but I pn on being out and about for the next several months.

  (Jack) Wait what? Why?

  (David) I want to figure out everything. The attack on Ticia, Kenichi’s memory loss, the attack on Lagefor; the green-haired old man…

  Many of the Dark Angels began to rub their fingers across the chins, as they remembered the many tragedies throughout the years.

  Everything that happened, ever since that hellish day, feels all connected. Throughout the past several days, their enemy wasn’t the dreaded zompires, but … humans. And upon remembering their fights, remembering the cruel family of The Zirardges; the world’s richest family … Why were they against them? Was it to prove a point? Power? A grudge?

  A pn?

  Elizabeth cracked her knuckles the more she remembered that dreaded family, the things they said to her … the things they did to Johnny … before his death.

  (Elizabeth) And I want to travel with him. I know Johnny would want me to live my life … but …

  (Johnny in Elizabeth’s thoughts) It’s ok … I’m going to be … ok.

  She curled her fingers into her palms, digging them deep into her skin. Trailing out a river of blood, it flowed down to the red dirt below, staining it as it mingled and camoufged on the soil.

  (Elizabeth) This is what I want.

  As the cat-girl took a step back, Iris took a step forward. Her hands and arms fttened and straight along her sides, she raised her right hand to her stomach. Scratching the white bandage wrapped around her stomach, her nails cwed chunks of white cloth from its sheath.

  Because during her offscreen fight, she sustained a heavy beating, a beating she won by the inch of her life.

  (Iris) Me and Jenny would remain here, where we belong. I am well past my prime in terms of combat.

  (Jenny) Unlike Elizabeth … I just don’t have it in me … not anymore … I just feel—

  She felt her hand being grabbed.

  Letting her eyes sluggishly trail to her left, she looked down at the little girl who had cmped her hand with hers. Feeling her hand trickle with sweat, she flickered a trembling smile, causing her scleras to strain a pinkish red.

  (Jenny’s thoughts) Thank you, Loraine.

  Luna and Hope perked their ears up, as both heard a door sway wide open. Twisting their heads, they saw a young man carrying three rge bck bags, followed by a green donkey walking out of the door.

  Ftlining their lips, they bit both their upper and lower by just seeing the sight of Maxine. As the young man walked toward them, he widened his eyes at the sight of everyone huddled up.

  (Luke) Christian! David! Fred! Stan!

  He hurried his feet, which led Maxine to gallop through the red soil below. Once he reached toward not just his group, but everyone else gathered, he pushed a warm smile, a smile warm enough to burn through the coldest of days.

  Dropping the three bags to the ground, it shingled and cttered, leaving the non delicate gold to crackle.

  (Luke) Here are the bags. Sorry if I took too long.

  (Jack) No worries. You got here just in time.

  (Christian) Is this the gold you got from The Zirardges?

  (Luke) Yeah … some of it.

  Luke and Sean kneeled to the floor below, putting their knees on the red soil as it began to cushion their bones. Taking out their pocket knives, they were about to rip them open, before they heard a thud of footsteps from behind.

  Turning their heads, they took two men walking toward the super rge group. One of the men wore a robe, his hair white and spiked. While the other wore a tuxedo suit, along with a fedora and gsses.

  (Kenji) Out of all people, never expected Luke to be overtaken with greed.

  (Boris) Think of it this way Kenji. Men make sin, but sins don’t make men.

  Boris and Kenji stood in front of both Sean and Luke, who had their bones rubbing against the red dirt. Looking down on both of them, Boris’ eyes were pushed down, his hands to his pockets while he pushed air from his parched throat.

  But Kenji looked wrinkled, as his cheeks and forehead showed signs of hidden frustration.

  (Luke) Don’t worry sir. We’re only going to use this money for ourselves to buy new gadgets and clothes.

  (Kenji) Good. The worst route a leader takes is the path of greed. Please be mindful of that.

  Luke gave Kenji a nod, as he continued to cut open the top of the gold bag. His left hand holding the top, he had it quickly raised once he finished cutting it through, leaving a rge hole to spew out.

  Sean cut open one of the bags, and then soon after, he began to cut open the other bag. Standing up, Luke patted both of his knees to release dust attached to them, his palms grizzled with dust that stuck to his skin like glue.

  (Luke) Alright. Let’s see how much gold I collected.

  Bending down to pick up the bag, the rge abundance of gold coins shingled and shackled, leaving everyone to sparkle their eyes. Having money, lots of it, was enough to support them for a couple of years or more.

  All the while Sean cut open the st bag.

  Dropping his bag to the ground, Luke grabbed one of the bags that Sean cut open, but for some reason…

  (Luke’s thoughts) I always wondered why his bags were a little lighter than mine.

  He decided to check the contents within the bag, as he heard a couple of shingles move and flutter inside. Squinting, he kept his head stationary and let his feet glue deep into the red dirt below.

  Sean kept his mouth shut and clutched his hands together to hover over his crotch. Noticing Luke was unable to put the sight into words, he didn’t frown nor smirk but lowered his head.

  (Luke) Sean…

  (Sean) Yeah?

  He was about to speak, but he knew actions would be better than words.

  Luke moved his hands below the bag and then tilted it down. The contents, which were supposed to be nothing but gold coins…

  Were mostly repced by swats of dolr bills.

  Even though it was money, it wasn’t as valuable as the gold coins Luke collected. Dumping all the dolr bills out of the bag, it littered the red soil, letting the paper stain a hideous red. Everyone, ranging from The Dark Angels to everyone who spilled out their dreams and ambitions, widened their eyes at this sudden revetion.

  Turning their heads, they stared bnkly at Sean.

  (Jack) You had one job…

  (Miles) What’s this, change of heart?

  (Luna) You were the one that wanted to rob the train in the first pce!

  (Hope) Why just dolr bills Sean?

  (Luke) I don’t understand… Why use dolr bills rather than gold?

  Luke began to scratch the back of his head, his nails scouring the dandrum so that it fluttered down to his jacket. Making his head low, along with his cheeks, his voice was tinted with utter confusion and bewilderment at this sudden change.

  The culprit, who looked down to the ground shyly, squeezed his hands together as everyone stared at him confusingly. Tapping his right foot, he lifted his head an inch and pushed up a wry smile that matched his gentle face.

  (Sean) I’ve realized the errors of my ways. I know I wanted to give you guys the money you deserved, but all we need really … is just enough for us to sustain enjoyably.

  Everyone softened their faces, as a couple of warm smiles lit up the entirety of the rge group. Some of them nodding, some of them un-furrowing their brows, all of them loosened their shocked expressions and repced them with something more calmer.

  Empathy soon grew all around them, like a string of yarn connecting them all.

  (Sean) Consider this my debt to you, after that stupid duel we had…

  He let his eyes sulk down to the dirt, unwilling to lift his head while pcing his hands into his pants pocket. Even though everyone felt their gazes warm, almost pitying him, he didn’t want forgiveness…

  (Sean) I promise not to do anything rash without your permission … you were right from the start … all of it …

  Luke walked two steps forward. Facing him, he raised his right hand to scratch his chin, his nail cleaving off scrapes of old dirt.

  (Luke) Hey, remember what you said when we reunited several days ago? About how you always wanted to be second in command?

  Sean slowly lifted his head, as his eyes pushed down evermore into his cheeks. Keeping them there, he felt his fingers and knuckles numb, as he heard the two questions drawing from Luke’s mouth.

  Everyone stood in silence, seeing the interaction between both rivals finally reaching much closure.

  (Luke) Every commander needs one or two wingmen. How about being my left-hand man? I think after everything, you deserve some kind of reward…

  Both of his eyelids constrained the tears that wanted to roll out, his eyelids enacting as dams. Leaving his scleras to strain a pinkish red, he felt both his hands and feet swell cold while leaning his body forward.

  Taking one step toward Luke, he wrapped his arms around him, giving him the utmost of bear hugs.

  (Sean) Thank you…

  (Luke) No problem…

  At st, the two rivals found soce, an equilibrium bridging the two of them like a metallic chain.

  Everyone pushed their cheeks upward, letting their smiles gleam and shine through the te evening. Hope and Luna, who usually dislike the idea of anyone trying to hug or make physical contact with Luke, let it slide for once.

  Letting go of one another, they both turned toward the setting sun.

  (Luke’s thoughts) Wow…

  The rest of everyone turned to the sunset, seeing the sky turn orange as the desert wind slowed to a crawl. Feeling the air turn cold, they let it patch and bristle their skin, as alcohol and booze sting their lungs.

  And everyone, whether it be a Pacithiest…

  An agent…

  A spartan…

  A Zirardge…

  All of them looked toward the angelic sun, finally simmering down into the endless horizon of sand. Their pupils sparkling at the star, encapsuting the st of its dying light like a burnt candle; they stared. At ease, calm, unwilling to fight, nor argue even the simplest of things…

  Or the most complex of situations…

  (Luke’s thoughts) We’re ok. We’re all going to be … ok.

  Everyone got to enjoy the sundering sunset.

  With stars already forming above them, they let their eyes stare solely at that single important star. No one to interrupt them, no one to try to hunt them down or take them in; they could rest.

  As the curtain closes, for the exhausted Dark Angels.

  ______________________________________________________________________________

  (Reverence 7, 59 / 8:52PM)

  Somewhere in a dark room.

  The walls were vished in grimstone, with vished red curtains flowing down to cover the yellow tinted windows. The floor was vished in white marble, but with red china carpets pstering themselves in an organized way, the room looked to be …

  Not rich, but noble.

  In the front of the room, y a rge wooden desk, filled with yellowed coffee papers stacking up like mountains. All of them looked to be written in dip pens, the setting looked old; much older than Haxouburg.

  If Haxouburg was famous for radios and old automobiles, then the area or region this room found itself in…

  (???) I see…

  Hiding behind the mountain of papers, a man in his te 40s looked through one of the stacks. Having blonde hair shaded in a slight tint of gray hair, his eyes looked as if they hadn't seen a speck of daylight for who knows how long…

  His hands gripping the bottom of a single lined paper, his fingers shook, once he trailed the words from line to line. But he stalled on one particur word, a word that pushed up his grim eyes.

  (???) I found her at st… after so so long …

  Letting the paper fall onto the desk, he pced the bottom of his palms to push his body out, sending him to stand on his frail two feet. Looking to be skinny, scrawny even, his cheek bones showed malnutrition. And yet, he wore a white frock jacket, his pants ced in a mixture of white and khaki.

  Turning his head to the left, he viewed an old firepce that looked put out. Seeing the ash linger and glue into the batches of old firewood, he twisted his body and began to walk toward it. Reaching in front of it, he let his eyes squint into the firepce … even though no fire lit up the cold and dark room.

  (???) Fenix? The Dark Angels? The cruelties of iron and blood she for took in? Unacceptable…

  He scourged his throat, as a wheezing cough broke through his throat like he ingested sand. Settling his right hand onto his chest, a small drip of blood broke free from his right nostril, leaving his upper lip to solute the liquid.

  His breathing coarse, his lungs heavy, he hunched his head while pcing his left hand onto the stone wall.

  (???) Mia? Are you there?

  Out of a shill corner, came out a twelve-year-old girl.

  Wearing nothing but a rge white cloth, the ends of it reached down to her ankles. Her bare feet sulked on the red vish carpet, her skin and face glowed in the dark, as she was so pale that…

  A hideous odor assaulted his nostrils. Using his peripheral vision, he gnced back to see she had bck oily hair, having it cover her temples and ears. Without smiling, she stared bnkly at the scrawny man, who continued to wheeze harshly through his punctured throat.

  (Mia) Yes sir?

  (???) Follow this group, to the ends of Terra if you must. But no quarreling. Baring my hands dirty is no deed for a man such as myself.

  (Mia) I shall sir.

  The girl soon began to trickle the steps of the carpet, rubbing her bare feet to the fabric. The carpet turning into freezing cobblestone, she stopped in front of the door and gripped the handle of the golden-vished metal.

  And opened it, swaying the rge taiga wooden door to hit the wall. Closing it, she left the middle-aged man to be alone at his lonesome, as he started to see his breath with his very eyes.

  (???) Lazaros is a step ahead of them. He has something in the oven of hellfire, a pn he still has set in motion…

  The middle-aged man began walking toward the desk, seeing the mountain of papers he had hidden himself with. All of them, encoded in patches of yellow, were riddled with bck ink, as cursive elegantly swished through the lining like soldier lines.

  But he passed along the desk and instead walked toward one of the windows.

  (???’s thoughts) And if I shall be the judge of it … the next ordeal will all be their st; except for her.

  Pulling up the red curtain of the window, he allowed his delicate eyes to encapsute the view of the outside world. Seeing the night bnket, the nd, the city, in its devilish form, he pushed up a grin that even a devil could not form.

  And then the screen went bck.

  (???’s thoughts) So don’t be a hero … Luke Fenix.

  ACT 3 END

  End of Arc 2