Approaching Death's Door

The dazed Flier stood at the closed door with tired eyes. His hair was tangled and disheveled, the feathers of his wings ruffled and uneven. Garments clung onto him loosely, having long lost their firmness from wear and tear. Steph held a newly-written letter as he stared at the man, incapable of knowing where to start.

But finally, after a long moment of unrelenting stillness, Steph said,

“Uh, so – I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Please… Do not toy with me. All I want is to get this over with.”

“I’m serious, okay?” he tried to sound friendly, but annoyance was quick to seep into his tone. “Listen, I know you’re probably… Like, scared and stuff – but honestly, I’m not going to do anything.”

The Flier lit up with a glint of hope, only for it to be extinguished by rising suspicion. “This is a game to you people, isn’t it?” he asked in a quiet voice tinged with sorrow.

“I’m not like them. If I was, you’d be… Ugh, just – turn around.”

He did as told, then Steph untied the rope put around his wings. The Flier gasped, spinning around in perplexity. Touching all over his wings as if to be sure they were there, he was left speechless and shaking like a leaf. Tripping over the words he could say, he stuttered,

“W-Why are you d-doing this? I-It doesn’t make any s-sense…”

“I need you to do something for me – in exchange for your freedom.”

“Yes, of course! A-Anything you ask!”

“There’s a Flier headed from here to the Oston District in Seris. Do you know the route?”

He nodded profusely.

“Okay, good… Well, I need you to stop her. Take her letter, and send this one instead. It’s for a Roe Darcy.”

“You want me to start an altercation..?”

Steph frowned, second doubts creeping in. But he already went this far, so might as well break the limits even further. “If that’s what it takes, I guess. Oh, and you obviously can’t say a thing about this! Not to your family, friends, anyone.”

“Before I agree to this, I beg for your honesty. Does this letter involve the Auction, in any way?”

“Yes, but… It’s not a trap or anything. It’ll actually save someone.”

“Then say no more! It’d be my honor.”

“And one more thing. You,” Steph huffed, forcing himself to be brave, “You have to take me with you.”

That’s when the Flier looked ashamed, his voice dropping to an apologetic mumble, “I’m sorry, but my wings have been restricted for so long, that they feel aching and weak… I can fly myself, but I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to support another person.”

Steph lamented under his breath. It was foolish to expect his plan to go swimmingly. The man’s predicament would likely apply to the other Fliers “down there” as well. Asking for a recent one would not only raise questions, but may have resulted in getting a Flier who was not desperate enough to follow Steph’s wishes – having not been exposed to horror long enough to become subservient.

Warning Roe was all he could do. His own escape required another solution.

“Fine, I get that. Just do what I told you then, and make it fast.”

“You got it, boss!”

The Flier lunged to the window, his talons gripping the sill. The fresh air he had been deprived of seemed to rejuvenate him, as the paleness left his skin. With his wings flapping slowly yet steadily, he turned back to Steph and said, “I know I may be asking too much, considering you’ve already given me this… But since you have been so kind, may I request something?”

Being referred to as “kind” for once gave him a very confused feeling, but ignoring it, he said, “Go on, hurry.”

“Below the Pantry, are two Weavers… A husband and wife. They’ve been there longer than any of us, five years – and yet, they have been our beacon of hope and courage. If you are willing… Can they be freed too?”

“I, uh – okay, hear me. I’m not a ‘savior’ or whatever, as if I could be… I just need this one thing done. I can’t afford to help anybody else.”

He sighed, disappointed. “Very well, I suppose I can understand that…”

The Flier levitated, his wings picking up speed. Scared out of his wits, Steph was tempted to call the whole thing off – but for Roe’s sake, the only person he felt even a slither of connection with, he had no choice.

“Don’t worry. I’ll get that letter, and as you wanted, this arrangement will stay between us forever. You have my word, or else my name isn’t Nix!”

Then he was gone, becoming one with the skies, leaving Steph to bask alone in the weight of his treacherous decision. It was reckless and he knew it. But at least… He was able to fight.

But his moment of pride was ceased by the familiar sound of clicking heels outside the bedroom. The door thrusted open, and there was Dulcie. Carrying her normal air of confidence, she strolled into the room as her mouth curved into a fiendish smile, while her grandson stayed as stiff as a statue.

“Well, well, darling. I must admit, this news was quite the shock…”

“Um…”

“Tell me, how was it?” she asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“It felt… Good?”

A low laugh made her shoulders quiver. It was either a sign of well spirits or a snapped nerve, and Steph was helpless in determining which.

“Mmm, yes, I’m sure that it did. You must’ve felt high as the clouds.”

“Y-Yeah, yeah! I um, never experienced anything like it.”

“But what about the bad after effect? That part is just awful.”

Steph struggled to keep himself calm as he came up with the words, “Right… It wasn’t fun. I hated it.”

“Hm. That’s funny, considering there are no ‘bad after effects.’”

His knees almost buckled. “T-There isn’t?”

“None at all. The ‘process’ is all euphoria and nothing more. So, I’ll ask you this… What did you really do with the Flier, hm?”

Dulcie was standing in front of him then, towering over. The smile was gone, her eyes hiding a subtle warning.

Lying would be useless. She’d sniff it right out. He had two choices – either break into pieces, or pick himself up.

And just like before, he wanted the latter.

“I’m not going to tell you.”

“Oh-ho? Is that so, Stephy?”

“Yes…”

“Do you feel it is useless to obey me, given the fate of the Nexus? Is that the reason for your utter stupidity?”

“It’s not that. Thanks to you, Grandmother, I’ve always known I was going to have an early death, so the fire doesn’t change much for me… B-But before I die, I want to fight… And live till to the last breath as a testimony.”

“I knew having you around Roe so much wasn’t wise,” she said darkly. “She’s filled your mind with such nonsense… However, my darling, you will indeed survive until the final day, as I have just decided…

And every waking moment, I shall ensure you regret this choice.”