Inside The Black Parade (Interlude)

Magdalena and Reaper sank gently into the shadow dimension, until they finally reached its depths. It was the space where Magdalena used to stay—a luxurious chair at the center of what resembled the middle of a library, with several bookshelves carrying a considerable number of books.

Reaper was the first to touch the floor of that library, holding Magdalena in his arms.

“Magdalena! Magdalena!” Desperation consumed the boy as he looked at the blood on his hands.

“Mi Romeo… Please, hold me tightly…”

“You’ll be okay. I’m not letting go of you, not for anything in this world.”

Reaper gently placed his hands on Magdalena’s back and drew her body closer to his.

From the far corridors of that “library,” the voice of a child echoed.

“I’m not letting go of you, not for anything in this world. What a romantic line. A true hero could say that without stuttering… but I’m no hero.”

“Who’s there?”

From the shadows emerged the silhouette of a frail child—a boy with black hair, his face hidden by a mask identical to Reaper’s.

“Reaper isn’t some hero out of a love story. I could never be that kind of person. Reaper is a hero of justice, who fights against the hypocrisy of this world.”

“Magdalena, don’t tell me he is who I think he is…”

“The Black Parade lives inside your Soul Palace, remember? If you want, I can remove him from here.”

“No, sooner or later, I need to confront my greatest fears.”

“Confront fear?” The child approached slowly. “No, I can’t do that. Maybe Reaper can, but not me. I’m a coward.”

“You’re looking at him. I am Reaper.”

“Eh? You’ve got to be kidding. Reaper looks nothing like you. He’s way cooler.”

“Don’t underestimate me.”

“Ah, I did it again, didn’t I? Pushed away someone I just met. What can I do about it? Maybe mom’s right—I don’t know how to deal with people. Maybe I really should just be alone forever…”

“Your mother knows nothing.”

“No, she knows everything. Absolutely everything. Did you know? My mother is one of the greatest minds in human history. And my father too.” Black tears began to stream from behind the mask. “So why? Why am I not a genius like them?”

“That’s… not how it works…”

“Then why? Why can’t I meet her expectations?”

“…”

“...In the end, she’s right. I should just live a mediocre life. I’ll never be the genius who changes the world the way she dreamed.”

“…”

“That’s the truth behind Reaper’s mask. I’m weak, useless, a coward. I can’t save anyone. I’m no hero. I wasn’t born to be a protagonist. I’m just a disposable character.”

“…”

“There is no Reaper. I’m just a fraud.”

Shadows began to envelop the child, merging with his body and growing in size, until he stood at the same height as Reaper.

“Mi Romeo, are you really going to let yourself be swallowed by your own insecurities?”

“...” Reaper sighed. “This shadow from the past is right, isn’t it? I couldn’t do anything up there, and because of my failure, you got hurt. You were right too—maybe the best thing to do is just run away. I don’t need to deny my nature as a coward.”

Magdalena remained silent, watching the path her beloved would choose.

“That’s right… You’re just a coward. I’m just a coward. Time to drop the mask and end this farce called Reaper.”

The mask of the dark version cracked down the middle, as if its jaws were opening. Shadows spread in all directions, ready to consume Reaper.

“Come on, time to forget these silly fant—!”

“PURPLE VORTEX!!!”

A voice echoed through the shadow dimension, coming from above. Along with it descended a purple energy sphere, spinning wildly upon itself, devouring the shadows in its path.

That vortex of energy struck the dark version of Reaper head-on, exploding on impact and leaving a massive crater in the ground.

“Pu-Purple?!”

“Oh look, the bitchy witch finally decided to show up.”

The voice from above spoke loudly “Reaper!!!!!! Mag!!!!!! Are you two still alive down there??????”

“Purple Papermoon! What a miracle you’re awake at this hour! …Wait, why did you come out?”

“How was I supposed to sleep with all that noise outside? It’s complete chaos out here! Anyway, are you two okay?”

“I’m fine. Magdalena is hurt—can’t you come down here to heal her?”

“I’d love to, but you know Mag will kill me if I set foot in there! Besides, isn’t she already using some kind of power to heal herself?”

Only after his childhood friend pointed it out did Reaper notice that the shadows of the Black Parade were weaving beneath Magdalena’s back, stopping the bleeding and slowly regenerating the wound.

“Listen here, you filthy little thief—when I get out of here, you’d better be hiding in your hole again! You just ruined everything—I was so close to our last kiss!”

“Wait, so you’re okay?”

“Mi Romeo, as painful as it was, I won’t die from the blow of a mere worm.” Magdalena stood up, the wound on her back still finishing its regeneration.

“See? I knew she was faking it—but honestly, it’s way better this way, isn’t it?”

“You bitch, I’ll still rip your neck off!”

“Haha… Hahaha!” Relieved, Reaper laughed instinctively.

“Mi Romeo, are you okay?”

Reaper embraced Magdalena, pulling her against his chest. His hug was strong, but still gentle.

“Mi Giulietta, I’m so happy you’re okay… I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Magdalena thought of saying something, but the words caught in her throat. Her heart pounded and her cheeks turned red.

The shadow dimension was a cold, barren place—but Reaper’s presence brought all the warmth Magdalena could ever need.