Arc 2 - Chapter 33: Brighter Than The Sun

(Salemonath 26, 56 / 8:24PM)

A couple of days before the attack…

“You know I could go with you if you want?”

“It’s ok Jerry. It’s just my parents you know … I mean … you know how they act to elves…”

A couple stood near the tracks of a train station, as the sun was far past into the horizon. Leaving the moon to glow, and the small stars to slightly glow, only the lamplights glowed beneath them.

The smaller figure was a woman, her hair braided ginger with skin smooth as milk. Freckles dotted on her cheeks, she had glasses, while the elf had sharp eyes and a sharper jaw. His hair making him look like he got out of bed, he wore a military jacket.

“But wouldn’t it be better if I show them I’m good?”

“Yet you look like a delinquent … a dangerous one at that.”

“Hey just because I look scary, doesn’t make me mean or rude.”

“Hehe … tell that to your eye patch.”

“Looks good doesn’t it?”

“Hmm … yeah … listen Jerry.”

She grabbed both of his hands, and let her thumbs caressed his hardened knuckles. Her fingers pale and frail, her face reddened, once she let her red eyes mingle with his brown ones. Feeling her hands softly tremble, he straightened his neck as she felt her grip tighten.

“How much do you love me?”

He pulled her into his chest, and wrapped his arms around her back to keep her still. Her eyes sparkling, she didn’t want his warmth to escape, and he didn’t want hers to be free either.

Feeling his throat slowly quiver, he pushed the words that were stalled in his throat.

“Enough to make my parents proud. Enough to have your parents respect. Enough to … make you happy I suppose …”

Nuzzling her head onto his chest, she felt his muscles vibrate with burning warmth. Tightening her hug evermore, her strength didn’t gasp air. In fact, he let their warmth increase, all the while both felt rumbling beneath their feet.

Hearing the horn of a locomotive, along with the tracks vibrating, they didn’t turn their heads. Even when the headlights started to glaze, they remained in their loving posture.

“But why me? Out of all the women you chose, why me…?”

“What do you mean why? You’re nice, shy, geeky; and most importantly, motherly to a great extent.”

“But—”

Pulling back his arms, he raised his right hand up toward the center of her lips. Having his finger stuck out, his face gleamed with a gentle look, while the edge of his fingertip shook.

“And another thing about me, I’m also into gingers. I heard they have a sense of mystery to them…”

She looked down to the ground, and let her hands drop from his back. Setting them down to her sides, she wanted to cry, once tears bottled from the crevices of her eyes. Her eyes beginning to softly shake, she looked down at the concrete filled with cracks.

All the while her breathing fastened, and her words stalled.

“I…”

“What’s wrong Sydney?”

Jerry placed his hands onto her shoulders. Because she wore a summer sundress, he felt her milk like skin caressing his rough palms.

“Sidney?”

Raising her head up, she stared directly into the elf’s brown eyes. Widening her eyes, her cheeks turned pale although there was nothing to be afraid of. Wanting to speak, her vocals held the words she desperately wanted to plead … And push she shall.

“Jerry I’m—”

The train plowed through the tracks, and made its grand entrance ever so abruptly. Feeling the heavy wind it brought, as it swooshed against their clothes, it led them to lower their hands. Both noticed a sign situated in the entrance, which said…

Clastine, Ticia.

“I guess this is goodbye for now.”

Clearing his throat before he said it, he laid his eyes on the heavy piece of machinery. His breath caught in his throat, he already failed to recollect the sensation of her silk like skin.

Without giving each other a proper goodbye, she settled her eyes at the sliding door, which unveiled itself right in front of her. All the while Jerry lit up a smile.

“Take care ok.”

Sidney only nodded with tears in her eyes, as she grabbed her bag with her left hand. Once she took a couple of steps forward, she turned her feet toward Jerry, and gave him the Clastine bow. Tilting her body and head up, she turned her feet toward the entrance once again.

Entering in one of the passenger cars, she felt the air grow heavy with every step. Taking a single glance back, she saw him waving his right hand high with a cheery face.

‘That dummy…’

Taking the seat near the window, her butt felt the leather of the black seat. Turning her attention towards the train station, he continued to see Jerry smiling, a smile that he always kept on.

As the train began to move, she didn’t flinch at the sudden jostle of the machinery. Beginning its destination toward Clastine, she placed her right hand on the window, and found the scenery began to move. But rather…

She saw herself amidst the glass surface.

‘I wanted to tell you something…’

________________________________________________________________________

(Libertatem 1, 59 / 3:22AM)

Back to the present…

“I think that should be enough.”

Laying on the cold rustic floor, was a beaten up elf—barely breathing.

Arching his head and furrowing his brow, the old man took solace at his despairing state. Taking a step back, the smell of blood assaulted his sensitive nostrils, as the crimson liquid splattered all over his body. Hearing a small rattle shamble his vocals, Lazaros didn’t feel a shed of pity, nor mercy.

All of his skin was purple, as bruises littered every ounce of it. Half of his ribs broken, shards of it stabbed into his lungs. As if he was being stabbed, every attempt to breathe felt like his last. His arms shattered and beyond repair, even a simple touch would feel like he burned alive. Most of his facial structure was broken, since his jaw, cheeks, and nose were all shattered from within. All his teeth were gone, and stuck to his bleeding gums like hot miniscule needles. Overall…

Blood pushed forth from every hole within his body. Even his own eyes were blackened with red.

“Good work Jason! You went a bit overboard, but I think it doesn’t matter anyway.”

Jason averted his eyes down to the cold rustic floor, as he gently pushed his hands into his pockets. Taking a step back from the cruelly beaten elf, he raised his right sleeve to slave away a heap of sweat.

“What’s the matter, Jason? Don’t tell me you feel regret?”

“N-No sir …”

“Good. I thought you lost your touch. Now for the final part…”

Lazaros turned his head toward one of the black hooded feminine women. Being the taller one of the duo, she was even taller than him personally. Not that he mind, he placed his hands into his sleeves, and made himself look peaceful.

“I want you to make sure everyone forgets about him. All except for you know who.”

“With pleasure.”

The tall woman walked past him, and brushed his shoulder like a grumpy teenager. Sneering at her, he rolled his eyes, and grumbled under his breath like an angsty father. Even though both weren’t related, they sure acted like it.

Turning his attention onto the other black hooded woman, he walked the rustic floor with slapping sandals.

“You. Be a dear and help him up.”

The black hooded woman remained silent, as she kept her eyes peeled to the floor. Reaching right in front of her, he walked to the right, and let his right arm be unwrapped from his sleeve. Placing his hand onto her neck, she felt his rigid fingertips brittle her skin, all the while they began to tighten.

“I said … Go be a dear and help him up. You do know what happens if you say no.”

She nodded. With her right hand inside her pocket, she pulled out a syringe, with the veil containing a deep purple liquid.

Passing through the tall woman, she already fulfilled her duty. Seeing that she had her hands inside her robe, it left the short woman to reach where Jerry laid. Crouching down, she placed her knees against the rustic floor, and raised the syringe up high.

‘W … W … What …’

His eyes stained red, and his whole body stationed like a vegetable, he only rattled the innards of his dying throat. And thrusting her right hand, she plunged the needle into his arm, and into the area of where his forearm and main arm connect.

In less than a second, his arm twitched. Unable to move his eyeballs, his arm convoluted and spazzed against the horrid liquid that sinked in.

‘I wanna die! I wanna die! I wanna die! I wanna die! I wanna die!’

Reaching toward the rest of his face, he felt like his cheeks wanted to tear each other apart. Feeling like his whole body was in flames, he arched his body up.

‘W-What… am I …’

He felt blood sweeping into his hands, leading them to press against his cheeks and face. All of his body being swept in static, the changing of his muscles teared and grew the more he grit. Continuing to see red, and his vision still blurred, he found both of his hands to be relatively … fine.

Wiggling his fingers, he placed his palms on the floor.

“What did you do…”

Looking toward the dark-hooded woman, most of his body began to recover, as his limbs began to sweep into motion. Seeing she hadn’t responded, swollen tears began to drift from his eyes, tears that were riddled in blood.

“What did you do!?”

He widened his eyes, and caught a small glimpse of her chin underneath her hoodie. The woman continued to sit her hands in her robe, as she blankly stared at him with shadowed eyes.

“The liquid would only speed the healing process twice, but your wounds will never heal.”

“Wait…”

He slowly pushed his body upward, and had the soles of his boots clenching the floor firm. Although every bone in his body broke, his crackled joints shivered his body, as he glared his crimsoned eyes at the woman. Unable to pick up a sword, and unable to throw a punch, all he did … was let out a single blood-filled tear.

“Just who are you…?”

Letting out a gulp, the woman raised both her hands up to her hoodie. Her hands trembling, her fingers going numb, she tightened her grip on the fabric before pulling it back.

Unveiling her eyes, her face, her hair, her nose—wait … Jerry could see clearly now. Right in front of him…

—Was a woman with milk-like skin; and ginger hair—

________________________________________________________________________

“Sidney…”

Time had stopped for him.

Unable to draw back, he couldn’t even muster a quiver from his throat. Arching his body forward, he wasn’t able to comprehend the sight with his very eyes. Blinking repeatedly, as blood began to sway from his eyes, his scleras slowly returned to its natural white.

Or rather, be swept away by blood-filled tears.

“Ha … you …”

The woman slowly walked forward. Her eyes softened at his face, she didn’t frown, as her lips remained casual amidst the tearing reunion. Putting herself right in front of him, both of them were in the same position as six years ago..

More red tears dripped from his eyes, as they littered the rustic floor. Moving his hands toward her cheeks, he tried to encapsulate the warmth of them.

“You came back…”

Rubbing his fingers, he caressed her right cheek with his brittle thumb, while his breathing came in with heavy breaths. Raising up his left hand, he gripped the bottom flap of his eyepatch, and etched his fingers into place. Withdrawing it, the black fabric that blocked his left eye …

—Had no scar.—

With a sudden push, he wrapped his arms around her waist, and held her tightly like a lifeline. Doing the same in return, she also laid her arms around his waist. Placing her cheek against his chest, and upon feeling the warmth they tried to replicate, Jerry sniffled.

“Jerry…”

Unleashing a load of hot tears, they ran down his cheeks and onto his throat and chest. Looking into Sydney’s red eyes, eyes that he longed to see, he tightened his grip.

“Jerry I…”

And he longed to hear her angelic voice.

Puckering his lips into his mouth, his vocals held the words he desperately wanted to pry out. Straightening his neck, straightening his back, he ignored the two men and one woman who folded their arms at the loving sight.

“I’ll leave you lovebirds to do your business. Come on Jason, let’s dip.”

Both men turned their heads to the sights of the city. As Jason kept his eyes glued to the floor, he followed Lazaros, while the tall woman walked in back of him. It left the two of them to finally be alone, and to be alone … Sidney was relieved.

Sensing they were the only ones to be in the building … she plunged her voice to ice.

“I’m sorry.”

Her skin began to glow a soft orange. Lighting the dark building, Jerry couldn’t bulge from her arms. Completely frozen, he didn’t even blink once as the light reflected against his pupils.

“I lied to you, I lied about everything. I never had parents waiting for me at Clastine… except for my sole mission.”

He couldn’t speak, and he couldn’t question. Not wanting to let go, but wanting this to be the last time he’ll feel warm, the bottom of his eyes coarse with dryness. Light traversing around him, his leather clothing began to melt.

“I wanted to let you down softly … but you continued to pursue me … I know you always wanted to embrace warmth, so please…”

She stared solely into his eyes, and flowed out a couple of tears from the sides. Feeling the radiating heat, sunburn scrambled throughout every follicle of his skin. His clothes starting to catch on fire, the most sensitive part of his body … his eyes …

Melted off. Leaving his vision to blacken.

—“Let me be brighter than the sun.”—

And along with his hearing going into the abyss, he heard the quell of a boom—

Then came nothing.