New Year's<<World's>> Eve: StayWithMe

Dusk was purple and hazy when Taki and Emi finally reached the ruins of the orphanage. Gone were the colossal Arcan shards that had once lined the building and severed it in half. Now, the sapphire and blue geodes curved in gentle slopes along the edges of the facility and its garden.

More ethereal waves of glowing energy drifted through the air and grazed along Emi’s skin as she lifted their daughter from her car seat.

Taki inhaled and opened the glove compartment, revealing a small black pistol. Shaking hands retrieved the gun and magazine before closing the doors. Angelic voices hummed faint hymns. Though dread permeated Taki and Emi’s minds for what was to come, both felt at peace.

Inspecting Sayane revealed that she had also been changed. Small glowing lines coursed along her smooth skin as she slept in her mother’s arms. With their daughter in tow, the two young people made their way into the place where Taki’s childhood had been formed.

Entering the space felt like stepping into a half-remembered dream. Corners were unrefined and covered in geodes. Darkness filled the edges of sight but were never too void of light. Snow fell in slow, even sheets of white. The flakes mixed with the floating crystal specks, giving all the world a pale, white blanket of wonder.

At the center of the entrance was a single obelisk with a glowing pink glyph at its center. Light from the moon shined from the opening overhead, casting a spotlight of blue onto the otherworldly totem. Something told Taki he needed to approach.

When he neared its glowing stone facade, the glyph shined brighter and rings of sacred incantations appeared at Taki’s feet.

“Taki?!” Emi cried.

“Id’s oowkaay. Id’s owkay.” Taki said as he looked at the light.

Then Miu’s voice sounded from the stone.

“Taki and Emi. If you’re hearing this, it’s you. No one else will ever be able to activate this, but I left this for you.”

“Miu?” Taki asked.

“Yes. I did what I could, but I don’t think it was enough…” Miu said softly.

“Whud did yew do? Why ah weee glowwing?” Taki asked.

“I made sure no one would ever hurt like we did, ever again. Now, you are all connected. If you hurt someone, you will feel it. If you make someone happy, you will feel that. Those who seek to harm others will know absolute agony. Those who wish to help will know peace. None will ever need to eat or drink again, unless they want. The crystals will keep you nourished, just like the shards did for me.”

Taki and Emi looked at one another in shock.

“The world’s governments and militaries are gone. The Arcans and ArcanTech are destroyed. Spells of harm can never be cast again, and ore will never be molded into barrels or shells. All of the world’s weapons of mass destruction have been destroyed, and every debt of record has been erased. That’s all I could do. What comes next is up to you.”

“Up to us?” Emi asked as Sayane coo’d in her arms.

“...This obelisk is an input terminal. My remaining magic will exist here while you are alive. If you need to change things, this obelisk will help. Only you two will ever be able to control it. And when you die, it will die with you. Yuki and I tried to make things better by destroying what had made things so bad. If we were wrong, or we didn’t do enough, it will be your responsibility to fix. Taki, you said you wanted to make amends to us. This is how.”

Their baby began to whimper, but neither moved.

“I’m sorry. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. But maybe, with the four of our efforts, it will never be this way again for anyone else. Good luck.”

Light faded from the glyph as it entered its standby mode. Shivers shook Taki’s shoulders as he stepped back to join his wife, who was in shock as much as he was.

A hum announced Miu’s voice once more.

“Taki, you know where to find us. Please.”

Quivers in Taki’s jaw stopped him from speaking, and he simply nodded as he took Emi’s hand.

Outside, the building backed up to a hill, where a simple trail still remained. Red drops of blood lined the path, guiding Taki and Emi forward. Further and further they went, until they reached a large upward slope. When they were kids, it seemed nearly insurmountable. Now, Taki scaled it with little effort before turning to hold Sayane and help Emi. When the two of them turned to face the field where the shibazakura once grew, they found a crystal grove of incandescent pink.

In the center of the geodic flowers was Miu, who was now half-crystal herself. In her arms was the dead body of Yuki, who was slumped back with his head turned upwards.

“Ohhhh, Miu, Yu-ki..” Taki muttered.

His voice woke Miu, who grunted out a faint, strained whimper. Her fingers clasped Yuki closer to her body in fear. Nearing her revealed she was blind in both eyes, with scorched burns lining her good eye socket. The other was ripped open, and a chunk of crystal was protruding through like a beam. Shivers of cold and fear shook her weakened body as she heard the footsteps.

“Id’s meee, Miu. Id’s Taki. Yow ah ooowkay.”

Sniffles were all Miu could muster as she pulled Yuki as close as possible.

“Is it over?” she whimpered.

“Id iz. Yew did it. I pomis we won’t led you d-down.” Taki replied as he slid the magazine into position and loaded a round into the chamber.

“Please don’t let them do anything else to us. Please…” Miu cried as hysterical fingers clung to Yuki.

“I prom-promsss-promissss.”

Nervous sweat lined resolute palms as Emi covered Sayane’s eyes and looked away. Taki calmed his breathing and raised the pistol.

Miu felt the barrel touch her head and closed her eyes. Taki felt the subtle resistance of the beginning of the trigger pull, asking him if he was sure. Miu inhaled as she memorized the feeling of Yuki’s body against hers. There was a loud metallic clack and-

Destroyers: Your Touch or Oblivion

by

Prufrock