Requiem

Clambering his way up the stairs, Eugo continued on his search to find Ilken. A search which was currently dictated by an ever-deepening trail of blood. The number of bodies, both Scorcher and Spotless seemed to multiply on every rising floor.

Most of the consisted of a few corridors, with three or four staircases in each and several rooms. Moving around in what Eugo believed to be a square structure. The only exception had been the room with the mysterious black creation in it, which seemed the largest room in the castle.

Eugo did his best to pray to every poor soul he saw rise up from the ground, hoping it might give them a peaceful journey up and away. He had left his shovel behind on the previous floor and didn’t feel the need to pick it back up.

Eugo found himself walking his way up with a single goal, to pray for Ilken. Whether he was dead or alive Eugo didn’t care, he just wished to say goodbye to his friend one last time. 

On the way he saw faces of Scorchers who he had never seen before, alongside ones he saw every day. He hadn’t talked to any of them, but still felt remorse towards their eternal rest.

In an attempt to bring the dead peace, Eugo had closed the eyes of many of the bodies strewn across the floor. Some still had tears, others had already gone cold, but the sounds Eugo was finally hearing above; told him more were to come.

Eugo found a sense of joy in this, it was peaceful and detached from the world he believed that maybe, it might be helping the lives of the people around him. Or at least letting them die in a more graceful light.

Leaning down to bring one last body to rest, Eugo heard a small series of sounds. A pitter patter tumbling its way up some stairs. Looking over Eugo saw a small Spotless boy, climbing his way up from the other end of the corridor. The boy didn’t see him and kept running upstairs at full speed.

Eugo followed cautiously, paired with a hope to protect the innocent child. Creeping up the same stairs he peaked his way around the hallway atop the stairs. Considering the stairs finished here, Eugo presumed that he had reached the top floor.

On the other end he saw the young boy play around in the blood, seemingly oblivious to what it was. Letting out a small chuckle he watched as the boy rolled around in it gleefully, splashing and dancing.

There was a certain beauty behind the boy’s innocence, yet at the same time it worried Eugo. As without someone to protect him the boy was bound to fall to the cruelty of human nature. Thankfully after opening a door, the boy was whisked away with the gentility and force of a mother.

Looking around the top floor Eugo saw a distinct lack of bodies, yes there were some but comparatively very few. Quickly lapping his way around the four hallways of the top floor, once again exulting the room with the mysterious creation, it was the fewest bodies he had seen on any floor yet.

After practicing his new habit of gifting the dead a sense of peace, Eugo took some time to look outside. Openings in the castle allowed him to look out throughout the dome, and at such a height he could even see the top. An event which he had rarely experienced throughout his life.

The top of the dome wasn’t particularly special, as it was mainly just smoke and steam wafting around. Though at the same time Eugo always wondered who created the dome when he looked up at it. It was so impossibly high, yet so impossibly strong, how could a man wielding a shovel create such a monument. 

Perhaps they didn’t wield shovels.

Looking down below Eugo saw the mass of people still standing outside the castle, from so high above that looked like pebbles. Tiny little stones scattered across metal, or the small pins Fiz would find any many of her caves. 

From above Eugo realised the power they had, with so many people they could do anything.

If a gun could kill three shovel wielders, then they could freely fight forwards with four. He guessed that was why Ilken was confident. Eugo had seen the number of people in the crater, and it rivalled the number he would see at the town centre.

Now, seeing all the people down below. He wondered what they waited for, what did they wish for. Some were most certainly opposed; others would most certainly be willing. Eugo found himself traveling through the minds of the people below.

What did they think of the revolution, the symphony of death and the secrets which hid on the outside? The cries of the people below had silenced in the air. All that was left were the spirts around him. 

They cried out for salvation, a beautiful semblance of their deaths. Eugo flittered between their lives, listening to their dying prayers.

One voice cried out deep within, he recognised it. It sung for hope and freedom, and for a finish of love. The female voice resonated deep within Eugo, calling him out to action. Taking the memories of the dead alongside him, wielding them as his sacred sword he left.

§

Gliding back down the stairs, he descended from heaven above. With the voices of the beloved in his heart, it felt his body glow with strength. It was filled with the tears of those crying out for their families. Their survival, or their growth. The wonders of this world all passed through the boy in that very moment.

Carrying these thoughts Eugo seemed to float down the steps of the castle, along the way more joined him. They followed in his lead, giving him their trust, faith, and wishes. 

Ones of love, or perhaps an unfinished passion. The boy knew he couldn’t rescue them all, but at the least he granted them an eternal peace in their lives.

The sound of triumph pushed the boy down below, where he would confront the one who stole the lives of these people. Gun in hand and with white hair, he stood lonesome in the hallway ahead. Below him lay another man, a Scorcher.

The Scorcher begged for his end and his wish was obliged, the sound of a bell rung throughout the castle. Smoking out of a deadly barrel. It had sung the melody of death.

“Hello Ilken.” The boy ahead turned around, unsurprised to see Eugo here. Eugo on the other hand looked into the boy’s eyes. They were vacant, love had left the boy’s mind. Eugo pitied him, and a warm smile crossed his face.

“Come with me Ilken, and we can be free from this together.” Eugo’s gentle voice did little to persuade the ravenous beast ahead. Filled with an insatiable demon, a rage that refused to settle. He walked away.

Eugo followed him, out of both friendship and of faith. His hand reached out, it bore no sin, an untainted hand.

Ilken’s hand did not follow, what followed was a divine judgement. The bell rung once again, the sound of death. Eugo felt himself fall; a spray of blood clouded over him. Looking up, he saw Ilken’s face, there was nothing left.

Still, Eugo smiled, his final wish to the boy above him. One filled with an eternal love.

“Ilken, be happy.”

Eugo felt himself begin to slip slowly away, Ilken had left. Although with the weight of others on his shoulders, he refused to fade away. Instead, he did what he did best, and looked up in thought. Praying.

§

Ilken’s hands were stained with blood. The blood of Scorchers and Spotless, both melded on his very own flesh. It disgusted him. The boy despised the Spotless, their cruel heartless minds and indiscriminate slaughter.

Yet Eugo, he felt remorse. He saw it in Eugo’s eyes as he walked towards him, ones filled with the compassion of not one, but all. Ilken knew what his job must be, to bring the divine judgement of death upon those who deserved it.

He had sent his army up through the castle, killing all those who could fight back against them. Though by the top floor, they had all passed. All that was left, were the miscreants below. The cruel atrocities of this world all occurred beneath the surface, in hell.

Stepping his way down, he made his way to the auditorium. The entrance to such a heinous place, hidden beneath and object of beauty. The piano. Beneath it lay his future, the secrets he was never told. 

The reason of his parents’ object slaughter. The gratification of his insatiable revenge. Everything the boy had been fighting towards, would soon come crashing down on him below.

Ilken needed another weapon, on one of the lower floors he found a shovel partly decapitating a Spotless head. Satisfied with whoever had done the deed he spent some time practicing with the shovel. After a few minutes Ilken felt prepared to kill even a god, and he would certainly try to do so.

Now with two weapons, one in each hand, and a vengeance great enough to shoot one of his only friends. Ilken stepped his way towards the auditorium.