Reapers - Master of Souls (Reapers Chronicles Book III)

13 - Secret Message

NP: My Heart by Paramore

I am finding out that maybe I was wrong
That I've fallen down and I can't do this alone
Stay with me, this is what I need, please?

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It was a sad, sad day in Halo. Everyone finally stopped to let go of their scythes and Cataclysts. The damages left by months of battle were just too much to ignore. Today, we mourned for our loss.

People gathered by the lake. I was told this was everyone but we couldn't be more than forty. The depressing silence made every occasional moan so loud it hurt. The sky appeared to be darker than usual. As the fire lanterns were lit, they cast a gloomy light on tear-stained faces.

Mei hid her face in Amyr's chest. Her tears weren't just for Rosario, but every dead familiar she had fought alongside with. Archie pushed his way towards us, an unlit fire lantern on his hands. It had Rosario's name written on it in Enochian.

I clutched the letter inside my pocket. Written on it was a short message for Rosario. Vincent's was a lot longer. He spent several hours in his room just staring at it. No one saw him cry even for one second. He hadn't said a word to anyone since Adrianna had fled.

Pilgrim stood in front of us all. Today, he ditched the flashy suit and the cloak. Today, he was just like us. We all lost someone.

"Reapers," he began, his pewter gray eyes sweeping the crowd. "Familiars, Immortals; we have gathered here to commemorate and commune with our beloved who now linger in Oblivion. We all pray the day the will come when all of them shall find the Door to Nirvana where their years of sacrifice as keepers of the balance between life and death will be rightfully recompensed."

Candles were passed all around. And as tiny lights dotted the bank, familiars and masters burned their letters with the lanterns' fire.

Mei wiped the tears from her face and went first.

"Do you really think she would get our messages?" I asked Amyr,. "Rosario, I mean."

"So they say," he answered, staring at the folded piece of paper torn from a memory tome. "It's gotta be lonely in there, don't you think? Maybe it'd get a little less boring with a few messages in her voicemail."

"Yeah... I hope so," I nodded, looking up. For a second, the world seemed to sway I thought the lake and the sky would switch positions. I caught my forehead and kneaded it.

Amyr looked at me funny when he came back from Archie. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I twitched my lips into a smile. "Just... this headache."

"Why don't we head straight for the sickbay and get you checked up?"

"I'll be fine," I countered all too quickly. "Last time I checked, H-hector was still there and I don't want to commit murder just yet."

He shrugged. "It's probably the perfect timing for a payback with him in the vegetable ward and all."

"Tempting," I answered, walking past him to burn my letter.

After my turn, Vincent took his time, murmuring something to the lantern. Of all the people there, he was the last to let go.

As the lanterns floated up to the starless skies, fireflies began to gather near them. With every firefly that touched the lantern, the rice paper began to smolder little by little. Soon, the breathtaking display of floating lights was reduced into glittering ashes and white smoke.