Goodnight, My Sweet Angels
Caleb stood outside, the wind blowing his long hair back and forth. The grass threatened to grab hold of his feet and pull him down. Pull him into the soil, the soil he’d never experienced. Something tugged at his heart, at his soul. The grief, the guilt. Caleb could and would never understand what made his brother become such a monster. Part of him felt as though it was his fault. If he had done something different, none of these poor creatures would have to die.
Warm streaks rolled down his face, as he grabbed his mouth, to suffocate any sound that threatened to come out. The sound of the trees swaying and the sky creatures singing was enough to keep him grounded. He let go of his mouth and returned his arm to his side.
The front door was opening, the sound of the locks being clicked and the handle had alerted him of that. Caleb dared not to turn around and face whoever was coming outside.
“Caleb?” It was Edalyn, a descendant of his. “Jeremy- he.” Edalyn’s voice was shaky. Like she didn’t want to say what had happened, or maybe she couldn’t. “He collapsed, and…”
“Hm?” Caleb finally turned around. “What do you mean? Is he alright?” Edalyn shook her head no, and gestured for him to come inside. “Where is he?” Caleb asked.
“He’s upstairs. In Lilith’s room.” Caleb spared no time running to him. The door was opened, it was quite the sight to be seen. Jeremy was laid out on Lilith's bed. The poor creature looked to be in so much pain.
“Jeremy,” Caleb ran to his side, kneeling down so that they could be eye level to one another. “Jeremy, what happened? Speak to me.” Jeremy did not reply. His eyes looked heavy, like a large weight had been placed on them.
“It’s happening.” That had to be Paul. His voice was more rugged than usual, like this had actually taken a toll on him. “It’s been two weeks.”
“No,” Caleb stared at his hands. They violently shook, unable to stop. “Stop, no. This cannot be! Our time cannot be up.” Why was he so afraid? Caleb looked up at Paul, who stood above him. Paul’s eyes were darting from one side to the other. Not daring to stare Caleb in the face. “I thought we’d all be dying together? It isn’t supposed to happen like this.”
“There’s not a specific time limit. Not a full proof expire date. You’ll all simply die around the two week mark.” Edalyn said, solemnly. “I was reading up on it, not much information is known about the spell that Gus casted.”
“Of course there isn’t! There’s never anything anymore!” Paul yelled, slamming his fist into the wall. “Titan, everyone is so useless!” For once Paul was angry for someone else.
“Hey! Blame Belos for destroying any trace of that spell. I had to get that book from the black market, and it doesn’t even have how to cast the spell in it! It only has a description of the spell.” Edalyn growled back.
Caleb looked back to Jeremy. The only way to describe how he looked was dull. Like his life had been stripped from him. Which is true, it was actively being stripped from him. Caleb took his hand, and held it. “I’m here, everything will be okay.” Jeremy finally turned to look at him. Tears were welling up in his eyes, but he didn’t look like he was about to cry. “When will he die? How long must he suffer?” Caleb fumed.
“I’m not sure.” Edalyn frowned. Caleb’s face scrunched up. He wanted to yell and scream and hit and scratch and do anything and everything to her, but instead, he simply took a deep breath and turned back towards Jeremy. Hands still intertwined. “I’ll leave you be.” Edalyn left, shutting the door on her way out.
The only light that was in the room was from the window at the center. It shined down onto Caleb and Paul but didn’t hit Jeremy. Caleb contemplated moving the bed into the sunlight, in hopes that it might cure him, but he didn’t act on it. A hand grabbed Caleb’s shoulder. It was Paul’s hand. The two stared at each other for a good minute before Paul joined Caleb on the floor.
“Will we all suffer like this?” Caleb whispered. Vomit swelled in his throat as the sentence came to fruition. “Why had that child doomed us!” Tears streamed down Caleb's face. Paul did not reply, but did pull him close, allowing Caleb to lean into him.
“Are you scared of dying?” Paul asked. “Are you scared that this will be you? Or are you afraid of watching us all die again, knowing there is still nothing you can do?” The words stabbed Caleb in the chest a thousand times over. The sobs grew louder.
Somehow Caleb managed to choke out, “Do the others know?” However the sentence was full of hiccups and stuttering from the spit and flem that had been swelling up in his throat.
“No, it just happened. I doubt she’s eager to tell the others however.” Paul cringed to himself. In the corner of his eye he could see Jeremy shifting slightly under the covers.
“How did you find out?” Caleb asked, wiping the snot from his face with his arm. Paul gave him a judgemental look and sighed loudly. Then he grabbed a towel off the floor and wiped off Caleb's arm.
As he was grabbing the towel, he began to answer Caleb’s question. “I was with him. Not that I was hanging out with him or anything, just happened to be together.”
“How did it happen?” Caleb asked again. These questions coming out like vomit, instant, and uncontrollable. “What happened?”
Paul gulped, and then answered the question. “He let out a grunt, and then fell over. I ran over to him and helped him up, but he couldn’t stand on his own, so I asked Edalyn for help.”
“We have to tell the others.” Caleb paused, bawling his hands into fists. “They deserve to know. What if another falls and they can’t…and they don’t…” The thoughts came flooding in. He couldn’t grasp the thought of any more of them dying. “We have to tell them. We must. It’s the right thing to do.”
“Okay, you’re the boss.” Paul shrugged. “Want me to? Or do you wanna do the honors?” Caleb stared at the ground for a moment, then looked up at Jeremy, his eyes slowly losing their shine. He was dying, and fast. But in a way, not fast enough. Too fast to be considered painful and too slow to be considered painless.
“You tell them, I shall stay to tend to Jeremy.” Paul gave a nod, and left the room. This time leaving the door cracked rather than fully closed. Caleb stared at the light that gently shined through. “You were the oldest to emerge. Now you’re the first to die.” Caleb pushed himself up against the bed frame. His back now leaning against it. “I know you likely won’t be able to answer my question, but I still must ask it.” There was a beat of silence. “What do you think happens when you die?” A pause. “What do you want to happen when you die?”
Jeremy didn’t reply, of course he didn’t. He couldn’t. Caleb was stupid for thinking he’d be able to. Caleb got up and left. Too ashamed to face Jeremy for a second longer. The door slammed shut as he exited. So he wouldn’t be able to hear Jeremy’s response.
Jeremy suddenly rolled over, facing where Caleb and Paul were once sitting. He reached out, but couldn’t grab anything.
“Home…” Jeremy gasped for air. “I want…” a heavy breath, “to go…” again he breathed heavily, “home…” Jeremy laid there, in the darkness for a few seconds. Before shutting his eyes.
—
Caleb entered the living room, where all the golden guards had been gathered. Their faces are horror stricken. Paul must’ve just dropped the news of what had happened. “Caleb, why are you out here? You’re supposed to be taking care of Jeremy!” Paul questioned.
“Yeah well–!” Caleb grunted. He didn’t know how to reply, so he didn’t. Simply just standing there. Paul tilted his head, but didn’t give Caleb the time of day. A stark contrast to how Paul was a few minutes ago.
“I don’t want everyone to go up at once. Take turns. Don’t want to overwhelm an almost dead guy.” Paul stated. He sounded like a leader, a side that Caleb still hadn’t seen. “Okay so who wants to go first?” Ronald and John both raised their hands simultaneously. “Okay, Ronald, John, you two can go.” The two headed upstairs almost immediately.
“So we don’t know who’s going to fall next?” It was strange. Everyone simply referred to the process of dying as falling. “Like it could be any one of us?” Adam continued. Paul nodded. Adam looked away, towards Todd.
Suddenly, Paul grabbed Caleb and pulled him to the side. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” He whisper screamed. “I can’t believe you would just leave him up there!”
“I just couldn’t look at him any longer! I couldn’t see him like that. Slowly dying. Why couldn’t it just happen fast! I thought we’d just fall over and die. Not fall over and live but in pain.” Caleb yelled back, not whispering but still quiet.
“It isn’t about you!” Paul screamed. “Stop pretending that it is! He’s dying! HIM not you!” Caleb just cried. Receiving a disgusted look from Paul. “You make me sick.” Paul scoffed and walked off, leaving Caleb alone.
Hours passed. Duos coming in and out of the bedroom. Some cried at the sight while others screamed, others simply comforted others and held the almost corpse close. Caleb didn’t enter that room again. Too taken aback by the emotions he felt. The grief that was consuming him.
Then…then it happened. Morgan was sitting alone in the room. Chatting away, as he couldn’t just sit in the darkness. He was mostly chatty because he was nervous. It was a fair reaction. One of the only reactions he could give. A soft breathing could be heard. It let Morgan know he wasn’t alone. Then the sound stopped. “Jeremy?” Morgan called out. He was met with deafening silence. “Help! Someone help!” Morgan cried out. Unable to do anything on his own. When he tried to get up, he stumbled and tripped over one of the sleeping bags.
The door swung open, but he had no clue who had entered. Morgan let out a cry of agony, rubbing his head, where he had hit the floor. “What happened? Jeremy! No no…” It was Adam. Then a second person entered the room.
“What’s going on in here?” Paul’s voice boomed as he rushed towards the bed. “Is he? Check if he’s breathing!” Silence, the sound of sheets rustling was all that could be heard. Then a sob. Then a cry. “I’ll grab Morgan, then I’ll take care of the body.”
“No! I don’t trust you!” Adam barked back. “You’ll probably burn it! Or I don’t know, something worse!” Footsteps, they were getting closer. Then he felt hands wrap around him, helping him up. Morgan was shocked, because this was definitely Paul helping him.
Paul helped Morgan down the stairs and onto the couch. “What happened? We heard a lot of screaming.” John asked. “Is everything okay?”
“Jeremy’s dead.” Paul stated. Like it was a fact. Well, it is a fact. “He died just now. Luckily, everyone got a chance to see him.”
“Jeremy died?!” Kevin asked, suddenly in a state of shock and panic. “How? What? Did someone kill him?”
“Kevin, you literally visited him an hour ago.” Paul frowned at the guard.
“No I didn’t!” Kevin argued, his eyes darting all over the place. Suddenly too aware of what was happening, suddenly sick.
“Yes you did! You went with William!” Kevin turned towards William who was just nodding. “See? Titan, you really are fucked up.”
Kevin stared at William, then stared behind him. “He’s gone again.” William said, looking up at Paul, who was still standing in front of the couch.
Paul rolled his eyes and said, “Of course he is. He’s always spaced out, I swear.” Silence flooded the room as realization of what had just occurred hit. Jeremy was dead. He is dead, and he isn’t coming. Paul looks at the wall, with nothing in his head. Emotions are coming onto him that he has never felt before. “He’s dead.” His mouth hangs open. “I have to bury him.” There has to be room for the next one, was left unsaid.
The front door opened, hooty dormant. Like a wave of death has washed over the owl house. Killing everyone and everything inside. Edalyn and Lilith enter the house.
Paul can no longer speak, he tries but all that comes out is a scream of agony. A cry for help, a cry into a dark endless void that is suffocating him and everyone else in the house. John rushes over and grabs Paul’s hand. “Okay, you need to go lie down.”
“No, I have to take care of the body! If I don't, no one else will!” Paul yells back. Sadness mixes with anger making a violent tornado. One that threatens to kill everyone around it.
“Did Jeremy die?” Edalyn asks. Lilith stands by her, concern on her face. Paul nods. “Alright.” Edalyn frowns. “Me and Lilith will take care of the body.”
“No!” Paul screams. “No, don't you dare touch him!” Paul falls to the ground, crying. He speaks but every word is incomprehensible. All Edalyn can make out is the word “please.”
“We have to clear out the bed. We don’t know who’s going to be the next to fall.” Seeing that Paul was still against this idea, Eda opted to try bargaining, “Look I won’t do anything if you tell me not to, but you have to understand how strapped for space we are.” The woman’s frown grows.
“We’ll even do whatever you want us to do to the body.” Lilith adds. “Whatever you say.” She smiles. It’s a sincere smile, but it falls on blind eyes.
“Bury him.” Paul commanded, the tears still coming out, but he didn’t seem sad anymore. He didn’t look at the two. He wiped away the tears with his arm, and got up.
“Okay.” Edalyn nodded. She and Lilith headed up the stairs to go retrieve the body. “Where should we bury him?” Eda asked her sister. “I mean where can we?”
“Out back. By the woods.” Lilith replied as the two opened the door. The room was empty. All living inhabitants had fled. “Are there any headstones around? I mean I’d assume, no, but…”
“Yeah there are. Made them with Luz for when the time finally came. If you could take the body outside, I’ll go get the tombstone.”
“Headstone.” Lilith corrected.
“Same difference.” Eda shrugged.
“No, not the same difference! A headstone goes above a grave, while a tombstone lays flat on the ground.” Lilith lectured, without realizing that her sister had already fled. Lilith groaned but continued on towards the body. She picked it up and dragged it down the stairs. Luckily no one saw this.
A few minutes later, Lilith had managed to dig out a hole for the body to be thrown in. She tossed it inside the hole and waited for her sister to cover it up. “Lily, Paul and Caleb want to be here for this.” Eda called out, following behind her was Paul and Caleb. She nodded in response. The group crowded around the hole, as it slowly filled back up with dirt. Then Eda stuck the headstone into the ground. The word Jeremy scribbled on it.
“I’m going to call Darius and invite him and Hunter over, alright? I think they’d want to be here.” Edalyn told the two.
“Ask John first, or at least warn him. Not sure if he and Darius are on speaking terms yet.” Paul frowned, folding his arms.
“No they are. I remember Darius coming over a few days ago, and then he took John out for dinner yesterday.” Caleb reminded Paul.
“Oh yeah.” Paul suddenly remembered. Edalyn and Lilith both headed for the house, leaving Paul and Caleb alone. Caleb was sure that the other guards would likely be coming out in a few minutes. Caleb sat down in front of the grave, Paul joined him.
“So now it’s the waiting game.” Paul finally spoke up. “Waiting is the hardest part.”
“When I die, I want to be buried with a seed. An apple seed. So that I can keep growing even after I’m gone. That will be my headstone.” Caleb fell backwards and laid in the grass that he once feared would consume him.
Paul didn’t lay back with him. Caleb didn’t care. After a while, everyone came outside to see the grave. To see what had become of Jeremy. There was little chatter. Morgan was assisted by John. Morgan touched the gravestone and felt it for a few minutes. Seeing the tragic beauty with his hands rather than his eyes.
Then everyone went inside. The house was tense, just waiting for the next person to fall. Waiting for the sickness to affect another. Like another stripped of everything in their final moments.
Darius knocked on the door, Eda opened it and let him in. Darius immediately ran over to John and pulled him into a bear hug. Hunter was also there. He walked in slowly, with his head down. Eda walked him outside, presumably showing him the grave.
The day ended, Darius and Hunter left because there wasn’t enough space to house them for the night, but Darius promised he’d be back first thing in the morning. Lilith was staying up in Eda’s room. In the living room was Paul, Caleb, John, Kevin, and Morgan. Adam, Todd, Ronald, and William were all staying in Luz’s bedroom. Luz wasn’t there, because she was spending the night with a friend. Eda told her not to come home, as of what happened. Luz at first refused, but then eventually complied.
The house eventually was full of snores and slowed breathing. The first time peace had been felt all day.
Darius and Hunter both arrived fairly early the next day. Caleb was watching over everyone, like a father. Making sure that nobody was moving slower than usual, that no one falls and cannot get back up. Paul offers him some breakfast, but he declines.
Then it happens. Morgan lets out a groan, and collapses. “Morgan!” Caleb calls out. “Here let me help you up.” Caleb says, his voice shakes. “C’mon, take my hand.” But Morgan couldn’t grab it. “Morgan…” Caleb is quiet now, he pulls the boy close.
“I’m fine…” Morgan laughs, it’s weak and strained. He reaches up and feels Caleb's face. “I’ll be fine. I’m just really tired. I think I need a nap.”
“Okay, yeah.” Caleb scoops Morgan up and carries him up the stairs. He opens the door to Lilith’s room. “Want me to stay in here with you?” Caleb asks.
“Yeah…that sounds nice.” Morgan smiles at the offer as Caleb helps him into bed.
“I’m sure this is just because you didn’t sleep well last night. So make sure to get a good and restful nap.” Morgan nods, and falls asleep quickly. His nap lasts for three hours. He wakes up more tired than he was before. Something tells him that this tiredness won’t leave. Jeremy is sitting at the end of the bed, even if he can’t see him.
Caleb re-enters the room. Paul is behind him, holding a plate of food. “We brought you food.” Caleb announces. Paul places the plate in front of Morgan. “Do you want help?”
“I’m not hungry.” Morgan says softly. “I haven’t been hungry for a while. Have we been dying this whole time? Is that why we don’t eat as much, is that why we sleep for so long? Is that why I’m so tired?”
“Don’t say that. You’ll be okay.” Caleb takes Morgan’s hand, and cradles it.
“You don’t have to lie. I know I’m dying. I want you to know it too.” Morgan pulls his hand away, and lays it down onto the bed. “I’m still so tired.”
“Do you want to go back to sleep?” Paul asks. “We can leave if you need.” Caleb wants to stop Paul from offering this, but before he can, Morgan nods. “We’ll be back in a few hours. Let me take this from you.” Paul grabs the plate, and leaves the room with Caleb.
Once Paul shuts the door, a deafening silence consumes them. They both stare at each other. Paul has the worst eye bags that Caleb has ever seen, while Caleb looks like he’s reached a midlife crisis–his hair is frizzy and he stinks.
“You should sleep too, Paul. You look awful.” Caleb recommends, in the most humble way possible–which isn’t humble at all.
“I know you aren’t talking.” Paul remarks, which causes Caleb to gasp and clutch his chest. “But yeah maybe,” Paul begins to walk off, but turns around, “and while I do that, you can take a shower! You smell like ass.” All Caleb can hear are Paul’s snickers as he heads down the stairs.
Caleb lifts up his arm to smell his armpit, which makes him gag. “God, he’s right. I do need a shower.” With that, Caleb walks to the bathroom.
After Caleb’s shower, which was very refreshing, and Paul’s nap, the two met up in Lilith’s room. Paul got a towel from the kitchen, a lukewarm one, to place on Morgan’s forehead, since he had been complaining about being warm. “You’re turning grey.” Caleb stated, which made Paul wack him on the back of the head. “Which is a great look for you!”
Morgan laughed. It was hoarse and followed by coughing. “I’m gonna go fetch you some more pillows to prop you up, okay? I’ll be back in a minute.” With that Paul ran out of the room to collect some pillows.
Morgan got a lot of visitors, but he was asleep for most of them. Waking up for only a few minutes just to fall back asleep for another couple of hours. The clock had just stricken nine. Morgan was awake, and everyone had crowded in that small room to talk to him. It was long, about thirty minutes, before most left.
Morgan tried to speak to Caleb, but he couldn’t anymore. Caleb weeped at this. Paul pulled him out of the room, and apologized to Morgan for this.
—
The next day, John had collapsed. Darius freaked out. Immediately rushing to the man’s side. He helped him up to Lilith’s room. Morgan laid in the bed, which made Darius panic, as there was nowhere to put John. “Shit!” Darius yelled out. “Okay, this is okay!”
“I’ll get the blow up mattress from the closet.” Eda called out, and headed to grab it. Darius stood in the hallway, holding John bridal style. Hunter entered the room, the darkness. Morgan was awake. The yelling must’ve woke him. Hunter stared down at the body. The breathing was slow and then it happened. The sound was horrific. A gurgling sound. A death rattle.
Eda pulled the mattress into the room, and laid it out. The thing popped up when it had been sprawled out fully. She then pulled a sheet over it and a blanket. Darius ran over and placed John on the bed. “Hunter, is everything alright?” Darius asked, looking over at him.
“Mhm.” Hunter nodded. “I’m going to go.” Hunter mumbled, before leaving the room. Eda frowned, but continued with John. She threw the blanket over him. A pillow was on the floor, Eda grabbed it. Darius lifted up John’s head so that Eda could slide the pillow under it.
Another gurgled sound could be heard admitting from Morgan. Another death rattle. “Oh, that’s why he was so tense.” Eda whispered to herself. She walked over to him. “Everything alright?” She asked, even though she knew he couldn’t reply. His chest went up and down, letting her know he’s still alive.
“John, I promise I won’t leave your side, okay?” Darius whispered to John. Holding him close, without actually picking him up. “Oh John…”
Eda left the room without saying anything to the two. She headed back downstairs. “John’s been set up beside Morgan.” She told Paul. “There’s something else too.”
“What? What happened?” Paul questioned, his worry was unable to hide anymore. There was nowhere for it to hide.
“I don’t think Morgan is going to last for much longer.” Edalyn sighed, filled with guilt, but she didn’t have anything to be guilty about.
“No shit!” Paul replied.
“No I mean…” Eda was very nervous about this. “Morgan can’t cough anymore, all the flem and saliva has been building up in the back of his throat. He did a death rattle, that’s a sign someone is close to death. Hence the name.”
“Oh.” Blank stare. “Okay.”
“When he dies, me and Lily will bury him again.” Eda says, awkwardly. “You can stick the headstone on it this time. If you want.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Paul sounded like he was in a daze. Like he wasn’t listening anymore. Unsure of what to say, she left. Caleb was in the kitchen. He turned towards her and waved, but didn’t say anything. A half eaten apple in his hand. Eda looked in the fridge for something to give John, but found nothing. It was all eaten already.
Hunter was outback, sitting next to the grave.
“Hey Jeremy.” He began. “I know I didn’t talk to you much. I didn’t talk to any of you, really. But uhm, I just wanted to say that I’m sorry.” The wind caused the trees to sway back and forth. “I don’t know what it’s like to die. But I know it probably sucked. I wish I could’ve said goodbye.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “When Gus had first said he wanted to do something crazy and illegal for his project, I encouraged him. I didn’t mean for you to die.” Suddenly he started to cry. “Sorry! I know this isn’t about me. I just feel kind of shitty.”
Hunter sighed.
“I wish I had gotten to know you. I wish the one thing that made us alike didn't divide us.” For some reason, he felt like Jeremy was listening. “I know I should probably be talking to everyone who is still alive, but I’m scared. What would I even say?”
Back inside, Darius was still with John. “It’ll be okay. Remember, this is something I want. Something that I need.” John smiled, weakly. Eda was in the room too, watching over Morgan, because she doubted anyone else could stomach the responsibility.
“Yeah I know. Doesn’t mean I’m not going to cry.” Darius laughed, tears dripping down his face.
“Hey, I’m not even dead yet!” John grabbed his face, and wiped his tears away. “Save those for the funeral.”
“Titan, I’m going to miss you so much.” Darius sobbed.
“We’ll meet again and when we do, we won’t be timed.” Darius nodded. “But maybe, right now, you should go check on your kid.”
“What? No, I have to be here with you!” Darius furrowed his brow. “I will not leave your side. I refuse to leave you alone!”
“I won’t be alone. Morgan and Edalyn are here. They’ll keep me company while you’re gone. But I really think he needs you. More than I do.” Darius sighs in defeat, and gets up to go hunt down Hunter. “How’s Morgan?” John asked.
“Holding on. Not sure what to though.” John laughed at that, which made Eda smile. “I know this might not be an appropriate question but, are you scared?” She couldn’t help but ask.
“I don’t think so.” John said, a little unsure. “I know some people who are much more scared. But me, not as much. I’m more ready than anything. Just a little nervous to get to the stage that he’s at.”
“Yeah. Sorry I couldn’t put you guy’s in separate rooms.” Eda apologized.
“No! Please don’t be sorry. It’s quite alright. I don’t mind being with him.” Quiet fills the room, the only sound being slow breathing.
Later that night the room is silent. Void of the slow breathing that once filled it. Eda looks down at the body. Because that’s all it is now, just a body. The soul, the life, it’s gone. Morgan has died. “I’ll be back, I need to go get Lily.” Eda leaves the room, once she gets out of eye sight, she starts to run. Lilith helps drag the body out. Caleb gets the headstone. Paul just watches.
“Come on, Paul.” Caleb says, gesturing for him to follow, but he doesn’t. He’s frozen in place. “Alright then.” Caleb sighs, and heads outside.
Darius is holding Hunter when Caleb gets out to the back. They’re both standing up, watching Lilith dig the hole. Then Eda yells at her because she’s not fast enough, and takes the shovel from her, in order to prove she’s better. Then they throw Morgan’s body into the pit. Something pangs at his heart. All this work just to be thrown in another pit. He’ll finally know what it feels like. Eda asks Caleb to bring the tombstone over. He does this, but is silent and blank. He stabs it into the dirt.
“Where’s Paul?” Eda asks. “I thought he’d be here.”
“He’s inside.” Caleb said quietly. His eyes unmoving from the name scribbled. Then he collapsed onto the grass, and sobbed. His face in his hands. They all crowded around him and attempted to comfort him.
After a while, Caleb was finally able to compose himself. Now it was time for the hard part, getting Paul. After a while of searching he decided to just invite everyone outside. They all went, but Caleb stayed inside, still on the hunt for Paul.
While he was doing that, Darius and Hunter both headed up stairs to go to John. Hunter actually wanted to talk to him. “Can we have some privacy?” Hunter asked. Darius reluctantly agreed. He waited outside.
“Hey, Hunter.” John said weakly. He sounded more weak than before. He was dying and fast. So Hunter better do this quickly before it’s too late. “What’s up?”
“I’m sorry for being mad at you.” Hunter apologized. “I want to actually get to know you, before it’s too late.”
“It’s okay, I understand.” These words hurt Hunter more than they should’ve. He felt that he didn’t deserve to be forgiven. But in a way he wasn’t forgiven, simply understood. “What do you want to know?”
“What was your life like?” Hunter asked.
“You’re starting to sound like Gus.” Then John paused. “Did Gus even finish his interview? Whatever, anyways, my life was nothing too special.”
“Really?”
“I mean some of the other guards did extraordinary things, but not me. I mean I did stuff. I liked to prank the coven heads, scouts, and the emperor. I was also very defiant.”
“Been there.”
“Haven’t we all?” John smirked. “But that’s pretty much it. I did enjoy going to the school and recruiting people to join the emperor's coven!”
“You did that too?”
“Where do you think Darius got the idea?”
The two chatted for a while, before Darius was allowed back in. Then Hunter was sent off so that they could have some alone time. Hunter frowned at this, but left willingly.
After a while of talking, John couldn’t reply. It hurt to talk, and he didn’t have the pain tolerance to overcome the hurt. Darius cried so much. John just watched, not able to do much. Finally, Darius fell asleep and John soon followed.