Grim's Miasma: AfterLife

Chapter 5 - The End

"Don't leave me..."

(I wish I can.)

"I don't want to be alone!"

(But I have to leave.)

(Forgive me.)

...

[Chapter 5- The End]

He fell into darkness, and nothing can be seen.

(Where am I heading?)

After some time, he felt that he no longer falls; he stands up and begins to walk into this nothingness.

He walked but he has no idea where to go. . .

Some moments later, glowing things begin to appear they looked like a sapling that has long rounded rectangle eyes, they multiplied slowly, as they grew in number the place lights up.

He was walking into a forest, A Forest that consists of brownish-black woods with an edge of white, and the grasses are black.

The sky can't be seen as the place was fully covered by the trees.

He continued walking, following an invisible path, a path that he hopes will bring answers to his questions.

Later on, around yellowish orb went in his direction.

He heard something, a voice that wasn't clear enough to understand, but the orb floated in front of him, it wants to show something to him.

A voice was heard again and this time it is clear, it said that Memories shall be shown unto him and then the orb slowly floated closer to him, he reached his left hand to touch it.

The surroundings were enveloped by light and then grains sprouted and it had encircled him.

A voice spoke to him, though wasn't clear and hard to comprehend, fragments appeared, memories he doesn't remember but seeing it made him feel nostalgic.

"I became a spirit that guided you."

"His sacrifice called me"

"Behold what's lost. . ."

. . .

. . .

. . .

It's a sunny day, month of sapphire, I was at the plaza and there are a lot of people gathering at the center, I don't have any idea what's going on. . .

I still have no idea what's happening but after I touched it fragments had appeared and before I can react My eyes closed, though closed It's blinded by a bright light and then my eyes slowly opened when it's fully opened I found myself looking up into the sky. After admiring the peaceful scenery I looked down and realized that I'm in front of a lot of people, and stalls are surrounding me, I realized that it's a market. I don't know where I should head to so I just walked around. . .

That Day, My father was ill and I'm the only one that can help him. . . I tried to ask for help but no one gave a helping hand, I just want to make him feel better. .. Time passes and I'm about to lose hope but then I found stalls that sell fruits, I'm just a kid so I thought that they won't notice. . .I know that It's a bad thing to do but I have no choice. . .

The weather was hot and I think I'm sweaty but when I touched my back It's not wet while walking I bumped into someone and I say sorry but she didn't react, and It looked like she didn't even notice that we bumped into each other. It made me feel awkward but I decided to walk again, and then I found a kid. The kid looked suspicious because he was looking at the stall and his eyes were carefully looking into his surroundings, He glanced in my direction but it looks like he didn't notice me. Later on, some walked near that stall and the kid runs quickly and grabbed some fruits, it was apples. Someone was buying so the vendor didn't notice it.

"I knew it!" were the words that came to my mind and so I went close to the stall to tell the vendor but he didn't respond to me, He didn't even look in my direction, the kid was running away, I tried to speak with the vendor but in the end, there's still no response, and then words came out of my mouth.

"Why does it feel like everyone's ignoring me?"

I shouted but no one dares to look at me.

The kid was getting away so I pursued him, I don't know why I have to do this but it feels like the right thing to do, and stealing isn't right. . .

I did it . . . I know that it's a sin and if father knew it he won't even accept it but I want him to be better. I had to do it for him; I don't care even If I commit a crime as long as I can help him. . .

That kid was fast, or am I just slow? Anyways I'm catching near him but then he entered a narrow path, it's so narrow but he fits just fine, yet in my case, It's difficult so It's hard to catch up. Thankfully, it's just short and the way widens up, he started to run again at the long straight path. I catch up . . . but it looks like he bumped into someone, the kid fell into the ground and the fruits rolled far from him, he bumped into another kid and I think they're at the same age. He looked down on him, the kid grabbed the fruits but the other one was on the left foot of the other guy.

"Those fruits did you stole it?" The kid asked him.

"I... Didn't" he responds

"Tch, you don't? I'm not asking for a lie, aren't I?" he said and then he took a step towards him.

"No. . . No! I didn't!" His face was scarred.

The kid was still on the ground holding the fruits while he shakes, he tried to move back but the other kid takes a step too.

The kid took the apple near his foot and pointed something.

"You didn't? So what's this mark on this apple? You're out of breath you're running right?"

The apple has a mark of holes, the kid might've used his fingers to steal it easily.

"How unlucky though, it's so soft you got a rotten apple."

The kid let go of the fruits and he began to cry.

"Why are you crying? Tch! That face annoys me!"

He raised his hands preparing to slap the kid.

(Why am I watching? I should stop him!)

"Hey, do-"

"Lance!"

Before I can finish my talk someone called him and that call made him stop.

(Lance? Isn't that. . .)

It was a middle-aged man, he was gasping for air, and then he called him again.

The kid vows his head. He walked towards him and hugged him.

"Please don't run away, I know that it's hard for you to see that . . . I know that we haven't spent a lot of time with him and today's the only day that you met him but please don't vent your anger to someone else. . ." The man was sad as he says those words, he was about to cry but didn't want to let it out.

"Shut up . . .! I'm not . . . I'm not venting my anger to someone else! Why would you think of that?" He responds.

He raised his hand into his chest and swayed it down quickly.

His eyes were full of anger as he looked at him, he said that he's not venting his anger but he's throwing it out.

"This kid! This kid is a thief!"

He pointed at the kid that was still on the ground, he turned his head towards him and anger can be seen in those eyes.

"Uncle, you're a knight aren't you. Law should be your priority!"

The man turns out to be his uncle, his face went blank then it turns to sadness, and he closed his eyes and wrinkles his forehead.

"Don't accuse someone; you shouldn't make decisions when you're angry."

"Oh is that what you think?" he raised the apple that was in his left hand towards his uncle's face.

"Then what do you think of this proof?"

His eyes opened

. . .

. . .

. . .

"I assumed something but I'm wrong."

"Hey kid, you know that stealing is bad right?"

He stood up and turned towards him.

He grabbed the kid and let him stand up.

"Oh, I see . . . you're his kid right?"

"Do you know him?"

"He lives in our neighborhood."

"Oh so why don't I know him?"

"When was the last time you left the house except for today?"

"Oh. . ."

"Also, they're new to our village."

. . .

"Is he still ill?"

The kid nods

"I see . . . where did you get this? I'll pay for it."

He grabbed his nephew and asked him to apologize but he didn't.

His uncle touched the kid's shoulder and said something. . .

(I watched everything that they did. . . That kid with the old man, it looks like I saw him somewhere.

When I think about it, He looked like the man I met in that dream.)

. . .

. . .

. . .

They began to walk and I followed them, I don't know why but I feel like I should do it.

The man paid for it, he apologized to the vendor. The vendor was grateful but his face was displeased.

After that, he bought him other kinds of stuff and then they returned home by walking.

They accompanied the kid home, and when they finally went home.

"Uncle you're so dense."

"I only did what was right."

"Tch, he might have a reason for it but he did it the wrong way!"

"I don't want to argue about that."

"Tch, you're a knight but you're like that."

His uncle didn't respond.

They arrived at their home. . .

"Uncle, I'll go out for a while."

"We just got home right?"

"I know, so what?"

"Oh, Okay Take care."

He nods and proceeds to walk out of the house.

A girl worriedly called him but he avoided her.

He went to a lake near their village. He seated at a large rock and began to throw stones. . .

He repeatedly threw stones and he finally stopped after a few minutes.

He grabbed a soft rock and then he crushed it.

His eyes were angry but tears were flowing down on his face.

He shouted something but I can't hear what he said

. . .

. . .

. . .

(That's how we met)

(It's not a pleasant meeting but I'm glad I met you)

And then . . . Please listen to my story.

(A Month Later)

It's a peaceful day, a month of onyx.

I visited your place to greet y'all.

"Good Morning Sir Baumann," I said cheerfully as I wave at him

"Oh, it's you, Dan, how's your father?" he responds. It was a warm morning so he's taking a rest outside your house.

"He's still recovering, thank you for your help."

"It's nothing, I'm glad he's feeling well."

"Dan, you're here again?" You said with a cold voice after walking out of the house, you always see me but it's the first time you talk to me.

It's a rare occurrence for you to go out, so I thought about inviting you somewhere.

"Good Morning Lance" I greeted you with a wide smile on my face.

. . .

. . .

. . .

"I did it, you agreed to come with me, and your "girlfriend" also came with us.

Her name was Faye, right?

I know that you don't remember so there you go that's her name.

We came to a place far from the village; it feels like it's the first time that you came to that place.

It's a place that was shown to me by my father when I was still little, so I want to show it to you too.

It's a field of sunflowers. . . We're having fun admiring the place but you're just standing and then we noticed that tears were flowing from your eye.

"Y'know what? The first time I met you, I'm mad at you and that's because you don't understand what I'm doing, but some time later my feelings, changed. After coming to your house regularly, I realized that you're always alone, and you're avoiding your friend and that's when I decided that I'll get you out of there."

Time passed quickly, we stayed there for some hour and then when we're near the village, Faye thought about something, she wants us to hike with her and we agreed to come.

She planned where we would go and what should we bring. Snacks, water, and lunch were the pieces of stuff she said we should bring.

Three days later, we gathered at the main gate of the village, it was five in the morning when I arrived but the two of you weren't there yet so I waited. Faye arrived nine minutes before you it was five-thirty when she arrived. She apologized for being late.

We walked Five Kilometers and Four Hundred meters and it took us One and a Half Hours to get there, and when we arrived I'm feeling tired because I'm not fitted enough, that's why we rest for a while. It's a thirty-minute rest before we started to climb.

It was a steep climb and I'm not that fit so I lag behind the two of you, and when I took a rest I noticed that Faye was faster than you.

When Faye looked back she saw me and cheered for me. . .

"Dan! You can do it!" her voice was cute and she gently smiled at me.

You looked back but you didn't say anything and then you continued walking up.

Faye waited for me and then when I'm near her she offered me a drink and asked if I'm fine and I answered "yes." I refused to take her drink because I still have some water left.

We had some conversation about you and she said something that made me know you more.

I thought that you heard it but you're far from us.

After some time, we reached the first peak. I'm exhausted and I can't move my legs anymore, but the view amazed me, we're lucky that the weather was nice. I'm tired but the wonderful view and the feel of a warm breeze took it away. It was a nice day to live.

The first peak doesn't have trees but some parts have tall grasses, there are some people too and they're having fun. We stayed to rest and ate lunch before we left. When we're about to leave Faye remembered something when she opened the small pocket of her bag.

She went somewhere, there were some people doing something in that place, she talked to someone and after that, she dug in the dirt, she left something on the ground and then she returned the dirt. After that, she gets a plastic bottle in her bag, there was a small leak on the cap and she placed it on the top of the dirt. She whispered on the ground and after that, we proceed to go home.

Faye picked up some sticks and gave some to us, she said that it'll help us go down.

It was hard to go down but when the descent goes gentle it becomes fun.

It took us an hour to go down and after that, we walked back to the village which took us almost three hours because we did a lot of rest, and that's because I feel pain in my knee.

In the village, people were gathering near the gate, it looks like they're scared about something but I don't want to listen to what they're talking about but one word made me stop.

"War."

In a war, they said that someone was killed and a nation was seeking revenge.

. . .

You went home and left the two of us so I accompanied Faye to her home and her Mother saw me so I greeted her.

"Good Afternoon Mrs. Smith, I'm Dan, Her friend."

I vowed my head after greeting her and then she smiled and said

"Oh it's nice to meet you, Dan, Come in have some food"

"Thank you Ma'am but I have to go now, my father must be worried about me."

"Okay, take care, and thank you for taking my Daughter home."

"It's nothing, Ma'am!"

After that, I talked a bit with Faye.

"Uhh Faye thanks for inviting me, I had fun."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. Hey, let's go on a trip again someday, Okay?"

"Okay, let's do that again!"

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"I'll find a place and I swear that I'll find a place where we would have fun."

"Okay, I'll look forward to that Faye."

"Oh, and I had to go now Bye."

"Bye, keep safe."

. . .

I arrived at my home, and my father was waiting inside.

"I'm Home."

"Welcome Home Dan, did you have some fun?"

"Yes, I did!"

"I'm glad you did. Dan, you must be hungry I'll prepare some food."

"You don't have to, you don't have to worry about me I can do it myself."

After saying that my Father smiled

"Dan I know that you can but Let me"

"Father, Thank you."

My Father prepared a meal for me, and it was some slices of bread, eggs, and milk.

We had some conversation, I told him what happened and he is smiling the entire time while I'm telling the story.

It was fun being casual and engaging in a conversation with him. I'm glad that he was my father.

There was something that I find strange and it was his name, our family name was different from what I mostly hear from other family and sometimes he says words that even I don't understand. My father's name is Alejandro Calinao.

Whenever I'm going out he tends to say this to me,

"Do your best to have peace with everyone, every day."

Days later I still visit your home but you're not going out and your uncle said that you're practicing harder.

I wonder what the thing that you're practicing was.

When I returned home my Father had prepared something. . .

I don't know what we will be doing but he said that it was time for me to learn it. On the table, there were four thin bamboo sticks. . .

I haven't seen you and Faye for weeks

But it was fun spending time with my Father . . . but the fun has an end.

In the fourth week of Onyx, our village was attacked.

They said that the Military near our village was destroyed.

There was chaos, I and my father tried to run away but we're pursued by someone.

He fended me, then I watched him fight, and instead of fear, I admired it. The enemy wasn't strong enough to defeat him, my father doesn't have any weapon in hand but still didn't receive any hit, but the pursuer was taken down by him.

That's what I thought when I saw it but when he comes near me he was holding a knife, he let go of his grip and the knife disappeared, It was strange so It shocked me but I thought that it is a magic trick.

He touched my shoulder and said something. . .

He told me to run so I can escape the village, he runs in the opposite direction. I've been frozen for a second, I know that the situation is dangerous, I want to ask If he'll be fine and If we'll see each other again but I failed to ask because of fear.

My father was getting farther, I raised my hand to reach for him but he didn't look back.

"Get far away from here, Head straight and you'll be fine."

"Stay Safe Dan."

"I'm not a great father, but I hope that you will forgive me for leaving you behind."

"I must protect this village."

He's no longer in sight so I decided to leave the village. When the gate was in sight I saw you running near it, you didn't notice me that am why I tried to shout so that you will find me, I stopped running to shout but then-

I felt something . . .

And noticed these things,

Isn't it supposed to be hot because of the fire but I felt cold.

I'm so near but I can't move my body.

I began to shake.

You got out safely but not for me . . .

I was shot by an arrow.

My body fell to the ground.

My face lies to the left, and then I moved it to see the gate. I shifted my eyes in that direction but I can no longer see you, the only thing that I can see on the front was my hand lying above my head.

I should be worrying for myself but these were the thoughts I had,

I'm glad that you're safe, but I wonder where Faye is.

Is she safe . . . ?

I wonder what happened to my father.

I wonder what would happen to this village.

Will this fight end?

Is this. . . The End Of me?

And then I lost consciousness.

That was the story that I knew, but I got hold of what's important,

Receive this and you'll gain it.

Here are your lost memories. . .