The Infinite Night

Chapter 3: Confusing Night

"Sir, we couldn't find Nia'le Tobletone."

"How could you lose him?"

"During the event, all the officers suddenly froze. We still don't know how or why it happened."

Ixarxist crumpled the paper on his desk and ordered the other officer to leave his office.

He looked through Nia'le's file. According to the report, Nia'le had killed forty-eight people, including his own parents. However, that number did not include the victims buried beneath the massive concrete when the Tobletone mansion collapsed. In reality, the death toll was probably over three hundred.

The authorities only counted the forty-eight bodies they managed to recover. Most of the other victims remained unidentified, so they were left beneath the ruins, turning the destroyed estate into their final resting place.

The place was now abandoned and was known as the Tobletone Mansion and Grave.

At that moment, the authorities were searching for Nia'le's latest hostage, hoping to rescue her from the infamous criminal. Unfortunately, they could not find either of them because both had been magically transported to Tassa's old home in the United Kingdom.

***Meanwhile in the old Mansion***

Nia'le and Tassa sat together at the dinner table.

While eating, Nia'le quietly observed her. He was surprised by how easily she could locate everything around her—the water, the bread, the knife, and every other object on the table.

Ayamani noticed Nia'le staring at Tassa. To distract him, he deliberately nudged a glass of water.

The glass tipped over, spilling water onto Nia'le's pants.

Tassa shot Ayamani a cold glare.

"That was ignorant and unmannered."

Nia'le rolled his eyes and set the glass upright.

"It's not my fault—whatever."

A faint blush appeared on his face as he realized he still didn't know her name. Looking away, he tapped his fingers against the table.

"Hey, you. Mind telling me your real name, insignificant girl?"

Tassa stopped eating.

"If I tell you my name, will you stop calling me that?"

"Probably not."

"Tassa."

Nia'le nodded.

"Okay, Tassa. How can you cook even though you're blind? Does that creature help you, or does he just guide you?"

"Ayamani? No, he just guide me. Well, you see, there are so many painter who don't have both hands, but still good at art, for example Bethoveen"

"Since when did Beethoven lose both of his arms and become a painter?"

Tassa frowned.

"That's not what I meant. He was a pianist, and he became deaf."

"Ludwig van Beethoven wasn't born deaf," Nia'le replied. "He gradually lost his hearing over about twenty years, starting when he was twenty-seven."

"And he became completely deaf in his forties."

"Maxim of Relation," Nia'le muttered.

Tassa pouted.

"I know! My point is that disabilities don't stop people from achieving their dreams."

Nia'le suddenly grew serious.

"How do you imagine the world? A colorful place filled with peace? Hate to break it to you, but it isn't. The world is full of disasters."

Tassa lowered her head.

"I never imagined the world was wonderful. I've never believed that everyone in it is kind. People are cruel. They take one look at you and immediately form a thousand opinions."

She looked up.

That was when she saw another Grim Reaper standing behind Nia'le.

Nia'le felt a heavy presence approaching them.

Tassa looked around for Ayamani, but he was nowhere to be seen. She tried calling him, yet he didn't answer.

---

Ayamani had been summoned by Ixartxist.

Ixartxist had uncovered more information about Nia'le and wanted Ayamani to protect Tassa after Nia'le was dead.

Ayamani nodded, but deep down he knew he could never kill Nia'le, especially after Tassa had told him not to harm him.

Ixartxist turned and gave him a cold glance.

"Of course, you won't be the one killing him. I've already sent something far more capable than you."

He paused.

"I know you can't kill him because Tassa would never allow it. Your loyalty to her outweighs your loyalty to me."

Ixartxist looked away.

"Let that thing do its job. Meanwhile, I want you to continue taking care of my Quart for another two years. Do you understand, Ayamani?"

"I understand," Ayamani answered.

***In the Mansion***

Tassa saw the Grim Reaper place its hand above Nia'le's head.

Without hesitation, she ran toward him. She pushed the creature away and grabbed Nia'le's hand.

Suddenly, the entire room began to change.

Darkness swallowed everything. Horrifying creatures crawled out from the shadows, all reaching for Nia'le.

Tassa tried to stop them, but she was too late.

The Grim Reaper succeeded.

It took Nia'le's soul.

"No!" Tassa cried.

She immediately cast a spell, trapping both herself and the Grim Reaper inside a magical barrier. Then she used a Contreting Spell to retrieve Nia'le's soul.

*Contreting Spell — A spell used to seize the soul of a person whose body is still alive but unconscious.*

---

An endless dark world stretched before them.

The only light came from floating crimson glows drifting through the darkness. Ghosts, demons, and strange creatures wandered everywhere.

This was all Tassa could see.

She sat on the cold ground with Nia'le's head resting on her lap.

For the first time in her life, she could see his face.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she gently touched it.

"Please wake up."

Nia'le could hear her voice, but he couldn't move.

His body felt completely paralyzed.

Then he remembered something.

*Move your thumb first.*

He focused all his strength on it.

Slowly, his thumb twitched.

Then his hand.

Then the rest of his body.

His eyes snapped open.

"Tassa!"

Before she could react, he grabbed her hand and started running.

"Wait!" she shouted. "Where are we going?"

Nia'le didn't answer.

He kept running.

But the scenery never changed.

The darkness remained endless.

The creatures continued to watch them from afar.

Finally, Tassa pulled her hand free and stopped.

Nia'le turned around.

"Why did you stop?"

"Because running is pointless."

She dropped to her knees.

"This place has no end and no beginning."

Nia'le looked around.

"That's why it's called the Infinite Night."

"Then how do we escape?"

Tassa looked up at him.

"Wake yourself up in the real world."

"And how am I supposed to do that?"

"Believe that you're alive."

A long silence followed.

"You are alive, Nia'le."

She stood and walked toward him.

"When you begin to feel like you're floating, don't doubt yourself. Just believe you're alive."

"And what about you?" he asked.

Tassa smiled softly.

"I'll be fine."

Her hand began to glow.

She placed it against his chest.

Nia'le flinched.

"It won't hurt," she whispered.

His body slowly began to shine.

His legs faded first.

Then the rest of him.

Soon he floated above the ground like a wandering spirit.

Within seconds, he completely vanished.

Tassa smiled as she watched him leave. But at the exact moment, she had lost her consciousness, and she fell right on Nia'le's body.

In the real world, Nia'le woke up and found Tassa lying on his chest.

He looked around and saw the familiar dining room.

"So we fell asleep on the floor?"

Carefully, he lifted Tassa and rested her on his lap.

He rubbed his forehead as he tried to remember what had happened before he lost consciousness.

Something felt wrong.

Fragments of memories flashed through his mind—darkness, strange creatures, Tassa's voice—but everything was blurry, as if hidden behind a thick fog.

His eyes drifted toward her sleeping face.

Gently, he brushed a strand of hair away from her forehead.

"What are you, Tassa?" he murmured.

"I don't know what happened, but I know you saved me."

He paused.

"Could she be my guardian angel? No... that's impossible."

Behind him, Ayamani suddenly appeared.

Nia'le couldn't see him.

"Ixartxist failed," Ayamani said quietly.

"She stopped the Grim Reaper he sent after this human."

His gaze softened as he looked at Tassa.

"She risked her own life for a complete stranger."

Ayamani folded his arms.

"I hate humanity. Yet Quart loves them."

He sighed.

"She's too much like our Father."

---

Nia'le carried Tassa upstairs.

As he approached the bedroom, the door suddenly opened on its own.

Ayamani had opened it for him.

Nia'le paused.

"Thanks."

Ayamani didn't answer.

Even if he had, Nia'le wouldn't have heard him.

Nia'le laid Tassa gently on the bed before heading downstairs to get her a glass of water.

As he descended the staircase, his hand brushed against the railing.

Dust.

A thick layer of dust.

He frowned.

Something wasn't right.

When he entered the living room, he noticed spiderwebs hanging from the ceiling.

The dining table was covered in dust.

The entire mansion looked abandoned.

His heartbeat quickened.

Then he saw the food.

It was rotten.

Completely spoiled.

"What the hell happened here?"

He immediately grabbed his phone.

December 14.

Nia'le froze.

"December...?"

His mind raced.

Yesterday's newspaper had said September 10.

The television news had also shown September 10.

He checked the date again.

December 14.

His stomach sank.

"Did I just skip three months?"