Chapter 86

I was left alone in this version of the afterlife, alone with my own thoughts and the illusory projections of Aaron, Maxwell and Isaiah. I turned my head to look at them, a small smile plastered on my face. Their faces were just as happy as mine, with drinks in hand as they laughed and chatted about different things.

I took a few steps forward, the snow white void underneath me rippled under my feet like I was stepping through water. I looked down at it, appreciating its small but tranquil beauty. I approached the bar within the void and hopped into the spare seat beside Aaron, who had a muffled voice and a slightly blurry projection.

"You aren't real, but that's all I need to know."

I whispered to myself as I laid my hand onto Aaron's illusory form. Touching his spiritual projection made my hand feel like I'd been sleeping on it all night, that weird static feeling that emanated within my entire arm by now. I stared into Aaron's blank eyes and sighed to myself, looking past him to see Maxwell and Isaiah, who were smiling just as brightly as he was.

Maxwell was a little shorter than Aaron and Isaiah, he had curly blonde-brown hair and yellow eyes that possessed a glint of crimson too. He wore casual attire and was holding a shot glass of whiskey, taking a small sip whilst chatting.

Isaiah was a way younger man, about 10 to 15 years younger than Aaron. But due to the usage of the artifact, he had silver, neatly combed back hair and wrinkles that condensed deeply into his face, exposing more about his seemingly older age like stories in a book. It was like each wrinkle and crease had some strange legend to tell to those who listened carefully enough.

His silver eyes shined with pride and joy as he moved around in his seat slowly. His shirt was half unbuttoned, exposing his rather toned body. I then looked back at myself and my own body. The black horns on my head were something I could always feel digging into my bones and brain, but it didn't hurt, it was more like a strange reminder of my ongoing path to wherever I was headed.

"I do want to go back to my home, but a home is where someone is happy, where someone meets people, people who like him back. A home is where people can smile and laugh without a worry in the world. A home is where someone feels safe, someone feels loved, and where someone can be themself without shutting the world out."

I closed my eyes and leaned back in the bar stool, gazing upwards into the infinite white expanse above me, with white and gray fog circling above us like a wormhole waiting to devour us; the inevitable release of death, always waiting above your head like a cyclone. And seeing that very force of nature made me smile, smile in awe and in realization.

I picked up the burning rose that sat on the bar and tossed it upwards, the crimson flames and embers dancing down onto the counter as the rose entered the wormhole, facing an instant disintegration. 

"I'd like to think of that rose ...almost like me."

I turned around suddenly, and saw that Aaron's form wasn't blurry anymore. He was looking at me and his voice wasn't obscured. He had a small, gentle smile on his face and he put his drink on the counter.

"I'm actually proud of you for killing me, kid."

His voice suddenly grew deep and solemn as he sighed and gazed up into the wormhole, his eyes flickering with a different emotion, one that I found difficult to read at first. But eventually I realized what it was; pity.

"Why would you be proud of me killing you? You asked me multiple times to save you."

The older man looked back at me and forced a smile, a small, pained smile.

"But you did save me, Isaac."

I was instantly confused by his words. My eyes widened as I felt the tears welling up in my eyes. Aaron took notice of this quickly, placing a hand gently on my shoulder in an affirmative gesture of comfort and trust.

"If you did save me, save me like you thought you should've. I probably would've died either way. Maxwell's corrupted power was beyond anything I've seen. And all of the power he accumulated nearly killed me. But I kept fighting him, and fighting him, hoping to give you that strength you needed to finish the job."

He spoke in his solemn voice before sighing again and taking a small sip of his whiskey.

"Now I can be free. I have done nothing but struggle with myself for all of my actions, wrongdoings, and everything that has plagued me over time..."

Aaron gave my shoulder a comforting squeeze, as his smile returned, wider than ever. A few tears forced themselves out of my eyes upon seeing his smile, that smile that gave such a loving and fatherly look to it.

"But I learned to forgive myself just now, and sometimes forgiveness is the best thing you can do, kid."

Aaron's body then started to float and gravitate towards the wormhole above. I reached my arm out and held onto his arm with a death grip, tears now streaming down my face like a damn child. The man looked at me and chuckled softly.

"It's ok, we'll see eachother again, I promise."

It took all of my willpower, but I eventually forced myself to let go of him. Seeing his body, along with the now less illusory forms of Maxwell and Isaiah move upwards into the wormhole was a bittersweet sight. 

When the wormhole closed, the void fell into an inscrutable silence. I was left alone in this place with the new empty bar, the now empty seats, with the half filled whiskey glasses and the stained counter.

"I hope so too, Aaron."

I stared blankly at the now empty space above us, smiling gently as the tears continued to fall, fall and hit the void's ground with a pap, pap, pap.