Requiem

Ethan jolted upright with a sharp gasp, his breath ragged and uneven.

After a minute, he exhaled gently in a bid to steady himself, his eyes darted across the room. The moonlight outside did little to alleviate the oppressively dark room

He rubbed his face, waiting for his vision to adjust to the darkness

Touching his chest, he felt his heart thumping wildly against his ribcage, raising his shaky hands, he peered at it. Despite the overarching darkness he noticed his hands trembling violently.

"That felt too real to be just a dream? But then here I am. Where am I?"

Pulling up the system screen, he squinted closely at it, searching for any indication of a false reality.

After minutes of staring, he shook his head. 'Must've been a lucid dream.'

Yet the thought did little to ease his worry.

Because could still hear the echo of those fluorescent lights buzzing in his skull. The smell of antiseptic clung to the back of his mind, sharp and unreal.

'The smell of antiseptic felt so real I could still perceive it? Wait a minute, I didn't smell any antiseptic.'

Chuckling wearily, he got off the bed. "Must've been a vivid dream, a very vivid one."

Pushing the door, he stepped outside. The chirping of crickets punctuated the silence.

Glancing across the scattered wooden houses, he sighed, "Nighttime sure does have its perks."

After a few minutes of wandering, he returned to his house. Reaching for the door he paused, closing his eyes, he exhaled.

Dipping his hands into his shorts, he moved to the back of his house. Spotting a short oak tree, his face lit up with surprise. "Funny what you miss until you really look."

Staring at the sky, he noticed a slight hint of orange, turning back to the tree, an idea crossed his mind.

Reaching for a low-hanging branch, he pulled himself up, pulling down gently, he felt his arms ache lightly.

Closing his eyes, he repeated the same motion, slowly falling into a rhythm as he pulled through revs.

He let go once the ache in his arms became unbearable. Swinging his arms to ease the pain, he looked up at the sun rising steadily beyond the horizon.

Steeling himself, he grabbed the tree branch once more, and like that his rhythm changed, after ten pull ups, he'd let go rest briefly then return again for another ten pull ups.

By the time he finished his third set, the sky had turned molten gold as the sun rose in all its glory heralding a brand new day.

Ignoring the dull sensation in his arm, and the sun's heat, he continued his exercise. The door to his house creaked open, a moment later, it slammed shut.

And almost immediately, Anna walked in wearing a plain white blouse. "Ethan are you there – " Pausing, she stared at Ethan incredulously. "What are you doing?"

Ethan hoisted himself up one last time. "Nothing... much," he said between breaths.

Completing the motion, he let go of the tree branch, noticing a damp section of soil around him, he shook his head before turning his attention to Anna. "What about you? What are you doing here?"

Folding her arms, Anna glared at him. "Today is uncle's burial what do you think I'm doing here? Everyone's already prepared for it all that's left is the arrival of the Creir and you." Pointing to the tree she continued, "And here you are swinging on a tree like a damn monkey."

Exhaling slowly, Ethan began walking. "Alright." Pausing by the door, he rubbed his arms gently.

Pushing it open, he walked in accompanied by Anna. Taking off his damp blue top, he flung it at Anna who was sitting on the bed before she could react, he ran into the bathing room.

He slammed the door behind him, laughing as Anna's indignant screeches echoed through the walls. "Ethan you stinky animal!"

Pouring a cup of water on his body, a chill coldness pervaded his skin. Closing his eyes, his mind flashed back to the hospital dream, pouring another cup on his body, his thoughts reeled back.

Ten minutes later, he walked out of the wooden bathtub. Walking to the chest on the left side of the door, he picked out a white top, pairing it with white trousers.

After putting it on, he ran his hands through his hair, the residual moisture left on it clinging to his hand.

Pushing the door open, he stepped into the room to a dark faced Anna. Scoffing, she walked out of the room.

Walking through the village behind a furious Anna, Ethan exchanged greetings with the villagers.

Reaching the village creire—a simple wooden sanctum with a five-pointed star at the door, Ethan pushed through the door stepping inside, an acrid smell embraced him.

Five older ladies, each wearing a cloth with distinctive colours walked quietly in a circular formation around a table.

A middle-aged man with brown hair dotted with grey specks lay on the table.

Staring at the man, Ethan felt an unexpected surge of emotion within him, clenching his fist, he muttered, "Rest easy, your murderer died shortly after."

A minute later, the older of the women, a red-haired woman wearing gold coloured robes turned to him. Nodding, she signalled to the others.

The door slid shut moments later, and Ethan stood alone in the empty room. Circling the table, Ethan paused as the man's face came into full view.

As he stood there in silence, a low knock came on the door followed by the woman in golden robe returning with Romelu, Jord and two other villagers whose names he couldn't quite place."

Lifting the body, they placed it into a cask with a five sided hole at the top. Standing the cask up, they exited the room, almost immediately, Anna walked in with the village elders, Tormund and the Creir a bald headed elderly man donning a grey priestly robes with a five pointed star emblazoned on it.

As they stood in a circle, the elderly man walked behind the cask. Returning moments later he dropped a small wooden bowl filled with five different rocks on the ground.

Turning to the uneasy faces before him, he said, "We are gathered here today to bear witness to the life of Leonard Cross, father, friend, uncle and Chief."

Letting the words settle for a brief moment, he continued, "As we mortals have borne witness to his life… so too must the gods now that his journey to the afterworld has begun."

Picking up the bowl containing the stones, the Creir said, "A moment of silence while I ready the sealing wax."

As Ethan watched the creir grind up the stones following what seemed like a sequence, he felt a warm sensation in his palm.

Looking down he saw Anna's delicate hand holding onto his, exhaling, he clasped her hand tightly.

Feeling Ethan's hand tighten on hers, Anna's cheeks flushed with a hint of crimson.

Five minutes later, the Creir lifted the bowl, a sweet aroma permeated the air inside the room. "We offer into the hands of The Fates Leonard Cross of Cross village. Judge his heart on the hearth of balance, and if he's deemed worthy of having lived as destiny has written it to be... may his soul rest by the shores of The Fates."

Ethan, Anna, Tormund and the village elders echoed back the last words of the Creir. "May his soul rest by the shores of The Fates."

Nodding gently, the Creir climbed atop the small ladder beside the cask, then poured the mixture into through the hole at the top of the cask.

After pouring it in, the Creir reached into his pocket pulling out a small vial containing a black luminiscent liquid, he held it atop the hole letting a droplet into the cask.

Almost immediately, a bubbling sound rang from the cask, seconds later, a loud pop echoed through the room followed by a black waxy liquid bubbling atop the cask sealing it shut in the process.

Climbing down, he faced the five pointed star behind the cask at the far end of the room. Kneeling down, he spoke quietly in a foreign language for a little over three minutes.

Standing up, he nodded. Clearing his throat, Morris walked to the Creir. "Creir Eor, thank you for coming on such short notice."

Creir Eor waved his hands dismissively and replied, "Nonsense, it's my duty to help guide a departed soul into the hands of the Fates you needn't thank me for fulfilling my duty."

Morris nodded in agreement to the Creir's words. "You're right Creir, but regardless of duty or not–thanks must be given to whom and when it is due."

Gesturing to the door, he added, "Please this way." After Morris, Creir Eor, Tormund and the rest of the elders left the room.

Anna murmured with a shaky voice while staring at the cask. "I still can't believe he's gone."

Squeezing her hand lightly, Ethan nodded more out of condolence than sorrow. "Yeah, it feels like just yesterday everything made sense —"

Butting in, Anna completed his sentence. "Now it doesn't."

Looking over his shoulders at the door, Ethan exhaled wrly. "We should uhm... join them soon."

Removing her hand from Ethan's, Anna wiped the trail of tears on her face. Sniffing, she replied, "Yeah, we should."