A Remaining Podeshire 1

Chapter 9 (Part 2)

     Oliver lowered his hand from his mouth and slowly sank to his knees as his jaw quivered uncontrollably. Feeling his heart slipping beneath his stomach, he gazed at the rows of gravestones. He folded his hands and tried to steady himself, but his grief shuddered his body.

"Oh... my dear father... mother... and siblings..." Oliver spoke softly. "Forgive me if it took me this long to see you. I know... I should have tried sooner... but I was caged in someone's household, and they didn't allow me to see you. But now... finally... after fifteen long years... I'm here... with you... again. You were taken from me too early, but I'll never forget the love you gave me while you were here..." As he finished, Oliver felt a sense of closure and comfort as his glance softened.

     Oliver stood up with a light smile as he placed his hand on his chest. He then peered at the graves before sighing deeply. Gregory stepped forward and placed a comforting palm on Oliver's shoulder as he glanced at him with a slight smirk.

"How do you feel now?" Gregory inquired with a gentle smile.

"Suddenly... I have a yearning desire to see my old childhood home again..." Oliver replied. "Now that I have paid my respects to my departed family, I feel drawn to see it once more."

"Do you recall the way to your old home?" Gregory asked with an eager grin.

"I guess?" Oliver responded. "If we head north, we'll find the gates to the grassland where my old childhood home stands."

"Excellent! Let's move on, shall we?" Gregory said as he beamed with keen anticipation.

     As they left the cemetery, Gregory suddenly halted, and his eyes fixed on the dark corner of the street to his right. Oliver followed his friend's gaze but saw nothing but the void-like darkness. Confused, Oliver grabbed Gregory's arm, and they marched down the empty street.

"...Are you alright?" Oliver asked, slightly anxious. "What were you looking at?"

"...I thought I saw something. But... I assume it must have been my imagination," Gregory replied, placing his arm around Oliver's shoulder.

"Oh..." Oliver raised a brow as his glance darted on the concrete road.

"Let's move on... swiftly," Gregory said as their paces hastened.

     Walking north, Oliver couldn't help but feel anxious every time Gregory glanced over his shoulder. Oliver tried neglecting his apprehension, but his skin pricked with hair-raising goosebumps, and he felt his anxiety rising. Whenever Oliver turned to look around, he never spotted anything but the dim, empty street. Oliver could not remove the lingering dread and the suspicion as his breath shivered.

     Oliver walked with his hands behind his back as he marched down the street with his friend. He tried masking his face with a calm, flat look. But, as time ticked, his brows and lips inevitably contorted in fear.

     After hours of walking, Oliver and Gregory finally arrived at a massive gateway guarded by stern-looking sentinels in silver-to-gold uniforms. Then, they saw flaming torches flanking the gate's tall pillars. Once Oliver had his eyes on the sight, a wave of recognition washed over his mind, and he realized he had been here before.