The Cries of the Dead (A Moon Knight Inspired Fan-fiction)

Chapter Four: Number 9E

(TRIGGER WARNING! This chapter contains suicide, gore, sexually explicit scenes, and drug use. Caution is advised.)

Dark flowers brushed against their ankles, as they pressed on, desperate to find out where they hell they were. Their memories continued to race further and further out of reach, as they pressed on.

The darkness was all they knew, as they continued. Until suddenly there was light, a bright unnatural light that surrounded them. They were suddenly sitting at the desk in their office, though it seemed that everyone had gone home. Maybe they had fallen asleep.

"You're here late," someone said, a familiar voice.

That voice shouldn't have been there though, it was one that they knew should have been impossible to hear. A voice that made them turn and look at the man.

As if they weren't in control of their body, they heard themselves speaking. "Just finishing up."

"If you have time, I'd like to talk to you." The man told them. "I've been struggling a bit lately..."

"Sure, I'll see if I have time." THey replied, knowing full well that there would be no time. "No promises though."

"Of course, it's only if you have time."

They'd been so tired and keen to get home, that they'd pretended not to see the sadness in their co-worker's voice and the look of despair on his face.

And by the time they'd remembered to finish that last email, they'd left without giving the man a second thought. Even though it was their job to listen, and maintain the wellfare of the workers in the company.

Suddenly, they were standing on the street the next morning, staring at the body splattered on the pavement. It was a horror that they had not forgotten over the years. The cracked skull that had leaked blood, so much blood, around the body. And the open, lifeless eyes that seemed to frame pain.

"What is this?" They asked, looking around.

This had been the reason they'd quit their job, because they hadn't helped the man when he was in trouble; and that man had committed suicide. This was something that had followed them into old age.

Constantly playing that night and morning over and over again, wishing that they had chosen to stay. Maybe then they would have been able to prevent the man from jumping. From leaving that note to his kids and ex-wife, saying that he'd tried his best, but he knew that they would be better off if he was gone.

In a blink they found themselves back at their desk, that familiar voice once again speaking to them...

~ ~ ~

A month passed in a whirlwind of fun. Steven wasn't sure he'd ever felt this happy in his life. He also wasn't sure what he'd done to deserve someone as lovely as Ophelia. They hadn't made anything official yet, he hadn't even kissed her; but he was happy either way.

Steven had taken Lia on a proper date, the day after they'd watched a movie. He'd done everything he could think of to make it perfect; though he also found he didn't have to try too hard with her. The conversation always flowed and he even managed to make her laugh; just as she did to him.

After dinner, they walked to her building, pausing before the security gate. That was when he froze. Steven hadn't known what to do, or if Lia expected him to kiss her at all. So he'd told her how much he'd enjoyed the night and gave her an awkward hug. Before scurrying away.