Afterlife - A Horror Story

10 - Mortal

3rd

———

"So, what are we looking for again?"

It's dangerous to be walking around outside this close to daytime, especially with Gradient out and about, but Praxus and Xyan really had no choice.

"Just anything that could lead us to clues about Gradient's life," Xyan said.

The two were walking along the sidewalk, searching for something they had no idea how to find.

"And that could include...?" Praxus asked, still confused and unsure about Xyan's plan. Sure, if they found it, it would be sure to work, but finding it was the tricky part.

"I have no idea," Xyan sighed. It wasn't like they could just ask Gradient about his mortal life - he doesn't remember it, and even if he did he wouldn't tell them.

"What do we know?"

"Well, he was murdered in the forest, and someone, assumingely his murderer, performed a ritual on his body, and he became... well, what he is right now," Xyan said.

"Maybe we should find his murderer, then?" Praxus shrugged, "They've gotta know at least a little bit about it."

"How do we find them, then?"

Praxus shrugged in response.

Xyan sighed. "Something tells me this is gonna take a while. I hope Akhet's doing okay."

They had told Akhet of their plan before they left, and it seemed it cheered her up a little that they were trying to get rid of Gradient now.

Xyan just hoped Gradient hadn't gotten to her.

———

It was very, very quiet in the house while the others were out.

Akhet sat on the couch, bored and worried sick. Xyan and Praxus had told her that it may be a while before they returned, but that didn't stop her worries. She hoped Gradient hadn't found them.

They'll be fine.

The voice caught her off guard. It wasn't her's (obviously), and no one else was in the house with her.

And so will you.

Gradient.

At the thought of his name, the poltergeist appeared in front of Akhet, his sharp teeth curled into a wicked smile.

Akhet knew he couldn't hear her, so she gave him an unwelcoming glare.

Gradient chuckled. "Oh yes, good to see you too, Akhet."

Akhet backed up, alert.

"Don't worry. I'm not here to hurt you or consume you or whatever," Gradient said, though the malicious glint in his visible eye seemed to say otherwise. "I have other plans for you."

He held out his hand, and Akhet was suddenly frozen in place. She panicked as she attempted to move, but it was as if Gradient had trapped her in an invisible container.

Gradient walked forward in until he and Akhet were merely a foot apart.

"Trying to run away, before I've even told you why I'm here?" Gradient said, "That's awful rude, isn't it?"

Akhet replied with another death glare.

Gradient ignored it. "Anyway, I still need you. No need to worry about me consuming your soul. Although I truly want to."

Akhet looked at him, a questioning and fearful expression on her face.

"Oh, right, you don't remember," Gradient said sweetly. "Don't worry. I'll fill you in."

He flicked his wrist, and Akhet quickly went unconscious.

———

Xyan flopped down on the ground, exasperated and annoyed. Praxus stood next to him.

"We've gotten NOWHERE," Xyan sighed in frustration.

It was daytime at that point, for it had been several hours since they had begun their search. Praxus and Xyan were in the shade of an overhang above the window of a shop, protected for the sun that made it difficult to keep themselves hidden from those outside of Limbo.

"Well, pouting about it won't get us any further," Praxus said, nudging Xyan with his foot. "We've gotta keep looking."

"For who?" Xyan said, throwing his arms in the air in exasperation, "We've gotten no closer to finding what we're looking for, and we've been searching for hours!"

At that moment, some random human decided to walk through Praxus - not on purpose, obviously, but it happened either way.

In the sudden spirit-human interaction, Praxus was able to see what the man was thinking. Which wasn't significant at first, until he actually noticed what he was thinking.

...and Norin still hasn't payed me back for that guy I killed last month. If he waits one more day I swear to God-

The man left Praxus's general area before Praxus could hear any more.

But the thought had brought him to attention. Last month was when Gradient entered Limbo.

Praxus suddenly grabbed Xyan from where he was sitting and walked at a quick pace not too far behind the guy.

"Where are we going?" Xyan asked, suddenly alert.

"I think I just got a lead," Praxus replied.

———

Richard felt the sudden cold leave him as soon as it came.

Weird.

He shrugged it off as a chill from the wind - it was October, after all. It was getting chilly out.

Richard continued down the sidewalk and entered the location he was originally on his way to - Starbucks. After ordering his usual coffee, he sat down at a table in the corner where he wouldn't be disturbed by passerby denizens.

Suddenly, the chill came back. Stronger this time.

And a voice spoke in his head.

"Hello there."

"What the hell...?" Richard muttered, looking around to see if someone had been talking to him. No one was even near him.

"No one's talking to you in the living world. It's just me."

Richard shook his head. I'm sorry, what?

"My name is Praxus. I have a few questions for you."

—————

[New character unlocked!]

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