Beyond the Rabbit Hole

Burden

 Morgyn stood beside Alyss and Benard back at their post. The tension in the air weighed heavily on every person in the camp, and silence replaced the raucous laughter that had previously radiated like light from the firepit.

"I couldn't even tell what happened," Morgyn shuddered. "This place is distorting my senses."

"It's the same with me." Alyss grit her teeth.

"I'm not sure I quite understand." Benard raised an eyebrow. "Before entering the Dread Sea, you could sense whenever somebody died, but now you can't?"

"During the battle back in Herongrand, whenever a soldier died, it was as if we could feel the intensity of each soul dispersing and fading back into the aether," Morgyn explained.

"It was the only time I ever experienced what I assume to be pain," Alyss sighed. "It wasn't a pleasant experience."

"Well. . . yes, of course," Benard chuckled. "Pain isn't supposed to be pleasant."

"I still don't understand why the feeling is so overwhelming and intense now." Morgyn furrowed his brow. "In our previous world, I don't recall ever feeling such a thing."

"Has anything changed since then?" Benard asked. "Besides the different world, that is."

"Well, we have bodies now—I guess that part is new." Alyss shrugged.

"Bodies?" Benard gave them each an inquisitive look.

"We're grim reapers, remember?" Morgyn reminded.

"I remember you mentioning that, but. . ." Benard shook his head. "What does that even mean?"

"Benard, what do you think of when you hear those words?" Alyss asked.

"I don't think of anything," Benard sighed. "The whole idea of it is foreign to me. I would have never heard of them if it weren't for you."

"In our previous world, we didn't possess physical bodies at all. And if we were to interact with humans, they would see us as whatever they pictured in their minds 'grim reapers' to be." Morgyn explained. "In all honesty, we aren't even sure what we are. 'Grim reaper' is just something humans called us when we appeared before them."

"Do grim reapers just not exist here?" Alyss raised her eyebrows. "The concept, I mean."

"If, by that you mean, someone who guides souls to the aether, then no. I have never heard of anything like that." Benard thought for a moment before continuing. "Most people in the empire believe that their souls ascend to the Lunar Trinity after they die. Those who die in virtue ascend to the Golden Moon. Those who die in obscurity ascend to the Silver Moon. And of course, those who die in sin ascend to the Blood Moon. There is no need for any guides as it all happens according to God's will."

"I take it this God stands above the Lunar Trinity?" Morgyn's eyes narrowed.

"What?" Benard paused to think. "No. God is the Lunar Trinity. They are one and the same. One and three at the same time."

"I think there was a religion like that in our world as well." Morgyn lost himself in thought.

"Several, from what I remember," Alyss mused. "I guess humans will develop in similar ways no matter what world you're in."

As the group spoke, a sprinter darted out from the cover of darkness toward Alyss.

As Morgyn and Benard stood up, regaining their vigilance, the zombie's head launched from its body.

Alyss shook the blood from her war pick and let the body fall to the ground. "Even without all the noise, these monsters will still find their way to us." She took a deep breath and scanned the perimeter.