The Story of Midnight

Chapter 34

"The choices you make now, the people you surround yourself with, they all have the potential to affect your life, even who you are, forever."

― Sarah Dessen, The Truth About Forever

***

I closed her eyes again and carried her body towards where her grave was supposed to be. I dug up her grave with my own hands again, next to the fake grave, and placed her inside carefully.

This time it would be final.

I slowly started to fill it with soil until it looked like there wasn't a hole in the ground anymore. I didn't cry. I've already shed enough tears. Now I'm just empty. Too empty.

Time passed as memories of her flooded my mind.

I've already done this once; why do I have to do it again?

I stood up and whispered, "I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you."

My body froze when the scent of rotting filled the air. That's what Azazel smelled like; something rotting.

"The kid managed to break you free of the illusion and you still killed her," Cloud was suddenly next to me. "I'm impressed."

"You sick bastard, you made me do it. It was the only way." I snarled at him.

He shrugged. "What's another dead person?"

"She was innocent!" I yelled, exasperated.

"People die all the time. I don't see how she is any different. Children younger than her have died."

I clenched my fists to try and still my anger.

Some time passed before he spoke again.

"My humanity is buried there." He said solemnly.

What he said surprised me enough to make my rage disappear. I turned to him and said, "Hard to believe we all have it at some point and then it's gone like you were never born with it."

Diana suddenly came to mind.

He looked at me with confusion etched on his features. "What is humanity anyway? Why do we lose it, why do we have it?"

I couldn't help the small snort that escaped me. "Maybe it's a thing we humans like to keep but just as easily give away; like common sense."

"Tch, humans. So much pride, so much stupidity. What's it all worth in the end? You're just remembered by your name and actions and left for the rest to make you either a hero or a villain. Is that all there is to your lives?"

"I honestly didn't take you for the philosophical type," I commented, smiling slightly.

"Even we villains need redemption."

I nodded and looked around the night covered forest, lost in thought.

"Do you want to finish this?" I asked.

He smiled. "It's about time."

"But not here. Not in front of her." I said and looked down at the freshly dug grave.

"Of course. Your wish is my command," He bowed and made a gesture. "Lead the way."

I started to walk back to the place where all this fighting began. There was a comfortable silence between us despite the fact that we had to kill each other.

My mind wasn't calm in his presence regardless of what the atmosphere felt like. I still feared him. One touch and I'm dead. No one was going to be there to save me this time. I'm alone again.