Requiem [Sirius the Jaeger]

Chapter 10 - Memories

"You can close your eyes to reality but not to memories"
~Stanislaw Jerzy Lec

"What happened to Dr. Hanada was unfortunate."

The words echoed through the room, bouncing off the walls. We were bathed in a warm orange light as the sun started to set outside, signifying the end of the day nearing. I hadn't moved from my spot at the table, merely sorting the papers to make it look at least a little bit tidy.

Yuliy had left his window spot and sat down at the table, his hands lying folded in front of him. He seemed to have realized what was dawning upon us, too. At least judging from the already solemn look in his cobalt eyes.

Professor Willard, who had spoken these words sat in front of me, his eyes narrowed as his gaze danced between me and the ravenette. He was the one that decided that talking was probably the best right now. Although I didn't see how relieving everything was going to help me, but I couldn't leave anyway.

"Saki, too." Yuliy spoke from his seat next to me. I tensed up at the mentioning of her name, immediately casting my gaze downward. The Professor had encouraged us to say how we really felt about all of this, but how could I look anyone in the eye while doing so? Saying it out loud would be hard enough, but looking right into the Professor's piercing eyes during that? Impossible.

"I've done to Saki what the Vampires did to us, back in Dogville." My voice sounded pathetic, broken, befitting for a someone like me. It happened 10 years ago and I still can't talk about it properly. I still can't let it go, still can't forget the pain. Truly weak. "And..." I couldn't finish as the pictures flashed before my eyes again. Images of that night. Deadly fires, fresh snow painted red, countless corpses. And Saki face. Saki's terrified expression as she was coated in her father's blood.

Blood I spilt.

Professor Willard however, seemed to understand what I was talking about, because he continued without pushing me further. It was probably for the better. I don't think I would manage to keep my composure if I had to continue. The Professors was probably more than happy I was talking, finally after a whole day of silence.

"She said that it's too late for you two now to be drawn to the Ark?" His voice was a mixture of worry and interest, but also irritation. Not even he we knew what the Royal meant, and normally he knew basically everything. The fact that her last words were so confusing even to Yuliy and me, although the said artifact belonged to our tribe, was truly worrisome. Just what could she mean with that?

"Yes. Right before the Royal died." Yuliy confirmed the Professors question. The ravenette lifted his hand, guiding it towards his chest and turning it into a fist, clutching onto the material of his pale shirt. Somehow, this little gesture made him look so...broken. It was more than evident that I was the only one being pained by the past.

It was haunting both of us. And it would stay like this until the day we die.

"They might have come to Japan looking for the Ark." A sudden wind outside hit the window, making it rattle, underlining the horrified feeling inside of me. The tension in the air seemed to grow thicker over the second; a knife would have shattered into pieces like glass if you tried to cut it.

As no one dared to say anything, we were enveloped in a deafening silence. My heart was beating fast, the cold sweat still sticking to my skin. I involuntarily shivered as images flashed before my eyes yet again. Right now, I wished they would be mere nightmares entering my daydreaming.

If only, it wouldn't be so terrifying.

°°°
It was a cold and dark night, the wind was howling and attacking the poor houses that stood in the middle of the mountain range. It was a normal night, nothing different from all the ones before or all to come.