Taint, Time and Tangents✔️

EPILOGUE

CALLIE

I peered over the book, my bleary eyes fixed on a time-worn page before me. I watched as an invisible pen scrawled down a name against the dusted surface. A few more stroke and it was done.

Austin Fletcher.

Placing my index finger over the letters and tracing them, I felt the ink seeped into my skin - every blot flowing into my nerves.

All the memories - of him, of his mother and father, and of everyone around him - they materialize inside my head, like a film strip being unfurled before my eyes.

These were his memories, memories of my third assignment.

I lulled for a minute more before turning away and descending. I greeted the other Flakes next in line, my feet almost drifting along the clear steps.

In this great hall, the Hall of Life, there were thousands of books and all of them contained a replica of every human's souls. Each book was situated on top of a winding staircase, waiting for Flakes to climb and receive their missions. And every day, thousands of us lurked around the hall, talking to each other while waiting.

I stepped out and slowly, inhaled - taking in the serene surroundings before me. The Flake's fortress was way bigger than the Amaranth's, probably because it housed billions of Flakes while the Amaranths were only five.

I walked outside, the red strands of my hair touching my cheeks as a warm breeze floated by. They were longer now, the curls reaching my lower back.

My hair was the only thing I retained when I lost my power - or maybe, it was the only thing the Amaranths were able to salvage as I learned they somehow pleaded for the Highest to reconsider taking away my abilities.

But an angel's kiss could never be revoked once given. And I was aware of that.

But thankfully, for old time's sake, the Highest let me keep my red hair.

I brushed some the strands away from my face and looked ahead. With the little time given to us, I always make sure to spend it by drawing and painting. Others played instruments, read a book or sleep - I also wanted to do them, but the easels and brushes seemed to always call for me.

I just took a turn when a low voice tickled my ears. "Nine."

I stopped on my tracks and smiled at guy in front of me.

He was sitting on the edge of a large fountain, its dancing columns of water made his bluish blonde hair glisten under the rays of sunlight. His warm smile and calm demeanor was still there along with his robe which was now casually draped around his body.

"Oh, hi!" I greeted back, taking a couple of steps and halted.

He stood up - sadness fleeting across his eyes for bit as he saw me maintaining a good distance.

Amaranths are our superiors. We looked up to them and adore them. And, even how much we wanted to touch them, we could never do so because an Amaranth's body was considered sacred.

A Flake like me could only just stand and look at them from afar.

"We really miss you there," Eight said and I didn't miss the slight twitching of his hands and arms like he wanted to reach out and hug me.

I smiled at him. "You already survived ten years... You can survive thousands more."

He just threw me a sheepish smile and stood up, hesitating.

"Is there a problem?" I asked as I noticed him fiddling with the material of his robe.

There should be something wrong for it was so rare to see Eight this flustered. Adding up to that, Amaranths were also prohibited to visit our fortress. I could remember Six and Seven came barging in before and demanding me to go back with them. Soon they were forced to leave and were given punishments. The others also tried - urging me to sneak out with them - even Five, but failed.