Departed

Chapter 4: Loyalty

Harumi's POV

     "Checkmate," Wrayth grinned, knocking Morro's king over.

     Morro scowled at Wrayth and began to reset the pieces.

     "What's the score again?" I asked nonchalantly from the decayed couch across the room from them, studying the scratched-out board on the ashy ground.

     Wrayth's eyes glinted with victory. "Oh, I think five to zero. Does that sound right Morro?"

     I could see the aggravation start to simmer off Morro in the form of smoke. He didn't say anything to retaliate, instinctively taking deep breaths to calm down. I could tell the other ghosts were enjoying the lack of demon patrols more than they should. They could let off as many crazy emotions as they wanted, and nothing bad would happen. Days had passed since our encounter with Mistake and things hadn't really gotten worse, if you didn't count the mega-demon getting closer and closer. Wrayth was using that advantage to drive Morro crazy.

      "I need a replacement," Soul Archer complained, floating down from the roof hatch. He had only been up there a few minutes, but no one wanted to do lookout duty anymore.

      "Ghoultar says no," Ghoultar said, laying on his back on the ground. He happened to be trying to sleep at that moment, even though dying made that task impossible.

      "You just went up there," Morro replied, moving a pawn and making Wrayth let out disgruntled noises.

     "It's boring," Soul Archer rasped. "There is no reason to keep watch anymore."  

     Morro opened his mouth to reply and was immediately cut off.

     "If you are about to talk about the giant demon-thing then that is not a good reason. Everyone knows it is coming. Everyone knows there hasn't been demon patrols in weeks. There is no outrunning that fate anymore."

     I halfheartedly glanced at Morro, noticing his own gaze had been brought to me. He still hadn't told his friends about Mistake's offer, which seemed a bit selfish. Perhaps he was waiting until we were all 'changed.' If that were the case, he'd go to the chasm before he could return to Mistake. Change seemed impossible for someone who didn't even know who they were in the first place.

     "Well," Morro said, "I'm not taking your place."

     "And I'm beating Morro at chess," Wrayth said, knocking out one of Morro's rooks.

     Soul Archer simmered. "You pathetic personifications of ghosts! You let him boss us around, for no reason—"

      "I'll do it." I said quickly.

      Soul Archer paused his rant, realizing I was in the room. Even though I had been with the group for a while, they still acted like I was an outsider. I didn't know why I was defending Morro, especially since I only thought of him as a temporary ally. Maybe I was just tired of hearing the ghosts bicker with each other as each day passed on. Morro met my eyes again, quickly showing his gratitude. I nodded in silent reply and climbed up the ladder to the roof.

>(<>)<

Bansha's POV

     I heard the roof hatch open again. Harumi was the one who sat down beside me; I was expecting Morro or Wrayth. Judging by the quiet from downstairs, they were probably locked in another game of chess. Smoke and fumes clouded the horizon, getting closer every day as the Departed City continued to be destroyed. The sounds of destruction were getting louder as the distance closed in. The mega-demon was coming.