There is Power in Death

Chapter 16

"Hi Talan, Maddy," Benji greets.

Al goes up to Maddy and shakes her hand, "My name is Alegra, but you can call me Al."

"Nice to meet you, Al," Maddy replies.

"So, Al has to accompany us because of the link. I assume you told Maddy about what happened, Talan?"

"Yeah, I just finished going over it."

"Okay, good. Repeating it was annoying, I just hope we don't have to tell anyone else."

"Same."

Talan and Maddy start walking towards the forest and we follow.

"Hey Talan, there's something you should know."

Al elbows me to warn me, but I ignore it.

"And what's that?"

"Al is not related to you. They're related to me. So is the girl from the story Mr.Silvia told us. He is not her sibling, but he is her descendant. I just thought that you deserved to know."

Talan looks a bit taken aback, "That doesn't make sense. I can feel their ancestral line."

"Cool trick, right. It's gone now, you know. Just something I picked up on after I stopped working. It's easy and fun."

"Incredible. Show me how to do this, it could be useful."

"Will do, as soon as you guys finish your shifts."

Talan leads us through a portal that is hidden from anyone else's eyes. 

"What exactly is an ancestral line?" Benji questions.

"It's something that only immortal beings can feel. It's a line connecting them to all their ancestors, and, in some cases, their descendants. It can feel very faint or very strong, depending on the person. You'll be able to feel it too if you concentrate. What Al did just now was something that I can't explain," Maddy answers.

"I created an illusion. A very strong one. It was very hard to perfect, but I did it." 

"I see. I wouldn't have much use for it, but it's a cool trick."

I look around and see that the place we're at is very crowded. There is a large mix of living and dead in this city. Al makes himself visible to the living and goes into a nearby store. They can't help us, because they no longer have an M.I, so I assume that they're going to grab themselves some snacks.

"Alex, you have to be careful here. I don't know if your scythe is able to harm the living," Talan warns.

"Okay, I'll be sure not to hit any of the living," I really don't want to take the risk.

I end up startling Maddy when I reap the first few. I guess I forgot to warn her about the wailing. I tell her about it and we continue working. I make sure that I'm not too far away from Benji and Al, but have to keep calling Al over.

We continue working for several hours, taking breaks every now and then. The weather is perfect, there are clouds covering the sky and the temperature is not too hot or too cold. Days like these are the best.

At eleven am, we head back to HQ. Everyone is to tired to talk, except for Maddy, who doesn't talk much as it is.

As soon as we get back, Talan went to his room. Maddy had something to talk to Mr. Silvia about. Al, Benji, and I went to the restaurant to get lunch. When we finish eating, Al insists on talking to the waitress that came over earlier.

"She should be on her break now. I remember where her room is, so follow me!"

We go to the second floor and Al leads us to a door that's decorated in pink and purple banners. Al knocks on the door.

"One minute!" says a voice from inside. 

I hear items shuffling around and The door is finally opened.

"Oh, hello, Al. What brings you here?"

"I felt like we needed to catch up!"

"Okay, an who are you friends?"

"This is Alex and this is Benji."

"Nice to meet you, my name is Olivia. I would shake your hands, but they're covered in dough."

"What were you baking?" Benji, who looked exhausted, brightens when they hear the word dough.

"I was testing out a new pie recipe for the restaurant. I work there in the mornings for extra cash."

"She makes more money so she can send some to the living world to her family. I think it's so sweet, even if they don't know it's from her." 

"That's amazing."

"Can I help you with your baking? Please?"Benji pleads.

Olivia laughs, "Of course, I'd love to have some help."

We walk inside. Her house is decorated with a soft aesthetic. The walls are painted with a light pink, and the furniture has a calming blue. There are pictures of flowers and butterflies all around the room. The majority of what I see is very neat and organized, but the kitchen completely wrecks that. There are ingredients and dirty dishes everywhere, but I choose to ignore it. Olivia shows Benji the recipe that she's currently working on, and they get straight to work.

Olivia comes to the living room and sits down with us. Her and Al are talking, and it seems like they forgot that I'm here. I get up and join Benji in the kitchen.

"Hey."

"Oh, hi. I thought you were with Al and Olivia."

"Well, I wasn't part of their conversation," I pick up a few dishes and put them in the sink.

"I see. Do you want to help me bake?"

"If I touch the pie, I will ruin, so no. I will clean her kitchen, though."

"You do that. So, about this morning."

This morning, what happened this morning? Oh, right. Al happened.

"What about it."

"You know what Al was saying about, y'know, about us?"

I think I know what they're getting at.

"Yeah."

"I-I just wanted to ask you something."

There are two ways that this could go.

"What is it?"

"Well, would you maybe, if you wouldn't mind me asking, would you like to go on a date with me?"

My heart starts beating fast. I can see the blush on Benji's face.

"Of course. I'd love to."

"Really?"

"Yep."

"Great."

We continue working on our own tasks, realizing that none of us has anything else to say.

"What're you guys up to?" Al pops up from nowhere.

"Nothing?"

"You can't lie to me that easily. We're linked, remember?"

"Ah, right."

"Okay guys, out of my kitchen! I have to get to my portal soon, and still need to get ready. You guys will have to leave."

"Okay. Goodbye Via, I'll talk to you soon," Al waves.

"Thanks for letting me help with the pie."

"No problem."

We step out of her room and I start feeling dizzy. I fall down and feel Benji catching me before my eyes close.

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