The Art of Death

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Song: Brother by Kodaline

Everlee can't quite comprehend that they've traveled to the past. Maddox explained that they aren't really in the past but instead he has projected a figment of his mind onto a landscape. Everlee pretends like she understands the science words that are spilling out of his mouth but in the end, she's just as confused as she was before he explained. Maybe even more. She just rolls her eyes and acts like Death's powers don't surprise her.

They've arrived at a small pier resting on a restless sea. Everlee's eyes widen as she tries to take in the new surroundings. It's a cloudy day, and the wind brings waves crashing up against the pier filling her nose with the smell of seawater. Her hair flies across her face, tangling her field of vision. She groans before wrangling her hair into a ponytail. She glances towards Maddox who is staring wistfully at a shipyard connected to the pier. His glance flickers over to Everlee and she tenses at the pain in his eyes. This is not an easy thing for him.

"Where are we?" She asks trying to distract him from his pain.

"My home, Taiwan. Now hurry, we must get to the shipyard."

He grabs her hand and pulls her along the shaky pier. Everlee has never been afraid of the water, but the relentless waves have her crushing Maddox's hand tighter in hers. Something in her knows that the waves will be the least of the terrors she sees tonight.

They arrive quickly at the shipyard where Maddox pulls them against an empty cargo container. Everlee goes to open her mouth but he puts his finger to his own lips asking her to be silent. Soon, a tiny girl with two boys trail in between the empty cargo containers. She's wearing brown trousers and a fitted white blouse. A knife is strapped against her hip and a sword is swung across her back. Her eyes are a dark brown, almost black color, and Everlee can feel the intensity behind those eyes. A long scar marks one of her cheeks, trailing from her left eye to her chin.

She switches her gaze to the two boys. She grabs Maddox's arm in shock when she sees his identical self next to the girl. He really hasn't aged a bit. But this man in front of her carries himself differently. A man who has not been burdened by Death yet. Her heart aches for the man he could've been if he hadn't died here tonight. The other boy must be Maddox's brother. They look so similar that they could've been mistaken as twins but Everlee notes that the boy is younger than Maddox. Probably around 18. They are dressed in similar clothes as the girl but both wear dark jackets covering their weapons. Ming has a sword clung to his hip while Maddox's sword lays on his back. 

They're speaking in a different language other than English and Maddox reaches his hand up to Everlee's temple. She suddenly understands what they're saying. Another one of Death's gifts. I guess it's useful to be able to understand all the languages your victims can speak.

"Xie, this isn't necessary." Young Maddox exclaims, reaching an arm out to stop Xie. She looks down at his hand then back at his face. She reaches her own hand up, so small compared to Maddox's, to trace Maddox's cheek.

"You know it is. We need to prove ourselves and this shipwreck is the perfect time. Those Americans will pay for all the Kaolut members they have killed. Maddox, it's time that we take revenge for all the lives taken from us."

Everlee reels back in surprise. She hadn't learned much Taiwanese history in her limited time in school so she's beyond lost in the tribe politics. But this tiny girl holds a fierceness in her that scares Everlee.

But the young Maddox only lets his hand drop from Xie's arm. He turns to his own brother, his expression exasperated.

"Ming, you know this is wrong. We can't do this. It's not our job to play God. We can't exact revenge or death whenever we feel like it."