Chapter 1 [June 08, 1990]
He had died not so long ago, his blood stained body had been covered in flowers; where they'd once been white roses, they were now tainted by his life essence. The innocence of his soul had been washed away many years prior by the unspeakable horrors of the world and of his own acts.
His spirit often wandered the dark, stormy streets of London. The violent winds and torrid rain, the almost angelic looking snow in the cold winters, the scorching sun of the summers; through it all, he remained unaffected, always wanting, always searching.
The moonless night sky threw the normally shadowed alley into complete darkness. A red light, pulsing brighter and brighter with each moment that passed, drew his empty gaze. As if hypnotized, he moved closer, his once vibrant green eyes unblinking as he stared into the blazing fire.
Slowly, yet without a trace of hesitancy, he reached towards the flames. They didn't hurt him, as one would expect them to, no, they caressed and licked at his fair flesh; if anyone had been witness, they would say it was an almost loving gesture. Yet his blue tinted lips parted in an inaudible gasp, and he could only stare in fascination at his hand, the same hand that now looked like it could belong to a living human's, for it was not transparent anymore, instead it had the pale flesh it had when he had been alive.
He wasn't dim by anyone's standards, on the contrary, and he knew what this meant, where this flame led to. Still, he floated closer, his body seemingly becoming more alive as he did so. A contented sigh escaped him, unbidden, his eyes half lidded in anticipation. Without a bit of fear or reluctance, he stepped into the burning flames, allowing them to surround his slim figure in their bright embrace.