Boom! I know that the setting isn't just right, best not to think of The Final Warning as you read this...

I hate funerals. I guess no one really likes funerals, unless they're, like, vampires or something.

We were here to bury Ari, my half-brother. I didn't even know he was my half-brother until about a month ago. The seven (eight, if you count Total, which I guess I should or he'll get all offended) of us were gathered around the deep hole we dug, where a simple box sat, being covered with dirt (which Fang and I were shoveling) and snow.

Jeb (my "father," which doesn't make him my dad) was crouched at the head, placing a small tombstone in the soft ground. Fang and I finished shoveling and steped back. He patted me akwardly on the back, and I hugged him. He made no attempt to resist, which was totally un-fang like. Nudge was crying into Iggy's shoulder, and Iggy was staring (you know what I mean) at the sky. Gazzy was trying to put on a brave face, but was struggling, and Angel was squinting at Ari's grave, as if hoping to here him think. Ugh, weep-fest.

A dark congregation

of familiar faces

gathered around the quiet earth

I hated this. Really hated it. These people I loved (at least most of them), and knew since before I can remember, crushed by the death of someone we thought we hated. I loved my flock and would do anything for them, and I even felt a little bad for Jeb. Only a little. Not a sound was made. It was as if everything was taking this moment to remember Ari.

A red rose

fell upon the soft snow

prayers were whispered so slow

from our mouths

Jeb stepped up and dropped a rose near the tombstone. He muttered, so quiet I could barely here him, "I'm sorry, son." His voice shook. We were all muttering something to ourselves. Angel walked up to the grave.

"I'm sorry that you died like this, Ari. I thought you were bad, but then you helped us, so I guess you were really good after all. I'm sorry I didn't believe you when you said you wanted to help me find Total and I kicked you. I hope it didn't hurt really bad."

Our breath rose in the cold like a hundred souls escaping...

Save me, I am swallowed by the guilt of this

Youre gone

Sleeping in the dust we will not let time erase us

I felt guilty. I had killed Ari once. This time I didn't kill him, but I felt like it. Just goes to show how messed up my life is. How did Ari even live? I didn't know, didn't even bother to ask.

We are surrounded

by all of the quiet

sleepers inside the quiet earth

For a moment, it seemed that all the failed expiriments were gathered around as well. What did they even do to those bodies? I didn't want to know. It made me feel sick.

A fear that

I can not shape, you

dared to kiss the face

of the night

I was gripped with fear. Ari's time had come. Who's would be next?

Our lips were cold as clay, we couldn't speak anyway

Save me I am swallowed by the guilt of this

Your gone

Sleeping in the dust we will not let time erase us

I realized with a start that Fang wasn't by me. He was by the grave, and looking at me. Oh, great. I was so busy thinking that I hadn't noticed the rest of the flock's speeches. It was my turn now.

"I'm sorry, Ari," I began, "You were just a kid, and they ruined you. I know I killed you before, but it was an accident. I... You... you were my brother. I'm sorry."

I took a shuddering breath. For a moment, I saw Ari, not as an eraser, but as a cute little kid, standing among the trees and glowing like a beacon of light. He smiled at me, then it seemed like the wind blew him away.

That finished me. I turned to Fang, and he wrapped his arms around my waist. I buried my face in his chest and cried.

The song was A Dark Congregation by The Hush Sound. REVIEW!!