Chapter 21: Again
I didn't know what to think. My brothers had come here with sad intentions of attending a funeral for me, but instead they left with twice more brothers gone.
It just wasn't fair, I thought sadly.
I turned to leave, now walking in complete darkness. But I didn't care, it matched my mood better than it would if it were sunny.
As I got closer to the inn, I became aware of someone's presence in front of me. I looked up and saw Jenny, she starred at me, not saying anything. I sighed deeply and tried to speak, I tried to wish her a goodnight but nothing came out of my mouth. I cleared my throat and nodded toward her in the darkness.
"Goodnight, Jenny." I said quietly, turning without another word toward my brothers bodies. As I knelt next to them I herd Jenny's footsteps leading away to the tent.
"It's all my fault. You shouldn't have come here," I whispered to myself. I half dragged, half carried their bodies to the tent's side. I couldn't barry them as it was already very late. I'd do it tomorrow.
Jenny got the tent space, so I grabbed a blanket quietly and laid down on the grass under the stars. I herd Alice's pointy shoes walking toward me. I stood up slowly and faced her. She walked toward me and held my hands.
"You okay?" She asked softly. I turned my head and fought the inner demand of sobbing again. I couldn't speak so I said nothing. I let go of her hands, turned around, and sat back down. I wanted to be alone, yet I also wanted Alice's comfort. I laid down once again and closed my eyes. I herd Alice come and sit down beside me. She nuzzled her head close to my chest and wrapped her arm around my own. Her warmth made me forget the chills that had ran down my spine. But even so the image of my brothers dead bodies couldn't escape my mind. They were gone, and I was never going to see them again.
Today was a day I was never going to forget.
"Alice." I called softly. In response, she mumbled something I didn't understand. I turned my head toward her and a wave of terror washed over me. Alice's face was pale beyond belief, and she looked like she was having trouble breathing. I quickly turned to try and help her but tears ran down her face as she was loosing oxygen too fast. She must have been choking for a while, I thought. Within seconds her blank eyes were staring up into mine, unable to see the tears running down my face.
"No!" I said, jumping to my feet as fast as I could. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes as vigorously and quickly as possible to clear my vision. I looked down to where Alice had been laying durning the night. My heart skipped a beat: She wasn't there.
"Alice!" I yelled before I even looked around me.
"Tom?" I immediately turned around. Relief washed through me as I ran to her without thinking. It was only a dream yet it seemed so real. I held her hands in mine, staring at her pretty face. She smiled as she spoke.
"Are you okay, Tom?" She asked. I let go of her hands suddenly and spoke hastily.
"Of corse. Just a bad dream..."
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked me softly. I shook my head.
"No, no, it just seemed so real." I told her. It was a dream best to be forgotten.
"Where's Jenny?" I asked Alice, trying to change the topic.
"She's still asleep." I nodded and then closed my eyes tightly in mental grief. I had to deal with my brothers bodies today. I didn't want to be reminded of what had been done to them, but they needed to be buried. And I felt I should be the one to do it. Alice looked at me, her facial expression questioning and a little worried. I shrugged it off and turned around heading toward the inn. I needed to dig two pits and purchase the same amount of coffins. This should be professional, I wanted them to be buried properly. I sighed. Suddenly I felt small arms wrap around my waist from behind. Alice put her head on my shoulder and waited a moment before she spoke.
"Let's get them wrapped up best we can. Then we'll get the coffins." She said. Alice removed her hands from my waist, gently took hold of my left hand, and headed off to get the materials.
It took us till about mid-afternoon before they were in their coffins and inside the big gaps in the Earth. The last thing to do now was to cover them up. And say my last goodbyes.
Me and Alice covered them up in no time. I took Alice's shovel, walked over and leaned it against the side of the empty inn, and walked back to her.
"Leave you alone, I will." She said quietly. "I'll see you later, Tom." She said as she gasped my hands and kissed me slowly on the cheek. After a moment she pulled away, smiling sadly as she walked back to the tent. I turned back toward my brothers and slid back the hood of my cloak. Tears slid down my cheeks. I didn't know what to say. If I even found the right words, how could I speak? I breathed in deep breaths, trying to control myself. That done I said little, in worry that I'd loose it again.
"Michael, Brian, I'm going to miss you. You shouldn't have died here, and I'll make sure to avenge the people who tore our family apart. Thank you for coming to see me off, now... Now I'll return the favor. I love you." I closed my eyes and stood up. I stared at the grave for a second.
And then it happened.
Almost too quickly to comprehend. A hand forcibly covered my mouth, preventing me to speak. It was a strong grip, I noticed. My temporary captor pulled out a sword, brandishing it in front of my face. When he spoke it confirmed who I thought it was.
"You didn't die easily. This time we'll make it faster."