Part 1
Emil and His Merry Friends
Chapter 1.5
"Hey there little brother, it's time for bed!" A silver haired man grinned, his bright red eyes shining. He scooped a small, blonde haired boy into his arms and ran to the bathroom
"Gilbert! It's way too early!" The child complained, his lips forming a pout and his arms crossing across his chest.
"Exactly! Because you won't be able to fall asleep, I'm going to read a story!" Gilbert chuckled and placed the smaller boy on his feet in front of the sink. The smaller boy picked up his tooth brush and stared at the two siblings reflections in the mirror. His blue eyes sparkled with excitement. His lips were curling into a small smile. A story… How long has it been? Gilbert had been away in the military for a long time. A story from Gilbert would be amazing.
"I would love to hear a story…" Ludwig gushed, his face turning slightly red as the brother's grin grew even more.
"I'll wait for you in your room!" Gilbert waved and ran out of the bathroom. Ludwig rushed to brush his teeth exactly two minutes and wash his face for one minute. Once he finished, he ran into his room and threw off his day clothes and pulled on clean night clothes. He then jumped into bed and smiled pleadingly to Gilbert who sat in the creaky wooden chair.
"Today's story is a real story. It has an evil spirit. But you won't be scared. Right? You gonna be scared? You're going to be tough for big bro Gil right?" The man ruffled the child's hair. The child squealed and grinned widely, nodding his head.
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The grim faced officer sighed and closed the book. The worn blue leather marked the great importance it carried in the man's heart. He stared at himself in the mirror. His sparkling blue eyes were now piercing ice. "Gilbert…"
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"Gilbert! Tell me the story!" Ludwig pleaded the silver haired man. Gilbert pulled on his jet black military coat on, adjusting the buttons. The other soldiers stared at the small child, sipping tea in the sitting room.
Gilbert glanced at the other soldiers and looked back at Ludwig. "One more time, Ludwig. Then I really must go." Ludwig nodded furiously.
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Have you ever learned of the immortals? They walked among the stars before humans did. They traveled the world, brought home treasures, just like heroes. This tale is about an evil spirit who turned kind. This evil spirit ate of despair and sadness. One day, a small child met the spirit. The spirit, who had never seen such a small immortal of happiness, was shocked.
"Why do you smile in such a way? Do you not have sadness in your heart, small immortal?"
The child only smiled and walked over to the spirit.
"Ask not why I smile, but ask yourself if you are truly evil. Why will you use the sadness of others to hurt them, when you can listen to their sorrows and console them?"
The spirit was taken aback.
"But I do not see how I can console. I have no physical body. No one, except you, has ever talked to me… How will I console people if I cannot hug them, give them a kiss, and tell them it is alright? No one will ever talk to a mysterious black hole in space and time."
The child smiled even more.
"I have a plan. Enter my body and wear me like clothing. I have come to not only help you, but help others. You have the potential to help others, dear spirit."
The spirit sighed and turned into a small snake, slithering up the child and stared him in the eyes.
"What if I use your body for evil? How are you so trustful of a spirit like me?"
The child only opened his mouth and swallowed the snake. As the spirit filled the body, he heard the small voice of the child.
"You won't. I know you won't."
So starting from that day, the spirit promised not to let the child down. He went around, travelled the world and listened to the sorrows. When the body lost its life, the spirit flew out and possessed another child.
And now, every few centuries, the spirit comes and possesses a new born, changing the child's original hair color to a supernatural white and the original eye color to a deep purple, as the spirit attempts to recreate the small immortal child that had changed it forever.
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"I won't be back for a while. You will be strong for big bro Gil right?" Gilbert's grin was soft and comforting this time. His hand was placed gently on Ludwig's shoulder.
"I know you'll come back so I'm not afraid!" Ludwig confidently spoke as Gilbert smiled and stood up, walking out the door into a blinding light.
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"You never came back…" The man murmurs, glaring at the ceiling as tears pushed their way to the front. Then he glared at his reflection. "And small Ludwig never came back as well…" The man sighs and smashes the mirror with his fist. "You're now a cold heartless man." Ludwig whispers, picking up the shards one by one with his gloved hand.
"Sir, are you alright?"
"We attack tomorrow." Ludwig glared at the soldier. "Send in troops dressed normally into the city and find the boy."
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As time went on, Mathias's visit was forgotten like the ashes in the fire pit. Emil was now fourteen. His new focus was on studies. Books were always piling up around him. But his friends were always there to help him. However, no matter how many friends he had, his brother's disappearance continued to haunt him. He swore every night, when he turned off the lights and closed his eyes in bed, he felt a cold hand slip into his and squeeze it tightly.
"I'm sorry Emil…"
Tonight will be different. He pushed his books away and slipped under the covers, turning off the light. He was too scared all those other nights. But today, he will see who sees him only in the night under all the stars.
"Good night Emil!" Tino called from downstairs.
Emil waited patiently, the clock ticking away. Hours went by and then, the house went silent. A few minutes later, a hand slipped into Emil's. Before the hand could squeeze Emil's, Emil gripped the wrist harshly and his eyes burst to life. His jaw dropped and his eyes grew wide.
"Hello Emil… It has been a while…"