This chapter owes a lot to anime 'Violet Evergarden'.

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-v- Omen Mortis -v-

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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

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One month later

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They had gotten the idea after René's family sent a message saying they could keep all his band gear and do whatever they wanted with it. So now they were by a lake that was close to Erik's cabin. Building the small raft had taken a few hours - they had even done some research from the internet. Gwen was also helping them.

As the night fell they placed René's bass guitar on the raft.

Jo looked at the worn Yamaha. She knew the story behind it. René's parents hadn't been too eager about his new hobby so he had bought the used Yamaha with his own money - from Axes 'n' Amps of course. Later, when his folks had come around and offered to buy a more expensive fancier instrument, he had declined their offer - he was proud of this one.

Jo placed a folded piece of paper under the strings.

Erik was soon waist deep in the water, taking the raft further, a burning torch in his other hand. He threw it to the raft from some distance.

The raft was set ablaze - a mix of gasoline with a hint of absinthe.

As the burning raft drifted further in the blue night Jo thought of the words on the piece of paper... It had probably already burned… It was the day before she had ripped a page from a notebook and began writing...

Fuck you, René.

For some time that was all I wanted to say to you. Fuck you. For leaving Cyberpriest. For leaving me. But now I know there are more things I want to say but it's not easy… It was always you who wrote the lyrics. I've thought this a lot and I'm sure now. We would have worked it out. I just know. It was what we did, we argued and we fixed things but this time… we didn't get to fix them. Just know, that the way you left, it messed up everything. I hurt so many people... Ian especially. I pushed him away and when I came out of that blackness I thought I had already lost him... But he's something you know. Ian. He took me back even before I had properly even said sorry... And I haven't dared to say it straight to his face but I think I love him.
Anyway, you should've seen me and Erik that day. I got this idea to play this song to Ian when he was in the hospital (a long story - Ian had been drunk driving, he's not proud of it) and Erik came to help me and we dragged his drum kit and all the PA equipment to that small park at the hospital grounds. Anyway, the song was 'Take on Me'. I still can't believe Erik played 80s synthpop but that shows what a friend he is. Because he is. Sure, we had a rough time after you died but that's all behind now.

I'm sure you're happy to hear the three of us will start a new band. I didn't feel right about going on as Cyberpriest… because you were Cyberpriest and I know you know that.

I guess that covers most of it... But one more thing… Russ… He's been sober for over a month now. I know… I'm still kind of scared but it's… Well, you know.

So I guess this is it…

René,

... I wish you hadn't died.

... I wish we could've made more music.

... I wish you'd grown old.

Goodbye... jackass.

Jo

P.S. If you have a suggestion for a band name, let us know.

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