Interval 5 – New Life in the Kingdom of Night
Kingdom of Night, Year 4193
Alan's POV
BANG!
The SHADE dropped dead and dissipated, in its place was a wallet; I slung my rifle over my shoulder and walked over.
"I don't understand why you collect these things." Novi said, stopping beside me and resting the carbine on her shoulder.
"Is weird. Have you ever wondered why SHADES carry everyday objects?" I opened the wallet and observed its contents, an identity degraded by time, the photo, the name and fingerprint were unrecognizable, a faded credit card, the name of the bank unidentifiable, the bills turned to dust when I touched them.
"They are SHADE. Why should I care?"
"I understand why the war against the SHADES lasted so long." I put the wallet in my backpack.
"What do you mean?"
"You don't understand your enemy; I'm not talking about being friends with the SHADES, but about studying them. Their reproduction, feeding, behavior, you talk about killing the SHADES, but you don't know anything about them."
"PPSSHH! As if we had anything to learn from them. Come on, you still have to tell me what the stuff scattered around town is for. That blackboard, what was the name?"
"Television?"
"That's right! Television, I want to know what it is for." Novi said as we walked side by side.
"Well, television was used to transmit different types of programs…" I felt Novi's hand holding mine.
"Continues." Novi said as she looked at me.
"You aren't listening to anything I'm saying, are you?"
"No."
"Why do I even try?"
"Because you like me."
"You're right and I know you like me too." I smiled at Novi and hold her hand tighter.
"How did you find out?" Novi smiled.
Together hand in hand we walked through the city.
TIMESKIP
Realm of the Night, Year 4194
Alan's POV
"So, you come here often?"
"Serious? Is this your best flirt?" Novi asked from across the table.
"Sorry, I've never been on a date." I scratched the back of my head.
"Well, that's obvious."
Currently Novi and I were on a date, we were in a luxury restaurant on the roof of a building, red carpets covered the floor, golden chandeliers hung from what was left of the ceiling, an old piano was on a stage, tables and chairs of the best quality were scattered across the roof, the glass dome at the top of the building broke, giving a view of the large full moon that lit up the sky.
Novi wore a nice white dress, a pearl necklace and diamond earrings that she looted from a high class store, the dress didn't do much to hide her muscles, I can't judge as I did the same, I wore a black tuxedo with a red tie, gold cufflinks and Italian leather shoes.
"Changing the subject, what would you like to eat?"
"Hm! Let me think. I would like a salmon fillet, spaghetti with meatballs, accompanied by shrimp and to finish, I would like a chocolate cake for dessert."
I sweat nervously at Novi's request, where will I find these things?
I felt a hand touching mine.
"I'm just kidding, whatever you've made is fine."
I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Wow! I despaired for a minute."
"I admit, it was fun to see your face."
With an irritated grunt, I made a pompous voice, walked towards the restaurant cart on our side and set the table "Today's dish consists of roasted fish caught in the river in the middle of the city, rabbit meat caught in a trap of mine , mashed potatoes and cooked vegetables, grown and harvested in our backyard. To drink we have wine of unknown age looted from a half-collapsed cellar and for dessert we have some fruits I picked from the top of the trees."
"Impressive! Give my compliments to the chef."
"The chef is in front of you, miss."
"Gasp! So does that mean the handsome man in front of me is the chef?"
"Certainly, and that chef is happy to serve the beautiful lady in the white dress." I said while serving the table.
"And who is this beautiful lady? She is here? Because I'm jealous"
"Yes, she's here. She is a beautiful, strong, intelligent, dedicated woman with an indomitable spirit, in short the best woman in the world." I approached Novi.
"Oh! Who is this woman? I'm curious." Novi approached me.
"She is in front of me." I approached.
"Are you talking about me?" Novi approached.
"Would you like to find out?"
Our faces were inches apart, our lips almost touching.
CRASH!
"RRROOOAAARRR!"
But our moment was interrupted by the group of SHADES who broke down the penthouse door, looking at Novi; I flinched when I saw the murderous look on her face.
"YOU BASTARDS! YOU WILL PAY FOR DISRUPTING MY DATE!" Novi screamed as she pulled her carbine out of some mysterious place and fired at the SHADES.
Where was she keeping this thing?
BANG!
Novi shot the SHADES, to hell with it; I pulled the collar of my tuxedo forward, reached my hand inside and drew my revolver. Well, every good dinner needs some good entertainment, doesn't it?
TIMESKIP
"Munch! This food is delicious." Novi said between bites.
"Munch! Thank you, I did my best, but I wish I had an equipped kitchen." I answered while she ate.
"Kitchen or not, I'm sure the food would be delicious."
"You flatter me"
"But I am telling the truth."
Novi and I ate as the SHADES disappeared; the floor around our table was covered in dead SHADES. Damn it! Of all the times they could show up, did it have to be right now? I wanted this date to be perfect, but they had to screw it up. Looking at Novi and then at me, our clothes were ruined, Novi's dress and my tuxedo were torn apart by the SHADES' claws, we also had some cuts and bruises on our bodies.
"Listen Novi… About the SHADES…"
Novi held up her hand, cutting me off.
"Stop, it wasn't your fault, the SHADES are nothing you can control, and you've done enough preparing for this date."
"But…"
"No but, just enjoy the night." Novi smiled.
I smiled back and we went back to our dinner.
Realm of the Night, Year 4195
Alan's POV
"Are we there yet?" I asked Novi.
"We are almost there!" Novi replied as she tugged on my hand.
"Do I need to be blindfolded for this?"
"Yes, it is a surprise."
No idea where we're going, Novi asked me to put on a blindfold and I was dragged across town, I've been stumbling and nearly falling most of the way. We suddenly stopped.
"Are we there yet?"
"Yes, you can take off the blindfold."
I removed the blindfold and what I saw left me speechless, we were on a hill covered with green grass, around us trees and more trees, in front of us the full moon shone like a spotlight surrounded by stars, and what caught my attention the most that was what was at the top of the hill, a sea of bright white flowers.
"Wow! I… I don't know what to say."
"Impressive isn't it? I was also speechless when my parents brought me here." Novi said as she sat down in a flowerless space and patted the ground beside her.
I sat down beside her.
"Your parents? You haven't said much about them."
"Johan Superstes and Alessia Superstes. I wonder what they would think when they saw us together."
"Probably wouldn't like me."
"My mother would like you, but my dad would try to shoot you with his shotgun, he'd yell things like 'Get away from my princess!' or something like that."
"HAHA! If my parents saw me now, well, my mom would be happy, but my dad would ask what you saw in me, if you're blind, if you know what you're getting into or just say 'Finally. '"
Novi laughed this time.
"HAHAHA! I would like to know him."
"Better not, he was a person of few words, but seeing us dating he would tease us endlessly."
"Dating, I never thought I would get this far, I thought at some point SHADES would kill me."
"They would have killed me if it weren't for you."
"You are right. What would you be without me?"
"I wonder the same."
We sat in silence for a few minutes, just enjoying the view.
"Alan?" Novi asked.
"Yes?"
"Do you know what flowers these are?"
"No, I've never seen anything like it."
"These are the lunar tears, rare flowers, they are said to have the ability to grant wishes."
"Serious? Like a shooting star?"
"Something like that. I was thinking, how about we make our wishes here? They must come true with so many lunar tears around."
"I will only do this if you make your first."
"Fine." Novi closed her eyes.
"I wish the two of us stay together." Novi said with her eyes closed.
I quickly moved in front of her.
"Who would know? Lunar Tears actually fulfill wishes, but it all depends on your response now."
"What do you mean by that?" Novi opened her eyes, only to widen at the sight in front of her, I saw Novi swallow hard.
"Alan, what is this?"
"An engagement ring." I said from my kneeling position in front of Novi, with my hand extended in front of her, in my hand a ring box with a gold ring adorned with a diamond. Where did I get the ring? Let's say a high-end jewelry store has a brick in one of their window displays right now.
"So, Novi, will you marry me?" I asked the big question.
"Yes." Novi said something, but I couldn't hear it.
"What?"
"Yes, you idiot! I said yes!" Novi screamed as she jumped towards me and hugged me.
We rolled through the field of flowers until we stopped with Novi on top of me.
"Sorry about that, I… HHMM!" I couldn't finish when I felt Novi's lips on mine.
I returned the kiss; we stood there in the field of flowers, the moon being the only witness to what was happening.
Kingdom of Night, Year 4196
Alan's POV
To say I'm nervous would be an understatement; I'm sweating like a waterfall, constantly adjusting my tuxedo collar, repeatedly glancing at my imaginary wristwatch. Did something happen? She gave up? What if the SHADES did something? My worries were gone when the church doors opened.
That's right, a church, this is our wedding, we were in the largest church in town, the ornate pilasters, ceilings and walls surrounded us, beautiful stained glass windows illuminated by the moonlight filled the church with a sea of colors, the vault above we graced ourselves with the image of angels, not to mention of course the guests, rows of mannequins wearing formal clothes occupied the pews in the church.
And walking between the pews towards the altar, was Novi, wearing a beautiful wedding dress, the veil covering her face, Novi walked up the altar and stopped in front of me while holding a bouquet of lunar tears.
"Nervous?" Novi asked.
"Yes."
"I'm too." Novi replied.
Then the mannequin wearing priest's clothes started the ceremony, everything happened normally until reaching the part where 'if someone has something against this union should speak now or remain silent', at that moment the church doors opened and the SHADES entered.
"Novi, will you stay with me through thick and thin, in sickness or in health, until death do us part?!"
"Yes! How about you Alan? Will you stay with me through thick and thin, in sickness or in health, until death do us part?!"
"Yes!" I replied.
We put the rings on our fingers, Novi threw her bouquet towards the SHADES, one of them caught the bouquet, and the dummy priest declared us husband and wife, lifting Novi's veil, I kissed her, meanwhile the SHADES approached the altar. Fortunately, Novi and I prepared for the appearance of SHADES.
Novi took her revolver out of her dress and fired it into a mass of fuses that lay on the altar, the fuses burned towards the sticks of dynamite that were stuck to the chest of every mannequin in the church.
I quickly put my arms under my legs and behind Novi's back and ran towards the back door of the church, as I ran away I heard the sound of the explosion and the stained glass of the church breaking.
"HAHAHA!" Novi and I laughed as we ran.
TIMESKIP
Alan's POV
Now for the second part of our night, it took some work to get this room ready, but it was worth it, I kicked open the door to a luxury room, in the same building where we had our date, I closed the door behind me with my heel.
"Put me down." Novi said.
Doing as she asked, I was pushed towards the bed, where I landed on my back.
"Novi what…" I was cut off when Novi sat on top of me.
"Better get ready, I'll keep you up all night." Novi said as she licked her lips and opened my tuxedo, pulling off all the buttons.
I sweat nervously, I have a feeling Novi won't be gentle.
TIMESKIP
"Ouch!" It was the only thing I could say after what happened.
"You have five minutes to rest before we continue." Novi said as she hugged my arm.
She is trying to kill me!
Realm of the Night, Year 4197
Alan's POV
Marriage, I never thought I would make it this far, currently I must be twenty seven or twenty eight years old, seven or eight years since I arrived in that distant future, no one in my day would believe what I've been through, but it's not like I have some way to get back.
"Alan, leave these things behind and come to bed." Novi said in our bed.
"Fine."
I said while going towards the bed and putting aside the things that the SHADES were carrying, I put several objects on the table, objects that I got from killing SHADES, dolls, house keys, wallets, purse, I still don't understand why the SHADES carry these things, but I'm starting to give up, it doesn't matter, all that matters is the life I'm living, with Novi.
I lay down next to Novi and we kissed.
"Goodnight." I said.
"Goodnight." Novi replied.
Then we went to sleep.
"COUGH! COUGH! COUGH!"
I woke up in the middle of the night when I heard someone coughing, opening my eyes I saw Novi sitting on the bed with both arms outstretched in front of her.
"Novi, what's the matter?" I woke up.
Novi turned to me, tears in his eyes as she showed me her arms. I thought it was my imagination for just waking up, but when I looked better, I realized that Novi's arms were covered in black marks similar to letters, but I've never seen any alphabet like that.
"Alan?" Novi asked nervously.
"Yes?" I asked with concern.
"Do you remember when I said that a mysterious disease killed everyone?"
"Yes? Why the question?"
"The main symptom of this disease was black letter-like marks covering the body."
I was speechless as I processed what Novi said, so I looked over at her, and saw the startled look she was giving me, so I hugged her.
Kingdom of Night, Year 4198
Alan's POV
"Alan?" Novi asked.
"Yes?"
"I love you."
"Love you too."
We were sitting in the field of flowers, in the same place where I asked Novi to marry me, Novi asked me to bring her here, as a last request, Novi's illness continued to spread, the marks gradually covered her body, and she became weaker each day, the strong woman I knew was thin as a stick, the color drained from her hair and nails, her eyes sunken and dark circled.
I felt Novi laying her head on my shoulder.
"Novi?"
No reply.
I felt something running down my face, putting my hand, I felt something wet, tears. I'm crying? Yes I am. I heard footsteps behind me, looking back I saw SHADES, not just a group but an army, SHADES as far as I could see.
I laid Novi down in the field of flowers; she had a smile on her face, an expression of peace, finally free of the disease that was slowly killing her.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" I asked as I approached the SHADES.
But they didn't do anything.
"HUH! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU WANTED?! KILL US?! WELL, SHE'S GONE, JUST ME LEFT NOW! THEN COME ON! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!" I yelled as I approached with open arms.
But the SHADES did nothing; the SHADES stared at me, turned around and disappear in dark particles, leaving behind a series of objects.
"AAAAHHH! GET BACK HERE! GET BACK HERE AND FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED!" I screamed as I dropped to my knees and punched the ground, but no one returned, there was no one but me.
When I finally calmed down enough, I buried Novi in the flower field and made a wooden cross to mark her grave.
"Goodbye Novi."
After saying goodbye, I returned to the city.
Kingdom of Night, Year 4199
Alan's POV
How long shall I go on like this?!
CRASH!
The bottle I threw broke against the wall, looking at the table in front of me, I saw it was covered with different types of drink, a bad habit that I picked up; I circled the city from top to bottom in search of any drink that was still drinkable, trying to drown the sorrows.
"But that didn't work, did it?" A voice said.
Sitting in a chair on the other side of the table was me.
"And what do you want me to do?" I replied.
"You could start by taking a shower, you look awful."
I saw it reflected in the bottles, I had a long dirty beard, dark circles under my eyes, long messy hair, wrinkled clothes, smelling me, I shuddered at the stench, a mix of alcohol and lack of showering.
"What's the point, there's no one here to see me like this!"
"Do you think Novi would like to see you like this?"
CRASH!
I threw a bottle at the other me; he cocked his head to the side, letting the bottle pass.
"Do not speak her name!"
"Pull yourself together! Look at you! Look around! How long do you plan to live like this? Looting stores to make this apartment as chic as possible? Drinking every night until you pass out? Tell me!"
Other me said as he pounded on the table.
We were in a luxury apartment that I broke into, I made the place as fancy as I could, stealing expensive and beautiful furniture, decorating the place, an attempt to keep myself distracted and fill the void in my chest with material goods.
"Easy for you to say, isn't it? You are just a figment of my head."
"I may be a figment of your head, but I'm still a part of you! What little is left is trying to recover, before you do something drastic!"
"I don't need your help!"
"Believe me; you need , because if I don't help you, someone worse will."
"Shut up! What will you do? Sit on my shoulder and give me advices?"
The other me let out a long sigh, leaned back in his chair and looked up, "Then don't say I didn't warn you."
Other me disappeared and all was silent.
"Finally he left." I said as I uncapped another bottle and got ready to drink, until I heard a laugh.
"HAHAHA!" I stood up abruptly, knocking over the chair and bottle.
"Is someone there?"
"HAHAHA!"
"Better show up! I'm armed!" I said as I drew my revolver.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw something enter a room.
BANG!
The bullet blew a hole in the door.
"HAHAHA!"
BANG!
This time on the stair railing.
"I am here." A voice said behind me.
I turned quickly, ready to fire, but hesitated when I saw the source of the voice, a little girl, wearing a red dress, with blonde hair and red eyes.
I grabbed a bottle cap and threw it at the girl, the cap hit her forehead, causing a ripple as if it had hit the surface of a lake and landed on the ground behind her.
"Great, I freaked out for good."
"Why you say that?" The little girl asked.
"At least the other me pretended not to be a hallucination, you didn't even try."
"I am not a hallucination!" The little girl said as she tapped her foot on the ground.
"Sure… sure… What's your name girl?"
"Manah."
"And what are you doing here Manah?"
"I have a proposal for you"
"Which proposal?"
"What if I told you there was a way for you to see Novi again?"
"It's not fun to play with these things girl."
"I'm not kidding, it's true!"
"Suppose it's true, what's in it for you by telling me that?"
"I just want you to take me somewhere."
"What place?"
"Amazon rainforest."
"Amazon rainforest? What do you want to do there?"
"There is something I want, and that something is in the Amazon rainforest, the way you see Novi again is there too." Manah said as she put her arms behind her back and rocked back and forth.
Hm! This is weird, Amazon rainforest? What does this hallucination want with it? Well, better than continuing here.
"Okay, I accept your proposal."
"There is one more thing you need to do." Manah said with a smile.
"What?"
"Make a pact with me." Manah said as she extended her hand.
A pact? Since when does my mind believe in something so esoteric? Glancing at Manah, I saw that she was waiting for me expectantly. If that's true, then I can see Novi, do it for Novi, Alan.
I extended my hand.
END OF THE CHAPTER