This is a much shorter chapter than usual, but I felt it was right for the content. I'm also dedicating this to someone I knew at school who died last week.
Decisions had to be made. Items had to be chosen. Locations had to be booked. Cars had to be arranged. Organising a funeral was a complex, emotional and pressurised situation. William was so glad that he had Aunt Mabel to support him, but he still felt incredibly guilty that she had to help organise is all. It wasn't fair that at his age, William should be having to make these options.
They had decided to go with a simple funeral service, with a graveside ceremony and then the burial. William didn't expect many people to actually come.
As the hearse arrived in the graveyard and he climbed out of the vehicle, William came face to face with a large crowd of people. Many different individuals from around the village had turned up. There were even some faces from school and also Mrs Reilly.
It was an emotional service, William shedding many tears, the largest flow coming as the coffins were lowered into the ground. He threw the first fist of dirt on top and stepped back, his vision blurred. The onlookers then came towards him, one-by-one and began to offer him their condolences.
All of this was a blur to William. He couldn't see or hear them, his voice operated on. Person after person shuffled passed and said their bit.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, the people dispersed. Aunt Mabel and Kathleen had gone up to William, but even their words washed over him without much recognition he was soon left alone, looking out over the graves.
The roar of an engine brought William back to reality. He glanced over to see a mini digger jolt into action and begin to fill the mud back into the holes. Each scoopful hit William deep inside, as the chapter on his parent's lives had reached the final line. They were really gone, buried, food for the worms. Decomposition the next step in their time on Earth.
The sun was starting to drift down far enough in the sky, that the blue hue was being melded with an orange glow. The digger finished, leaving two neat mounds of earth over the coffins. The operator wished William a good day and also departed. Finally, he was alone.
Darkness was coming thicker and faster. It was helped by the picking up of a breeze which brought with it dark clouds. The first drop of rain started to tumble down from the sky, landing with great wet splodges on the ground and on William. He was soon drenched.
Eventually, William felt ready enough to head home, so slowly but surely he splodged his way back Aunt Mabel's. Unbeknownst to him, a figure stood, sheltered and watching.
It was the same individual who had been watching him through the cameras. As William disappeared from view, the figure unfurled a large, black umbrella and moved out of his spot and towards the graves. The ground was becoming swampy, flecks of mud now decorating his polished shoes and trouser hems.
They now stood at the graveside and stared down at the mud.
"Well well Richard. Here we are my old friend. This wouldn't have happened if you had just worked with me."
The rain pounded on the canvas of the umbrella. There was a rumble of thunder, as though a reply had come from beyond the veil of life.
"Your son will give up your secrets to me one way or another. He is the key to making our vision a success."
Another rumble of thunder.
"Don't give me that Richard, your ideas were inspired. It's not my fault you didn't have the guts to see it through. Rest in peace and in the knowledge your work will change the world for the better. It is such a shame your life had to be ended the way it was."
The figure turned and walked off to his waiting car, which had now pulled up close to the graves. The door automatically opened and he climbed inside, shaking the umbrella before tucking it into the vehicle. The door shut and the car sped off, leaving the graveyard silent, except for the putter patter of rain amongst the mud and stones.