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Talia
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I tried not to let that shiver run through me. Listening to what Niclas was telling me. Listening to him explaining how the worst thing that he went through since he died was not his own autopsy but that of the man that was just like him. Listening to the soul screaming while still trapped in the body, he said that was worse than experiencing it for himself.
I could understand that. He might have mentally detached at some point. He might have screamed through his, just like Llewellyn had screamed, but he might not remember all of the pain because of some sort of detachment that he had forced on himself. That would be my guess anyway.
And, in truth, I couldn't really blame him for becoming detached like that. I mean, who would want to remain mentally there when that was happening to them. There wasn't anything that these men could have done other than just checking out mentally. They were, in fact, nothing but a mental, and maybe emotional, state. There was nothing physical about them anymore.
And I doubt that either of them realized just how much they were screaming. I doubt that they would be able to remember how much the other was screaming the entire time. After a while, the sounds of their screams just ceased to matter anymore.
.....
They were free now. They didn't need to feel that pain anymore. Their bodies, cut up and destroyed, could no longer hurt them. I felt happy, just a little bit, knowing that I was the one that had taken that pain from them.
I wasn't done here yet though. I needed to talk to them more. I needed to get the rest of the story. Then I needed to make this right. I needed to get these men to an afterlife that they deserve. They were going to live in peace, completely unlike the death that they had been given.
“U..uhm, Mr. Llewellyn, can you please tell me about your experience? Can you explain what happened when you were murdered?” I tried to remain calm. I tried not to show just how nervous I was. I needed to show that I was here for him as well. And I needed to get these details for my parents.
“Yes. I will. Thank you for listening, Princess Talia.”
“Of course. It is the least that I can do. You two have been through so much, and you deserve to have your stories told.” I smiled as best as I could as I prepared for what the man was about to say to me.
“For me it was much like what Niclas said. I was at home that night. I was getting ready to go to bed. And then, all of a sudden, I felt this desire to go for a walk. I don't live, well I didn't live, that far from the church. I used to like to run out there, behind the old church. A lot of us do. Did.” I got the feeling that he was having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that he was dead and that his life was completely in the past tense. “Well, when I got to the church, I thought I was just going to go for a run. I was just about to strip off my clothes and shoes when I heard someone coming up behind me. The moment that I looked behind me though, I was ambushed. I..I never even noticed that there was anyone there. I never smelled them. I never sensed anything at all. So, when they jumped on me and tackled me to the ground, it had taken me completely by surprise.”
“So, your attacker didn't smell like a human?” I was confused at what I was hearing.
“No. He didn't. At least, not until he was right on top of me. That was when his scent flooded into my nose. I know that it is weird, but the man was somehow hiding his scent. But, I mean, if he was human, how could he do that?”
I knew why he was feeling put off by that. This person that attacked him was supposed to be a human, yet somehow, he had done something that no human was supposed to be able to do. I could understand why he was feeling nervous about that and wanted answers.
“I don't know how he did that, but I promise you that me and my family will find out. We will make sure that these men pay for what they have done to you.”
“Thank you.” They both said at the same time. I knew that they were happy that there was someone here to listen to them.
“Llewellyn, will you continue, please.” I prompted him, hoping he would continue his story for me to hear. I needed all the information that I could get from him.
“Well, I was ambushed just like Niclas was. The man didn't start trying to cut my throat right away. Instead, he started to carve the rune into my forehead. The moment that it was on my body, I just felt this heavy and imposing cold settle onto me. It was like I was barely able to move. It was sucking away my strength so that I was barely able to fight the man off of me. It was then that he slit my throat and collected my blood in the same way that Niclas's killer had done. While I laid there, bleeding and immobilized by the blood loss and that rune, he started to spread the blood around the area. He was being messy but I also felt like he was making a precise pattern. He also smeared it on the wall of the church and that was when I noticed the words that he had written there. I had barely been able to move my head enough to read them upside down, but they frightened me even more.”
“What did they say?” I hadn't heard about these words yet. I didn't know what was going on in the rest of the investigation and here was my chance to possibly find a clue that my parents didn't have yet.
“It said Monsters hide in the dark, but that will never stop the light from shining through. We will hunt the monsters to extinction and we will free the world from their evil ways. We will slay the beasts and we will stop the spread of their infernal diseases to the good people of this world. We are the saviors of humankind. We are the heroes of the light. And we will not be stopped.” I felt my heart sink at the words that I had just heard. These people were animals, and they were calling us monsters. That was just wrong.
“Niclas, did you notice words when you were killed?”
“No, I did not. But the man did spread the blood around just like Llewellyn said. I had almost forgotten that. It was after he had killed me and I was laying there screaming silently in pain.”
“I see.” I hated that these men had to relive this. “Thank you for sharing the information. Llewellyn, please continue.”
“Well, after the man did what he was doing with my blood, he came over and cut my chest open just like Niclas had said. He took my heart from my chest and grinned at me. He didn't whisper to me though.”
“And what did your killer look like?” That was the only details I hadn't gotten so far.
“He was young, about twenty or so. Or that's how he looked. His hair was light brown, and his eyes were green. He was a generic looking person that I did not recognize at all. Aside from him being really pale, there was nothing remarkable about him.”
“Thank you. That is all that I need from you, gentlemen. If you are ready, I can help you to move on. I will even call someone here to escort you directly to your afterlife if you would like.”
“Y..you can do that?” Niclas looked awestruck by my words.
“Yes, I can. Would you like me to?” I offered once more.
“Yes, please.” They said at the same time, nodding at me as they did so.
“Alright then.”
I thought about the man that I needed to contact. Of the three people that I knew would come as soon as I contacted them, I wanted the one that would be the kindest toward them. The man that was not going to make jokes or anything like that. So, to suit my purposes, I was thinking about Lucifer.
Once the connection was established, I sent my intentions to him telepathically.
“Lucifer, can you please come to where I am? I am currently in an Alpha house in Wales.” “I will be there right away.” His words came without delay. And sure enough, a second later, there was a magical door appearing in front of me.
The door finished materializing and the man stepped out. Lucifer with his dark hair and pale skin, appeared before me in all his splendor.
“I am here, Talia, what is it you needed from me?” At that, he noticed the two souls that were sitting opposite of me. “Well now, this seems to be an interesting situation that you have found yourself in.”
“These men, Niclas and Llewellyn, were recently murdered. They have suffered greatly, and I would like you to take their souls to their afterlife personally. And, if it is not too much trouble, can you search for others that might have crossed over already. These men were trapped in their bodies until I released them, but there might be some that already crossed without needing my assistance.”
“Oh my. That sounds horrible. As a favor to you, Talia, I will do as you ask. As I have tried to prove for millennia now, I am not a bad man. I am simply misunderstood. So, please, leave these two with me and I will see to it that they are well cared for. And, of course, I will look for more victims for you.” Lucifer nodded his head with a kind smile on his face.
“Thank you, Lucifer. I knew that you were the right one to call. I know that I can always count on you.”
“I am happy that you have that confidence in me.” He bowed just a little bit before turning to the men that were before him. “Let us get you properly dressed.” He waved his hand and the souls were now wearing clothes that seemed to be unique to each of them.
“M..my favorite shirt. H..how did you know?” Niclas was dumbfounded.
“I am a god, I am all-knowing.” Lucifer chuckled just a little but that was all.
“Thank you.” Llewellyn seemed to be wearing his favorite clothes as well. That was good. They would be happy in them at least.
“Now, gentlemen, come with me.” They rose and followed Lucifer through the door. “I will be in touch soon, Talia.” Lucifer called out once more before the door disappeared.
“Thank you.” I knew he didn't hear it, but at least I said it. “And goodbye to you two.”
I was alone in the room now. It was just me and the silence around me. That silence felt deafening in that moment. It was like it was hiding so much that seemed to be happening around me.
“Hahh.” I sighed, breaking that silence for no other reason than because I could. And because I wanted to. It felt off to be here in this silent room. “I guess I need to go and tell my parents what I learned.” I slowly got to my feet and was thankful, once again, that I had that perfect memory of mine. I wouldn't forget any of it.
As I started toward the door, I heard thundering footsteps coming toward me. I also smelled two very distinct and familiar scents.
“Talia! Talia!”
“Where is she!? Talia!? Where are you!?” Yeah, I knew that they would be angry with me. Oh well, time to face the music.
