It was a calm scene on the outside for many, but chaotic inside for Alan Peccator.
At first, he didn't know what he would be shown...he questioned what was so important that compelled his grandmother to stay...
But now...He knew.
*Chirp**Chirp*
The chirping of birds was heard in the garden, adding further to the melancholic scene but the Alan didnt feel the same.
What is this?
What is this feeling in his chest? What is this feeling in his mind? Why are tears forming?
Why?
He tried to calm his unsteady breathing, but failed...and then he realized.
These feelings are not mine.
Yes...these... pent-up feelings are not mine.
'...It's not me...?'
He questioned in his mind as his eyes never left the sight of Two Graves...the graves of Samantha's parents...and Aranus's.
[Here Lies Alfred Peccator, a loving husband, father, son, and hero.]
[Here lies Anna Peccator, a loving wife, mother, daughter, and savior.]
His eyes, laid on the two well-kept graves...seemed rather tired and sorrowful...remorseful even.
If one could only tell how chaotic he was inside...and yet he was oblivious to his own feelings.
He questioned them again and again...as his Grandmother's voice woke him up from the stupor inflicted on his mind.
"This is the reason I can't leave...I cannot abandon this place."
She said in a soft voice and looked at her Grandson.
Seeing him, standing there motionlessly she excused herself.
She was of the opinion that leaving him alone right now would be best.
Alan's eyes...didn't stop looking at the grave...
She left...and he stayed...and said.
"These are your's...right?"
He was alone...but who did he address? Who did he address with such a shaky voice?
A phenomenon of pure magic happened...as a purple void engulfed the surroundings...and Aranus appeared...sitting in front of the graves... his expression Alan was unable to see.
"...I don't know..."
He said. An answer that didn't solve anything...yet at the same time solved everything...
Aranus's...pitch black...soulless..emotionless...eyes looked at the graves...and yet he did not know that his soulless eyes had a hint of astral blue in them...
Alan as well...his starry blue eyes...his diamonds had a purple shade to them now...but both of them were unaware of this.
"Thank you..."
Suddenly...Aranus's sudden thanks had grabbed Alan's attention.
"...for what?"
Alan Questioned, a question to which he might already know the answer too.
"For doing what I was afraid to do...What I was unable to do."
And he was right...Alan did know what the answer would be...
"..."
Alan remained quiet... staring at Aranus's hunched back.
Why did he feel this? Why did he feel so...sorry when he looked at that back?
As if he winced at the shame, the sorrow, the pain, the remorse...the burden that back has to carry...and the sins it carried. Sin's which were done not of its own volition.
Alan's bright blue diamond-like eyes...were becoming a mixture of dead blackish purple and astral blue...and Aranus was the same...and slowly they began to understand.
Ah...These are not his. Ah...These are not mine.
Alan and Aranus thought respectively...and said at the same time.
"They are ours..."
"They are ours..."
Both of them were confused... They now knew whose feelings these were.
It was them both...oddly this was accepted by both of them readily.
Alan did not know how and why this happened...and even Aranus was oblivious to this.
This tight, this suffocating feeling in their chests...the formation of tears in their eyes...It was all unknown to them but they accepted this...
One, whose suffering and deeds had robbed him of... everything.
And the other...whose own self-awareness was so lacking he knew nothing.
"There were three...weren't there?"
Alan asked as he looked at the graves...and Aranus took a deep breath as he answered.
"...yes."
He said...
Alan...with a shaking voice said.
"...when will it happen?"
He said...afraid of hearing the answer.
"Soon..."
Aranus said...and it felt as if Alan's heart had sunk into the ground and entered the Abyss.
"Will...you do me a favor?"
Aranus asked...an unknown emotion to him in his voice.
Alan stayed quiet...waiting for Aranus to continue.
Their eyes had become a perfect mixture of Dead Black and Astral Blue.
"Will...you protect this place...and..."
Aranus asked...and Alan stayed Silent waiting for Aranus to say his part.
"...will you do what I failed to do?"
Alan turned around and walked back to the house as he said.
"Yeah."
Alan stopped...and asked Aranus.
"Do you know...?"
Alan asked Aranus...only to be met with a heartbreaking truth.
"...No.." Aranus answered.
Alan left... saying nothing in response and Aranus remained seated on the ground, staring at the graves as his body slowly faded...and finally, he could no longer contain it...
"...Shit..."
He muttered as shockingly...tears started to fall.
He tried to contain it...he wanted to stop it...but failed so miserably, so pathetically.
"Damn it...What right...what right do I have to...cry?"
Tears flowed out of his eyes...The man that had laid waste to entire galaxies, the man that had slaughtered so many not even lifetimes counting could complete...the man that had brought the end to everything so many times...
What right did he have to cry?
He wondered as his figure vanished into thin air...yet his tears did not stop even with his struggle.
****
Alan calmly sat down on the couch and collected his thoughts.
His grandmother sat in front of him as he remained quiet...only looking at his sister.
He patted her head...his eyes returning to their normal color...but now outlined by purple.
He looked at his sister...and thought about what Aranus said...as he tried so hard to calm his shaking heart.
'Soon...'
He thought...his mind now clear...now filled with a burning desire to complete his promise.
His eyes wavered when he looked at his sister...he gulped and a burning flame was lit inside.
'I will...do it...I won't stop until I do it...'
He thought, stroking his sister's head...who had woken up and looked at him.
Her dark blue eyes looked at him, and he looked at her with a sad face...before smiling to reassure her.
'I will do it...'
He will do it...not just for himself.
But for the one, he considered family as well.
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