Chapter 1
In the dark of the night we move about, in the direction of those who need guidance. Breathing in the cold evening air. A shadow drops down from a high rise building. Unseen by the others of this world, it searches for its prey.
At its own pace it walks from downtown to the suburbs. Its only comfort is the soft breeze blowing. A warm cloud of air escapes its lips. How many times did it had to visit this building?
“Working hard 42?”
Turning around the shadow drops his guard. From the corner of its eyes a sharp blade enters its vision. “564, what are you doing here?” In front of the shade stands a young man holding a scythe. Slightly surprised at the form 564 has taken.
“Working, something you are about to do as well.” Pausing for a moment 564 lets out an exasperated sigh. “What are you looking at, I move about easier this way! It is not that these dumb ass humans can see us either way?”
42 lets a sigh of his own, taking on a physical form himself. In a blink of an eye it appearance turned from a mist of black to a handsome young man, clad in a jeans jacket, raven hair and crimson eyes. The evening breeze rustles his hair back and fro. “You ought to know there are humans who have the sight. Especially children are sensitive to this skill. You will scare them.”
“Ah, now you mention it, brats do tend to shit their pants when I pop into their humbly homes.” 564 pauses one more time, as if a sudden vision entered is mind he blurts out in a maniac laughter. Catching his breath, 564 squats slightly before he takes a giant leap "It has started! Later, ‘brother’” Putting an emphasis on the last word 564 blinks away from the scene. Leaving his brother standing alone in the dark.
“Big brother, you need to be here as well?” A softer voice appears, 42 only turns around for a moment before he turns his attention back to the entrance of the building.
“132… It is a place where many souls need guidance. Don’t forget.” 42 finishes before taking a few more steps towards the building.
“Mm, not to empathize with the souls. I know.”
“Also one more thing.”
Before 132 enters the building the young male turns to his older brother. “What?”
“Don’t forget to feed when you’re done. You look pale.” Patting his younger brother on the back 42 disappears into the night.
Entering the building, the sounds of machines making soft beeping sounds, the sound of a oxygen tank pumping air. It isn’t a place he likes to visit, however, with his job it is one he is often needs to visit. Hospitals. Hospitals and the Home for the Elderly. 42 turns back to his mist form his instincts guiding him to the room he needs to be.
There he finds the room of a rather young female. The ECG still records the rhythm of her heart. Steadily but slowly the line becomes weaker. Until a flat line gives 42 his cue. Taking the female by her hand, he patiently waits for her soul to leave her body.
“God?” She confusingly asks.
“No, however, I am the one who will take you to him. Come, it isn’t a long road.”
“I’m scared…”
It is to be expected of the soul to be frightened. It is the sole reason why 42 and his brothers are born, no, why they have been created. Turning back to his human form, 42 smiles gently to the young woman. Her fear slowly fades from her expression. A small blush appears as she as she is in trance. “Do I still frighten you now?” 42 asks once his transformation is done.
The young female shakes her head. Taking 42 by his hand, she follows him out of the hospital room, the yellow door of the building has become a white portal. Still holding the female’s hand 42 guides her through the worm-hole like passage way to the next world. When both appear on the other side. The female lets go of 42’s hand. As if she already knows where to go, what to do.
“Thank you.” She mouths before her soul fades to the white mist.
Before 42 can walk away, 564 enters the room. His scythe still dripping with blood. Again, huh. Is all 42 can think of before he departs from the room. Back in the hospital, he looks for his younger brother 132, like he expected, his younger brother is having a hard time. In the corner of the hospital room 132 is hugging his knees. The soul of the deceased has already been guided to the other world.
However, the pain of the soul lingers with him. “Let’s go home.” Helping his brother up, noticing another person enter the room. It’s 564.
“Again huh… Jeez, these humans don’t they know that their existence leaves an impact on the living?” 564 stands on the other side of 132 the blade of his scythe no longer drenched in blood.
“It is because they can’t feel the importance of those alive that they choose this way out. Don’t blame it on them for losing the battle. Blame the people who put them there, who abandoned them, blame it on our creator.” Rubbing 132 on his back 42 waits a moment.
“Perhaps, however these humans sure have some guts for defying Him of all.” Before 564 can finish his sentence 132 interrupts him.
“And because of that, they can no longer join him. I do hope they have found some peace with Uncle.”
“Speaking of family, Dad’s oldest brother is back in town. One of my last jobs had to be brought to him instead of to the old man.”
“Looks like something is about to start then.”
