What happened ? All I remember is seeing the monsters weakness, then there was blood... I thought as I stared at the graveyard. I saw one of the tombstones written:

  Kael

  2000-2030

  Is that me? A woman with white her wearing a white night dress passed by . She looked familiar, had I seen her before ?

  Blood started to rain. Her garments turned red along with her hair. I reached out my hand towards her.

  She stopped, and with longing eyes, she gazed at me before saying, "I love you."

  Everything glitched, and there was darkness

  The smell of antiperspirant filled my nose.

  Am I alive or dead?" I asked as my eyes

  adjusted to the harsh white light above me.

  "Sorry, but death wasn't on your side, my friend. Welcome back to reality."

  The nurse's tone was flat, as if she'd said those words a hundred times.

  "The head commander wants to see you the moment you're awake. If you can't walk, we've got a wheelchair ready for you."

  I slowly turned my head to look at her. She looked like she wouldn't care if the moon came crashing down. Her hair hadn't seen a brush in years, and the bags under her eyes had their own bags.

  I sighed. "Is everyone still alive?"

  She paused her scribbling, barely glancing at me.

  "I'm unauthorized to tell you that."

  I walked slowly leaning on the white wall. I knew this was bad news as I had disobeyed the system by entering the gate without authorization. Though my focus was on if everyone survived.

  A shiver went down my spine as my knuckles knocked on the cold metal door .

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  "Enter", a deep military like voice replied , my body jolted in response.

  The chief commander stood at his office window with his arms folded behind his back, as rigid as the metal walls around us.

  "Kael," he said, not turning around, "have a seat."

  The room felt colder than the rest of the other rooms .

  I lowered myself into the chair. The shiver in my body reminded me that I was still alive,somehow.

  "The mission was well executed, but-"

  "Sir, is everyone still alive?" I cut in, unable to wait.

  He didn't speak at first. Just stood there like a statue staringthroughthe window, I wouldn't blame him the view was quite blessing and yet far away .

  "They are all dead.", he said flatly.

  I blinked. The words hit harder than the injuries I woke up with. Memories of Lucen's teammates and the others flooded my mind.

  My body shivered unregardless of the sweat, my chest tightened, I grabbed it as my vision blurred,

  "I'm sorry", I said in a soft yet broken whisper.

  "Come on, old man, don't finish the kid off with a heart attack"

  I jolted my head frantically, that voice it can't be...

  I finally gazed upwards and my eyes fixated on Kaein.

  He was standing on the ceiling casually, like gravity didn't apply to him , engrossed in a novel.

  He dropped down onto the table with a soft thud and looked me straight in the eye.

  "Yo amigos ", he saluted casually.

  Tears blurred my vision. I limped toward him, arms wide with relief.

  "Kaein, sir... I thought you were dead. I... I..."

  He stepped to the side like I was trying to hug a shadow.

  "Don't get carried away. I just fell asleep."

  "Huh?! What do you mean you fell asleep?!"

  "Kaein, stop playing around," the commander cut in, his eyes now watching us with irritation.

  "Ayy, ayy,captain" Kaein said with a lazy shrug.

  "As I was saying," the commander cleared his throat, "everyone died ,except you, Kaein, Lucen and Mikel. There're in critical condition, your fast recovery was quite remarkable"

  I clenched my fist what caused my body to heal so fast ? I thought as I gazed at my hands .

  "Your duty in battle is most honored though you did break the rules by trespassing the gate ", the commander began as he slowly walked towards me .

  I merely shrugged and bent my head.

  "The proper punishment would be to send you to Ecardwark, but luck being on your side you shall be given cleaning duty along with Kaein instead ", his old yet sharp eyes gazed at mine for what seemed like forever before he went back to his seat.

  "Hey ! Why include me old man come on ", Kaein whimpered.

  "You are dismissed "

  As I walked through the corridors people gazed at me , I quickly looked at the floor .

  "It him the system born child "

  "Rumor has it he used to be held in high esteem"

  "But his spirit level was so weak "

  "Was he faking it ?"

  All they did was gossip, but I found gossip better than the empty applause I got back in my previous life .

  CLAP.

  I paused as the janitor slowly clapped his hands for me .

  "Well done sonny boy "

  Some joined in until it rose into a large applause. My mouth trembled but I finally let it become a smile. Why did I want to cry ? There's nothing shameful about this is there ? I can finally hold my head up high now can't I mom?

  I raised my head with a smile , fo the first time I held an actual smile .

  Lucen was still in a coma. I wanted to thank him for the helping hand... but another voice cut through the air.

  "Stop! You're still injured!"

  The applause faded as we turned.

  Mikel walked toward us, supported by two canes.

  He looked like a mummy patched up by Doctor Einstein himself.

  Then he collapsed right at my feet. It felt like we were back at that moment where we first met .

  "I want to know..." he gasped, his voice trembling, "what was going through your mind when you saved me? What did you make of me?"

  I met his eyes - the same eyes I'd seen staring back at me when I pulled him from death.

  "I saw a man who'd fallen into an abyss," I said quietly.

  "But you're wrong. I never saved you. I was in that same abyss. When I reached out... I was trying to feel my lonely heart."

  He stared at me - then broke into laughter. Painful, relieved laughter.

  Finally, he raised his trembling hand, wrapped in bandages.

  "Then let's walk as two blind brothers," he said, "until we find our paradise."

  I remembered the last time - the moment he rejected my hand.

  Now, he offered it willingly.

  I smiled.

  "Brothers," I said, and we shook hands.