Two weeks later, Darian received a letter from the hospital, Elara's funeral was about to occur.
Darian and Elara didn't have many friends, and their families aren't in the picture, so this funeral would only be Darian and Emory.
"Alright little Em, it's time for mama's funeral." Slipping on some clothes for little Emory, Darian's hands began to tremble. The baby looked him in the eyes, watching quietly.
Soon, they were ready to depart to the cemetery. Walking around the city was still not recommended. So, with the little money he had, Darian paid for a carriage to take them to east Trila, where the cemetery was.
Emory, being able to grasp items better now, would not let go of the frozen fish. No matter how hard Darian tried, no matter what he enticed the baby with, he would no let go.
Today.. It's today. Her funeral.
The carriage stumbled through the open, deserted streets.Not seeing people is starting to affect me. Hopefully we'll be able to go back outside. Despite his optimism, the murders were increasing exponentially.
Almost every other day a new victim emerged in the papers. Darian would try not to read the papers near Emory, due to the fact the child would go crazy if he spotted one. Why does he like newspapers that much? Heh heh. Darian chuckled to himself, glancing at the boy with the dead fish in his mouth.
Does it soothe his teeth? Wait, he doesn't have any. He tried to come up with reasons as to why the baby favored fish that much. Even though it's a delicacy, I've never understood the craze around it. Oh well.. If it makes him happy, it makes me happy.
Looking out the window, Darian noticed a newly added military stop. As expected, the carriage terminated movement instantly.
Four men approached the carriage, all wielding swords with their hands gripping the handles. "Any weapons in the carriage?" The first man, with black ruffled hair asked.
"No sir." The carriage driver responded timidly, he had a grey beard and faint blue eyes. The military official eyed him warily, with a motion of his hand, the other men circled around the carriage, poking and prodding occasionally.
"Who is inside?" he asked in a commanding tone. "A father and his son, they are headed to the cemetery"
"Hm. Let them out, I'm going to inspect them." He backed up, making space for them. "Right away, sir."
Darian exited the carriage with Emory in his arms. "I-is there a problem, sir?" His eyes darted to his surroundings. They were in the outskirts of Southern Trila, this area housed mostly poor people who couldn't afford to live in the center.
Surprisingly, it was also the place where the most murders have occurred.
The wind hit Darian and Emory like a dagger, the fish in Emory's hand fell on the ground. "Oop. You dropped it." He bent down slowly, one hand cradling Emory. The other reached for the fish .*Don't give them a reason. Just grab it.
Then, crunch. A boot crushed his hand to the dirt
"Ouch. I-I think you stepped on my hand, sir.." Darian laughed wryly, trying to pull his hand away. However, the man did not falter.
"I did not tell you to move." The official stared daggers at Darian, whose hand was starting to bleed from the brute force.
Emory, not having his fish, began forming tears around his eyes. His expression turned grim and a loud cry emanated the area.
"S-sir, my hand is starting to hurt.. I just need the fish. He really likes it, and won't stay quiet without it." Darian pleaded to the official, who stayed quiet and observed him.
Emory's cries were louder now, causing the driver to cover his ears in pain. "Quiet the child. Make him cease this irritating noise." The official ordered Darian, his blue eyes glaring at him and Emory.
"Your foot is still on top of my hand, sir.." Darian meant no attitude, but unfortunately the official took it that way. His foot pushed into Darian's hand more, causing him to grimace in pain.
It was then lifted and held above Darian's kneeling head, the official bent his leg, turned his side, and kicked Darian's face. The force caused Darian to stumble back, dropping Emory on the ground.
The other officials returned and stood behind the main official. "Hold him." He ordered. They ran to Darian and restricted his movement. Struggling as he was being held, Darian shouted for Emory.
The official walked towards Emory, who was dropped on his head and crying harder. He unsheathed his sword and raised it in the air.
He was about to kill him.
"No!" Darian gasped before being pushed to the ground. "Not again! Never again! Please don't kill him! Kill me instead! Me! Me! Me!" Darian's eyes constricted and dilated rapidly and tears began to form around them. He did not want to lose another person he loved. Not again.
The official ignored Darian's pleas. His sword rose, cold steel glinting in the gray light. Darian kicked and screamed beneath the guards' grip. Emory wailed louder than ever, his voice splitting the silence like glass under pressure.
The blade hovered — just above the soft skin of the baby's neck. The officer hesitated for half a second. A twitch. A blink. A breath.
Then, he swung.
Stop.
The word wasn't heard. It was implanted. Not in the air. But in the marrow of his bones.
Before it touched the infants neck, a voice, full of malice and cruelty, rang in his head. Cold sweat made its way throughout the official's back.
Don't touch my child.
The official's eyes and ears began bleeding profusely. He writhed in pain, plummeting to the ground.
Filthy hands that touch my child should never be used again.
His hands were crushed, leaving behind immense agony. The wound where his hands were began spewing blood.
Filthy feet used to step on the caregiver of my child should never be used again.
His feet were crushed, a loud sonic shockwave emanated from each foot. A large pool of crimson began forming around him.
Filthy Aglanians trying to cement their inexistent power should cease to exist.
Bubbles began forming on the man's torso and chest. Each popping and removing a specific mass of his body along with it. The only thing that was heard was the man's cries, he begged for help, begged for forgiveness.
The soldiers restricting Darian ran towards the pool of blood. "Sir!" Before they reached it, they disappeared as well. Never to be seen on the face of this world again.
It was over.
The fish returned to Emory's hand.