Dance of the Damned

Ability

"Roshi. Are you alright?" Oscar rushed to Micah walking out of the cemetery with a soft smile on his face.

"Of course I am." Micah chuckled. "Why wouldn't I be? Shall we go back?"

"Sure," Oscar said, walking a few steps behind Micah again. "About the next phases, Roshi. What are your orders?"

"Tell everyone to take a break," Micah said without pausing. "We were mostly quiet for three or so years, and we suddenly sprang into action for two weeks straight.

"Not only that, there are still more observations I need to make before I can decide on the plan."

"By break, what do you mean?"

Micah paused, turning to the man. "I mean, tell them to go to the people in their groups and prepare for Operation Larva."

"The second operation??" Oscar asked, surprised. "Already? I thought the first operation will continue on for a little bit longer."

"Well, it might be a month before I call for another meeting. But I just want them to be prepared." Micah said, shrugging as he continued to walk. "Though I might be calling some of you privately.

"Things still need to be prepared and taken care of before Operation Larva can be in motion.

"That is one of the reasons why I think it will take some time before the second operation starts. Also, the second operation is going to be long and hard, from what I can see.

"Just ... make sure they are prepared."

"Understood, Roshi," Oscar said smiling at him. "Can I assume that you are not going to get in contact with us for the next three days?"

"I will have to see," Micah said, returning his smile. "I wonder what is going to happen two days from now. I just want to stay in this moment and not have to move or think anymore."

"If you need any help, you can call any of us, Roshi."

"I always keep that in mind," Micah said stretching. "Well, I have one day to prepare for it so I will remember to sleep the entire day tomorrow."

Oscar laughed, walking a little closer to Micah. "The way you talk to everyone in the guild would make anyone think you do not have a problem with social interactions."

"I hate them," Micah complained, his walking stick tapping against the gravel. "Especially since Bradie and Nanny Elise are planning a big celebration with the other servants.

"I heard them planning to use the hall my parents used to host parties at before so there are people walking in and out of the house, cleaning the place up and most likely decorating it.

"They don't have to put that much effort for a blind kid's birthday."

"You are not someone random, Roshi," Oscar said, mirroring Micah's light and soundless steps. "Of course they would like to make it a bigger deal if it is someone they cherish. Wouldn’t you?

“If I remembered correctly, you were the one that turned the old guildhall into a confetti-filled room with too much food, even when all the members of the divisions ate their fill.

“That turned into a charity event where we went to several orphanages and gave them the leftovers. Even then, it took some time to finish distributing everything.

“And all that was because it was Ourd’s puppy’s birthday. Would you like me to remind you about the actual birthday celebrations of everyone that one year?”

"Don't turn this on me." Micah pouted, turning away from Oscar. "We aren't talking about me here. We are talking about those two going overboard."

“Right. Apologies.” Oscar said, smiling softly at the boy. “Allow them to show their love to you, Roshi. Though it may seem a little much for you, and a little overwhelming.”

“I know. I know.” Micah said, sighing. “I appreciate it a lot too. I just felt like complaining for no reason. By the way, Carvill.”

“Yes?”

“Your birthday is coming up right?”

“I kindly refuse,” Oscar said quickly. “I am already an old man and a party is not something I enjoy.”

“But this is how I show my love,” Micah said, sticking his tongue out at Oscar. “I am kidding. I don’t think I will have the time to arrange a party either. But I will send you a present.”

“I will look forward to it then,” Oscar said, grinning at the boy as they made their way back to the hospital, grabbing their horse and going back to the Pober mansion as quickly and quietly as possible.

_________________

After waving at Oscar from the window, Micah carefully took off his clothes and kept them where they were and wore his pyjamas, carefully sneaking into bed.

A groan came from the boy beside him, Briar’s eyes opening sleepily as he grasped Micah’s hands. “Micah? Why do you feel so cold?”

“It is a little cold,” Micah said pleasantly. “But I had been feeling hot and suffocated for a while now so this is a good thing.”

“Your temperature shouldn’t be fluctuating that quickly,” Briar mumbled, not even able to open his eyes as he reached out and touched Micah’s head. “I can’t tell if you are about to fall sick or not.”

“I don’t think I am,” Micah said, chuckling to himself. “I would have told you otherwise. You should go back to sleep, Bradie.”

“I don’t know why I am so sleepy these days,” Briar mumbled, dozing off every now and then. “I never had this problem before. I could just get up whenever I wanted. Sorry, Micah. I am a lousy caretaker.”

“I think you are doing great,” Micah said, leaning back against his pillow, resting against the headboard while he stroked the boy’s hair gently.

He listened until the boy’s soft snores filled his ears and the Aqua colours surrounding his darkness. Nothing else had set foot in this room for the past seven hours so any traces of the life is gone. Only Briar’s is left.

“It’s lonely here,” Micah mumbled, looking at the fain colour pulsing in front of him. “Then again, I am the one that caused this to happen so … I don’t really have anything to say for myself.”

He laid back on his pillow, trying to fall asleep but his mind was too active for that to happen, no matter how much he tried to force himself to.

I can’t even take the pills because I know they will not work on me. Why? I don’t know.

Just like I don’t know why I am able to do what I do, I don’t know why medicines don’t work on me. Even anaesthetics or anything to numb the area.

I don’t even know who to ask about this. I have searched for someone who might know what is wrong. But those have never ended well.

Should I go for a walk? Micah thought, turning to the window. The window is there, the moon is there, plants and trees are there, I know. But … I can’t convince myself of this fact sometimes.

What if the window was moved? What if the bed was turned around, then I won't be looking at the moon and the window.

What if someone without a soul is standing in front of me and I can’t see them, and I just walk to them? Dooming myself.

My fears are entirely irrational, I know that. But it does not stop them from coming and actually scaring me, slightly.

Compared to people and plants, I think I like souls the most. The moment they shed their human shell, you can see their aura, bright and brilliant.

Spirits, Souls, I used to be friends with them and they were fun, the only problem was that they do not say here for very long. They disappear after their body dies and then it gets lonely all over again.

On second thought, I don’t think I will go out for a walk. Micah thought, chuckling to himself as he turned to his front. Too lonely.

Maybe I can talk to the readers? Ok. Just for tonight.

So what is this … ‘ability’ of mine? No idea. I am as blank as anyone is.

I can recall how I first felt it develop though. It was an ally way and it was a dark night.

Someone tried to attack me, I can’t remember why. Maybe I had money or it could be the clothes that I was wearing. It didn’t matter.

I remember him screaming and shouting at me, telling me to do something but I was too panicked to even hear what he was saying.

Were mother and father there with me? I can’t remember. How old was I again? That too I can’t remember. My mind only takes into account the necessary memories, others are just kept deep in my subconscious.

After that, the man attacked me and I can’t clearly remember what happened but I heard something squishy and liquid spilt all over me.

Then a burst of colour filled my vision. My first thought was that I wanted to eat it and … I did. It was exhilarating. I felt consumed with happiness all of a sudden.

I had a limp in my leg from felling off a tree with Bradie, it is not as bad as it sounds. Bradie panicked so much that I thought he was going to cry, luckily he didn’t.

But once I ate that colour, the limp healed completely, like it never existed before. From that day on, I could see the colours of people’s souls.

I think that was the day my hell began. I wonder if it was because-

Yawning, Micah stretched and rubbed his eyes. Oh? I’m sleepy. Well, I am off to bed now. Goodnight.