Rafael restrained himself and followed the ghost downstairs. His eyes adjusted to the darkness and he glanced at the dried blood on the walls.
"Go back."
In front of him was a shadowy figure with a white line that seemed to be his. Rafael stared at the thing blocking his place with angry eyes.
"If I don't?" Rafael smiled
The figure glared at him, Rafael looked back and thought. The twins were in a manner where Alexandra was in the pocket on his back and Alexander was in the one in front. Rafael concentrated his energy into arrows and decided on a long-distance battle.
"Wow..." the boy ghost exclaimed
The arrows he formed continued dividing into more arrows. Some fired forward toward the figure and Rafael made spikes rise in front of him when the figure tried to close the distance.
Rafael was understanding spiritual energy itself, he saw tiny fragments in the air and used distortions in them to identify the figure's position easily. The surroundings were in his control and the figure saw a terrifying existence in front of him.
The figure was gaining more wounds, and Rafael was slowly advancing as he pushed him back. The human's face didn't show anything to help him and he was starting to be overwhelmed by dread.
"Is he...human?" the figure thought
Rafael noticed a slight loss of concentration and a spike rose into the figure's right thigh. The muscles were violently torn as the spike moved away from the figure's body. He fell backward and the arrows divided rapidly aiming toward him.
Dust collected as they descended downwards but halted in the air. Rafael's gaze looked at the being stopping his attack and his mind thought of killing them both. The boy ghost was in the way with anxious eyes.
"He's not in the way anymore....please, don't kill him," he asked
Rafael thought, "He has a point. I don't have time for this, no matter how regrettable it is to leave a potential enemy alive."
Rafael continued his journey and the boy ghost let out a sigh. The ghost looked at the shadow figure and followed after Rafael. The figure was still in a daze and was haunted by Rafael's shadow that hovered over him.
"What was that?"
The figure turned to a man that appeared.
"I...I don't know. It's here for the Monarch...I'm scared, Kyle." the shadow figure answered
The man, Kyle's eyes widened at his associate starting to shake as if Rafael never left the room. He swallowed nothing and felt curiosity overwhelm him.
Rafael reached a room and found Lucielle in a corner. She glared at him, Rafael removed the twins and placed them on an old bed nearby. The room didn't look lived in, a mixture of new and old blood stains everywhere and only a tiny window out of reach for young Lucielle.
To Rafael, it was like a flash of the past. He slowly approached Lucielle and a thin blade rose upwards. A cut appeared on Rafael's cheek and blood dripped down it as they looked at each other.
"You're angry." Rafael told, " I hurt you, didn't I?"
"STOP!!" Lucielle yelled
"I won't and I'm sorry," Rafael answered
Rafael saw anger and confusion in the girl's eyes. She was feeling things no one had ever explained to her and it scared her. No matter how smart Lucielle was, she was a child and she couldn't find a reason for something she didn't know.
"GO AWAY!!" She frowned with green eyes
Rafael took a step forward, and blades stabbed into his body although avoided his vital areas.
"Being angry is okay Lucielle. What's making you angry besides me?" Rafael asked calmly "I wouldn't advise solving it with violence though."
Tears rolled down Lucielle's cheek, Rafael broke her blades and surprised everyone. He smiled at the furious Lucielle.
"You look more alive." Rafael blurted out
Lucielle froze as Rafael sped forward. He hugged her gently, she made blades stab his back but Rafael only brushed her tears away.
"I'm sorry," Rafael repeated
Lucielle finally noticed she was pricked by something and saw an empty syringe rolling on the ground. She felt drowsy and unwillingly gave in to sleep.
"Let's get out of here...and get some food I guess." Rafael sighed
Sylvia became a triplet baby carrier. Alexander was on his back while the girls were in front and the boy ghost noticed Rafael's gaze seemed calmer. Rafael's body was embraced in energy and he passed through the walls for the first time.
"Wait-" the boy ghost exclaimed flying after
"They didn't ask for any of this." Rafael frowned "Poor children. You've worked too hard for your age. How angry you must be."
"Why?" The boy ghost asked
Rafael smiled, "Well. That's what I felt back then."
He walked away and the kids suddenly opened their eyes. Their eyes glowed like gems in the night and their gaze was on the forest.
"In the forest....." Alexander went
"Lies truth yet all is hidden....oh poor beings," Alexandra said
Lucielle ended, "What is our fate...a destiny of a thousand lifetimes-"
They closed their eyes into a peaceful sleep. Rafael looked at the forest with hostile eyes, a thought brushed his mind and he turned away without looking back. After all, it was a selfish yet kind thought, a contradiction although it seemed simple at that moment.
"I'm going insane." Rafael mumbled as the pupil momentarily turned vertical "Deeper into the forest....."
"Lies danger and opportunity....reality and unimaginable....oh forest, pitiful indeed." the wind whistled
Rafael ignored it and returned to his place with a clear conscience. Something in him as well urged him to enter the forest but he also wanted to burn it to the ground....contradiction, indeed.
The door opened itself and showed Tyler with his new friend.
"You should see your face. You seem enraged about something." Tyler smiled "Either. Ally met my friend, Rafe the kidnapper."
The unknown energy and emotions washed away and Rafael groaned. He slumped to the floor after placing the children on the sofa. The sheets of energy that wrapped his boy to prevent blood loss and protection had snapped. Blood stained the floor.
Rafael became dizzy. He saw everyone running towards him, but he didn't hear anything or say a word. He felt himself crashing down.
"At least....the children are alright.....I want to rest.." Rafael's last thoughts were before losing consciousness