Forgot to post this.
Life is not fair.
Such has always been the way I see the world.
I also know that contemplating on it would not change anything.
Bad things happen to good people, bad things happen to bad people, good things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people as well.
At the end of the day, everyone is subjected to the whims of fate, and fate… fate can be cruel.
Right now, I'm walking in a ghost town, but instead of a town, it's a country.
This is not a metaphor due to how silent it is.
In this once thriving country, everyone is dead. Citizens, merchants, guards, royalty, all dead.
Except one.
Everything is in ruins, crumbled buildings everywhere, the smell of death and despair lingers heavily in the air.
At first glance, it would seem as if this country had been in ruins for a while, but that is not the case.
This all happened in less than a week.
I step over a corpse.
I do not falter.
I let my feet guide me, my gaze focused on my destination ahead.
Is this also the whims of fate? All this countless death?
Even though I am not a stranger to death, it's with a heavy heart I say a little prayer for the deceased around me.
I come to a stop before a building, one made with brick shaped stones, one of the few still intact. Nothing stands out about it, a little bit bigger than others but it's dull and plain.
Walking towards the wooden door, I rest both hands on it to find out the door is not locked so I push it open.
I ignore the stale air that fills my nose as I continue to walk inside with deliberate steps, my shoe clomping against the stone floor.
Stopping in front of a door which has beams of light seeping through the gaps, with no fanfare I push it open.
I take a few steps inside the room before stopping.
Death lies here.
The room is illuminated by a candlestick resting against the wall to the side.
"Oh, I wasn't expecting any guest."
The only resident in the room says.
Sitting in a prim and proper way on a chair beside a candlestick on a table, she holds a pen and book with slender fingers.
She bears the countenance of a well mannered lady.
Closing her book, she stands up and rests her hands before her thighs, long black hair swaying gently behind her.
Adorning a black Japanese sailor uniform, she tilts her head and smiles.
"Welcome."
A soft and polite voice.
In normal circumstances, she would be the perfect description of a 'Yamato Nadeshiko' type.
Long black hair, and seemingly well mannered with the look of a model student.
But that's where the comparison ends.
I look directly at her eyes.
I have never seen anything more dead, her eyes do not reflect light, as if one is peering into an endless abyss.
Soulless.
The eyes of someone who has seen all the evil in the world.
How cruel.
This person in front of me is someone who has given up hope on everything and anything.
I do not blame her for it.
Standing before her like this, her terror attempts to consume my being, as if tendrils of pure darkness is coiling around me.
I do not falter.
My will is unbreakable.
The tendrils slide off me like water on glass.
Let it be known that I am not a good person, I do not consider myself particularly heroic either.
I am selfish.
And it is because of my selfishness that I am here.
"Hey, Shiki…"
She twitches at the mention of her name, it's not obvious but it's enough for me.
I take several steps forward until I am standing directly before her.
How long has it been for you?
How long ago did someone call you by your name?
How long ago did someone stand before you without going insane?
How long have you wished for someone to end it all for you?
How many times have you cursed this unfair world?
Ah… it must have been difficult, hasn't it?
I reach a hand for her face, resting it gently on her cheek.
Her book and pen clatter against the floor as she lets them go.
Hands trembling, she reaches for her face and rests her hand against mine.
It feels cold, these hands that are not allowed to hold anything.
Since I entered into the room, she finally looks at me.
Tears starts to flow down her face.
I smile gently at her.
Don't worry, after all…
"I'm here to save you."