The mist crept through the vineyard, possessing a life of
its own, with a near endless quantity. Decrepit shards of masonry, strewn
across the ground from the old building, littered themselves around the area of
a once proud building. Gone, lost, no longer residing within the current world
deft of life and charm. Destroyed. Vanquished. Banished from the world many
years beforehand.
Stretching his arm, with an uneasy movement, crippled,
decayed, near lifeless, he could feel the mist flow through him, on this night,
bringing forward life and renewed vigour.
He could feel it, once again, his heart murmuring just under his exposed
rib cage. It was his time, that time of year, where he once again had a moment. Sure, the moments never lasted but minutes, but
this was all he desired. There were thoughts of becoming free but, after
centuries, such luxuries were pushed aside in favour of recovering as fast as
possible. He’d made a promise and he would keep that promise.
A fleeting image passed through his thoughts, that night,
this night, where they were dragged from their beds. He could still hear her
screaming as his body was pierced multiple times over. Again, then again, with
the vendetta that left his last few seconds confused and longing to reach her.
As he fell he could feel his spirit, some would say aura, leave his body
retreating into the building behind where he fell. Then, darkness, the nothing,
the prison of silence and despair.
The first time he returned, the year after, he could barely
summon enough energy to stand let alone walk. He’d forgotten, hardly cared, as
reaching her was his only vision. He was now striding across through the grass
and, as he raised his arm, he could feel the skin slowly returning to his arm
and fingers. He was nearly whole, as whole as a person could be in his
circumstances, but although he was reaching a new place he reminded himself
that time was scarce.
Running over the brow he caught sight of her. As his eyes
focused, his heart skipped, nearly stopped, again, but he kept on running. She
had formed, was one, looking across to him. As he neared, his pace slowed and,
with an outstretched arm, his fingers met hers and they embraced. No thoughts,
no pain, ignoring the suffering, her lips met his and his renewed spirit started
to glow. “I made you a promise that no matter what happened, even if I died,
that I would never, ever, leave you!” he said with tears flowing from his eyes.
A single, solitary, solemn angst filled tear fell from an
eye and moved across her lips as she looked up at him, “I knew. I knew that
you’d come for me! They hurt me…”
He placed a finger to her lips, silencing the pain, the agony, “No more. No-one
will ever hurt you again!”
As they renewed their embrace, emotions flowing through
them, he felt his skin vanish and, as he looked into her eyes, knowing that
their bodies were vanishing in front of them, they both smiled. As their bones
fell he could feel his spirit, finally, together with hers and, as they both
flickered, they knew that had beaten the people that had damned them to be
apart.
After all, he damn well knew that a man’s promise should
always, always, be upheld with honour no matter the centuries.
Happy Halloween.
