– The last lie.
The scent of honey filled the air, the trees dancing to the wind offered a comforting shade from the bright sun. "Vin" a sweet and high pitched voice called. Again, "Vin", louder. Suddenly, the day turned night, the wind stopped and the girl now cried in pain, her voice distorted screamed "VINCENT!".
Vin's body abruptly stood, his hands shaking and his heart racing, he grabbed the sofa backrest as he exhaled heavily.
– Huf... Huf... – Vin lifted his hand toward his forehead, covering his right eye, his head pended sluggishly. – I'm sorry... – he whispered, his voice deep.
– Good morning Vin - Archelaos approached from the kitchen, followed by a floating mug, the smell of coffee and honey filled the room as the light of the moon entered by the window. – Nightmares?
– Yes... – the mug danced into his hands – Thank you Mr. Archelaos. – As his breath stabilized, he tried the drink from the mug – Uhm, Mr. Archelaos you still makes the best *Café con miel* I've ever drank! – he smiled happily as he drank another sip.
– Take your time. Although, you might want to rush. – He smiled kindly as he approached the doorstep, then left through the front door.
– Uh?... – the boy glared at the nearby window, the light of the second moon was high up on the sky – OH NO! – he drank the coffee in one go – Mr. Archelaos, I'll be leaving first! Thank you for the drink! – He grabbed his bag filled with books and pens and rushed out the front gate.
Archelaos watched from the garden laughing by himself as he watered the silk trumpets in front of him.
– I suppose Vin won't be coming back so soon.
As the stars shone alongside the two moons, he followed inside, going up the stairs, he entered his office. It was a big, but modestly decorated room, little to no furniture, some plants, a few bookshelves filled by old books in Latin and Spanish, and some files and papers. He grabbed the mustard Soul Book from his desk, he left there the previous night, walked toward the bookshelf on his right and pulled halfway a blue book.
Gradually the bookshelf morphed into a door which led to a dark hallway lit by candles, as he followed the lights the door went back to it's original form closing behind him. The path connected the office to a small room, filled by floating notes, in the center, beside a simple wood desk covered by scrolls, books, papers and ink, was a tall wood podium. Archelaos placed the Soul Book open on it and placed his hand in the first page. A bright golden light engulfed the room, as his eyelids slowly opened he saw nothing but nothingness, as he walked, no sound was heard.
After a few steps, giant scrolls came rolling down from above, from them floated golden words that danced around him. As he reached the middle, the darkness became light, the nothingness was filled by numerous enormous pages floating in circles around a small platform, being surrounded by seven scrolls, he approached the one in front of him and placed his hand near it. The words came running toward his arms and frantically danced around before shining brightly.
He found himself in the middle of a park, the trees were greener, the sky was brighter, the air was fresher, there were hues of colors he had never seen before, as his hands moved a sheet of paper appeared mid-air, on it was written "Name: Saechan Lee; Age: 7 years old; Cause of death: asphyxiation". With another gesture of his hands, the sheet disappeared and his appearance changed hiding his black filled eyes, his scars turned beige and his clothes became more similar to that of a everyday modern man. In the middle of the park was a swing, tall and majestic, covered by jwels and with paded seats, were a child played by himself, as he approached, the boy spoke:
– Sorry Mister, but you can't sit there. – his mind wandering, looking afar.
– Oh, is that so? I apologize. – He smiled kindly.
– You see, I'm waiting someone and that's their seat. – As he played with the orange sand under the swing, his head lowered and his eyes shifted their focus to his feet.
– Uhm, I understand.
– But if you want, you can stand here. There's not much people around today. – His small hand pointed to the right side of the swing, close to were he was sitting, under a silver tree.
– Thank you. – he walked slowly toward the spot pointed by the child – May I ask about your friend?
– Oh yes! – he looked happily at the tall man beside him – Her name is... – despair began to show – Uh? Wait, what was her name again? – the sun suddenly became dark, the sky turned grey, the wind stopped and the birds flying began falling – I saw her just yesterday I should remember! Ugh - His tiny hands tried holding his head as a pointy pain numbed all his senses.
– Child – the strange man's kind voice echoed as he hunched over – Take a deep breath, – he inhaled deeply, then exhaled – like this.
– But Mister, – he looked into the man's eyes – why can't I remember? Why... – breathing heavily, his hands shaking, he asked – Wait... Mister, what's my name? – as thoughts rushed through his head, his eyes turned completely empty and his clothes began to turn white, a tick layer of porcelain began to cover his face.
Archelaos made a few gestures with his hands, glittering stars danced by his side, becoming the only source of light and color, as his true appearance revealed. The light of the tiny stars surrounded the boy, slowly the porcelain melted and his clothes turned into white robes as his eyes regained it's natural brightness.
– Who... Are You? ... Mister... – His voice cracked and he could barely finish his sentences.
– My name is Manoel Archelaos Fortunato, I'm a Soul Librarian and I'm here to guide you.
– That means... I?... – tears started to form in his eyes.
– I can answer your questions, but first you need to remember.
– Remember? What... How... can I...
– Allow me to show you. – a glowing crystal appeared floating above his hand.
The boy's small hands shaking approached and grabbed the crystal, as he did, a silver light started to glow and engulfed both of them. Suddenly, they were inside a living room, well decorated and clean, connected to a big kitchen.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
– These are your memories, so we can't be seen. – Archelaos explained – I'll be with you until the end, so worry not.
As he spoke, a tall woman, with deep straight short black hair appeared in the kitchen wearing jeans and a white t-shirt protected by a blue apron. As he saw her, his eyes sparkled with joy and he tried to rush towards her, but soon she took a can of beer from the fridge. Her appearance turned paler, the kitchen shrank and the lights went out one by one until the only source of brightness of the room was the microwave's. The sound of the knife hitting the cutting board became louder and louder, the water kept running non-stop at the sink, his heart started beating faster and a unexplainable fear overcame him. When the microwave's alarm went off, all light disappeared and the world turned silent for a moment, soon her voice echoed throughout the house as she yelled:
– SAECHAN! Come eat. – she lifted the can, now empty. She opened the fridge, now there was some light in the run, but it became colder as the frozen air escaped through the crack.
The static of the fridge became louder, she closed the door, no more light. Gradually irritated she yelled again:
– SAECHAN COME DOWN ALREADY. – The silence was filled by the sound of the opening of the can in her hands. As she drank a long sip of the drink, as if it was the last one of her life. She slammed the can on the balcony before going up the stairs.
– Oh Fuck. – her steps rushed, annoyed, into a tiny bedroom upstairs– Saechan, are you pretending to be deaf? Come eat already. – her body leaned over the doorknob to keep her balance as she glared at the boy. – You're laying down? GET UP – her violent footsteps approached the bed and with cold hands she pulled his blanket
– ...Mom? – he sluggishly turned to face her – Yawns I'm sorry... I was... Yawns sleeping. – the boy rubbed his eyes as he lifted his body from his tiny bed.
– At this hour? It isn't even 8pm yet! Stop pretending you can't hear me, next time I'll let the food get cold. – she threw the blanket at the floor – Ugh. – the door slammed behind her as she left.
– ...I'm sorry mom... – the boy cried as he grabbed the blanket from the floor.
The sobbing filled the room as everything became blurry and the darkness turned into light, the bed became a chalkboard, the whole space grew, they were now in Saechan's classroom. The class, filled by children, was warm and the sun peeked kindly through the windows. The boy entered the class wearing his wrinkled uniform, dirt shoes and still half asleep.
– Saechan! Good morning! – a girl spoke from the other side of the classroom.
– Chaesol! Good morning! – a big smile filled his face from ear to ear, his steps rushed toward her.
– Did you finish your Korean homework? Ugh it was so hard! Even my MOM thought it was hard! – she sat down by his side and placed her pink backpack over their shared desk.
The classroom slowly darkened, the other children's faces became blurry and he could only hear Chaesol's voice.
– Oh... ahaha yes, it was... – he avoided her eyes as he took out his materials from his small worn out blue backpack.
– But you're so lucky! Like, your mom is a university teacher, ain't she? – the girl pointed a pink pen at him while speaking.
– Ah, yes... – he tried to keep his smile as she spoke, but now his face could feel the weight of his smile.
– And you're father is like, a super duper famous writer! I bet they both helped with your homework, must've been so easy! Ha... I'm jealous! – excitingly she took out a thick book from her bag – Look! Look! My mom even bought me one of your father's book!
Everything went dark, Chaesol's light was sucked in the pages of that tick, ominous looking book as the letters that read his father's name shone in a disgusting green.
– Ahaha wow... – his thoughts flied a thousand miles away from that classroom as he looked at his Korean notebook for a while.
Silence filled the room as Chaesol kept talking about something he couldn't hear, her face became gradually blurred out as the chairs and walls morphed into a grey office filled with a few plants. They were now at Saechan's homeroom teacher office.
– Seachan, this is the third time you didn't turn in your homework this week. What's wrong?
– I... I'm sorry Mr. Cheng. – he grabbed his shirt, looking down embarrassed.
– You understand that I'll have to call your parents about this, don't you? – her head pended heavily over her hand as she spoke.
– WAIT, ah – he covered his mouth then bowed – I'm truly sorry Mrs. Cheng! But please, please don't tell my parents! They're... Busy... – tears started forming in his eyes.
– ha... Okay, I'll let this slide this time, you have until Friday to turn in your homework okay?
– Yes! Thank u! Thank u! he started wiping his tears with his worn out sleeve.
The grey walls became taller, the furniture changed and now Mrs. Chen was gone, in her place stood his mom, sitting at the sofa as she looked vainly at the TV with a beer in her hands. In the kitchen was a tall, pale, and well dressed man, it was Saechan's father. As he closed the door and prepared to greet them, the slammed the water cup in the balcony:
– IF YOU KEEP THIS UP I'M LEAVING FOR GOOD! – the water spilled everywere.
– Oh great, don't forget to get your fucking laundry with you. – she took a sip, her face already red from the alchool.
– SERIOUSLY? All you do is drink! You work all day, we barely see you, and when we do you're drinking like a fucking possum! – the kitchen lights went out, only the TV illuminated the house now.
– AHAHAHA at least I'm home! You bastard. – a hiccup – You stay out all week, you think I don't know what you do around the whole week?! – her voice sluggish.
– I FUCKING WORK! – he approached the sofa were she sat.
"Dad's mad... Mom's too..." Thought Saechan as he sneaked through the kitchen toward his room.
– OH YES? – the can flied to the floor as the woman stood up.
The screams and cursing became gradually blurried as the boy closed his door. The moon shone through the window, he walked toward his desk as he turned on the luminary in his desk to finish his due homework. The walls grew taller, the room became colder, the his hands moved the pen through the lines of the notebook, tears started rolling down, he tried to dry them with his sleeve, already wet from the afternoon talk with his teacher, but to no avail as the tears kept rolling and the sobs filled the room.
– STOP IT! – the sound of uncontrollable sobbing became louder – What is this?! Why... – the boy began crying as well.
– My apologies, but you must remember.
– Remember what?!
As he spoke, the sobbing stopped and the room went dark, the boy was back in his bed. The moon was high in the sky when the door slowly opened, allowing for a weak with light to enter. A person approached, it was his father, he kissed the boy's forehead as he said:
– I'm sorry son. We'll meet again. – his hands pulled the blanket, in an clumsy attempt to tuck him in, as a father would do.
As his shadow dissolved behind the door, the boy in white robes looked at the tiny strip of light left by half-open door and said:
– Liar.
The room became distorted, cold, the light of the moon looked as a mirage. The furniture was unrecognizable, the memories began rushing and everything went black for a moment, no sound and too much noise at the same time. As Saechan began to drown in darkness, his mind lost five feet deep, Archelaos hunched over and hugged the boy. Waterfalls fell from his eyes, as he sobbed uncontrollably, a tiny star danced it's way to his forehead. Gradually the tears turned into stars and the darkness morphed into a golden forest, mesmerized the boy stopped crying.
– Are you ready? – Archelaos stood up, offering the boy his hand to help him stand.
– ... – The boy look down, then around – Yes... Please – he grabbed Archelaos hands – show me... How I died. – He glared deeply into Archelaos eyes he held tightly.
– Alright.
How to make the best Café con Miel - by Archelaos
- 3.4 fl oz (100 ml) of milk
- 3 fl oz (90 ml) of brewed coffee (light and medium roasts work best, decaf for Vin)
- 1 Tbsp (20 grams) of honey (3 if it's for Vin)
- Spices (cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and nutmeg)
- Begin brewing high quality coffee, light or medium roasts work best, avoid any beans with higher acidity (those with flowery notes are a great example).
- Heat the milk in a small saucepan and lightly foam it well.
- Start with the coffee as a base layer, pour it into your favorite mug (if it's for Vin, avoid the red mug, if it's for Thomas, avoid the blue one).
- Then, add honey to the coffee and stir until fully dissolved.
- Now, top the coffee and honey mixture with the foamed milk.
- Finish the drink by spiking a few grams of the choose spice (no cinnamon for Vin. No Cardamomo for Thomas)
- Enjoy!
Name: Saechan Lee
Age: 7 years
Nationality: South Korean
Cause of Death: Asphyxiation
Librarian responsible: Manoel Archelaos Fortunato
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