Later That Afternoon
In Nox’s Old Town
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The sky was overcast and the streets were empty. Kieran parked their car and the group got out. The wind caressed their hair and skin, and the air was filled with the sickly scent of stale frying oil and sweet flowers from the nearby flower shop.
“And I thought our town was a dump,” Kieran muttered, pocketing his keys.
Vienna nodded, watching Nox sigh deeply from the corner of her eye. He looked at his friends with a mixture of emotion, fear, and sadness.
“This is where I was born and died…and where I hope we’ll end it all.”
Vienna placed her hand on his shoulder, and Nox looked at her. Kieran walked over to them, glancing back as if he felt something, or someone, was watching them. Kieran closed his eyes, watching a shadow disappear behind the walls.
“Kieran?” Nox’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
“Huh?” Kieran glanced at Nox, but his attention quickly returned to where he thought he could still see someone. But no one was there.
“I was wondering if we could go to the cemetery since we’re already here.”
“Sure, man. If it makes you feel better.”
Nox smiled sadly.
“Feel better? No, but at least I can visit my mom.”
Vienna and Kieran watched silently as their friend turned to a nearby flower shop with a soft whisper, “I’ll be right back,” before disappearing inside.
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A cool rain pelted the roofs and windows of nearby buildings, and the wind whipped at their clothes and hair, almost as if warning them away from this place full of pain, locked memories, and tragedy. Not far away, they heard the sound of a door opening and wind chimes. Nox’s heavy footsteps stopped beside them. In his hands was a bouquet of delicate white roses.
“They’re beautiful.” Vienna replied, gently caressing the petal of one of the flowers.
“Do you think so? My mother loved roses.”
“I’m sure she would have loved them,” Kieran replied. As the group began walking again, they remained silent for the rest of the way as Nox led the way. With each passing minute, they drew closer to the cemetery, but each step seemed to be more heavy than the last, and the air was stifling and strangling. Finally, they stopped before an old metal gate, rusty and old. Nox opened it with a soft squeak, and together they entered. They walked slowly. Vienna looked around. In the distance, she saw a couple standing by a grave. Perhaps they were the parents of one of the murdered girls Nox was talking about earlier that day. One of the hazy faces in Nox’s memories.
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Beside her, Kieran nervously began to twist his ring in his fingers. Almost as if the full weight of the realization of how easily a human life could end had just now overwhelmed him. Nox stopped at the heart-shaped tombstone and rubbed his hands over it to wipe away the raindrops. His mother’s grave.
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Here lies Clara Virell.
Born xx-xx-xxx - Deceased xx-xx-xxx.
Beloved:
Friend
Daughter
Wife
Mother
Guitarist
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Nox gently placed the bouquet of roses down and sat in front of the tombstone. He didn’t hide his tears, he had learned to express his pain in their presence.
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“I remember that day…” He finally whispered.
Kieran and Vienna sat down beside him in silence. They knew the words they would share would be heavy, and difficult for Nox. Yet, this might help him slowly close his past. Though it would never heal his pain.
“I was eight years old then. Before she left, she kissed me and hugged me so tightly, like she’d never come back… It was a bit of a struggle back then. I told her we weren’t saying goodbye forever. But if I’d known then… To this day, I blame myself for it.
She told me she loved me, and would love me no matter where she was.
I didn’t understand it then… I was too young. But now I know, life is fragile, and the pain of losing someone you love is eternal…”
“Oh Nox…” Vienna put her arm around him, and he wiped his tears with the sleeve of his sweatshirt.
“Later that day… They came to see Dad… he… he… broke down. Mom died in an accident… And you know what’s worst? That whoever did this to her is still alive… That fucking murderer is alive!”
Nox cringed, covering his ears with his hands as if the voices around him had become too loud. His shoulders were shaking. Kieran glanced at Vienne, who was gently stroking Nox’s back.
“Nox…I know it’s difficult, but could…could your mother have known something?”
The boy raised his tear-stained gaze to Kieran.
“I didn’t pay attention at the time, but she seemed…I don’t know, tense, maybe even scared…Wait, are you suggesting that…”
Kieran just nodded.
“That this is all could be connected to your mother, that she knew more than she should have. And she knew she wouldn’t come back that day…”
Nox looked at his feet, his fists clenched.
“Then we’re not just doing this for me, but to bring justice to my mother.”
“So where are we going now?” Vienna asked.
“To the place where we’ll find the most answers, my old school.”
ns216.73.216.13da2
and then Add to home screen.