SHAY

Walking down the street, I’m still lost in thought. While my thoughts have me somewhat preoccupied, I’m still acutely aware that the street is pretty empty today. Not that the streets are that full normally, but I have not seen another soul today. The Workers must be doing a hell of a job getting people beyond today.

Rather than fixating on the lack of people on the street, I turn my attention to the veil. The rippling in the veil can play tricks on the eyes. If I unfocus my eyes just a bit, I can see shapes beginning to form. It reminds me of a memory that has yet to be taken from me. That memory is of the times that we would lie on our backs and stare up the clouds. In those moments, we would both try to compete to see who could find the better object all the way up in the sky. Each time, he would remind me that this was called paira…parre…pareidolia. That’s it. Pareidolia. He always managed to find the better object, but this was a game I was always willing to let him win.

My eyes begin to burn, but this time, it doesn’t have anything to do with the Wards. Just then, the crackling of the Commander’s voice coming through the pin at my collar yanks me back to reality. I am both grateful for and immensely pissed off about the distraction.

“Greer…Greer, can you hear me okay?” The Commander’s tinny voice rings out in the silence of the street.

“Hey, Commander, you’re perfectly clear.” I lie.

“Good, good. How…are the…Wards…day?”

“Only one in my district was low. Completed the transference, sir, and everything appears to be back to normal now.”

“Goo…to hear Gree…Return to headquarters as soon as possib…”

“Will do, Commander.” I reply quickly and then cover the pin. It wouldn’t surprise me if wants me back at headquarters to clean up some mess after one of the other patrol officers. Can’t expect the men to pick up after themselves after all, musing to myself, I scoff.

Pausing for a second, I try to think of anything besides the dolts back at headquarters or of him. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy to do today. Because I’m so preoccupied with my thoughts, I don’t notice the black-clad figure sneak up on me, then eventually walk in step with me.

“How goes it today, Patrolman Greer?” The figures asks in a jeeringly way.

This is potentially the most unpleasant interruption that could have occurred. “What do you want?”

“Not a very nice way to greet someone, is that?” My uninvited and unwanted guest responds, their tone implying that my words have stung them, but their face remains a sneer. They’re a manipulative twat, so I have to always keep my guard up around them.

“I like to keep the pleasantries to people I enjoy being around. Seems you don’t make the list.” With that, I quicken my pace trying to leave them behind.

“Come now, Greer, won’t you make some time for an old friend?” The interloper shouts from behind me.

I stop and make an about face. “‘Friend’ would suggest that I liked you at some point. I can’t say that’s ever been the case.”

“’Tis a dismal world where such beauty would utter such hateful words,” they respond in a dramatic tone while raising their open right hand and placing it over their heart. I could be wrong, but it looks like they have a single tear beginning to form at the corner of their left eye. Before a stream could begin in full, they look me directly in the eyes and begin to laugh. “Did you enjoy the show? I took some pointers from the greats…Shakespeare…Euripides…the list goes on.”

“Based on that show, I would think the ‘greats’ would be rolling in their graves if I didn’t already know they had passed beyond.” My words have little effect on them. Turning away, I begin to walk again.

“Once again, you prove that the world’s most beautiful things do, in fact, have thorns.” They have moved on to displaying a look of deep sorrow. Again, if I didn’t know better, I would be hook, line, and sinker for this performance. “Greer, I do have a message. Well, two really.” While I was hoping this would be a brief intrusion, I guess I was wrong.

Once again, I turn back to them. “Get on with it.”

“Touchy, touchy, Greer. Don’t shoot the messenger and all that.” A twisted smile adorns their face.

“My patience is limited and draws thinner by the second. What the hell do you want?”

“You’re no fun. Did you know that?” They shift from side to side. The one good thing about them is that they can’t stay in one place for too long, which seems like it might begin working to my benefit soon.

“I’ve just got no time for someone like you.” I say tersely.

“Look at where we are, Greer. We have nothing but time!” They gleefully shout into the air.

Involuntarily, I look around. It’s almost like the veil responded to their words. The shapes in the veil begin to shift rapidly. Where I could distinguish shapes before, they begin to blur. I can’t begin to understand why the veil would be reacting to them in this way.

“If you don’t get to the point, I swear you’ll become familiar with my blades.” Reaching to my sides, my hands find the hilts of each of my curved daggers.

For the first time, their face falters. That moment of vulnerability lasted for only a second, however.

“Fine.” For the first time, their voice, much like my daggers, has a sharp edge. “Our fair leader wanted me to let you know that there will be a meeting tomorrow. 22:00 sharp. Don’t be late.”

“Was it really that hard to just tell me that from the start?”

“Greery, oh Greery. You need to loosen up a bit and have some more fun.” Apparently, their good mood had returned.

“The second message?” I ask impatiently with my hands on my hips but no longer on the hilts of my daggers. Now that they had passed on the message, it would only be so long before they left.

In response to my question, their smile returned, but now, even wider. “Thank you for the reminder. How could I forget the even more exciting news.” The dark tone in their voice belies the flashy smile. “I got you a little gift. It should be back in an alley a few blocks back.” They say this waving behind them and, impossibly, their smile grows. “Have fun.” Their final remark before they begin to walk away.

“Wait! What the hell did you do?” I yell after them.

Without stopping, they look back to me. “Find out for yourself. See you at the meeting.” Their final words before they turn a corner and vanish.

For a second, I’m paralyzed in stunned silence. What did they do? Why are they doing this? Why are they so happy about it? Those thoughts and more cloud my mind. Better to rip the bandage off. I begin jogging in the direction that they indicated. As I go, I look down all of the alleyways looking for the “gift.” After about four blocks, the only things of note have been a few of the usual suspects hanging around chatting. So far, I have not found anything noteworthy. Then, I come upon an alleyway on the sixth block.

I stop in my tracks. The one thing I still haven’t gotten used to is seeing a fresh spirit, especially one who met an untimely death. Death leaves an imprint on the spirit. That imprint takes time to wear off once the spirit makes it here. The burning in my eyes returns, but I’m not lucky enough to be interrupted this time. Streams run down my cheeks. My eyes the bubbling spring from which they originate.

The cause? Near the end of the alleyway, a figure is slouched against a door. A large, phantasmal hunting knife juts from the figure’s back. Just then, the figure, using its arms, reaches behind itself almost as if checking for something. The hands pass right through the ghostly blade in his back. Then, the figure tilts its head up and I can now see that the figure is actually a young man. He can’t possibly be older than 25. Knowing I have to do something, I wipe away my tears and throw back my shoulders.

“Aye, what are you doing over there?” I call down the alleyway.