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The fear that has been sitting quietly at the back of your mind has finally made its presence known. The town was littered with mindless townspeople walking around, moaning and groaning in pain. Their eyes were on the dark sky, constantly being rained upon, yet they showed no care.

“Shit, it’s happening,” you muttered under your breath. “Okay, let’s calm down and figure it out-"

Lucian is missing. Panic settled heavily in your chest as you looked around. You covered your ears as the bell of the church started tolling.

“Lucian! "You shouted as you made your way through the crowd.

Then you saw Lucian entering the clinic. You ran towards him, telling him not to go inside, but it seems like he can’t hear you. You tried to hold his arm, but your hands just went through him.

A thunderbolt illuminated the sky as you and Lucian went inside.

"I need more,” Dr. Green muttered under the faint glow of the candles around him. "More... It’s not working.”

The whole clinic looked like it had been violently stormed, with all the furniture pushed away from the center. In the middle of the room was a table, and on it was Sal, laying still with a frozen, terror-stricken expression.

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Dr. Green’s eyes hovered toward Lucian. His eyes were unfocused and wide. He adjusted his glasses and knelt in front of Lucian to meet his gaze.

“Boy,” Dr. Green said. “My dear Lucian,” his voice trembled, “Lucian, would you like to live for eternity?”

Before you could stand between them, an invisible force knocked you off your feet. You tried numerous times to come near them, but each time it felt like you were being pushed and punched in the chest.

“Will my mother live for eternity too? I want her to live long enough so she can achieve all her dreams! She has many dreams; there’s always something new every week. And I want my half-brother to live long as well, because he loves mom and he lost his mom, so he lives alone up high in the hills, and when my father and mother visit him, he’s always over the moon! And I want us to be a happy family. I want my father to live long."

“Now, that I can’t do,” Dr. Green said, shaking his head. "Because he’s dead,” he said in the softest tone.

Before Lucian could react, Dr. Green sat him on a chair. He gripped Lucian's shoulders. “Now, listen to me. I will give you eternal life, like those people outside. But you, your mother, and your half-brother will be very special. You three will help me,” he started pacing the room nervously. “You’ll harvest lives for me. Yes, yes! Everyone who enters this forest will meet their end. Yes, that’s good, Sal." Dr. Green’s gaze went to Sal, who was still. “Yes, you’ll live forever. Me, my father, my grandfather, my great-grandfather, great... great, were nothing like you. They couldn’t hold onto life as well as you do.”

The rain finally stopped, and everything went still.

“Now, Lucian,” Dr. Green said, stepping closer towards the poor boy. “What do you say? ”

You shook your head. “No, please,” you mumbled. “Lone man!”

“Yes,” Lucian replied with a smile on his face. “Lone man,” he mumbled after, tilting his head and looking through you.

——

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