……Bang! …..Bang! …Bang!

The pounding of Joshua’s chest echoed in the clearing, the sound amplifying as Klaus’s mind cleared. The breathing technique he had performed worked. The ringing from his ears dissipated and sweat decreased. His shaking lessened, and his hands firmed. The chilling memory had escaped his mind once more; however, this time, Klaus stayed with more than last time. Before, he could only remember a feeling of dread, but now, he could recollect the man dressed in white. The scene he could not remember, nor the boy, but the man he could. And this chilled him to the bone.

“I don’t get it—wh-who was that?” Klaus thought as his eyes opened to the grass below, which swayed in the soft wind.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“He was white–and his smile wa-was petrifying,” Klaus thought, slowly raising his body while still gazing at the ground.

Bang! Bang–ugh!

The sound was interrupted by another-- a seemingly natural one at that.

“E-Emma.” Klaus hurriedly glanced at Emma’s direction. Emma was covering her mouth and nose, eyes stretched from the horror. Klaus felt a tingle run up his spine. His eyes slowly shifted to where Emma's eyes lay, and he widened his eyes. Joshua bled from his mouth–no–blood from within escaped his mouth, pouring from the sides. His eyes were bloodshot, his body motionless.

“W-wha–” Klaus stopped thinking as he ran towards Joshua. His mind hadn’t registered Grandold by his side, his arms lying dormant on Joshua’s chest. Grandold's body remained utterly still, his eyes darting side to side.

“How does this happen?” Klaus thought as he slowly crouched down to observe Joshua. He glided his hand over Joshua’s chest and felt something cold, very cold.

“Ah,” Klaus thought as he peered up at Grandold, his presence now visible. Klaus quickly pulled his hand away and held it to warm it.

“ah–sie–de–gra—ne—--I”

Klaus heard Grandold whispering under his breath, each word indecipherable. His eyes slowly began to flare, however. Klaus stared at Grandold briefly before opening his mouth to speak, then retreating. The muttering became louder, Grandold’s head slowly rising with the volume. Klaus gradually raised his arms in preparation to strike. At last.

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“All hail to the honored one, Jack!!” Grandold screeched before thrusting his palms into Joshua’s chest.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The banging was blaring, and Joshua vigorously spewed out vital fluid with each, now spreading on the grass under.

Boom!

An impact could be heard–Klaus had struck Grandold in the face. Grandold showed no reaction to this, however, and continued to pound Joshua’s chest.

“I’ll meet you Jack!! I will se-”

This time, Klaus stood up and went around Joshua before kneeling Grandold square on his head–he wasn’t done. Klaus brought Grandold down to the ground and restricted Grandold’s arms with his legs.

Grandold kept forcibly shaking despite this, even continuing to mutter rapidly.

“Mm,” Klaus thought as he held his position on Grandold. He seemed nearly a zombie now. His eyes couldn’t focus as they started to dry, tears hurriedly running to fix the problem. His head shook side to side, up and down violently, without regard for his neck.

Klaus stayed silent, letting the chaotic old man attempt to wriggle out of his grip; he observed Grandold as he waited for a critical moment. In his state, Grandold's eyes suddenly shifted to Klaus, and he began to move his head up and down fiercely, his mouth open and teeth clattering.

“Is it…ah, finally.” Klaus thought as his patience gave witness to black liquid seeping from Grandold’s eyes.

“Ahhhhh. Ahhh!!”

Grandold’s moans became screams for help as black dots infested his body. The dots dried the skin within the area they held, causing blood to release slowly. They didn’t affect Klaus; he remained calm, now contemplating what to do with Grandold.

He shook his head, remembering the past, and gripped Grandold’s throat. He shut his eyes as he obstructed the old man’s airflow, gradually suffocating him. Soon, Grandold ceased to move. His muttering stopped, and his eyes shut.

The creeping blight of darkness wasn’t so forgiving, as it tore Grandold’s body apart. His screams echoed across Boon as his skin and muscles rapidly evaporated into the sky above until only bones remained.

“Ah,” Klaus said as he slowly stood up, removing himself from next to Grandold. Klaus glanced at Joshua and saw Emma tending to him. She shook as she wiped the blood off of his mouth with one hand; the other was busy holding his head still.

“The rat-” Klaus thought as he quickly returned to Grandold and noticed another set of bones, much smaller than the one below it. They looked just as fresh.

“Sh-she was silent...” Klaus thought as he crouched to see the bones. The bones rattled as he gently touched them. The bones were dry, with no liquid anywhere near them; it was as if they had been there for several years already.

“D-does it infect people?” Klaus paused his thought, looking down at his body and raising his arms.

“Doesn’t it affect me then?!!” Klaus hurriedly pulled his pants up to reveal his legs; his hands flew to his sleeves, rolling them up frantically, eyes scanning for any creeping blight. He touched his face: nothing. Klaus sighed as he stood up and walked towards Emma.

Emma looked up at Klaus nervously, her fingers twiddling. Her eyes began watering as she saw Klaus.

“I-I’m sorry, Klaus. I don’t know if he’s-”

“It’s okay, Emma. Joshua’s strong, I know he is.” Klaus flexed his arm and forced a smile, attempting to reassure Emma.

*sniffle* Emma sniffled as a tear dropped down her face. She ran and hugged Klaus tightly, crying all the while.

Emma clung to him; her face buried in his chest.

Klaus wrapped his arms around her, one hand smoothing her hair as he whispered, ‘We’ll be okay… we have to be."

His hair blew as he gazed down at Emma’s head as she sobbed, his eyes flickering with sadness.

“I’m so sorry,” he thought.