I can’t die, but……

There’s no way in hell I can let these people run amok.

What’ll happen if a mortal runs across them? They may be dead, but I don’t want their souls to be destroyed by murder. Noël sighed as he swiveled away from the macabre sight of skeletons reattaching themselves and the specter of a deceased child sitting on top of a throne made entirely of human bones.

A sharp cracking sound broke through his reverie as he found himself face to face with a lanky skull. An earthworm was crawling around its eye socket, much to Noël’s disgust. Almost abashedly, the skeleton covered its gaping socket with a skeletal hand.

“Well, this…sure is a strange turn of events,” the young vampire deadpanned as he stepped away from the skeleton. While it was….surreal to see a skeleton display such commonplace emotions, it was nevertheless a grotesque sight. “Remind me to opt for cremation if I ever die—”

“…And somehow overcame my complete and abject disdain towards fire……”

Then again, such a fear wouldn’t matter if I’m dead.

Noël’s words trail off as he had a recollection of something that could assist him in this conundrum…

“Oh, how could I have forgotten—her journal will help! Grandmother always did know what to do in these situations.”

Eyes never wavering as he held the skeleton away from him with one arm, Noël reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small journal…only, it was the size of a doll miniature.

Muttering a quick incantation to himself, the vampire’s journal became its regular size within the blink of an eye. While the leather bound book was rather worn-out and frayed at the edges, it still appeared to be quite sturdy and durable.

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“I apologize for this,” Noël dryly remarked, albeit not quite as sorry as his words would imply.

He raised the journal over his head and…stifling a yawn, Noël swiftly brought it down onto the reanimated skull.

A loud crack echoed throughout the grotto as its skull caved in on itself and clattered onto the ground.

In a panic, the skeleton raised its arms towards where its head should be.

Taking advantage of its momentary confusion, Noël promptly kicked the skeleton in the ribs. A sickening crack pierced the cacophony of noise the other skeletons made as they slowly dragged themselves across the earth.

Noël uttered another halfhearted apology to the decimated remnants of the skeleton before turning around to the others.

“As much as I detest fire, I do realize this may be the best way to save all of you,” the vampire casually stated as he flipped through his journal. Studying its array of spells, he attempted to find an incantation to assist lost souls.

“I’ve heard that flames can purify spirits. Normally, I wouldn’t go through something so drastic, but—”

“This certainly does appear to be the most effective method.”

Nodding to himself, Noël recalled a practice he once read about in a book. “I heard that Chinese funeral traditions would involve mourners burning clothing, food, money, and other earthly possessions…”

“Supposedly this would assist spirits in their travels to the next realm. Of course, that has nothing to do with this, but it’s a nice sentiment,” he stated as he still continued to flip through his grandmother’s journal of spells. “It would probably be easier to keep all of you intact…well, mostly……”

“No, I won’t let you,” the spirit interjected, voice no higher than that of a faint whisper. Still perched upon his throne of mangled skeletons and stones, the ghost child continued to glare daggers at Noël.

Frowning, the ghost tossed the cracked skull from one translucent hand to the other. “Nothing about this will help any of us!”

“What makes you think attacking a perfectly innocent skeleton is okay?”

“She started it first,” Noël quips in disinterest. “And it doesn’t matter since she’s dead.”

The small specter sighed before once again descending from his macabre throne. “Well, tell me—what comes after death?”

“Nothing.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“If you’re dead, nothing will matter ever again. All your hopes, dreams, troubles…they’ll all disappear.” Noël smiled sadly as he stared unseeingly at nothing. “Life is so tiresome, don’t you think?”

“But, once you die……”

“You will no longer matter. You will never feel, nor breathe, nor live ever again. You are nothing, but to me, that sounds like happiness.”

“You know nothing!” the ghost angrily protested. Hands balled into fists, the spirit was shaking with an unreadable emotion on his face. “How can you look at me and say I don’t matter…merely because I’m dead?”

“I can still see, hear, and feel…” Sniffling, the spirit turned away from Noël, bangs falling over his face. “Why do I still feel pain even if my heart no longer beats? I really do envy you…”

Tilting his head in confusion, Noël pondered the ghost’s words……