I’m currently standing in front of the local cemetery, it seemed like the most likely place to contain strands of death energy. Next to the gates there was a security guard doing something on his phone, probably just slacking off. Like, come on man, at least try to look like you are doing your job. He doesn’t even react when I walk passed him, which is good for me.
Inside I am very disappointed. There is barely any energy of death around. What is going on? This whole place is full of bodies how can there be no death energy? I use my magic sense to analyze my surroundings in greater detail and I notice a pattern. The graves that are only 1-2 years still have a bit of death energy, the newer the better. The graves past that are almost completely covered in the energy of decay up till around 10-15 years. Around that point the decay ends and it naturally dissipates into normal ambient mana. At least I now know where to find decay for when I will need it.
With this newfound discovery I stay in the most recent grave sites. I leisurely stroll around in order to not cause suspicion as I reach out with my mana sense. The strands of energy are attracted to me like serpents just as before and are consumed by the vortex in my chest. As I get closer and closer to the newest grave sites, the saturation in my surroundings rises exponentially. It seems that death is strongest before the start of decay.
Ahead I see a group of people surrounding a casket suspended over its hole, looks like a family mourning their loved one. Absolutely wonderful. I'll just slowly walk by and take as much energy as I can, a fresh body must have much more than these graves. With a plan in mind I approach the group as inconspicuously as I can. I become slightly worried when I see multiple people from the group loock over at me with a strange look on their face. As I get close a woman speaks out to me.
“Excuse me, are you Daren?”
Am I who? I have no idea what this lady is on about, but it seems I can take advantage of the situations. It looks like they mistook me for another.
“Yes I am.”
The woman’s eyes tear up as she calls me over. Most of the other people still look at me curiously, but their expressions became a bit softer.
“Daren it's so good to finally meet you. I know you and your father didn’t get along, but I want you to know he was truly sorry for what he did to you and your mother. I didn’t think you would actually come since you never responded back to any of our contacts, but thank you doing so. I know your father would be very happy to know you came in the end.”
“I believe so.”
Thank god this lady talks so much. I now know what the hell is going on. Seems this guy did something in the past to his family and left. It’s pretty obvious Daren doesn’t want anything to do with his dad and didn’t come, so it looks like I’m covered. Hahaha. I’ll just take advantage for now and get close to the body.
As I approach the people introduce themselves. They are mostly aunts, uncles and cousins from “my” fathers' side of family, the rest are just family friends and acquaintances. There are so many I don’t bother to remember most of their names. The woman who called me over was “my” aunt Grace, next to her was her husband Josh. As for “my” uncle his name was Victor and he was “my” father’s step brother. I don’t care about memorizing the rest.
Aunt Grace speaks to me.
“We were just about to finish and lower your father’s casket, but I’m sure he would appreciate it if you said some final words.”
Fuck, this is going to be awkward. At least Daren doesn’t like his dad much so I can probably get through this with a straight apathetic face.
“I’m okay with that.”
Grace leads me to the front of the casket facing the group of people. Before I begin, I close my eyes and clear my mind. To everyone it looks like I’m preparing to speak, but I'm actually consuming as much death energy as I can. The saturation of death energy in the body is unlike anything else I have experienced before now. The boost the seed gem had given me had only completed about half of my first purification of death. With all the energy of death I had absorbed since then I was now just about three quarters done. As I finish absorbing the energy, I open my eyes and start speaking.
“In all honesty I did not expect to say a speech when I came here today so I apologize in advance if my words do not sound well. As many of you here know me and my father did not have the best relationship. The things he did in the past caused us to grow apart for a long time. I cannot say I forgive him for his actions, but I respect his wishes to attend his burial. He may not have been the best man, but he was my father and that connection will always connect us together. Thank you for your time.”
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
As I walk away, I look towards the casket and speak.
“Goodbye father.”
I need to get out of here as quick as possible before I fuck up my impersonation. As I try to leave Grace speaks out to me again.
“Daren, wait!”
I look towards her.
“What is it? I’m about to leave.”
“Can’t you stay till the end of the burial.”
“No, I have other business to attend to. I just came to say my final goodbye.”
She takes a piece of paper and a pen out from her purse and quickly jots something down before handing it to me.
“Take this, it’s my address. Your father still has something he wanted to pass down to you after his death. I’ve been safekeeping it for a long time, but it belongs to you.”
I take the slip of paper.
“Thank you, aunt Grace. I’ll see if I can stop by another time to retrieve it.”
My words sounded cold and detached, but it sounds perfect considering what I know of Daren’s family relations. I don’t stay for a moment longer and I make my leave.
----------------------------------------
I lay on my bed as I do introspection with my mana sense. The vortex in my body has become noticeably larger and more powerful. When I try to look into it, it consumes my mana sense before I can see what’s going on. I still can’t access any energy or magic, but that doesn’t mean I’m not experiencing anything. I noticed my body has started to acquire a strange aura. With great focus I can detect faint traces of death energy.
I open my eyes and head towards the mirror in my bathroom. My skin, gums and lips look paler than before and my body temperature is lower as well. I still can’t feel my heartbeat and I breath on reflex not necessity. If I didn’t move, I would easily be mistaken for a corpse.
Mistaken for a corpse.
Mistaken.
For
Corpse.
THAT’S FUCKEN BRILLIANT!!!
I can fake being a corpse and be admitted into a morgue. That place is full of fresh bodies and will be teeming with death energy. But... No, I’m an idiot. If I become a corpse that means I will fake my own death. Even If I don’t carry anything to be identified with, they will still take pictures and when I escape my face will be known as that of the missing corpse.
That still doesn’t mean I have to give up on the morgue. Even if I can’t enter as a corpse, I should at least be able to find a job perhaps. There isn’t much to do at the garden during the weekend so finding another job won’t really interfere.
Within a few hours online I find the perfect morgue, it’s only 15 minutes away by bus. The position states they need a part time custodian for the night shift, no experience required. I immediately apply before going to bed.
I made another discovery, turn out my body doesn’t need to sleep anymore. I really am like a corpse. Without anything better to do I just turn on the TV. The late-night news should be starting around this time.
“Hello, this is channel 6 news anchor Nicole Anderson bringing you the biggest news of the day. Around 7 a.m. this morning a water line ruptured downtown causing major closures...”
Boring.
“Mayor Alejandro has been arrested due to corruption scandal involving receiving illegal campaign funds from the cartel.”
That’s interesting.
“The mayor has denied all claims and has denied any of the media’s attempts to contact him. If the claims are true then the mayor received money from a crime organization that contributes to the drug problem the mayor has campaigned against, as well as receiving money from other sources such as prostitution, human smuggling and assassinations.”
Looks like this mayor’s fucked. Serves him right, he didn’t accomplish any of the shit he promised anyway.
“Our next story is about a mass suicide today off the coast of our local beaches. The group claiming to have led to this call themselves The New Dawn. These bunch of crazed lunatics claims their mass sacrifice was to call forwards their messiah to this world through sacrifice. Multiple members have been arrested so far, but the leadership and exact numbers of members still remain unknown.”
Well damn, that’s crazy. Lunatics be doing some crazy shit. Well who am I to judge, I’m literally am seeking invisible death energy to feed to the vortex in my body. Who knows, maybe their messiah exists and will appear one day.
I turn off the TV before they start doing the filler stories like animal of the week or special teens. If I wanted to see feel good shit I wouldn’t be watching the news. The news should only say stuff I should be watching out for. At least that’s my opinion.
I remember the paper “my” aunt Grace gave me so I grab it and open it up. Inside are the words 312 South Garmund Blvd, looks like this is her address. I’m not stupid enough to just appear immediately. I’ll wait a few days and stake out the place to see if the real Daren ever comes by. If not then I’ll come by and see what “my” father left me.
Thinking about my actions I feel a little bit dirty inside. When did my moral become so twisted that I would actually place on committing fraud and inherit someone else’s things? Am I really such a bad person or is this the influence of the power and energy inside me? I can’t say for sure, but it feels natural so I'll go with it for now. Afterall, it’s not like as if it’s making me kill someone. A few moral compromises aren’t much to pay for what the future has in store. Even if I can’t access any of the abilities yet, I can sense all the goodies behind the curtain.
As for when I'll acquire them?
It’s only a matter of TIME...