The flies gathered around the bright lantern, attracted by its light, and then turned to look with their compound eyes at the group of people.
Raheem placed the crimson-covered book on his lap and opened it to its first page, but then a sound of whispers echoed from the book.
"Harmony… Harmony… Hysteria… Hysteria…"
Kael looked at the book with a wary gaze, turned to the stairs, and saw that the fedora-wearing man was standing in the way.
It looked like he was a guard, and with his big build, he wouldn't be able to fight through him no matter how much he tried.
"Who will start first?"
Raheem asked with a smile as he moved his gaze across the group gathered here today.
A hand rose up—it belonged to a frail-looking woman who had seen better days and had thin hair that looked like it could be blown away with the slightest breeze.
She was almost balding at the top of her head.
"What's your na?"
Raheem asked.
"…Edna."
She said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Edna. Do you know what we do here? Do you know the aning of this crimson book?"
Raheem asked.
"…I do. A book of the revenge, retribution, and suffering of those who have crossed you. You can give us justice with that book."
She said.
'What?'
Kael frowned.
"Correct, and I see so new faces here—you all know what we do here—you'll start with telling your story, and the person whose story touches the most will get their revenge with the help of this book.
"This book can give the judgnt of God to the one who hurt soone close to you!"
Raheem said.
The eyes of so brightened with hope—they were hopeless fellows—and this group was the beacon of hope for them, at last.
They had dread of having their revenge, every night, for the ones they've lost, and since the Blessed One had failed them, this was their last resort.
'I can also get revenge for Soul? Can it really be that easy? I know there must be a catch sowhere; there always is.'
Kael thought with a frown.
"Edna, please begin."
Raheem said.
"…Okay."
Edna clutched the purse in her hands and said,
"M-My husband worked as a beer brewer over in Gehram. It's a city west of Rask, known for its strong ales and bitter stouts.
"H-He wasn't a Blessed One… No, he was just an ordinary man, my husband… But he was a good man, and I loved him.
"In Gehram, he owned a small brewery, and he used to deliver kegs of beer to the taverns all across the city.
"One day, when he was doing his delivery to the last tavern on his delivery list, he saw soone pestering a young woman in the pub.
"My husband believed in justice, and he put himself in between the woman and the man—he tried to calm him down—then he got a bullet in the chest.
"He was killed by a Blessed One, and the incident was brushed under the rug as it was just so brewer getting killed.
"They wouldn't throw Blessed One into prison for killing soone of lower status."
Edna choked up on her words while the others listened in silence.
"The world is an unjust place."
Raheem said with an understanding look.
"We, the humans, should be taking care of each other and working together for a better world—we shouldn't fight each other and should focus our attention on the real danger that is lurking in the darkness!"
The people gathered nodded in agreent.
Edna nodded with a tearful look, wiped the tears with a napkin, and gave the turn to the next person.
It was another tearful story, and so was the one that followed, and another one.
With hours flying by, another person ended his story with tears flowing out of his eyes, and then Raheem turned to Kael.
"It's your turn, young man. Share the story with us."
He said.
"Uh… I think I am fine, thank you."
Kael said, looking down at his hands.
"Are you sure? If you don't share your story, you can't have a chance at revenge. It doesn't hurt to tell your story."
Raheem said.
"Maybe next ti…"
Kael said.
"…Very well."
Raheem said with a nod and turned to the others—he then raised the crimson book—and he pointed it towards the group.
"The book shall choose the one that will get their revenge today."
With nervous gazes, everyone looked over and hoped that they would get chosen.
At that mont, the crimson book turned towards the frail-looking woman—Edna's eyes widened in surprise—and a small smile ca to Raheem's face.
"The book has chosen Edna!"
He said.
With disappointed sighs, everyone clapped their hands.
"Do not feel discouraged. We'll have the gathering every week, so next week might be your turn to have your revenge!"
Raheem said, and then beckoned Edna to co forward—she crouched in front of him—and Raheem put her hand on top of the page.
He pulled out a sharp knife and cut a slit across her hand—the crimson blood fell on the pages—and the pages turned crimson.
"Harmony… Harmony… Hysteria… Hysteria…"
Raheem closed his eyes and said,
"With blood and rage of the crimson revenge, fiercely we ride through the night to seek justice for the ones we lost and restore hope in our darkened hearts!"
The pages of the crimson book fluttered in the wind and started turning on their own as if possessed by an unseen force.
It reached the end, and the book shut close.
"Ahh…"
Raheem opened his eyes with a smile.
"…Did it work?"
Edna asked with hope.
"Successful, it was. Your revenge has been granted, my dear Edna. Your husband has been avenged; congratulations."
Raheem said with a smile.
"Oh…"
Edna covered her mouth with tears flowing out of her eyes, and she kept bowing and thanking him from the bottom of her heart.
The rest clapped their hands with smiles on their faces.
"The gathering has been concluded. The next eting will take place a week from now; see you there."
Raheem said with a smile.
With that, everyone started dispersing from the basent, and Kael slowly walked behind the group, but while making his way up the stairs, he turned to look at the crimson book and saw that Raheem stuffed it inside his bag.
'Hmm…'
Kael turned to Edna, narrowed his eyes, and slowly followed after her.
Reviews
All reviews (0)