Chap 4: A friend and a grave
Eno was the first to break the silence.
« Why did you hit me?! »
« You were the one asking me to punch you in the face! »
« Yes because you shoudln't be able to hit me! »
Lug had nothing to blame himself for, but he still felt bad about hitting Eno.
« Ah… I'm sorry, are you ok? »
« Pfff it hurts but yeah I'm ok. »
*Lug starts patting Eno on the head*
« I can touch you, how strange… Are you really a ghost? »
« Stop touching my head! Of course I'm a real ghost. You are the odd one here. » Said Eno a bit annoyed.
« So you can touch me too right? »
*Eno gets up and pokes Lug with his finger*
« It's a very strange feeling, it's not totally like touching another ghost… »
« What, ghosts can touch each other? »
« Of course. We cannot go through certain things. For example the ground of the cemetery is quite hard under our feet. »
*Lug picks up some dirt and throws it at Eno*
« You are right, it doesn't go through you! »
Lug said that with a smile on his face and full of wonder in his voice.
« It's nice to see you having fun! »
When Eno pointed this out to him, Lug returned to his usual passive look.
« Hum… So can you tell me more about the cemetery? Like why is the ground here hard for you and… Wait… When they bury you, if the ground is hard, can ghosts get stuck?! It would be like a claustrophobic's worst nightmare! »
Eno looked at Lug, wondering where he got these ideas.
« You can talk to ghosts and that's the first question you ask? »
« Yeah, why not? »
« Uuhh… Anyway… The ground is hard, we can go through, it just takes time and effort. In a way the moment you leave your coffin to go above ground is like a second birth. »
« That's poetic… And morbid. »
« Any other great question like this one? »
« Mmmmh, who are those people? » Lug pointed to the people in front of the house he saw on his way out.
« Them? They are from the Valmont district, that's where the poor are buried. »
« Valmont? So the rich and the poor are not buried together? »
« How naïve, you thought we were all equal in death or something? »
« I mean… Yes? »
« Ahah, come on! Wait, are you serious? Ok let me explain then. »
« I'm all ears, professor. » Said Lug in an ironic tone.
« This place is composed of 6 main districts, 3 that could be described as poor: Valmont, Almer and Vamin. Those are close to the entrance and around the center of the cemetery.
2 rich districts: Vonne and Roseraies. Those are at the eastern part.
Finally one large disctrict that was reserved for criminals: Primont. Taking a large chunk of the western part. Don't get near that last one. »
« There is a place with only criminal ghosts? »
« Unfortunately yes, The aura of this place is so sinister that plants do not grow there, even the living avoid it by instinct. »
« Now that you mention it, there is a whole part of the cemetery the recruiter didn't show me. »
« The recruiter? You mean the guy that looks half dead? I doubt he has any instinct, it was more out of laziness than fear. » said Eno while laughing.
« That's true he did look in a bad state… Mmmh, and you? From which district are you from? »
« I'm from Valmont. I can show you my grave if you want! »
« Uuuuh… Would you be ok with it? I mean isn't it something very personal? »
« It is yes, but I would love to have visitors, it's been so long! »
Eno guided him to a small pile of dirt topped by an engraved stone where one could read: Here lies Enoreim a good son and a loving brother, taken too soon by illness. May you Rest In Peace.
Lug felt a great sadness. After spending the day with him, he had almost forgotten that Eno was a ghost. A young man that died tragically and who now wanders alone.
They stayed in front of the tomb for a few minutes, in silence.
« Thank you for coming. You know, I have no attachment to this grave or even to my body anymore, but for some reason it makes me really happy when someone comes to visit me here. »
« How can such a lively and kind person as Eno have such a neglected and sad grave? » thought Lug.
He decided to change that. He started pulling the weeds that had grown on and around it.
And when that was done, he took some daisies that were growing near there and put them on the grave.
« Tomorrow I'll come back and clean your grave and all the other graves around properly. I'll give this place some love. »
Eno didn't say anything, he only nodded, looking moved. He had the demeanor of someone who isn't used to kindness.
« I'll go back home now, it's starting to get dark, I'm hungry and I don't want Gavan to start worrying ahah! »
« Yes, ok. I'll stay here for a bit. See you tomorrow. »
They were both thoughtful.
Lug went home and Eno stayed in front of his grave, looking at the daisies with nostalgia.