Interval 5 – New Life in the Kingdom of the Night

-Kingdom of the Night, Year 4193-

BANG!

The bullet ripped through the air, closing the distance and hitting the SHADE on the side of its head. The thing dropped dead and dissipated, leaving a wallet behind; I slung my rifle over my shoulder and walked toward it.

"I don't understand why you collect these things." Novi said, stopping beside me and resting her carbine on her shoulder.

"It's weird, have you ever wondered why SHADES carry everyday objects?" I opened the wallet and observed its contents.

An identity degraded by time with the photo, name, and fingerprint unrecognizable, a faded credit card of an unidentifiable bank, and bills that turned to dust when I touched them.

"They are SHADES. Why should I care?" Novi shrugged.

"I understand why the war against the SHADES lasted so long." I put the wallet in my backpack.

"What do you mean?" Novi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You don't understand your enemy; I'm not talking about befriending the SHADES, but about studying them. Their reproduction, feeding, behavior, and more, you talk about killing the SHADES, but you don't know anything about them."

"PPSSHH! As if, we had anything to learn from them. Come on, you still have to tell me what the stuff scattered around town is for. That blackboard, what was the name?" Novi said, punching my arm playfully.

"Television?" I replied hesitantly, disappointed by her answer.

"That's right! Television, I want to know what it is for." Novi said, walking beside me.

"Well, people used it to transmit different types of programs…" Suddenly, I felt Novi's hand holding mine.

"Continue, please." Novi said staring at me with blushed cheeks.

"You aren't listening to anything I'm saying, are you?" I asked staring back and feeling my face heat up.

"No." Novi shook her head, giving me a loving smile and dreamy gaze.

"Why do I even try?" I asked in false frustration, returning Novi's gestures with my own.

"You try because you like me." Novi said, resting her head on my shoulder.

"You're right and I know you like me too." I smiled, holding her hand tighter.

"How did you find out?" Novi asked, pretending to be surprised. Then, together, hand in hand, we walked through the city.

-Realm of the Night, Year 4194-

"So, you come here often?" I asked nervously, giving my best flirting smile.

"Serious? Is this your best flirt?" Novi asked sarcastically from across the table while crossing her arms.

"Sorry, I've never been on a date." I replied apologetically, scratching the back of my head.

"Well, that's obvious." Novi said, shaking her head.

Novi and I were on a date in a luxury restaurant on the roof of a building, red carpets covered the floor, and golden chandeliers hung from what remained of the ceiling.

An old piano stood on a stage, tables, and chairs of the best quality were scattered across the roof, and the glass dome at the top of the building broke, giving us a view of the full moon that lit up the sky.

Novi wore a nice white dress that did not do much to hide her muscles, a pearl necklace, and diamond earrings that she looted from a high-class store. I cannot judge as I did the same. I wore a black tuxedo with a red tie, gold cufflinks, and Italian leather shoes.

"Changing the subject, what would you like to eat?" I asked, trying to save the situation.

"Hm… Let me think, I would like a salmon filet, spaghetti with meatballs accompanied by shrimp, and a chocolate cake for dessert." Novi said, holding her chin while looking up deep in thought.

I sweated nervously at Novi's request. Where will I find these things? I left these thoughts behind when I felt a hand touching mine.

"I'm just kidding, whatever you've made is fine." Novi smiled playfully, calming me down. I sighed relieved upon hearing that.

"Wow! You scared me for a minute." I laughed, taking my time to appreciate how beautiful she looked.

"I will admit. It was fun to see your face." Novi replied, releasing my hand.

With an irritated grunt, I made a pompous voice, walked towards the restaurant cart on our side, and set the table.

"Today's dish consists of roasted fish caught in the river in the middle of the city, rabbit meat caught in a trap of mine, mashed potatoes, and cooked vegetables, grown and harvested in our backyard. To drink, we have wine of unknown age looted from a half-collapsed cellar, and for dessert, we have some fruits I picked from the top of the trees."

"Impressive! Give my compliments to the chef." Novi said in the same pompous tone as I, holding her heath with one hand while waving around dramatically.

"The chef is in front of you, miss." I replied, bowing in an arc.

"Gasp! Does that mean the handsome man in front of me is the chef?" Novi answered surprised, holding her cheeks in admiration.

"Certainly, and that chef is happy to serve the beautiful lady in the white dress." I said, serving the table.

"And who is this beautiful lady? Is she here? Because I'm jealous." Novi said, looking around.

"Yes, she's here. She is a beautiful, strong, intelligent, and dedicated woman with an indomitable spirit, in short, the best woman in the world." I approached Novi.

"Oh! Who is this woman? I'm curious." Novi approached me.

"She is in front of me." I approached again.

"Are you talking about me?" Novi repeated the gesture.

"Would you like to find out?" I closed the distance until our faces were inches apart, our lips almost touching.

CRASH!

"RRROOOAAARRR!"

However, the group of SHADES who broke down the door interrupted our moment. Looking at Novi, I flinched when I saw the murderous look on her face.

"YOU BASTARDS! YOU WILL PAY FOR DISRUPTING MY DATE!" Novi screamed, pulling her carbine out of some mysterious place and firing at the SHADES.

Where was she keeping that thing?

BANG!

To hell with it! I pulled the collar of my tuxedo out, reaching my hand inside and drawing my revolver. Well, every good dinner needs some good entertainment, doesn't it?

-XXXXXX-

"*Munch* This food is delicious." Novi said between bites.

"*Munch* Thank you, I did my best, but I wish I had an equipped kitchen." I answered.

"Kitchen or not, I'm sure the food would be delicious."

"You flatter me."

"But I am telling the truth."

Novi and I ate as the dead SHADES on the floor around our table disappeared. I looked at Novi and then at me, seeing our ruined clothes and bruised bodies. Damn it! Of all the times, they could show up, did it have to be right now? I wanted this date to be perfect, but they had to screw it up.

"Listen Novi… About the SHADES…" I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck while averting my gaze in shame, but Novi held up her hand, cutting me off.

"Stop it, it wasn't your fault, you cannot control the SHADES, and you've done enough preparing for this date."

"But…"

"No, but, just enjoy the night." Novi smiled and I smiled back, so we went back to our dinner.

-Realm of the Night, Year 4195-

"Are we there yet?" I asked Novi as we walked.

"We are almost there!" Novi replied, tugging on my hand.

"Do I need to be blindfolded for this?" I asked confused, looking around while tripping on my feet, trying to discover where we were going through the noise.

"Yes, it is a surprise." Novi said happily, helping me to keep my balance.

I had no idea where we were going; Novi asked me to put on a blindfold and dragged me across town with me stumbling and falling most of the way until we suddenly stopped.

"Are we there yet?"

"Yes, you can take off the blindfold."

I removed the blindfold and what I saw left me speechless, we were on a green grassy hill surrounded by trees, with the full moon in front of us, shining like a spotlight surrounded by stars, upon a sea of bright white flowers on the top of the hill.

"Wow! I… I don't know what to say."

"Impressive isn't it? I was also speechless when my parents brought me here." Novi said, sitting down in a flowerless area and patting the ground beside her.

"Your parents? You haven't said much about them." I asked, sitting down beside her.

"Johan Superstes and Alessia Superstes. I wonder what they would think if they saw us together." Novi said, looking at the sky.

"They probably wouldn't like me." I replied dryly, trying to hold my laugh.

"My mother would like you, but my dad would try to shoot you with his shotgun, he'd yell things like 'Get away from my princess!' or something like that."

"HAHA! If my parents saw me now… Well… My mom would be happy, but my dad would ask what you saw in me if you are blind if you know what you are getting into, or just say 'Finally.'"

"HAHAHA! I would like to know him." Novi laughed.

"Better not, he was a person of few words, but would tease us endlessly upon seeing us dating." I said, feeling my heart tighten after thinking about my parents.

"Dating, I never thought I would get this far, I thought the SHADES would kill me at some point." Novi replied, resting her head on her knees.

"They would have killed me if it weren't for you." I said, hugging her.

"You are right. What would you be without me?" Novi mocked, making me laugh.

"I wonder the same." I replied, smiling at her. Then we sat in silence for a few minutes, just enjoying the view.

"Alan?" Novi asked.

"Yes?"

"Do you know what type these flowers are?"

"No, I never saw anything like it."

"These are the Lunar Tears, rare flowers, they are said to have the ability to grant wishes."

"Seriously? Like a shooting star?"

"Something like that. I thought, how about we make our wishes here? They must come true with so many lunar tears around."

"I will only do this if you make your first."

"Fine, I wish the two of us stay together." Novi said with closed eyes. I took this opportunity to move in front of her.

"Who would know? Lunar Tears fulfill wishes, but it all depends on your response now."

"What do you mean by that?" Novi opened her eyes, only to widen at the sight in front of her.

"Alan, what is this?" Novi asked hesitantly while swallowing hard.

"It is an engagement ring." I said from my kneeling position with my hand extended in front of her, showing a ring box with a gold ring adorned with a diamond.

Where did I get the ring? Let us say a high-end jewelry store has a brick in one of their window displays right now.

"So, Novi, will you marry me?" I asked the big question.

"Yes." Novi said something, but I could not hear it.

"What?"

"Yes, you idiot, I said yes!" Novi screamed, jumping towards and hugging me with teary eyes. We rolled through the field of flowers until we stopped with Novi on top of me.

"Sorry about that, I… HHMM!" I could not finish when I felt Novi's lips on mine. I returned the kiss and we stood there in the field of flowers, the moon being the only witness to what happened.

-Kingdom of the Night, Year 4196-

To say I am nervous would be an understatement; I am sweating like a waterfall, constantly adjusting my tuxedo collar, and repeatedly glancing at my imaginary wristwatch.

Did something happen? Did she give up? Did the SHADES do something to her? My worries disappeared when the church doors opened.

The ornate pillars, ceilings, and walls surrounded us; beautiful stained glass windows illuminated by the moonlight filled the church with a sea of colors, while the dome above us graced us with the image of angels.

Not to mention, of course, the guests, rows of mannequins wearing formal clothes occupied the pews in the church.

Novi walked between the pews towards the altar, wearing a beautiful wedding dress with the veil covering her face. Novi walked up to the altar and stopped in front of me while holding a bouquet of lunar tears.

"Nervous?" Novi asked playfully.

"Yes." I replied smiling as my heart raced.

"I'm too." Novi answered.

Then the mannequin wearing priest's clothes started the ceremony, and everything happened normally until reaching the part where if someone has something against this union should speak now or remain silent, at that moment the church doors opened and the SHADES entered.

"Novi, will you stay with me through thick and thin, in sickness or health, until death do us part?!?" I asked, smiling from ear to ear.

"Yes! How about you Alan? Will you stay with me through thick and thin, in sickness or health, until death do us part?!?" Novi asked back, jumping slightly in her place.

"Yes!" I replied.

We put the rings on our fingers, and Novi threw her bouquet towards the SHADES, one of them caught it, and the dummy priest declared us husband and wife. I lifted Novi's veil and kissed her, meanwhile, the SHADES approached the altar. Fortunately, Novi and I prepared for the SHADES's appearance.

Novi drew her revolver out of her dress and fired it into a mass of fuses on the altar. The fuses burned towards the sticks of dynamite stuck to the chest of every mannequin in the church.

I quickly put my arms under Novi's legs and behind her back, running towards the back door of the church. I heard the sound of the explosions and the stained glass breaking as I ran away.

"HAHAHA!" Novi and I laughed as we ran.

-XXXXXX-

Now for the second part of our night, it took some work to get this room ready, but it was worth it. I kicked open the door to a luxury room, in the same building where we had our date, and closed it behind me with my heel.

"Put me down." Novi said, patting my shoulder. Doing as she said, I found myself pushed towards the bed, landing on my back.

"Novi what…" I muttered, but Novi sitting on top of me cut me off.

"Better get ready, I'll keep you up all night." Novi said lewdly, licking her lips and opening my tuxedo violently, ripping off all the buttons.

I sweated nervously, feeling that Novi would not be gentle.

-XXXXXX-

"Ouch!" This was the only thing I said after what happened.

"You have five minutes to rest before we continue." Novi replied, hugging my arm. She is trying to kill me!

-Realm of the Night, Year 4197-

Marriage, I never thought I would make it this far. I must be twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old now, seven or eight years since I arrived in this distant future.

No one in my time would believe what I have been through, but it is not as if I have some way to get back.

"Alan, leave these things behind and come to bed." Novi called into our bed.

"Fine." I sighed, smiling softly.

I went towards the bed, putting aside the things that the SHADES carried before I killed them. Dolls, house keys, wallets, purses, and more. I still do not understand why the SHADES carry these things, but I am giving up since it does not matter, all that matters is the life I am living with Novi.

I lay down next to Novi and we kissed.

"Goodnight." I said to her, smiling before closing my eyes.

"Goodnight." Novi replied, returning the gesture.

Then we went to sleep.

-XXXXXX-

"COUGH! COUGH! COUGH!"

I woke up in the middle of the night when I heard coughing. I saw Novi sitting on the bed with both arms outstretched in front of her.

"Novi, what's the matter?" I asked worriedly after sitting up.

Novi turned to me with teary eyes as she showed me her arms. I thought it was my imagination for just waking up, but when I looked closer, I realized that black marks similar to letters covered her arms, but I never saw any alphabet like that.

"Alan?" Novi asked nervously.

"Yes?" I asked concerned.

"Do you remember when I said that a mysterious disease killed everyone?"

"Yes, why the question?" I replied, praying with all my heart that this was not what I was thinking.

"Black letter-like marks covering the body were the main symptom of this disease."

I was speechless, processing what Novi said, so I looked into her eyes and saw the startled gaze she gave me, so I hugged her.

-Kingdom of the Night, Year 4198-

"Alan?" Novi asked weakly, her tone low, almost disappearing with the difficulty of speaking.

"Yes?" I replied, swallowing hard and trying to hold back my sadness and fear.

"I love you." Novi said, turning toward me a giving me the most beautiful smile in the world, with the wind blowing flower petals and the moonlight shining on her face.

"I love you too." I replied as my voice cracked and my eyes watered, threatening to release a sea of tears, but I did not dare to ruin this moment, so I smiled back as if nothing was wrong.

We sat in the field of flowers, in the same place where I asked Novi in marriage. Novi asked me to bring her here as a last request since her illness spread with marks gradually covering her body.

Novi became weaker with each day, the strong woman I knew became thin as a stick, the color drained from her hair and nails, and her eyes sank and dark circled.

Suddenly, I felt Novi laying her head on my shoulder.

"Novi?" I asked but received no answer. I felt something wet running down my face, tears. Am I crying? Yes, I am.

I heard footsteps behind me. Looking back, I saw SHADES, not just a group, but an army, SHADES as far as I could see. I laid Novi down in the field of flowers; she had a smile on her face, an expression of peace, finally free of the disease that slowly killed her.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" I asked, approaching the SHADES, but they did not do anything.

"HUH! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!? ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU WANTED?!? KILL US?!? WELL, SHE IS GONE, JUST ME LEFT NOW! THEN COME ON! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!?" I yelled, approaching with open arms, but the SHADES did nothing; they stared at me, turned around, and disappeared in dark particles, leaving behind a series of objects.

"AAAHHH! GET BACK HERE! GET BACK HERE AND FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED!" I screamed, dropping to my knees and punching the ground, but no one returned, there was no one but me.

I buried Novi in the flower field when I finally calmed down enough and made a wooden cross to mark her grave.

"Goodbye Novi." I said between tears, bowing in front of her grave and placing a Lunar Tear on top of it. After saying goodbye, I returned to the city.

-Kingdom of the Night, Year 4199-

How long shall I go on like this?!? I thought, throwing a bottle against the wall.

CRASH!

Looking at the table in front of me, I saw different types of drink covering it, a bad habit that I picked up; I ransacked the city from top to bottom in search of any drink that was still drinkable, trying to drown my sorrows.

"But that didn't work, did it?" A familiar male voice said. Looking to its source, I saw another me sitting on a chair across the table.

"And what do you want me to do?" I replied, frowning and leaning back on my chair.

"You could start by taking a shower, you look awful." Other me said, grimacing while pinching his nose.

I saw my reflection on the bottles, a long dirty beard, dark circles under my eyes, long messy hair, and wrinkled clothes. Smelling myself, I shuddered at the stench, a mix of alcohol and lack of showering.

"What's the point, there's no one here to see me like this?!?" I shrugged.

"Do you think Novi would like to see you like this?" Other me sighed, and this pissed me off.

"Do not speak her name!" I threw a bottle at the other me.

CRASH!

However, he cocked his head aside, dodging it.

"Pull yourself together! Look at yourself! Look around yourself! How long do you plan to live like this, looting stores to make this apartment as chic as possible, and drinking every night until you pass out? Tell me!" Other me demanded, slamming both hands on the table.

We were in a luxury apartment that I broke into. I made the place as fancy as I could by stealing expensive furniture and decorating the rooms, trying to keep myself distracted and fill the void in my chest with material goods.

"Easy for you to say, isn't it? You are just a figment of my head." I said, pointing at other me through my blurry vision.

"I may be a figment of your head, but I'm still a part of you! What little is left is trying to recover, before you do something drastic!" Other me answered, leaning forward and pocking my forehead.

"I don't need your help!" I yelled, slapping his finger away.

"Believe me; you need it because if I don't help you, someone worse will." Other me said with menace and worry while half-closing his eyes.

"Shut up! What will you do? Sit on my shoulder and give me advice?" I mocked, rummaging through the bottles in search of more alcohol. The other me sighed heavily, leaned back in his chair, looked up, and said:

"Then don't say I didn't warn you." Other me spoke before disappearing, and then everything went silent.

"Finally he left." I said, uncapping another bottle, ready to drink it, until I heard a laugh.

"HAHAHA!"

I stood up abruptly, knocking over the chair and bottle while looking around.

"Is someone there?"

"HAHAHA!"

"Better show up! I'm armed!" I said, drawing my revolver and seeing something entering a room out of the corner of my eyes.

BANG!

The bullet blew a hole in the open door, but the laugh and thing returned, this time on the stair railing behind me.

"HAHAHA!"

Therefore, I fired again, ripping off a chunk of the railing, but missing the source of the noise.

BANG!

"I am here." A voice said behind me.

I quickly turned around, ready to fire, but hesitated when I saw the source of the voice, a little girl wearing a red dress, with blonde hair and red eyes. I grabbed a bottle cap and threw it at the girl's forehead, causing a ripple as if it had hit the surface of a lake, before landing on the ground behind her.

"HAHAHA! Great, I have gone mad for good!" I laughed hysterically, holding my head with both hands.

"Why do you say that?" The little girl asked innocently, tilting her head in confusion.

"I say that because the other me at least pretended not to be a hallucination, you didn't even try!" I replied, still panicking.

"I am not a hallucination!" The little girl said angrily, frowning and tapping her foot on the floor.

"Sure… sure… What's your name girl?" I asked, laughing slightly at the adorable display.

"My name is Manah." Manah replied, bowing politely.

"And what are you doing here Manah?" I asked, returning the gesture. Since I am already insane, I might as well entertain myself with my madness.

"I have a proposal for you!" Manah said playfully, jumping in her place.

"Which kind of proposal?" I asked, raising an eyebrow in distrust.

"What if I told you there is a way for you to see Novi again?" Manah replied, catching my interest.

"It's not fun to play with these things girl." I answered between gritted teeth, my anger already boiling.

"I'm not kidding, it's true!" Manah yelled.

"Let us suppose what you said is true, what's in it for you by telling me that?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"I just want you to take me somewhere." Manah replied, swinging from side to side.

"Where?"

"Amazon rainforest."

"Amazon rainforest, what do you want to do there?!?" I said, taken back by the answer.

"There is something I want, and that something is in the Amazon rainforest, the way for you to see Novi again is there too." Manah said, putting her arms behind her back and rocking back and forth.

Hm… This is weird, the Amazon rainforest… What does this hallucination want with it? Well, it is better than continuing here, I suppose.

"Okay, I accept your proposal." I sighed, hating myself for giving in easily.

"There is one more thing you need to do." Manah smiled, poking her cheek.

"What?"

"Make a pact with me." Manah said, extending her hand.

A pact, since when does my mind believe in something so esoteric? Glancing at Manah, I saw that she waited for my answer expectantly. If what she said is true, then I will see Novi again. Do it for Novi, Alan, do it for Novi.

Therefore, I extended my hand.

END OF CHAPTER