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[Straybow suddenly finds himself in a strange train station. He sees that the other citizens of Lucrece are there, too…and they seem to be as confused as he is]
Straybow: (What…has happened? I…remember being in Odio’s domain…then I felt sudden fatigue…then I fell asleep…and now I am here? There better be a good explanation for this…)
[Straybow hears a train whistle from afar]
Straybow: (Hmm?)
[Pretty soon, a semi-luxurious train pulls into the station. The train itself is coloured green. Orange leaves, pink flowers, yellow grass, and blue lakes have been expertly painted on the train. Some of the citizens can be heard talking to each other. And then…the train’s doors open. The citizens all start to walk into the train; some eagerly go in, and others are more reluctant, but eventually, every last citizen of Lucrece is on the train…except for Straybow]
Straybow: I will not be a part of this. I will find another place to go.
[Straybow turns around and sees some big doors]
Straybow: There it is…
[Straybow walks over to the doors, opens them…and nearly falls into a void. The void is a strange mixture of dark purple and dark orange; it seems to be one colour, then the next, then both colours become haphazardly mixed together, and then it goes back to being one colour. Straybow smells sulphur and brimstone coming from the void. An unnerved Straybow slowly and calmly closes the doors]
Straybow:…Well, that was disturbing.
[Straybow turns to face the train again. Straybow raises an eyebrow when he sees that the train is still at the station. The train’s doors remain open, too]
Straybow:…I have to go on this train, I see. Unfortunate.
[Straybow sees somebody walking out of the train. The person is wearing a black cloak, and the cloak’s hood is hiding their face. The person is wearing black gloves, too]
Straybow: [flatly] Oh, dear gods, that is Death himself. So…this must mean…I am truly dead.
[Death walks closer and closer to Straybow, but not in a threatening way. Death is walking amicably, as if he was walking towards a dear friend]
Straybow:…You…you are not…being terrifying. Why are you not being terrifying?
[Death stops in front of Straybow. Death then slowly lowers his hood to reveal…]
Straybow: Oersted…?
[It is indeed Oersted himself, except his hair and eyes are now bright orange. Oersted has a warm smile on his face]
Oersted: Greetings, my friend.
Straybow:…You are not really Oersted, are you? You are simply taking on his appearance, yes?
Oersted: Would you like proof that it is me, Straybow?
Straybow: Yes, I would like proof! Reveal yourself to me!
[Oersted slowly cradles Straybow’s cheeks and looks directly into Straybow’s eyes. Straybow just silently stares into Oersted’s bright and shiny eyes]
Straybow:…Oersted…had shiny eyes…he was the only one that had such shiny eyes…and…and thine eyes are full of warmth, too…just like Oersted’s eyes…but that would mean…you truly are Oersted…?
Oersted: Aye.
Straybow: What…what has happened? To you, I mean? And…where am I?
Oersted: Let us talk on the train, Straybow. You will be more comfortable there.
[Straybow lets out a long sigh]
Straybow: If I must.
[Oersted gently takes Straybow’s hands and leads him onto the train. The train’s doors close behind Straybow]
Straybow: Well, we are on the train. Let us—
Oersted: Straybow, why don’t we go somewhere more private to talk?
[Straybow groans and rolls his eyes]
Straybow:…Fine, fine. I suppose it would be unwise to tell everyone about my…feelings.
Oersted: Good! Let us go, then!
Straybow: Uh…Oersted, could you…not hold my hands?
Oersted: Oh, of course.
[Oersted lets go of Straybow’s hands]
Oersted: Follow me this way.
[Oersted starts to walk down the hallway, with Straybow closely following him. Straybow scans the train’s interior; the ceiling lights have been dimmed to a comfortable level, and the blue floor lights emit a faint glow. The wallpaper has colored glowing stars on it]
Straybow: (It feels like…I’m strolling through space…somewhat…)
[Pretty soon, Oersted stops in front of an ornate orange door]
Oersted: Here we are!
[Straybow stops walking, too. He takes a few seconds to scan the door, but the only noteworthy thing that he sees on the door is a nameplate with “Death” neatly engraved on it]
Straybow:…I see.
Oersted: Yes, isn’t it wonderful? I am now Death! Or, well, I suppose it would be more accurate to say that I’m assisting him…
Straybow: In…what way?
Oersted: I’m the one that brings souls to the afterlife with this train.
Straybow:…Alright…
Oersted: I am also tasked with greeting kindhearted humans.
Straybow:…Just kindhearted humans?
Oersted: Aye.
[Straybow looks down at the floor pensively. Straybow then feels a gentle hand on his shoulder…which prompts Straybow to lower his gaze further]
Oersted:…Oh, Straybow…let’s discuss this in my room…
[Oersted opens the door and guides Straybow inside. Oersted gently closes the door behind him]
Oersted: Welcome to my room, Straybow. Go on and take a look.
[Straybow slowly raises his head. He sees that he is in a large room with pale blue wallpaper. The room contains a fridge, a bed, a sofa, a desk, a drafting table, some easels, a kitchen table, a few leather chairs, a fireplace, a small hydroponic garden, and a lot of bookshelves. Straybow silently looks around the room for a whole minute before speaking again]
Straybow:…Why…is your room…like this?
Oersted: I have a lot of new hobbies now. Also, I want visitors to feel at home. Do you feel at home, Straybow?
Straybow: Well, I…suppose it’s…nice…?
Oersted: Ah, excellent! Make yourself at home, then!
[Straybow just lowers his gaze again]
Oersted:…Straybow?
Straybow: [quietly] You only visit kindhearted people, yes?
Oersted: Aye. The gods have taken pity on me. They want me to focus more on humanity’s positive side.
[Straybow clenches his fists and bites his lip]
Oersted: Straybow?
[A few tears fall from Straybow’s eyes]
Oersted: Straybow, you’re crying…
Straybow: Oersted…I’m to blame for everything that happened to you. I ruined your life…all because I was jealous of your success. And I was too proud and stupid to talk to you about my feelings! I’m such a fool! We were friends, and…and I…ruined it! I ruined our friendship, Oersted! [wiping his tears away] Oh, nothing I say can ever make up for what I’ve done to you!
[Oersted says nothing]
Straybow:…Why did I not end up in that terrifying void…? That’s…where I truly belong, yes?
[Straybow flinches when he feels a gentle hand being placed on his cheek]
Oersted: [solemnly] Straybow, my friend…
[Oersted slowly lifts up Straybow’s head. Straybow whimpers when he looks into Oersted’s eyes]
Oersted:…I was a fool as well. I was your friend, and I…didn’t notice what you were going through. Perhaps I should have spoken to you more. Whenever you said you were doing alright, I didn’t press further. I thought you actually were doing alright. And…then there’s my time as Odio…nothing I say can make up for that. I did so many awful things to you, to Lucrece, to every existing human across time…I was overwhelmed with hatred and despair…
Straybow/Oersted: What can I do to apologize, even if it might not be enough?
[They both stay silent for a few moments]
Oersted:…Straybow…I believe I understand why you didn’t end up in that void. You seem genuinely remorseful over your actions. You’re acknowledging your mistakes. I’ve heard that some humans can’t do that.
Straybow:…But…but I am not a kindhearted human…
Oersted: If you’re not kindhearted…then why are you not in that void right now?
Straybow:…Maybe the gods are simply mistaken…
Oersted: Perhaps…they knew what was in your heart. They knew you wanted to talk to me, to make things right. I think they knew…that you were a human overwhelmed with emotion.
[Straybow says nothing]
Oersted: Straybow, I have seen how humans behave. They really do want to be good. But…they become overwhelmed. By anger, by sorrow, by fear…they feel like there is no other option.
[Straybow remains silent. Oersted slowly and gently pulls Straybow into a hug]
Oersted:…I am proud of the humans that continue to be kind in dire circumstances. And I am proud of you, too, my friend.
[Straybow whimpers…and then he starts bawling as he hugs Oersted]
Straybow: [speaking through sobs] This…this must…all be…a dream! How can…any of this…be real?!
[Oersted rests his chin on Straybow’s shoulder and leans in closer to him. Oersted then gently rocks Straybow. Oersted says nothing as he continues to hold Straybow. After a few minutes, Straybow has stopped bawling, but he’s still crying a little]
Straybow: Oersted…?
Oersted: [softly] You will be alright, Straybow. Just focus on my voice. Let me take care of you.
[Oersted cradles Straybow’s cheeks and rests his forehead on Straybow’s forehead]
Oersted: Close your eyes. Let yourself be calmed. You’ll be alright.
[Straybow feels himself getting more and more relaxed by the second, not just from Oersted’s voice, but also the soft silk from Oersted’s gloves. Straybow then finds that he’s having a hard time keeping his eyes open]
Oersted: Good, very good. You’ll be okay, I promise. Just close your eyes.
[Straybow goes limp as he slowly closes his eyes]
Straybow: Hmm…
[Straybow feels himself getting gently guided somewhere]
Oersted: Go on, lie down.
[Straybow feels himself being placed on a very soft and comfortable surface]
Oersted: Yes, there you go.
[Oersted lifts his hands off of Straybow, who is happily relaxing on the soft/comfortable surface. After a minute, Straybow very slowly opens his eyes and sees Oersted smiling warmly at him]
Oersted: Do you feel better, my friend?
[Straybow hums contemplatively as he takes in his surroundings. He notices that he’s lying on a bed]
Straybow: Hmm…? I…I do feel better, actually…
Oersted: Ah, very good.
[Straybow stares at Oersted for a few moments]
Straybow:…Do you…treat all of the passengers this way?
Oersted: I would, but…people are…understandably wary of meeting Death. They…do not really…come to my room. I have told everyone that I would be treating them nicely…but, well…Death is terrifying to many people. Nobody…visits me, unfortunately. And I do not force people to visit me. So, as you can tell…I don’t really…see anybody...
Straybow: Oersted…are you alright with that?
Oersted: It is a little lonely, I will admit…but I’m not miserable. I have lots of books. I can look into all parts of history. I can make objects appear if I snap my fingers. I have a lot of new hobbies now. I’m quite happy with what I have.
[Straybow slowly closes his eyes]
Straybow:…Oersted…
Oersted: Yes?
Straybow:…I’d like to spend some time in your room, if…if that’s alright…
Oersted: [happily] Oh, that would be wonderful! Please stay in my room for as long as you’d like!
[Straybow softly chuckles]
Straybow:…Thank you. I…I do not think that…you should be here by yourself. I don’t want to…to…lose you again…
[Straybow instantly reopens his eyes when he feels himself being pulled into a hug]
Oersted: Thank you, my friend. I’ll make sure you’re comfortable here. I’ll feed you, I’ll wash you, I’ll nap with you…oh, I just want to do everything with you…I just want to be friends with you again…
Straybow: Oersted…
Oersted:…Did my words sound…awkward? I can assure you that you will be treated as an equal to me. I…I really do not want to devalue you. I just…oh, I don’t want to lose you again, Straybow…
[Oersted hugs Straybow for several more seconds before slowly pulling away from him. Straybow sees that Oersted’s eyes are filled with tears. Straybow also notices that Oersted has a grateful smile on his face. Straybow finds himself chuckling]
Straybow:…Oersted, where is this train going to take me?
Oersted: To a better version of Lucrece. No demons, no corrupt social norms…just a genuinely peaceful village. Consider it your second chance at life.
Straybow:…Will you stay with me in that village, Oersted?
Oersted: Oh dear gods, yes! Of course I’ll stay with you, Straybow!
Straybow: Wait, you’re accepting?
Oersted: Aye!
Straybow: What about the other dead people you will meet? You might be gone for hours…you have to bring them to the afterlife, too…
Oersted: Straybow, time works somewhat differently here. It’s hard to explain, but…two days on this train is equivalent to two seconds in that village. In other words…we won’t be separated for very long.
Straybow:…I am…very confused, but…that sounds…pretty good…
[Straybow chuckles softly]
Straybow: We’re both getting another chance…I will not let this opportunity go to waste. I assure you.
Oersted: I won’t let this opportunity go to waste, either. I promise.
End