Book 2: Chapter 36 (1/2)

“Hold your heads high,” a man said as he thumped Mr. Skelly on the shoulder. “You’re one of us, remember?”

Mr. Skelly nodded and raised his head, stepping past the gate’s threshold with his two companions in tow. He glanced around before scratching his head.

“What’s wrong?” the man asked as he herded his horse through the gate.

“I don’t remember where I lived.” Mr. Skelly sighed and hung his head. “I can remember bits and pieces. I had a wife and two children. I know we had a fireplace. The tree outside was a cherry tree that the squirrels would always eat from. But I can’t remember where it is.” His hands clenched into fists as a tears leaked out of his eye sockets.

“Don’t worry. We can go to the adventurers’ guild and ask. Everyone’s addresses are recorded when they sign up.” The armored woman grabbed Mr. Skelly’s hand and smiled at him.

Mr. Skelly nodded. “To the adventurers’ guild then.” He turned his gaze towards the man. “May I ask you to lead the way? I’m afraid people will be frightened by my presence.”

The man nodded. “Don’t worry. I was going there as well. Besides, you need someone to vouch for you. It’d be terrible if someone accidentally killed you. …Again.”

Mr. Skelly winced. “Dying the first time was enough.”

“Do you remember how it happened?” the man asked as he led the way. A few of the other travelers accompanied them as well. The people in streets gawked and pointed, but luckily, none of them reacted violently.

“I … I don’t.” Mr. Skelly sighed. “But I do remember what happened afterwards. I saw a light, a bright white light at the end of a dark tunnel. There was someone there, a beautiful woman. She held her hand out to me and pulled me out of the darkness. I’m sure she must’ve been an angel.” Mr. Skelly sighed again. “She asked me if I had any regrets. She told me she was a messenger of god and she’d grant me a wish. I told her I was sorry I had left behind my wife and two kids, that I couldn’t properly tell them goodbye. She told me she understood, and the next thing I knew, I was awake, lying on the road with Jessica and Norman by my side.”

The man was silent as he led his horse through the streets, heading towards the adventurers’ guild. “A miracle,” he said after a while. “It’s miraculous how you’ve retained your sense of self. I was under the impression most people lost their minds when they turned undead.”

“I never thought I’d become undead,” Mr. Skelly said before letting out a hollow laugh. “But things don’t always turn out how you expect them to.”

“Isn’t that right?” the man asked before shaking his head. His horse came to a halt as the group stopped in front of the adventurers’ guild. He tied the horse’s reins to a nearby pillar and opened the door to the guild. His booming voice echoed through the lobby, “Is the guild master in? There’s an urgent matter.”