CHAPTER IV.

  Alexander’s brother had an unusual sense of humor.

  Alexander sat on a log before a bonfire for a talent show a few months ago. Heacean boys and girls held talent shows from time to time within friend groups as safe spaces into which there would be no incursion by Heacean adults. He greeted friends here and there, but it was when he felt a slap on his left shoulder that he really paid attention. It was Joshua Teegarden, his best friend.

  Joshua reached over him to shake someone else’s hand, smirking cockily. “Pardon my reach. Didn’t mean to shove my huge dick in your face.” Ezekiel was not there, as he was slated to perform, but Maple was. She blushed and looked away. Alexander rolled his eyes and cup-checked him with his palm. Joshua’s eyes widened, and his voice croaked before he winced, squeezed himself, and fell onto his knees.

  “Won’t be so big if I pop it,” threatened Alexander, flexing his hand.

  “U-understood, sir,” said Joshua in a high voice, and they shared a laugh. Alexander ruffled his hair, they hugged each other tightly, and they kissed each other on the cheeks as was customary in Heacean culture. He sat on a log next to his, and they began catching up. “Your brotha’s goin first tonight?” asked Joshua after awhile.

  “Yup. He said it’d be a comedy routine.” Joshua raised an eyebrow.

  “I didn’t know your brotha was a comedian.”

  “I didn’t know either!” exclaimed Alexander. “But he said he wanted ta do it. He’s been extra nervous about it though.”

  “Let’s support him,” said Joshua, winking. Alexander nodded.

  Firo walked out to the stage, which was a patch of grass in front of the bonfire. Everyone stared at him, given what he wore.

  “Dude, that outfit’s kinda sick,” whispered Joshua. Maple looked concerned. Firo was shaking a bit, but he looked into Alexander’s eyes, and he became calmer.

  “Thank ya to everyone for comin here today. I know it’s not just for me.” Firo rubbed the back of his neck and laughed awkwardly. Many people looked at each other, but they all clapped politely. “Thank you to my big brotha for comin here today too.” Firo looked at him. “Many of you don’t know this, but we used to have a little brotha named Alec. Our parents always liked to say, ‘The more children, the brighta the room.’ But now that Alec’s burnt to a crisp, we need a new brotha.” Everyone sat in stunned silence. Alexander placed a hand over his mouth.

  Alexander’s brother had an unusual sense of humor.

  The golem had launched a rock at Firo when it saw an opening, and Alexander dropped his sword and protected him, absorbing the brunt of the impact and hitting his head against a rock wall in the process. The brothers had been fighting the golem for quite some time, and it was none the worse for wear.

  “Ta-take care of your brother,” said a female.

  “Huh?” asked Firo. He flashbacked to his mother, this time as she was in the advanced stages of petrification. She had been sleeping, and her family was taking turns with alone time with her. It was his turn when she uttered those words.

  “Take care of your brother. He’s . . . he’s your big brother, and he’ll always be there to love and protect you. But he’ll need someone to love and protect him in my stead when I’m not around.” Firo teared up and squeezed his mom’s hand.

  “M-mom. . . .” That was what Firo muttered then and now as his big brother groaned. Alexander had a concussion. Barrier prevented penetration of the skin, but it cannot actually do anything about whiplash to internal organs. Neither had any time for respite as the golem held out its arms.

  “G-go. . . . Hide.” managed Alexander, holding his head as the world swayed around him. Firo shook his head, gripping his shoulders.

  “You’re hurt! Lemme fight instead.”

  “Shut up!” shouted Alexander. Firo’s eyes widened. “There’s no time!” Indeed, there was not as the golem reorganized the rocks constituting its body into something more akin to a countertop. It began spinning rapidly and releasing a torrent of rocks that would have caused most people to release a torrent of diarrhea. Magic was necessary for spinning here: those rocks generated a lot of friction. The low surface area at the base of it in this form was more conducive to spinning, however. Alexander lightly pushed him in the direction of a safe corner and grabbed his katana. He was, again, concussed, and much of his mana had been depleted.

  But he was, again, Alexander Greenwood.

  He ran toward the golem. He dodged a surprising amount of rocks, but not all. His mana reserves took even more of a hit. But he did get to his destination. He stood in front of the spinning golem and inserted his katana into its base. He had reinforced his katana with magic, and he used its extreme angular velocity against it to sheer off the base and cause it to topple. It thrashed on the floor, in stark contrast to the boy named Alexander before it who gently placed his hand onto its side.

  “Shatter.”

  A quarter of the golem’s body exploded. Firo stared at the scene, starry-eyed.

  “That’s my brotha!” yelled Firo, loudly enough for him to hear. Alexander’s lids felt heavy, but he turned, flashed a smile, and gave a thumbs up. Then, the golem let out an earth-rumbling roar. Alexander jumped back as it began reorganizing its body with the remaining rocks it had into an arachnid form and leapt onto the ceiling.

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  “Shit! It’s tryna cause a cave-in!” Alexander ran toward Firo, who looked around him confusedly at first but ran toward him as well. They dodged the first rocks that fell, and Alexander tackled him to the floor. Both activated the strongest form of barrier they knew, attempting to reflect as many rocks as possible.

  “Are those friends of yours?” Alexander and Firo looked at each other. They were looking after their mother that night in the hospital room. “They look around your age, Alex. So cute!” Their mother laughed lightheartedly. The brothers nodded, smiling with watery eyes. In Heacean culture, people were known to see children they had never met on their deathbeds, but there was a lot to what they represented.

  According to worshippers of Sin, he came to the planet to create human life. Giggletwinks and other lifeforms already existed on the planet before he arrived, and he wanted to see how humans behaved when left to their own devices. He was deeply disappointed. They were not only cruel to one another but to other lifeforms, especially Giggletwinks, whom they enslaved and—in some cultures—ate. Many suffered fates worse than death. There was just something about them that conjured the most depraved thoughts humanly imaginable. There was but one exception: Heaceans. Heace was the first civilization that forbade harm to Giggletwinks, and they not only coexisted but thrived with them. The Heaceans were Sin’s chosen people. They were chosen to live with him and to guard him in his paradise. But man had one fatal flaw: curiosity. Heaceans were no exception there. Generations passed, and some of them wanted to leave paradise to see what the planet was like. Their request saddened him, but he acquiesced and allowed those who were curious to venture out. Those adventurers were not guaranteed return, however. They had to find their own way back to paradise. But these apparitions of children were seen as angels he sent to retrieve individuals he specifically wanted back with him, and so it was seen as a blessing for Heaceans nearing the end. She hummed.

  “No, but I don’t think they’re bad people,” said Alexander, wryly smiling as she focused her eyes behind the brothers.

  “Oh, they look like such good boys,” managed she. A moment of lucidity passed behind her eyes. She looked at the brothers, and they shared a laugh. Then, she focused her eyes back behind them, and she screamed.

  “Ahh!” yelped Firo, falling onto his back from surprise. “What’s wrong?” She was shaking as she slowly lifted her mostly petrified right arm to point.

  “Mom! Don’t move your arm!” Alexander arose and grabbed her hand, trying to maintain his composure as much as possible.

  “Oh my Sin! Oh my Sin! What are you doing? Alex, Firo, help them! Get that man in the fedora away from them! NOOOOOOOO!” screamed she, eyes rolling into the back of her head. She aspirated vomit as she convulsed on her hospital bed.

  “Help! Help! Help!” shouted Firo, running out of the hospital room.

  Alexander’s body twitched. He was completely spent. His body felt numb. His speech slurred. His vision blurred. He was dizzy. His head ached. Firo groaned next to him. They heard the cave rumble with the golem rummaging through the rubble. It spotted them. It approached. Alexander tried to get onto his hands and knees but fell back down. Then, it was knocked off its feet. Firo had placed his hands onto the floor and erected a rock wall, which would not hold it back for long. He desperately tried to get onto his hands and knees again but failed. He tried to say something but failed. He tried to reach out his hand. Firo grabbed it and spoke.

  “Brotha, it appears that the end is near.

  Its red eyes already glare into mine.

  We shall not grow old togetha I fear.

  I only wish we could have had more time.”

  Firo knelt and placed Alexander’s head and shoulder onto his lap.

  “Heaceans worship heroes above most things.

  You saved me that day when I ran away.

  But for you not one more day can I bring.

  So walk with me to paradise today.”

  Firo embraced him. Alexander opened his mouth, his voice croaking, but no words formed. The golem broke through the wall and crawled toward the brothers. Firo kissed him on the forehead and stood, katana in hand. Alexander opened his eyes more. He looked over his shoulder at him.

  “See ya, bro.” Firo flashed a bright smile to him, who weakly reached out his arms. And then he charged straight at the golem.

  Parry.

  Parry.

  Strike.

  Parry.

  Decapitation.

  A silent scream emanated from Alexander’s mouth before his eyes rolled into the back of his head. He went into shock and passed out.

  “Some of you have probably noticed the bags under my eyes. It’s from that damn pip next door. Barks throughout the night. Won’t have these bags much longa though.” Firo locked eyes with multiple people and nodded. “Brought a shovel to my neighbor’s house. Beat my neighbor over the head. Now the pip can starve to death.” Alexander’s brother had an unusual sense of humor, but this time everyone in the audience was laughing. This included Alexander and Maple. “People may think I’m just usin humor to cope with my mom’s death, but I know jokes can’t bring my mom back. That’s what necrophilia is for. . . .” Everyone sat in stunned silence again before Joshua stood abruptly and pointed at him.

  “You meant necromancy, ya fuckin idiot!” Everyone burst out laughing. Firo met Maple’s eyes and smiled. She blushed and looked away.

  “No, I didn’t.” That did it. Everyone laughed hysterically now, some coughing and wheezing. Alexander held his hand over his face, but he placed down it and revealed a proud smile. Maple wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. The humor was not for everyone, but it was for Firo, and his tribe let him be himself. He bowed repeatedly. “Thank you, thank you. I’m never goin to paradise after this, but I know someone who is. Here comes Heace’s favorite son himself: Ezekiel Roosevelt.” Firo pointed at the woods, and out walked Ezekiel, who pulled him into a hug.

  “Firo Greenwood, ladies and gentlemen!” said Ezekiel, causing him to blush as he accepted one last applause from the audience. “Great job,” whispered Ezekiel into his ear. Firo took his seat, and it was finally his turn to perform. He stood in front of the bonfire, looking at the grass for awhile. Everyone quieted. Then, he began to sing.

  “Chains of the Heaceans,

  Heavy and cold as we bruise,

  Are laden with gold.

  The fire within us—

  When the sun and the moons collide.

  A life sacrificed.

  A life worth living.

  The world may try to break us.

  We really don’t care.

  A thousand lives lived.

  The oppressor or oppressed?

  I always choose you.

  Hate empowers them.

  Sylphstags never attack first.

  How deep is your love?—"

  “But that fire can burn.

  Phoenix, arise from the ash

  To protect the trees.”