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The sun falls quicker than its time to rise.

Days are eclipsed into night.

It is such a cold demise.

Why not end in delight?

shadow_17705 Presents

Traveler of Light
Chapter 15: Serene Night, Part I

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A white hedgehog stood in the mountains. His fur was whiter than the snow and the ice that surrounds him. As empty this white can be, ironically, small rainbows can be seen in an angle.

A white girl hedgehog came running after the luminous one. Her fur color had a slight golden tint due to her one golden highlight. Her smile however echoed the boy's flawless fur.

They embraced. The boy's fingers caressed the girl's hair. The girl sighed as the boy's stern face was severed slightly into a smile.

Boy Hedgehog: You came? Why?

Girl Hedgehog: Why wouldn't I?

Boy Hedgehog: It's... odd...

Girl Hedgehog: ...That I don't fit in?

Boy Hedgehog: That you would keep your promise.

Girl Hedgehog: ...Why?

Boy Hedgehog: I never met anyone who kept their promises.

The boy hedgehog sighs.

Girl Hedgehog: Don't be like that.

Boy Hedgehog: Hmm?

Girl Hedgehog: Try to have a positive outlook on life. Don't be negative.

Boy Hedgehog: Is that even possible?

Girl Hedgehog: Of course!

Boy Hedgehog: Hmph. It's not normal to be positive. Always.... happy. It's just not right.

Girl Hedgehog: You don't have to be happy all the time.

Boy Hedgehog: But-

Girl Hedgehog: Think about the things that make you positive. What ma-?

The boy hedgehog hugged her.

Boy Hedgehog: I'm with you... right?

They smiled at each other and kissed.

__________________

Faith had finished writing a rather long diary entry. She sighed as she closed her red, leather notebook. On the back, engraved, were the letters L and F enclosed in a heart. There was no plus sign between them. Faith thought the plus sign meant separation between them.

Tonight, my goal will finally be achieved...

Lucero was running from the outskirts of the city into the suburban neighborhood near the ocean. The sun was setting.

I find it funny that all of the gears started turning only a few weeks ago...

Lucero ran through the terraces and boulevards. He speeded into a familiar street. He stopped at Faith's house. He knocked on the door. No answer.

Lucero: Faith!

No answer. Lucero proceeded by opening the door, but it was locked. Lucero forcefully kicked the door open.

Lucero: Faith!

No answer.

It was too easy...

Faith was no where to be seen or heard. Lucero ran upstairs to Faith's bedroom. She was no where in sight. However, on a desk, was a red diary with black binding. The front cover was faced down. The back with the heart was shown. Beside it, were two notes, one of them was crumbled. Lucero unfolded the crumbled one first. The words scribbled on it were stressed.

__________

FAITH,

I NEED YOU TO MEET ME BY SIDUS CEMETERY IN THE CITY BY EXACTLY SEVEN IN THE AFTERNOON. EVERYTHING WILL BE EXPLAINED ONCE YOU GET THERE.

SAKU

P.S. BRING YOUR TWILIGHT DIAMOND.

__________

Lucero gawked at the pressured letters. He snatched the second note, written by Faith.

__________

Lucero,

If you get this note, you have most likely come back from Saku's game of fencing. I have gone to the cemetery. His handwriting was different than his usual. I don't like it. I'm truly sorry for stealing the Twilight Diamond. I'm sure I am coming back in the next couple of hours.

I love you.

Faith

__________

I mastered the first two stages of the puzzle with ease.

Lucero grabbed the two notes and Faith's diary without any second thoughts. He stormed out of the seaside neighborhood and into the city. The clouds thicken. Mist was everywhere

I admit the first stage, the 3D puzzle, was a little more challenging than the second. It took me four tries just to complete it.

The second stage was simple. I had to get the key out before needles punctured my fingers. Fortunately, I never bled before and never felt pain.

Lucero turns around the corner of an abandoned street.

The third and final stage made me think. So, I devised a plan just to complete it.

I laugh at the difficulty of the whole puzzle. This was just to get a mere Twilight Diamond!

We needed THREE of the five Twilight Diamonds and a soul of a remnant. A remnant like me. A remnant like Lucero. But why must WE die? ANY remnant would do...

Lucero enters Sidus Cemetery.

Lucero: FAITH!

He scans the cemetery in search for either Faith or Saku. Two dark figures glided past Lucero's vision. The figures had voices. One of them was a male's voice.

???: Is that him Abyss?

The female voice, Abyss, laughed.

Abyss: Why, yes it is, Scythe. I didn't expect him to come...

Scythe: Hmph...

Lucero: Where are you?

Lucero pulls out his sword. A feminine figure stood in his vision, hands in the air.

Abyss: No need to get into rash fights! My name is Abyss.

Lucero: Abyss?

Abyss pranced around the misty tombstones. She walked up to Lucero. Abyss's height was much shorter than Lucero's.

Abyss: Don't be alarmed.

She giggled. Abyss's face was unveiled. She was a very young female hedgehog. Her fur color was gray, which was much darker than the snow white color of Lucero. Her hair was tied in a rather loose bun with hair sticking out in every direction. One of her eyes was green while the other was blue.

Abyss: You must be Lucero! The creepy guy wants to see you.

The other shrouded figure, Scythe, appeared behind and seizes Lucero. Lucero struggles and drops Faith's diary and the two messages.

Lucero: What the-?

Abyss: I'll take that!

She steals Lucero's sword. She notices the diary and the notes.

Abyss: What's this?

Abyss picks up the diary and the crumpled messages. After a quick read through, she crumples both notes into a paper ball and throws it at Lucero's head. Lucero couldn't catch them, due to being held against his will. Abyss giggles as she opens the diary. She skims through the pages, laughing silently as she reads.

Abyss: Awwww... It's like a love story!!! Hehehehe....

She tosses the book at Lucero. It falls on the ground next to the crumpled messages.

Abyss: It's a little sad, though. Such an innocent, tortured soul...

Lucero: What are you talking about?

Abyss picks up the diary and messages that were on the ground.

Abyss: Don't you get it? She loves you. And you...

She turns her back on Lucero.

Abyss: Well, you never had spoken of your love to her.

Lucero: But-

Abyss: She doubts you...

Scythe: Abyss!

Abyss: You're certainly not the one for conversations, Scythe. Hmph. Fine, I'll get you to the creepy guy...

Abyss leads Lucero, who is still seized by Scythe through the cemetery. They pass by unfamiliar tombstones covered in dirt and dust. However, in the back of the cemetery, were dark figures gathered around a large tombstone. Lucero noticed only two from the crowd: Saku and Faith. Faith was seized by two dark figures. Saku stood in front of the tomb. A sinister grin stretched across his face.

Saku: Lucero! You finally came...

He laughed.

TO BE CONTINUED...