Chapter 79: A Play’s Meaning
The lights dimmed, and the stage was now empty. Faint whisps of smoke and orange sparks lingered, occasionally popping into view as if the final memories were chasing after their brethren.
Silence reigned over the audience, no one making a noise, not even a whisper. It was as if their ability to speak had been ripped from them with the Lantern Bearers’ age, replacing it with an eerie emptiness.
Charon didn’t move.
His eyes were locked on the curtains, roaming them for any sign that he had been mistaken. His breath released, cold and shallow, as if his life was fading.
’I wasn’t there.’
He wanted to deny it, to find a justification for his face not being part of the crowd, and yet none came. It was as if the troupe had forgotten him specifically, leaving him out of their collage.
Around him, the others began to stir.
First, it was a sniffle from Annie, followed by her rubbing her eyes to clean the tears. Liam hunched forward, his hands folded and his brow furrowed as if deep in thought. His foot tapped nervously, the rhythm matching the endless ticking of the watch.
Darius had yet to move, his arms crossed and his expression set in steely determination, as if contemplating something serious. Red was unreadable, her posture perfectly controlled.
If Charon hadn’t known better, he would’ve assumed she missed the entire performance.
Emerius then leaned in, his voice low.
"Where were you?"