8/7/2019 Short Story - Remus and Jesse

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“I want the truth!” shouted Remus. Jesse turned, looking into Remus's green eyes.

“We're not droplets in the ocean. Everything we do has a consequence. What you are

asking will compromise all that is natural in your world,” Jesse explained and jumped off of the small

outcrop and landed on the edge of the plain they were looking out over. Remus was not happy with theanswer he received, “They are the special ones. They don't feel the consequences of this commotion.

Why do we have to fall in this when they don't even care?” Remus jumped down as well and walked

towards where Jesse stopped and started digging. Remus Was an unintended hero. He always happenedto be 'in the right place at the right time'. Or more 'wrong' place and 'wrong' time in his eyes. “I wish I

could go back to the life I had before...”

“You can't, any more than I can tell you the truth.” Jesse continued digging, hands tossingthe loose soil aside as Remus looked on. Remus would never help with menial tasks, something which

Jesse could never think of as wrong, considering the deeds Remus had done before. Remus was more

worthy of the respect he got than the rest of this damnable world combined, but he never accepted any

gifts or praise. He was too stubborn.“Jesse, why are we digging a hole. And why won't you tell me the truth?” Remus growled,

looking up at the sky as the sun passed its zenith and proceeded on its lonesome route towards the

horizon.“You know why, I've told you over and over, 'our lips must always be sealed. Especially to

his ears' is what they told me and the only time I will ever break free of those words is if I were to be

seconds from the grave...” Jesse replied, and Remus knew this to be true. With this promise hiscompanion had made in mind, Remus watched as Jesse continued to dig as the day wore on

**********

Jesse's hands were bleeding. Jesse was tired. Jesse was still digging and Remus was not

helping. Remus knew all of this. He had even offered to help and asked Jesse to take a break. On both

counts, Jesse just said, “I won't let you down. I need to keep up with you, so let me do this.” So Remus

had no choice but to look on as Jesse's hands were torn and peeled as the hole stretched deeper. Now,Jesse had managed to create a hole twice the height of either of the travellers, digging down at a slight

angle, so that if they really wanted to, they could climb up the sheer slope creating their own hand- andfootholds in the loose, yet sturdy soil. Though they were so deep, Jesse continued to dig, grabbinghandfuls of dirt and tossing them behind. “Jesse, that's enough for today!” Remus suddenly said, “It's

night time. Get some rest.”

“I won't let you down. I need to ke-”“Shut up about keeping up with me! If you really want to impress me then you'll stop and at

least have something to drink. If you don't then I'll leave you behind for real!” Remus interrupted

Jesse's excuse and Jesse finally stopped and sat back. Remus handed Jesse the water skin and they sat,not saying anything until morning,

**********

Jesse went back to digging each morning and Remus followed in the hole that Jessemanaged to make tall enough for both to fit through comfortably. They only stopped when Remus

forced Jesse to stop when night had fallen. Jesse had been digging for four days when they emerged

into the cavern, Jesse's hands breaking through the wall close to the floor. They both jumped down intothe darkness, and Remus lit a torch. Remus noticed Jesse crouched, hunched over and trembling in the

middle of the small cavern. Suddenly, Remus had a terrible feeling, “I've missed an opportunity...” he

whispered.“You have. You could have been a better man...” Jesse sobbed, standing up. Stepping softly

8/7/2019 Short Story - Remus and Jesse

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over to Remus, Jesse shredded her top into 6 strips. She held each one up and tied them, one after 

another around Remus's eyes. “You wanted to hear the truth...?” she kept saying over and over again.

Remus felt tears forming behind his eyes and then start to flow, all but caught by the strips of Jesse's

top.Jesse finished tying the strips over Remus's eyes and stepped back, “This entire time, you

were always alone, and no matter what you do, as long as you always rationalise things you will never 

 be able to acknowledge anyone else. The truth, my 'unintended', is that you do not exist. You arenothing, and you can never be anything more. With my death, that which is Remus will be no more,

 because you have lost your right to be. You were banished by them, and only allowed to stay through

my consciousness and will alone. Now, you will cease to be, because I said so!”Remus heard the sound of a knife penetrating flesh. Grinding bone and metal. A thud.

Remus felt the warmth of life leaving the cavern.

Te warmth vanished entirely. Whispering a final, “ I hate you...” Jesse died. Remus ceased

to be...

. End