Krauss Temp’elar woke with a sudden start, sweat dripping from his hot brow.  The dreams had always haunted him but recently they had grown worse, more intense. Now when he woke from them he felt as if he was falling into a dream of reality rather than waking from one. His hands slid down over his body, his lack of a heartbeat the only thing that proved he was awake. Born dead Krauss had never fully understood why the entity of death had refused to take him. Why it had not allowed him the sweet embrace of that beautiful forever sleep he had caught a glimpse of and had teased him for all his adult life.

Stepping from his simple wooden bed Krauss walked to the window of his cottage positioned on the grounds of the Temp’elar Estate. Ahead, stood the home of his family, bringing a smile to his lips. While he was very close to his all of his family he had chosen to live a simpler life, allowing him time to focus on his beliefs. Within an hour he was walking barefoot on the grass, feeling the morning dew slide between the toes of his bare feet. He couldn’t help but smile and as the sun began to reach up over the tree’s he felt something special, something unique. He felt alive. He couldn’t explain it, but something felt so right, so special. He could feel a tingle of excitement down his spine that caused him to shudder.  His head turned left and right in confusion as like a child feeling his first hiccup he searched for the cause of this magical feeling. Then with a tear of joy he realised one thing. Today is the day he would die.

 

“Is anyone in?” Krauss called out as he stepped into the Estate. His brother Calcifer stepped out from his room, a cigarette draped from his bottom lip “Hey Krauss” he replied “Dad is down in the town bud”. Cal gave a casual thumbs up before returning to his room. From below the upstairs balcony where Cal had stood, Philip, emerged and spoke “Don’t mind Cal, he is all focused on his music right now, is there something I can do to help?” Krauss smiled at his new brother in law and handed him a letter “Yes… could you pass this to my father when he returns?”. Philip gave a nod, a slightly puzzled look on his face as Krauss left the estate, not knowing it was for the last time.

Krauss found that he knew where to go. He couldn’t explain it. It was simply as if this day was written, was destined to happen. He kept his eyes up, and even in the dark gloomy town of Blackthorn which most saw as a world of death and devastation he somehow saw beauty. Then he saw it. It all made sense. Before him the stood, ebbing and flowing like a river of the un-dead. They were the former residents of this town. The patients of the late Randolf Blackthorn. Zombies. They were not facing him, instead they all faced the gates of a small building. His task may have lacked a known aim but he still knew what he needed to do. Krauss walked towards the horde, stepping through them. Each one allowed him to walk passed, barely acknowledging him. While he had never had a pulse, he had never felt more dead. These creatures let him pass, let him walk through them for only one reason. They saw him as no different to them. As he reached the gate, climbing up the fence and over it he looked back at them with a smile of pity. He was different to them. Because by the days end he would be able to forever sleep.

Seven returned to the Estate late following a major incident in the town. A young girl had become trapped in a small abandoned garage and surrounded by the un-dead. Her description of the event had been chaotic, but she described watching through the window as an angel, so blessed that even the monsters clawing for her blood would not risk touching him walked to her rescue. He had placed a hand on her shoulder and promised her that she would survive. The girls story continued explaining how he had unleashed a holy fire that sent the creatures to ash. Seven arriving late on the scene had seen that the reality had been that somehow he had used a hose to spray them with gasoline before walking out into the centre, and lighting a match burning them all instantly, and saving the girls life.

The event had left them both shaken, and had Seven’s daughter asking what had happened. But it was only when Seven opened the letter handed to her by Philip that it finally became clear what had happened. It read simply: “ Father. All my beloved family. I have lived for this day. The day I forever sleep. Love Krauss”

Written by Seven Temp'elar