The Missing Bones

Chapter 6 - Requiem

Part 1
Scene: Mater Dei Institution
Time: 10:45am
Date: 24th July 2019
Story: 3rd person point of view

"Aperi Domine os nostrum..."

Invoking God to listen to their prayers for the deceased, the Piarist Brothers started to chant the Office of the Dead ad Tertiam. The chanting, being rather haunted and funereal, echoed throughout the entire hall.

Standing beside the coffin that was laid in state, a rather tall, lean figure, overlooked the coffin. He placed his hands onto the glass showcase of the coffin as if to say his final farewell.

"Brother, I'm sorry I've failed you..." the figure spoke with a slight sniveling as a streak of tears flowed down his cheek. The glass showcase daubed with a few of his teardrops

Unbeknownst to the figure, another figure stood just a few feet away from him; a rather disconsolate look painted over his face.

"Wallace..." a rather forlorn whisper greeted the figure. "Wallace, we've got to go... It's almost time." It was Danny, and the sight of seeing his best friend weeping inconsolably pained him tremendously - as if a sword of sorrow too had pierced his own mortal soul.

Danny placed his right hand upon Wallace's right shoulder. Wallace turn his gaze slowly to face Danny, as if approving of his presence there. His eyelids slightly swelled, eyes bloodshot from the weeping and lips trembling ever slightly. It hurt Danny to see Wallace this way.

Ever since Wallace lost his dad to a car accident when he was just a young child, Brother Addams had been like father figure to him. Losing Brother Addams was like having Wallace reliving his past memory of losing a father once again.

Danny pulled Wallace into a brotherly embrace, patting his back as he continued to weep dolorously. Eventually, they both left the school hall as Wallace couldn't bear to see the sight of Brother Addams in the coffin.

Wallace couldn't accept that this is the new reality. He just couldn't. The thought of having to part with yet another father figure who had played an important part in his life is just insufferable.

Stopping along the corridor, Danny whispered to him, "Wallace..." as he stood beside him trying to console him.

Tears were still falling down his face as he wiped the tears off. Danny turned to face him and placed both his hands upon Wallace's shoulders.

"Wallace... I know what you're going through, and know that I'm by your side," Danny tenderly reminded Wallace as they held gazes.

Danny sensed that Wallace was not convinced with what he had just spoken due to the concerned look painted upon Wallace's face.

"Always," Danny whispered as he pressed his hands slightly harder upon Wallace's shoulder.

Wallace's expression relaxed tremendously. He got a grip of himself after being reassured by Danny, knowing that he will be there through his greatest hour of agony.

They then shuffled to the school chapel to get things ready for the Requiem Mass later at 1.00pm.

As they reached the chapel steps, they saw two persons leaning along the main treshold. The first had a rather tall figure to compliment his rather tan skintone and spiky hairdo; the other a rather plump figure to compliment his rather fair skintone and classic slick back hairdo.

The two figures snapped their heads towards their direction upon hearing the constant shuffling of their feet along the pavement.

"Shane! Alex!" Wallace exclaimed as he darted up the stairs. His face lit up as he gave them both a tight hug. It has been almost 3 years since their graduation that they have met. Shane was donned in a black robe and a sash girdled along his waist. He was also wearing a white mantle and capuce. Alex on the other hand, was wearing a formal yet sleek black suit.