Whispers of the Dark; Part 1a
"Do you envy the dead? What sort of weird question is that?" Michael retorted, his brow furrowing with concern and a hint of exasperation. He paused, studying his friend’s face before continuing, "It seems you’ve been reading those crazy books of yours again—the ones that knock you out of reality."
Michael leaned forward, his voice softening but maintaining an edge of frustration. "There's more to life than the weird fantasy, spirituality, celestial stuff, gloomy horror, and sad stories your books paint about life. Your life should be about getting a job, starting a business, or doing whatever you can to make money." He ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "Focus on making money instead of all these shenanigans your books are making you believe. You and I both know they don't matter right now."
Despite his critical words, Michael 's tone carried an undercurrent of genuine concern, reflecting the ever-present love and support he offered his best friend.
Anthony's voice was frail as he tried to defend himself. "No, this isn't about any book I've read. Besides, I haven't read anything centered on spirituality for two weeks now." He paused, swallowing hard. "It's just a question that popped into my head when I heard about the death of Duke's younger brother, Sam, this morning."
A heavy silence hung in the air before Anthony whispered, "I envy the dead."
Michael , who had been putting on his gear for the gym, froze. He turned to face Anthony, his expression a mix of disbelief and worry. "So why do you envy the dead?"
Anthony's gaze drifted to the window, his eyes unfocused. "The dead are at rest," he explained, his voice barely above a whisper. "They're not bothered about the trivial things of life any longer. They won't wake to life's harsh realities nor witness man's injustice to man." He took a deep breath. "Death is reality's peace."
Michael shook his head, struggling to comprehend his friend's dark thoughts. "You're a psycho for entertaining such ideas," he muttered, but his tone betrayed more concern than judgment.
Exasperation colored Anthony's voice as he continued, "I'm not suicidal or anything. I just want to feel this peace that comes with death. The dead no longer contend with the vanity of life's struggles." His words trailed off, his mind elsewhere.
Unknown to Michael , Anthony was silently counting down. Six days and thirteen hours felt like a lifetime away, but knowing that he would die on his own terms brought a faint smile to his pale face. He thought about the day he had chosen for his suicide and the note he had written for his best friend. A pang of guilt hit him as he imagined Michael 's reaction—broken and disappointed that he couldn't help his friend. Anthony hoped that the contents of the note would help Michael grieve.
Meanwhile, Michael had been in high spirits for the past couple of weeks. After months of anxious waiting, he had received an approval email from the Swedish embassy last Thursday, granting his visa application. The reality was still sinking in—he was leaving Port-harcourt for Sweden to start a new life with a career in a microchip company.
"Hello, dickhead," Michael said, gently kicking Anthony in the torso as he prepared to leave for the gym. His tone softened as he continued, "Most times, I can’t help but wonder how we got close and formed this bond of friendship we now share." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "You’re smart and have a great imagination. Use it for creative purposes that will be of great value to the world. Channel that curious mind of yours into ideas that will make us rich." Michael 's voice took on a pleading note. "You’re gifted, but you’re scared of using your gifts."
As he unlocked the door, Michael hung his backpack over his shoulder. "See you by 10. I’ve got to bounce to the gym." With one last concerned glance at his friend, Michael left Anthony alone with his thoughts.
Thanks for reading up to this point, I hope you enjoyed. I’ve always wanted to write fiction and after careful considerations I’ve decided to give it a go.
This story will be a series that will be released every Monday. In this story, we will explore the world of Anthony: a gifted youth of 29 years living in Port-harcourt, Nigeria and his journey to a mystical world.
Here’s the link to the second episode: https://medium.com/@ideashubservices/whispers-of-the-dark-part-1b-11e3d4a1f98e