HA\\LF: Dead nor Alive

“Look at that, how beautiful that thing is,” Tommy said as he sat on the railing and stared at the pillar and bridge of the Northern Nation. “Every morning we see that building and it’s slowly getting closer and closer, I can’t wait to see what’s happening on the other side of the world,” he continued with a smile on his face.

Daniel leaned his body on the railing next to Tommy while staring at the blue sky. “We have been isolated for seven years, and now we are so close to rejoining with them again,” he said as he leaned his head and closed his eyes to listen to the sea.

“Do you think they know about what we know?” Tommy asked as he looked at Daniel.

“If Archie said there are other five like him, there’s a high possibility that one of them is in one of the nations,” Daniel replied. “I don’t think those Adams are like Archie who still cares about humans, so I don’t think so,” he answered.

“Living for hundreds of years, I couldn’t imagine how it feels. I kind of want to try but I’m afraid that I will be lonely since I’m immortal,” Tommy said as he sighed.

“But at least you’re not in grave danger of extinction since you will be the one who roams the earth,” Daniel replied. “I can’t imagine how it feels to see those things for the first time, I bet Archie was shocked and terrified,” he continued while looking at Archie who stood on the front deck of the ship.

“I have decided,” Tommy paused as he looked at Daniel. “I will learn more about this stuff once we reach the land,” he continued and nodded his head.

“Religion?” Daniel asked.

“Yeah, I think if we read those books, we can be saved,” Tommy answered.

Vincent looked at those two who were lazing on the deck, he approached them and patted them on the shoulder. “What are you guys doing here? Shouldn’t you clean up the ship?”

“We already did, we are just resting here while enjoying the view, Capt,” Daniel answered as he pointed at the pillar in the distance.

Vincent nodded. “Yeah, it’s beautiful, isn’t it? Only three days left until we can see that thing from up close,” he said while patting their shoulders. “Now, since you guys are free, why don’t you help me clean the cabin?” he asked with a smile on his face.

“No, please not the cabin…” Tommy replied while shaking his head, but Vincent grabbed them and dragged them into the cabin to clean the feces.

Three days passed, and they finally saw the land of the Northern Nation, they couldn’t help but to cry and hug each other. They saw an abandoned port that used to be a place where people went out to go fishing, but since there were no more fish in the sea, they didn’t use the port anymore.

The ships were docking at the port, and everyone immediately walked down the ship and checked the abandoned port. Archie stood at the back of the line as he watched people climbing down, he looked at the pillar above him and thought that he had finally come back after a long journey.

Archie couldn’t wait to see his friends, especially Aster and Faye, he wondered how those two were doing.

“Why are you just standing there?” Ruby asked as she approached Archie and looked at him with her eyebrows raised.

Archie looked at Ruby and slightly smiled at her. “I’m just thinking about my life before I became like this,” he answered while staring at the pillar again.

“Right, you did say that you have friends in the Western Nation, huh?” Ruby said while staring at people waiting in line. “So, what’s your plan now since we are already here? Are you going to leave to the Western Nation?” She asked.

“Yes, that’s the plan,” Archie answered. “But I still have to make sure that you guys are safe until we enter the Northern Nation. So I will stick around and go to the Northern Nation with you guys,” he continued as he looked at Ruby.

Ruby nodded with understanding. “Fair enough and I’m not complaining about that,” she replied. “Well then, why don’t you do your job now and make sure the port is safe? Don’t forget that you’re still in my division,” She asked with her arms crossed.

Archie chuckled softly. “Loud and clear, Major,” he said and then jumped down the ship.

After an hour of patrolling around the port with Vincent, Daniel, and Tomy, Archie saw no parasites. He believed that the parasites had long gone and gone to another place since the port had been abandoned for so long and nothing inside.

Everyone made the whole port for themselves to stay for the night, they couldn’t help but to get drunk. They enjoyed the night around the campfire, or at least for the ordinary humans because all the Axis Humans had to keep the port safe from parasites.

“I heard from her that you’re going to leave the moment we enter the Northern Nation, is that true?” Vincent said as he sat around the campfire with the others next to him.

“Yes, and I don’t think my service will be needed anymore here,” Archie answered. “We all have been through a lot, especially you guys for surviving for more than seven years. I don’t think anything can surprise you guys anymore after what we saw the past month,” he explained while staring at the fire.

“We have a hell lot of story to tell,” Tommy said while staring blankly. “I still can’t believe we are really out here on the other side of the world. So many people died just so we can be out here and I don’t think I will be able to forget this moment, ever,” he continued.

“Nobody can, we are all here because of their sacrifice. Let’s have this day and date to celebrate and to mourn those who have fallen,” Vincent said as he looked at them.

“I agree, let’s do that,” Daniel said while nodding his head.

“November first, is the day we are going to celebrate and mourn,” Ruby said as she looked at the watch on her wrist.

They were cheering for it and it attracted the other’s attention. Fanheim and Marlon with Prince and Resse approached them with curiosity and joined them around the campfire.

“What were you guys cheering for?” Marlon asked as he crossed his arms and stood in between them.

“We are putting this day as the day to mourn those who sacrificed their lives and also to celebrate our achievement to reach the other side of the world, Sir,” Vincent answered.

Marlon laughed and nodded with understanding. “That’s indeed a great idea but…” he paused. “We also have to tell the world that the Eastern Nation is now gone,” he continued while looking to the east where the Eastern Nation was.

“We may have lost our home, but as long as we are still alive, anywhere can be called home and that’s enough for us,” Marlon said as he looked at every one of them. They all looked at him and nodded in agreement. “Life is so full of surprise, the problem is how are we going to deal with it and whatever choices you make, don’t regret it. Those are the words that I always remember from the previous Marshal,” he continued.

“Live will find a way, and that alone is enough to say that we don’t have a reason to give up,” Fanheim said as he looked at Ruby with a smile on his face.

They looked at each other and agreed with Marlon and Fanheim’s words.

“The night is short, don’t stay awake for too long, we are going to leave early in the morning tomorrow,” Marlon said as he looked at them. “Having a good night, all of you,” he continued then left with Fanheim.

A week had passed, They had been traveling through the snow, forest, and mountain. After being through a lot, they finally saw the giant wall in front of them, the wall that looked exactly the same as the one in the Eastern Nation. They couldn’t believe it at first until the giant gate opened in front of them, and dozens of soldiers came out and looked at all of them with disbelief.

Marlon showed his badge and id card to them, they were shocked when they knew that Marlon and the others came from the Eastern Nation. A lieutenant came to check, and he was shocked when he gave a salutation to Marlon and Fanheim then followed by the other soldiers.

They escorted Marlon and the others inside the wall while Archie watched them from behind. “I guess this is it, huh?” Ruby asked as she looked at Archie with the others behind her.

“Yes, this is it,” Archie answered while looking at them. Vincent and the others approached him and gave him a very tight hug.

Archie stood in the middle of the road and looked at the city as he took a deep breath and exhaled deeply. “Goodbye,” he said as he looked at Ruby and the others.

“Goodbye, Archie,” Ruby said as she watched him leave on his own.