Page 73 of Of Sins and Sacrifice

“Is it here now?” I ask after the last plane landed.

He shakes his head.

“We have twelve missing,” he says to another soldier. “Must be one of the worst ones so far.”

I listen in, hoping for some more information. My understanding of their military is paltry at best, but it’s not the first time I’ve heard of a number of planes going missing.

“What happens when they go missing?”

The soldier shakes his head.

“Shot down by the Luftwaffe, or they crashed from damage from flak.”

“Flak?”

I’ve heard the term before, but I am not sure exactly what it is.

“German anti-aircraft weapons. They shoot at the planes from the ground.”

I nod. That sounds bad.

“Are you sure Major Vitry’s plane is not here?”

I don’t know why I need that assurance. But he’s the only person I know here who’s been kind to me. He brought me a donut.

The soldier shakes his head.

Worry gnaws at me. Was Mine shot down, too? Did he crash? Somehow, I need to know what happened to him.

Making my way back to the infirmary, I note an ambulance in front being loaded up with nurses. Seeing this as my chance to get to the runway, I hurry in and take a seat in the back of the car.

“They radioed in that three more people are in critical condition. You must focus on the task,” the doctor tells us as we ride toward the runway.

“Yes, Doctor,” the three nurses present say in unison.

The situation must be dire if they require so many ambulances to head to the runway.

As we reach the planes, I note that most of them have some damage to the wings or the body. There is smoke coming from one of the cockpits and people are rushing to put the fire out inside.

We all get out of the ambulance to intercept the wounded.

From the corner of my eye, I spot five messengers standing in the field by the runway, waiting. If there are five messengers around, there should also be five souls they are waiting to pick up.

I look left and right, but only two souls exit their mortals’ bodies, at which point the messengers assigned to them step into guide them to P’asala. But that leaves three souls unaccounted for.

Damn it! Is the demon around here? Is it feeding on the souls?

I try to see if anyone is acting suspiciously, but there are too many people coming and going, making it confusing. Without my powers, too, I cannot sense the souls, so I can only rely on my sight.

Moments pass as I sift through the many people around in an attempt to identify the missing souls. It’s only when one plane is moved that I spot three more. They’re standing next to their bodies, their expressions filled with confusion as they watch people fuss around them and cry about their deaths.

The messengers assigned to those souls are now by their side, urging them to follow. Two souls do. The other continues to stare at his body.

He’s little more than a teenager, and he’s already dead.

I feel sorry for him, but at the same time, he needs to follow the messenger and move on to the afterlife.

The messenger stands there, waiting.

---