![](\"https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmb5is5xGiHoQfSnNeHNYYFQ4ixhU7oAoCTDsTT12anMSD\/image.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The harsh scent of gunpowder tickled Michael\u2019s nose. Boots stamped through the night. Whispered voices carried across the air. The weight of a hundred eyes fell on him. Squinting, Michael peered through the dark woods, down the hill, at the moonlit valley before him.<\/p>\n
And saw no one.<\/p>\n
\u201cHalt!\u201d a voice boomed.<\/p>\n
Michael twitched.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdvance to be recognized!\u201d<\/p>\n
Just in front of Michael, a man peered around a nearby tree\u2014and aimed a rifle at him.<\/p>\n
Michael took one step forward, slowly raising his hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cEasy there. I\u2019m a friend,\u201d Michael said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSundown!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you asking for a password?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes! Sundown!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have the password of the day\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen get out of here. Quickly. This ain\u2019t no place for civilians.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another step. \u201cListen, friend, I\u2019m not a civilian. You recognize my uniform jacket, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyone can wear a uniform,\u201d the man sneered.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not your enemy. I can prove it to you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me reach under my shirt.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo it. Slowly,\u201d the guard warned.<\/p>\n
Michael deliberately brought his hand to his collar. Found the fine steel beads of his necklace. And the cross hanging from it.<\/p>\n
He held the cross up to the pale moonlight.<\/p>\n
\u201cSee this?\u201d Michael said. \u201cI\u2019m not one of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The guard heaved a sigh of relief, lowering his weapon.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been hard on you, huh?\u201d Michael said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah. There\u2019s no end of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut you held the line.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour dedication to duty is commendable. What\u2019s your rank and name?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCorporal Tom Lee. And yours?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust call me Michael.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo rank?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t need one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lee pointed at Michael\u2019s hip. \u201cIs that a sword? Not exactly standard issue, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael laughed. \u201cIt\u2019s served me well. Listen, it\u2019s kind of hard to talk like this. Would you mind stepping around that tree?\u201d<\/p>\n
Lee stepped out. Under the moon he glowed a faint, spectral blue. His uniform was torn and faded. A ragged wound consumed his belly. His mangled jaw hung loosely from his face, and his left eye socket was empty. The faint moonlight pierced his translucent skin, illuminating the tree behind him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a mess, aren\u2019t I?\u201d the ghost asked, his voice issuing from an open mouth that could never close again.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry. We can fix you right up.\u201d<\/p>\n
“I\u2019m dead. I can\u2019t exactly be fixed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael’s eyes twinkled. “Never say never. Tell me, how long have you been here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know, sir. Time gets kinda\u2026 fuzzy. I\u2026\u00a0we\u2019ve<\/em>\u00a0been standing post here since\u2026 well, you know. I only remember the seasons. The sun, the rains, the occasional snow\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve been here for seven years.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSeven years? So long?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all right, corporal. Your job\u2019s done. You can go home now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n Lee pointed downhill.<\/p>\n \u201cLook.\u201d<\/p>\n Faint blue figures meandered across the valley floor. Some were tiny balls of light, others resolved into the shape of men with shouldered rifles. By their light Michael saw blackened grass and salted fields, burnt-out husks of war machines, broken and discarded weapons, and bones. Miles of old bones, stretching as far as the eye could see.<\/p>\n Michael saw enormous ribs, larger than elephants. Crumbling skulls of strange beasts that sprouted massive horns and tusks. Femurs as massive as oaks, wickedly curved claws twice the height of a man, piles of too-large hands and feet with too many digits, skeletons of neither men nor beasts.<\/p>\n And, at the far end of the boneyard, was a closed door leaking infernal red light.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to stand watch,\u201d Lee said. \u201cWhen that door opens\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry. We\u2019re ready for them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018We\u2019, sir?\u201d<\/p>\n Michael thumbed behind his shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cLook.\u201d<\/p>\n Behind Michael, a brilliant white light blazed to life. Lee squinted, peering into the second sun. And gasped.<\/p>\n \u201cAre they\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n Michael nodded. \u201cYou kept the faith and stayed true to your duty, Corporal Lee. Your work is done. We\u2019re here to relieve you.\u201d<\/p>\n Tears trickled down his cheeks.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Michael patted Lee\u2019s shoulder. \u201cIt\u2019s time to go home.\u201d<\/p>\n Lee’s throat bobbed. He looked at Michael. Looked behind him. Looked back at Michael.<\/p>\n \u201cI stand relieved,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n \u201cGood man.\u201d<\/p>\n A pillar of starlight cut through the sea of clouds above, bathing Lee in gentle light. His stomach wound closed over. His jaw closed, returning to its proper place. Light issued from his empty eye socket. A moment later, it subsided, revealing a fresh eye.<\/p>\n Lee blinked. Worked his jaw.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Lee whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cGo into the light,\u201d Michael said.<\/p>\n Lee looked up. And floated.<\/p>\n The light drew him up, higher and higher, lifting him into the skies. Lesser lights ascended from the valley and the forest, following Lee\u2019s flight. By the ones and twos, then dozens and hundreds, the lingering ghosts left their posts and patrols and soared to the source of the light.<\/p>\n The smell of gunpowder gave way to fresh grass. The sound of boots faded. There were no more voices, only silence. Michael’s jacket and cross vanished in a puff of ethereal smoke, revealing a suit of glowing plates. He drew his sword and turned around.<\/p>\n Before him, a great host of warriors awaited in formation, armed with brilliant blades and clad in radiant plate. They stood at attention, awaiting his command.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is time,\u201d Michael said.<\/p>\n Two wings of dazzling flame unfurled from Michael’s back, extending to their full length. Flapping his wings, he took to the sky, rising above the forest, above the valley, above the boneyard.<\/p>\n The army spread their wings and followed him, arraying themselves in a massive flying armada. Their light banished the darkness below, laying bare the valley of death. The last of the lost souls had departed. Now there was only dust and decay and the red door.<\/p>\n And the door cracked open.<\/p>\n \u201cBrothers, to war!\u201d Michael commanded.<\/p>\n Raising his sword, he swooped down on the red door.<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n![\"Cheah](\"https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/0x0\/https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmNPjQAkaGvtrys87bjqAghP62AqHAB7edWEt44bH8yfwD\/Cheah%20Git%20San%20Red.jpg\")
<\/p>\n