He took a deep breath and paused for several moments. “Well, I did it. I passed the Initiation. I wanted to make Dad proud, and I wanted to honor your name. I hope I did. Can you believe it? I’m a member of The Order of the Silver Ghost. I’ll be wearing one of those cloaks and being part of it all.”
Rafe looked down at his feet and kicked at a root before adding, “I miss you, brother. I do. But I also have some news. Fallon Perry… remember her? Yeah, well you won’t believe it, but I love her.” He laughed. “Yeah, you always teased me for having a crush on her back when we were kids. And you were right as much as I hate to admit that you were. Anyway… I hope to have her in my life forever, and it gives me a sort of comfort knowing you knew her and would approve. I know you would approve.”
His voice hitched, and he looked up at the sky. “I fucking miss you.”
“He was a good man,” I said as I walked up to Rafe and put my hand on his shoulder in comfort. “I always looked up to Tim. I’m sure he would be really proud of the man you became.”
Rafe nodded. “He was a good man, and I hope so. I really do hope I served his memory well.” He then looked at me. “You escaped the den of vipers for a bit?”
I shrugged and put my hands in my pockets still staring at Tim’s headstone. “This shit is wild. I can tell you that. Nothing Sully told me prepared me for this.” I glanced at Rafe and added, “I’m happy you completed the Initiation. Congrats. I hope I can do the same.”
Rafe chuckled. “You’ve just begun. Trust me. It gets so much worse.”
“But you passed it, so that’s good.”
“I’m not sure how. There were times I nearly quit. Frankly, I owe a lot of it to Fallon. That girl kept me sane.”
“You are so lucky to have had someone you actually know as your belle. Being locked up with a complete stranger is bizarre. It’s like the worst blind date in history over and over again. I think it’s harder than the actual Trials have been.”
“How are you getting along with your belle?” Rafe asked.
“Okay… not like you and Fallon, but fine. She’s a good fuck and a hot piece of ass, so I guess I should consider myself lucky. But when these 109 days are over, I’m moving forward and not looking back.”
Rafe laughed and patted me on the shoulder blade. “You tell yourself whatever you want. There is no way in hell anyone can walk out of this place, enduring what we do for so long, and not form some sort of connection. No way. That belle in there is going to fuck with your mind and with your heart. No use fighting it.”
“Your situation is different,” I said. “But I’m happy for you. Let’s hope the rest of us pass the Trials and not pull a Sully.”
“You got this,” Rafe encouraged as he turned to leave the cemetery. “I need to get going. Fallon’s waiting for me.”
I walked beside him, trying not to focus on the large manor before me. It reminded me of something Stephen King would write in one of his horror novels. The moment of fresh air and the break from it all made me feel normal again. Human.
“Do you want a piece of advice?” Rafe asked as we made it down the hill.
“Sure. Anything to help get past this.”
“Don’t be a dick.” He patted my back good-heartedly and smiled. “I know you. You don’t do relationships. You keep to yourself. And you can be a super dick. I say that with love, but being a dick isn’t going to help you or your belle. So, don’t be a dick.”
I smirked, and shoved Rafe playfully. “Got it. Don’t be a dick.” As we got closer to the manor, I asked the question I had been wanting to ask since I left the room. “Why do we do this? I mean… why do we care? Why is the Order so important?”
“Inherited malice,” Rafe said simply. “It’s in our blood. No choice.”