Seph was on his way to the Cattle\u2019s Hog, a rather dirty hole in the wall pub with food that wasn’t much better than its decor, but it was dark, cheap, and the owner, Arz, had little interest in the actions and identities of his customers. So long as the customers tipped well. In the back room, illegal games of poker were usually underway. A place like this was not pleasant, but it was the best and safest place for Seph\u2019s line of business. When he opened the door, Arz nodded. Falling into their familiar rhythm, Seph tossed him a metallic coin that Arz caught without a glance. Seph pulled his hood over his head and made his way through the crowd. He didn\u2019t know the name of his client, just a pseudonym\u2014 Madam Debris and their picture. That was enough. He spotted a flash of gold from the corner of his eye. The same gold hue from the picture. He made his way towards her.<\/p>\n
\u201cChronos called.\u201d He mumbled to the air, rather than address the woman directly.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. I did.\u201d A voice answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you are?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMadam Debris.\u201d She half-breathed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAh\u2026 very well.\u201d He said, \u201cDo you have the payment?\u201d<\/p>\n
She nodded and then handed him a pouch. It clanged as it filled his grasp. He opened it and eyeballed the amount\u2014this wasn\u2019t the sort of place one counted his coins.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen, here you are.\u201d He placed a small bottle that contained little more than a sip of liquid in her gloved hand. A month\u2019s supply of immortality. With their business complete, he turned and made his way through the crowd, he gave a quick nod to Arz before stepping out of the smoke-filled room and into the night. As he walked towards the west side of the city, he tucked the photo of the client into his coat pocket. Keeping them had become a habit. After his<\/p>\n
first sale, he\u2019d gone to toss it and thought twice of it. The names were fake. The identities were always covered in cloaks. But the photos of his clients were real. It didn’t feel right to toss it.<\/p>\n
Above him, he heard the annoying clank of hovering cars. He had always hated the invention. Whoever thought it was a good idea to give clueless humans the ability to fly machinery had clearly never thought the idea out rationally. But then again, they most certainly had been human, so what else could you expect?<\/p>\n
The building Chronos ran their business out of was rather large and expensive but had been built in another generation. Unlike the sharp, irregular angles of buildings these days, this building held the symmetrical nature of another time. Seph opened the door to the old building. He was meant to meet Chronos and hand over the money he owed him in exchange for the wage he was owed. The darkness of the night echoed in the halls of the old building. Seph was not sure he had ever seen the face of Chronos. They were always standing in the comfort of shadows. Seph used the city light that gleamed through the windows as a source of direction as he made his way to his boss\u2019s office. As he turned the corner, he saw that his boss wore the black hooded cloak he always wore in the presence of Seph.<\/p>\n
\u201cSephtis Ridge. Is that you?\u201d The voice echoed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, Boss.\u201d He replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the sale was successful?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs always,\u201d He responded.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood.\u201d He nodded to the pouch on his desk sitting next to a small box. \u201cThen leave me my coins and take your own, along with your next assignment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seph did as he was told without a hint of the snark he usually wore. He saved that for beyond these walls. Here, he wore a different face\u2014obedience. He was never a fan of this identity, the<\/p>\n
submissive dealer who did as he was told and asked only the questions he was permitted\u2014none. But Seph was also asked very few of them himself, and he had never made a paycheck that matched this one, so he\u2019d stayed. Seph liked to see himself as a person with few needs and zero dependencies, but this world was built to make all humans bow to one entity: money. Even death could be scoffed at these days, scoffed at for a price. Everything had its price.<\/p>\n
Sephtis placed the bag of coins on the table and grabbed his own. When he went to grab his next assignment as well, a hand stopped him. A gloved hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have never stolen from me.\u201d It was not a question, but Seph felt the need to defend himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. Never.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have access to my money and my drug. You have never stolen either.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d The voice boomed.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I\u2019m not a thief.\u201d He could not see Chronos\u2019 face, but he could sense their intrigue.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know. Why not?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause\u2026\u201d what a question to ask, and how did he begin to answer it, \u201cIt\u2019s too much work. I just want to make my money and go on with my life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUntil you die.\u201d Chronos responded.<\/p>\n
There was once a time that they all would die, but due to the person in front of him, that was no longer the case.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, until I die.\u201d He shrugged the phrase off. Perhaps, there was a time when immortality would have had a nice ring to it, but that time had died. Now, dying didn\u2019t scare him<\/p>\n
half as much as an eternity of living. Chronos lifted his gloved hand and Seph took the box and the accompanying envelope. He opened the envelope.<\/p>\n
\u200210:30. Cattle\u2019s Hog. Alea Lansing.<\/em><\/p>\n The name struck him as strange. It struck him as real. He turned the writing over to see the face of the client. She was a young woman, most of the clients were young, attempting to hold onto a youth that time had tried to fade, but her face seemed different. She was young, but time had begun to make its mark in a way that felt different than the unnatural shine of users. Perhaps, this was her first time. Soon enough, those natural blemishes would fade, and a lifeless eternal shine would take its place. Tomorrow, he would deliver her this liquid life, but for now he was off duty. He made his way down the sidewalks attempting to keep his view to the sky and not the towering buildings around him. He always wished he could live somewhere where the night sky wasn\u2019t blocked by manmade eye sores and buzzing cars polluting the air. But moving cost money, so he made his way to the east side of town where a single bed in a crowded room awaited him.<\/p>\n The next day happened as they all did\u2014he woke up, looked for a way to dodge his landlord, a way to waste his day without spending the little money he had, and ended up in the library. He had never been a very dedicated reader, but when he couldn\u2019t find something else to do, he appreciated the quiet, the reassuring energy that allowed him to just relax. To just be. He usually ended up grabbing a random book from the shelves and finding a place to nap. It was something to do\u2014even if it was just sleeping. Day faded into night signaling it was time for Seph to wake. He had a delivery to make. He dusted himself off, placed his unopened book back on the shelf, and headed out onto the streets towards the Cattle\u2019s Hog. The farther into the east side of town the more people he saw walking alongside him on the streets and the less covered<\/p>\n by hovering vehicles the sky became. As the bodies made their way home, he made his way to his place of work. That old, dirty pub. He made his way through the crowd, looking for the face that matched the photo. As he peered over the heads, he noticed a woman who seemed out of place. She was alone, but that was not what struck him as strange. It was her posture, straight and steady, and her lack of hooded coat. It was as if she did not fear eyes seeing her true identity\u2014he did not know if that confidence came from the knowledge that she had nothing to hide or that she would not be recognized here. When she turned towards his direction, he recognized her face. It was the client. He navigated his way through the crowd and towards this woman. When he was in front of her, he mumbled,\u201d Chronos called.\u201d She was meant to answer the signal with the phrase \u201cNo, I did.\u201d but the phrase did not come.<\/p>\n He tried again, a little louder this time, \u201cChronos called.\u201d The response did not come. He was growing tired of this charade. He turned to face her directly, \u201cAre you here to purchase liquid life?\u201d His voice held more than a hint of frustration.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d She gasped.<\/p>\n \u201cI deliver liquid life to clients of Chronos, and he gave me your photo.\u201d He handed her the photo.<\/p>\n \u201cWho are you?\u201d She said, clearly shaken by the interaction.<\/p>\n \u201cI just told you.\u201d He was quickly getting tired of this woman\u2019s company. \u201cHere, just take the delivery and I\u2019ll take what you owe Chronos.\u201d He handed her the box. She opened it slowly as if doubtful of it, doubtful of him, he presumed. But when the lid was fully open, she gasped again.<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2026how did you get this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs I have already explained, I work for Chronos. He gives the liquid life to me, and I give it to you. I\u2019m the middleman if you will.\u201d He hated first time clients. Chronos usually briefed them more than this, but still, they had too many questions.<\/p>\n \u201cNow, the money?\u201d<\/p>\n She looked confused. \u201cWhere is Lux?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLux?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t\u2026 this is not how I do business.\u201d She got up to leave. But Seph did not miss the fact that she still held the box with the container of immortality.<\/p>\n \u201cWait. Where do you think you\u2019re going with that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI need\u2026\u201d She was attempting to craft a believable lie in her mind as she stalled, and Seph knew it.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need to hand over your immortality if you\u2019re not going to buy it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI never buy it.\u201d She mumbled. \u201cLux always meets me here and\u2026 I don\u2019t know how he gets it, but it’s always more than this and\u2026\u201d It was as if she had caught herself. \u201cNever mind.\u201d She held out the box, allowing him to take it back. Her fingers gripped it a little too tightly as he took it back and her eyes held tears she wouldn\u2019t allow to fall.<\/p>\n \u201cChronos, never gives anything for free. Maybe your friend Lux usually bought it for you. Did you reach out to Chronos on your own this time?\u201d She shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cBut like I said, never mind it.\u201d Her gaze was on the box, \u201cBut\u2026 how much would it cost?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis? 100 metallic coins.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c100 metallic coins. How many people would it help?\u201d<\/p>\n His eyes squinted in confusion as he slowly said, \u201cOne. For a month.\u201d<\/p>\n She cursed something under her breath. Before shoving a bag of coins in his hand,<\/p>\n \u201cThis should be enough for two bottles. Can I have another?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have another on me.\u201d That desperation in her eyes made him continue, \u201cBut\u2026 I could take you to Chronos.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay.\u201d She spoke. Her eyes were steady. From his experience, most people who enjoyed his product, feared the man. In Seph\u2019s eyes he had always simply been a scientist that had created the impossible and now reaped the rewards, but this town had an ear for superstition, and some believed to create eternal life, you must\u2019ve paid the gods for it through eternal death. They believed he was a dead man walking to put it lightly, but Seph knew dead men didn\u2019t walk.<\/p>\n He led the way back through the crowds, attempting not to draw too much attention to himself and the woman trailing his heels. Most of these people knew what he sold by now; most of them were previous clients. He felt it was best if these onlookers did not begin to suspect a field trip to the factory of liquid life. The woman stayed strictly behind him. It intrigued him to see her desperation for this drug, when her features had appeared untouched by the immortal shine. Why was she so desperate to start? Why did she need more than one vial? He was not sure, and the questions drifted from his mind as they stepped out of the Cattle\u2019s Hog into the bitter night.<\/p>\n \u201cHow far are we going?\u201d The woman asked. Seph thought he heard annoyance in her tone.<\/p>\n \u201cTo the border of the east and west parts of the city.\u201d Nothing about this delivery was going as planned, and he didn\u2019t appreciate the annoyance for his extra effort. He deserved a 5-star customer rating, even if this was an illegal business and the customer was wearing on his last nerve.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are they like?\u201d she said as they walked in step with one another.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut you work for them?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, and we barely exchange any words. They\u2019re always cloaked. Their office is always dark. I couldn\u2019t even identify them in a lineup. They\u2019re a person that doesn\u2019t want to be known. So, I never tried.\u201d As he said the words, he thought they sounded stranger than they had ever felt. In truth, Chronos was the person he saw most. His only real steady source of communication, and he didn\u2019t even know their real name. Odd. He shrugged it off and kept going.<\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s this Lux character who always buys your immortality for you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExactly that. He gives me medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s one way to describe a potion that makes you live forever.\u201d He scoffed.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t use it to live forever. I use it to make life last longer.\u201d He looked at her then\u2014really, looked at her. She had curly black hair and dark brown eyes. She was tired. He could see it in the way her body seemed to force itself forward with a momentum he sensed would fail her if she took a moment to think. She was exhausted, but she looked healthy.<\/p>\n \u201cIsn\u2019t eternity some people\u2019s definition of a little longer?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot mine.\u201d She said curtly. \u201cIs it yours?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think one lifetime is enough. More than enough.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t use the product?\u201d If the surprise in her tone hadn\u2019t been clear, the arch in her eyebrows would have communicated it for sure.<\/p>\n \u201cNope. I couldn\u2019t afford it if I wanted to.\u201d He smirked as he said it.<\/p>\n She eyed him skeptically, before nodding.<\/p>\n \u201cBut would you if you could?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. Not that it matters, I\u2019ve never been in that position before.\u201d With the last words, his smirked faded and a silence fell over them as they walked. He knew that hadn\u2019t been the whole truth. He did know, but like he said, it hadn\u2019t mattered. He hadn\u2019t been able to afford it.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t usually see the sky this clear.\u201d Alea whispered.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s my favorite time of day. When the cars finally park themselves on the ground and we see there\u2019s more than exhaust hanging over our heads.\u201d<\/p>\n They walked the rest of the way like that\u2014their minds juggling their thoughts and their eyes on the sky.<\/p>\n \u21a0\u21a0\u21a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThis is it?\u201d She said, staring at the building with a skeptical eye.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d he said, then opened the door for her. She hesitated and he got the sense that she was avidly aware that she had just followed a stranger to what now appeared to be an abandoned building. \u201cThey don’t like to waste money on electricity.\u201d He attempted to explain away the darkness. He wasn\u2019t sure she would come, but her eyes looked to the box, and she entered the building. Seph led them to the office, a little nervous of how his boss would take to him revealing the location of their office, but it was a tad too late for worry. He knew when he turned that corner his boss would surely be waiting impatiently behind the desk as they always were. Ready for a simple transaction. It would just be a tad less simple this time. He led her into the office and then stopped suddenly.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Alea whispered from behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not here?\u201d He said, peering into the dark room, a puzzled brow arched on his forehead. She walked around him to see for herself, but sure enough it was empty.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do we do now?\u201d<\/p>\n Seph shrugged. \u201cThey\u2019re usually here.\u201d He looked around once more as if they had possibly missed their shadowy figure. \u201cI\u2019ll come back tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat else is there to do? If you want, you can meet me back here tomorrow or if you\u2019d prefer, we can meet at the Cattle\u2019s Hog.\u201d He suggested.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I can\u2019t tomorrow. I have to work.\u201d She thought for a moment. \u201cThere\u2019s no other way for you to get a hold of them?\u201d<\/p>\n Seph sighed. Chronos had always been here. They had always met here. He\u2019d never needed a way to reach them beyond these walls. And it surely wasn\u2019t his business why they were not here tonight. \u201cNo.\u201d He answered<\/p>\n He could see the worry as she picked at her nails trying to decide what to do now. \u201cJust call me at work if you get the vial for me.\u201d She pulled a card out of her pocket and extended it to him. He took it.<\/p>\n \u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Dr. Alea Lansing. Little Light Children\u2019s Hospital. 507-432-9832<\/em><\/p>\n So, her name had been real.<\/p>\n \u21a0\u21a0\u21a0<\/p>\n \u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Another morning came and Seph got up to make his way to Chronos\u2019. Outside his door lay a package. He went to place it by his neighbor\u2019s door, knowing it wasn\u2019t for him. He hadn\u2019t received a package in years, but then he glanced at the label.<\/p>\n Sephtis Ridge.<\/p>\n His memories retraced themselves to another box. Another time. A colorful design wrapped around the box of his memories, but the same name was printed on top. He could picture the small hands extending it towards him.<\/p>\n \u2002\u2002What\u2019s this?<\/em><\/p>\n \u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002A present silly, the voice the hands belonged to answered<\/em><\/p>\n \u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002And where\u2019d you find one of those?<\/em><\/p>\n \u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Who said I found it? The voice smiled. I made it.<\/em><\/p>\n \u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002And why would you do that?<\/em><\/p>\n \u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002It\u2019s your birthday. His eyes rolled at that.<\/em><\/p>\n \u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Orphans don\u2019t have birthdays.<\/em><\/p>\n \u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Everyone has a birthday, Sephie.<\/em><\/p>\n He dropped the box and kept moving. Shaking his head as if to shake the sound of her voice, he made his way to Chronos\u2019 headquarters. The building was still empty when he arrived. So, he waited until nightfall, but they never came.<\/p>\n He walked back towards the Cattle\u2019s Hog. He had no business there tonight, but his life had one routine and he didn\u2019t know how to fill his time without it. After tossing Arz the metallic coin, he took a seat at bar. For the first time in the years, they\u2019d known this rhythm, Arz looked puzzled. But he pushed it aside and asked with a gruff,<\/p>\n \u201cYou want something to drink?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWater.\u201d Seph answered, which earned him an exasperated sigh.<\/p>\n He sipped his water and watched the faces around him go about their night. Shouting filled the air, some of it in good humor and some of it the foundation of a brawl, but none of it mattered to him. Well, until he heard that name<\/p>\n \u201cChronos didn\u2019t answer.\u201d A voice hissed. \u201cI have a day before my month is up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow long have you been taking liquid life?\u201d A harsher voice croaked.<\/p>\n \u201c30 years.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSay goodbye to your youth. In a day, you\u2019ll gain those years back.\u201d The harsh voice laughed. \u201cUnless you can find them in time, which is.\u201d<\/p>\n Seph should\u2019ve known better than to stare, but he had been too eager to hear. Their eyes met his and he saw the recognition.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe I won\u2019t need to after all.\u201d<\/p>\n Seph was up and rushing towards the door in an instant, but he could hear the heavy footsteps trailing behind him. He had to lose them. Luckily, he knew these alleys as a native and the silked clothes they had been wearing implied they could not claim the same. He ducked down streets, taking each turn he could, forging a maze for them to follow. The footsteps grew fainter, but he took no chances. He rushed until he reached his door or rather slammed into the door, his footing tumbling beneath him and ending in a crash. He looked down. That cursed box. He opened his door and tossed it to his side. With a small clank, he looked and noticed the box was opened. A small vial had fallen out. Curiosity overtook his distrust, and he peered inside the box further.<\/p>\n You may not be a thief, but this vial steals from death\u2014forever. Use it wisely\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n \u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002I am gone, but you are not. What was mine is now yours.<\/em><\/p>\n \u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002At L<\/strong>ast. Goodbye.<\/p>\n They were gone. And he had the last remaining vial of immortality. Liquid life forever<\/em>. Not for a month. A flutter went through his stomach. He thought he might puke. Ten years too late. That\u2019s all his mind could think. Ten years too late. He looked to the sink. He had no purpose for eternal life, he had lost that purpose ten years ago and now each day was a new torture he had to fill. He didn\u2019t want an endless supply of empty days. He wanted one more day with her. He placed the vial on the floor and went to bed. Tomorrow, he\u2019d deal with it.<\/p>\n \u21a0\u21a0\u21a0<\/p>\n \u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Tomorrow came. He made his way to Chronos\u2019 headquarters. He had called Alea that morning and told her he had located a vial for her. The Cattle\u2019s Hog was no longer safe, and he hated hospitals, so he had decided they would meet here. She arrived in her scrubs. She looked just as exhausted as before, but she smiled when she saw him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so glad you found them finally.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t.\u201d He spoke. The truth had never been something he felt he owed the clients, but she was different. \u201cThey sent that to me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did they know\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t know what to say or how to explain it, so he handed her the note that had come with the package. She read it once. Then, she read it again.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019d you get this?\u201d Her voice was panicked.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s from Chronos. They\u2019re gone, so I won\u2019t be able to get you any more liquid life.\u201d He couldn\u2019t meet her eyes as he said it. He knew what it was like to have a life you\u2019d do anything to save.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s\u2026 I know this handwriting.\u201d She whispered, \u201cIt belongs to Lux.\u201d Her fingers traced the script, circling the last line, At Last. Goodbye. He may not have known much about Chronos, but he had seen their script every day for years.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, that’s Chronos\u2019 handwriting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did he know?\u201d She asked, but Seph did not follow.<\/p>\n \u201cKnow what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did Lux know you would show me this?\u201d She pointed to the last letters. \u201cA. L. Alea Lansing. Goodbye.\u201d He thought back to the first time he\u2019d heard that name\u2014her name. Alea Lansing. The first time he\u2019d read a name in that script that hadn\u2019t been clearly forged from imagination to hide the truth. The first time Chronos had ever given him the truth. His mind thought back to the night he\u2019d delivered her the vial, Lux always meets me here and<\/em>\u2026 Did you reach out to Chronos on your own this time?<\/strong> She\u2019d shaken her head\u2014no. So, how had her name ended up on his assignment\u2026 how had Chronos known there was a woman in Cattle\u2019s Hog in desperate need of a vial of life-giving medicine she never paid for if she hadn\u2019t called?<\/p>\n \u201cWho was Lux to you?\u201d Seph asked in an attempt to make sense of this mess.<\/p>\n \u201cA friend. He came to the hospital one day and I treated him. He told me he had once been a doctor too, until he attempted to find a cure to death itself. He had, but it seemed it came at a cost. He never told me what that was. Eventually, he offered me access to the medicine on one condition. I use it to give my patients more life, but never eternal life.\u201d<\/p>\n He had a feeling he knew what that cost was\u2014the life of a dead man walking.<\/p>\n \u201cBut how\u2026\u201d She repeated the question\u2026 \u201cHow did Lux know?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBecause he\u2019s Chronos.\u201d The only possible answer. \u201cHe sent me to deliver that first vial to you. He knew you had needed more vials. He must have known\u2026 we would meet, that I would give you the last vial.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut if he wanted me to have his last vial, why not just send it to me?\u201d She asked. It was a question that had no answer. The only person that could have responded was gone.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat will you do with this vial\u2014he said it lasts forever.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUse it sparingly. A little bit at a time, and never all to the same person.\u201d<\/p>\n Seph smiled, but his eyes became cloudy with tears.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t like that plan?\u201d<\/p>\n He shook his head. \u201cIt\u2019s not that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen what is it?\u201d She asked.<\/p>\n \u201cMy sister could\u2019ve used a doctor like you.\u201d<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t the kind of confession one knew how to respond to, so she just nodded. But he felt she understood and that was the only response he needed. She departed shortly after that, in a hurry to save lives, and he found himself alone. It was not a new predicament for him, but with no job to do and no places to be, it felt permanent.<\/p>\n For some reason, he went to Chronos\u2019 desk and sat. He would never truly know this man who had cheated death only to end up choosing it. He would never know why he had made a fortune off of his creation, never charging a price a common person could pay, but gave it to Alea for free. Perhaps, he needed her to do the honest work he never trusted his greed to do. It was a shot in the dark. He knew he\u2019d never truly know. He picked up the note again.<\/p>\n You may not be a thief, but this vial steals from death\u2014forever. Use it wisely\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n \u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002I am gone, but you are not. What was mine is now yours.<\/em><\/p>\n He did not know why Chronos\u2014Lux, he corrected himself\u2014had chosen to give his last vial to him. A simple delivery boy whose life had long ago become pointless. He read the note again. What was mine is now yours. Did that include this building? Did it include his money? Seph had no real purpose for any of it, but it could buy him a ticket. A ticket to somewhere with fewer crowded buildings and more open space. The kind of place he and his sister always dreamed about. He opened the top drawer of the desk. His eyes widened as he saw bag after bag of metallic coins and another envelope. The same script.<\/p>\n \u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Sephtis Ridge<\/em><\/p>\n He opened it.<\/p>\n \u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002What was mine is now yours\u2014 the secret to liquid life and the burden of it.<\/em><\/p>\n Underneath the words, he had scribbled a formula.<\/p>\n \u21a0\u21a0\u21a0<\/p>\n Night faded into day, and day into night. Again, and again until months past. Alea Lansing had nursed the last vial to its very last drop, but now it was empty. She sat down at her desk exhausted as usual. But the exhaustion was harsher these days, endless. She remembered the dangers of liquid life. She remembered how Lux used to warn her that addiction ran deep in human blood\u2014so much that even life became addiction when one let it. She realized that maybe in her own way she had become dependent on it too addicted to the hope it brought. She sorted through the piles of insurance paperwork and pharmaceutical advertisements, trying to organize her desk\u2014until she saw a package.<\/p>\n \u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Dr. Alea Lansing<\/strong><\/p>\n She opened the letter and gasped.<\/p>\n Lux left me more than one parting gift it seems. In fact, so many gifts that I\u2019ve decided to start up my own business. I\u2019d happily be your new supplier of liquid life. My location has changed as has the business name. But I am available by phone and will send you as much product as I can manage. But I have my own condition to add to our contract.<\/p>\n Liquid Life will always be free to those who wish to make life last a little longer.<\/strong><\/p>\n Seph<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Katie Black Seph was on his way to the Cattle\u2019s Hog, a rather dirty hole in the wall pub with food that wasn’t much better than its decor, but it was dark, cheap, and the owner, Arz, had little interest in the actions and identities of his customers. So long as the customers tipped well. 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