Hour Of Darkness
Epilogue
John plunged the shovel deep into the ground, the soft mud quickly thrown to the side. Lightning flashed overhead, and Paul looked up nervously, blinking in the pouring rain. George, for one, was glad for the rain. With the droplets pouring down his cheeks, the others couldn't see he was sobbing.
John stood up straight, grimacing and putting his hand on the small of his back. Paul silently took the shovel, helping John out of the deepening hole. George pulled his coat closer, shivering in the freezing rain. John looked into George's reddened eyes, and silently gave his younger band mate a hug.
"That's it. It's deep enough." Paul climbed out of the hole, tossing the shovel to the side. John pulled the metal box from his coat pocket, silently opening it and putting it on the ground, shielding it from the rain with his coat. He pulled down his shirt collar, grasping at his neck. With one swift jerk, the leather snapped, and John held the scarab up to the dim light of the park street lamp. He tossed it into the box, quickly folding his collar back up to protect his neck. Paul yanked at his own necklace, ripping the soft leather and also tossing the ladybug into the box. George put his hand to his throat, choking back a sob as he ripped the wolfspider from his neck. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small strip of leather studded with a white moth in amber. With one last longing look, the two charms found their way into the metal box.
John slowly shut to box, placing it in the deep hole under the willow tree. Paul soundlessly grabbed the shovel and began to fill in the dirt, now slickening to mud in the pouring rain. He tamped the last shovel full with his boot, then, with a silent nod to his partners, the three dark figures disappeared into the night.
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