Ronach Remnafyr's Three Secrets

Mark had been asleep when the plane took off. After such a long day, he was spent. It didn't help that this flight had started at five in the morning. He didn't have many complaints about it however. At least he could relax before seeing his wife and two daughters. He would have loved to bring his third daughter Adelaide along, but she was barely a year old; and he figured it would be safer to leave her with his parents while he was away.

Mark glanced down the aisle to check if they had passed out the airline snacks yet. He was hungrier than he thought he’d be, which was probably because he hadn’t eaten anything before boarding.

As he prepared to call for a flight attendant, a voice to his left said: “You can have my biscuits.”

A cool and smooth voice with an accent that Mark couldn’t place. He turned to the owner of that voice and sitting beside him was a blond man who seemed to be in his forties or so. He was dressed completely in black—from the waistcoat, button-down shirt, long jacket, pants, and striped epaulettes. The only details not in black were the silver stripes and silver emblem of a—spoon?—on the breast pocket of the waistcoat.

‘Okay, didn’t know it was Halloween,’ Mark thought.

“Thanks,” he soon said, taking the graham cookies without realizing at the moment how strange it was that the stranger offered him the snack at random.

“My pleasure,” the man answered. He sat straight in his seat, leaning back. “And my outfit is a uniform of sorts.”

Mark paused. “Excuse me?”

The mysterious one offered the faint beginnings of a smile. “You were staring. But no worries. People usually do when they see me.”

“Oh…” Mark flushed slightly. “I’m sorry. I…I didn’t mean to—”

“As I said, no worries.” That hardly visible smile registered more along the man’s face. He turned his head a bit in his seat companion’s direction. “What brings you on this journey today?”

Mark tore open the wrapper that guarded the cookies. “Visiting my wife and kids. They’re on vacation. I chose to surprise them.” His words came with a grin he didn’t notice. “What about you?” He looked toward the other and instantly averted his glance when a sudden uneasiness hit him upon being under the man’s light gray gaze.

The stranger shrugged. “Business. As usual.” That aforementioned hidden smile crossed his features again. “I’m Ronach by the way. Ronach Remnafyr.”

Mark debated whether or not to extend his hand toward Ronach.

He chose not to.

Instead, he pulled out one of the cookies and did manage to look at the other male again. “Mark Gray.”

“A pleasure, Mr. Gray.”

“Likewise. And just Mark is fine.” He chuckled a bit and tasted the cookie. “So what kind of business are you on?”

“Delivery and transportation."

Mark finished the first cookie. “They have you wear that for your work? What do they have you transporting—Dracula’s coffin?” He gave a mirthful noise while pulling the second cookie from the wrapping.

Ronach merely watched him with a slightly amused expression. “You’d be surprised.”

Those unwavering eyes caused Mark to nearly swallow his cookie the wrong way, resulting in a few coughs. Something in the other’s gaze caused an uneasy chill to spread along Mark’s skin. Those gray orbs were so light, they were almost white. They had to be some sort of Halloween contacts.

Maybe Ronach worked for a 24/7 Halloween delivery company.

As though feeling Mark’s uneasiness, the man in black turned away and faced forward, leaning back again. “Why did you not initially join your family on vacation?”

Mark sighed softly, holding the last bit of cookie between his thumb and forefinger. “I had some things to finish at home. Besides, they deserved some time away on their own.” A wistful smile found him.

“Why didn’t your infant, Adelaide, join them?”

Mark’s blood ran cold as a deep shudder ran down his spine. The cookie cracked under the pressure of his fingers as he turned his head toward the stranger who had his eyes closed. “I never mentioned anything about that.”

“Of course you did.”

“Anything to drink?”

The question from the flight attendant almost caused Mark to jump in his seat. He faced her while attempting to compose himself. It took him a few awkward moments to finally nod. “Yes. Water please.”

“Nothing here,” Ronach stated.

The flight attendant gave a smile before pouring a cup of water and handing it to Mark who took it and sipped quickly. “Thank you,” he said with his lips pressed against the rim.

Ronach was looking at him again, humor decorating his features. “Are you all right?”

Mark downed the rest of his water. Maybe it had just been a coincidence that this stranger happened to mention the circumstances involving Adelaide. Or perhaps Mark had indeed thought out loud without realizing. “Yes. I think everything’s all right.” He didn’t make eye contact with the other.

In contrast, Ronach did not remove his glance from Mark. A long silence stretched before his cool voice pierced the small space between them. “Perhaps this is a good time to share secrets.”

“Secrets?” Mark turned his head toward him in automatic reaction.

“Yes. I find vehicles of transport to be the best locations to share secrets. Who knows what you discover about another person?” Ronach sighed softly. “How I have discovered so much in my travels.”

“You make it your business to talk to people a lot, don’t you?”

“Normally, they’re the ones who speak with me. I started the conversation this round because well…I wanted a change of sorts. And I wanted to meet you.”

“Meet me?” Confusion fell over Mark. “I don’t…”

That ghostly smile found Ronach’s lips again. “You were doing so well. Everything had been going well for you…until three days ago.”

Ice spiked up Mark’s spine. Though he did not know what the other man was talking about, he could not help the unsettling sensation that crept over him.

“I did meet your family,” Ronach continued. “That is my first secret. I met your wife and your two girls. I can see why you wanted to take this plane.”

Mark clenched a fist, tightening his jaw. “What…are you talking about? Who are you?” His roughened voice came out through his teeth.

“Ah, but that is my third secret. My second secret is that I didn’t particularly want to meet you. At least not now. I changed these wants after you made your decision to take this plane.”

Mark wanted to bolt up from his seat, despite the fact that that would only cause him a headache. He glanced around his surroundings to try and calm himself. His eyes passed over sleeping people, passengers watching the in-flight movies, and others reading books or speaking amongst each other. He took in a breath and faced Ronach once more. He spoke in a hushed voice. “You tell me what you’re getting at or I’ll—”

“Relax. No need for threats.” Ronach chuckled silently. “As I said, my third secret will reveal more.” He paused for an excruciating amount of time. “Have you ever heard of the Ferryman?”

“Ferryman?”

“Yes. Charon. The being who transports the departed to the Kingdom of the Dead.”

“I’ve heard of him, but what does that have to do with—?” Mark’s gaze fell upon the silver emblem on Ronach’s breast pocket. It…it wasn’t a spoon. It was an…

…oar.

It was so much clearer now.

“Wait,” Mark said. “You…” He laughed dryly in spite of himself. “It can’t be. You’re just…” None of this made sense!

“Charon the Ferryman,” Ronach stated. “That is my third secret. This is only my second time ever leaving the Kingdom. It can get dull and dreary on the River sometimes. Souls begging me to return them to Realm of Life; frightened souls who can never stop looking back; and lost souls who do not realized what has occurred yet. That last group affects me the most. I usually wonder how their lives were for them to still believe that they are still living. Most of the time, they tie in with the first group of souls…especially when they take their own lives…”

Instantly, Mark recalled staring at a jar of sleeping pills. An influx of memories flooded him: memories that involved him wanting to sleep and only sleep as long as he could…so that he couldn’t feel the pain any more. He wanted to stop feeling the agony of being without Edith, Mindy, and Daria—his wife and daughters who perished in a boating trip. The recollection of all of this caused his emotions to stir, bringing them to his eyes, which started to water.

“They’re gone,” Mark whispered. “They’re…gone…”

“Yes,” Ronach answered flatly. “I transported them over the river. They could not stop speaking about you. Edith was at ease when she realized that she could nurture and still love her daughters in the Kingdom of Death. She wished that they hadn’t entered so early, but…one cannot prevent one’s circumstances.”

After having blankly stared out one of the windows, Mark’s tearful gaze found Ronach. “You really are…him…aren’t you?” He sniffled. “Why are you here now? What’s the point in all of this?”

Another sigh fled Ronach as he turned his head and looked out his own window. “A boat isn’t my only vessel of transport.”

It took a heavy amount of seconds for Mark to decipher that statement. He swallowed. “Are you saying that I’m…?”

Ronach met his glance. “All of the souls on this plane are being delivered. They start to notice it once we get closer.”

“But…but you’re not flying the plane. I thought you were—”

“Yes, normally I would be piloting. But as I said, I wanted to meet you, and thus I took a little respite. Once we arrive over the river, I will be steering this vessel.”

Mark released a couple of shaky breaths before moistening his lips. “Why me though? If you are who you say you are, why did you want to meet me out of the thousands of people you see a day?”

Charon gave a small shrug. “Your family happened to stand out at that moment. And I wanted to know what could cause a man with a remaining infant daughter to want to end his life. I suppose that I tire of so many self-destructive souls who cannot find their place in the Kingdom. I know every single story without asking. I see every single last moment once the souls and I are within vicinity. And in your case…” His head lowered momentarily. “…you have the rare chance to either disembark or return to Adelaide who I am sure would not want to grow up without both her parents. The sleepings pills have not killed you yet, but they can if you complete this journey.” He raised his face. “I do not normally hold such sentiments and am impartial to who crosses the River. However, as I’ve implied, I’ve grown weary.”

Mark thought of little Adelaide whose first word had been ‘dada’. He thought of her bright smile, her infectious laughter, her calm breathing when he carried her—yes, he thought of all of that. It had been easy to overlook all of it before, but now knowing that he might never see or hear any of it again: it took a different toll.

“You do not have to tell me your decision,” Ronach said. “Your soul will know it…and it will arrive there.” He reached toward his side and pulled out a black pilot’s cap. “For the moment, however, I have to steer this plane to its rightful destination.” He set the cap over his blond head, looking at his companion afterward.

Mark nodded to him, thinking still. He got to his feet and stepped into the aisle so that the other could exit. He thought of his wife and kids. He thought of how he played with them, laughed with them, loved them. He thought of how much he missed them.

Then he thought of Adelaide and wondered if it would be enough with just him. Could he ever heal?

As Ronach departed down the aisle and toward the cockpit, Mark sat down and continued to muse. The people around him had no idea where they would be landing until they saw it.

And neither did he.

Still—almost ten minutes later—he felt the plane making its descent. Mark hopped over to have a seat that had once been occupied by Ronach. He then peeked out the window.

And he smiled.