Getting up from the floor, Roy didn’t give up, “Crowley. I feel the same way. Ever since that war, not a day goes by without me wondering why such a useless, worthless man like me disgracefully survived.”
“…”
“The Commander was a great man. Victor was a nice guy. Gustavo had a bit of a mean streak about him, but he didn’t deserve to die. And Gilbert held steadfast while waiting for you to return some day.”
“…”
“But in the end, they all died. And we’re still alive. Think about the meaning of this. God is by our side. Watching us from upclose.”
Crowley didn’t think He was.
“Watching you.”
No, Crowley couldn’t bring himself to believe He was, at all.
“It’s time for you to move on. Don’t lend your ear to the Devil’s whispers, Crowley, and just push straight forward.”
The Devil… Hearing that word triggered Crowley’s memory again, of that battlefield where God didn’t show Himself to them no matter how much he wished for Him to, only a monster appeared in His stead.
The monster that sucked human blood.
And even Gilbert that had survived the worst of it and was supposed to keep living died from getting all of his blood drawn out. Something bad was afoot. Something very bad.
Without his realizing, Crowley’s hand touched the cross hanging from his neck. That rosary was what was left of Commander Alfred.