Henry Stickmin: The Tale Of Charles's Afterlife

Bonus! Chapter 17- Forgive me, Henry (Alternate Ending)

(All this happened after the Toppat Vs Government explosion at the end of the story.)

The remaining light from the setting sun bathed the mountain hill and reflected against the tombstone resting on the ground. Henry silently trudged through the grass and approached the tombstone, looking at the words engraved on it.

Looking back behind him, he could see the government headquarters located a distance back. To Henry, it just holds horribly morbid memories, like a storage box he wishes would empty out.

The tombstone sat alone on the hill, and Henry sat beside it, leaning a shoulder on it, with his legs dangling precariously off the hill. Below is the great ocean.

"It's been 2 weeks." Henry spoke in a firm voice, but tried to sound laid back. No one responded him. He was alone after all. It was almost like he expected an answer. The only sound was the whistling of a gentle breeze blowing by.

Henry slouched even more, touching the tombstone with only his fingertips until he finally reached the top of the stone, where Charles' headphones were placed. Although his body could never be recovered, that doesn't mean he couldn't be given a proper burial.

The headphones sent memories searing into Henry, and the tears he held back finally fell.

Charles was taken away from him once, then just as he thought he had him again, Charles left his side once more.

How much heartbreak can one take?

Hubert peeked into the office where Henry, Charles and Ellie worked, and Ellie turned around when she heard Hubert's footsteps.

"You know where Henry went." Ellie explained once again, not making direct eye contact.

"I still don't understand this whole messed up story." Hubert said, then sighed.

"It is not messed up!" Ellie shouted, and a tear ran down her face. "Charles was with Henry and I again and there's nothing wrong with that!"

Hubert stood at the doorway, shocked. Ellie wasn't the type to yell, but clearly this whole incident with the Toppats had shaken her.

"I'll be back in half an hour." Hubert told his assistant before casually walking out the building, but then broke into brisk walking.

That whole hill felt like one big home, since no one ever visits that place. This big home is solely for Charles.

Henry wiped his tears but they continued falling like an endless stream. He folded up one of his shirt sleeves and started at the puncture marks, some old, some very recent. He half expected himself to drop dead already.

Finally, Henry mustered the strength to ask a question he had been pondering about for the past few days.

"How do you forgive someone?"

He expected someone to answer, but he also knew he was being ridiculous. No one is around.

"Indeed, that's a tough one to crack." said a voice from behind. Henry hurriedly rolled down his sleeve and turned back to see who also came to this lonely but peaceful hill.

"Heh, you thought you were the only one who comes here?" Hubert chuckled, but with a tone of sadness in his voice, yet he showed a small smile.

The wind got a little bit stronger, and blew leaves away from their trees towards Hubert like props on a stage.

"Oh, hey. I didn't expect you to come here. I always thought you would be too busy." Henry explained as Hubert settled down on the other side of the tombstone.