Eyes shut

Chapter 2

 Warning

This chapter may contain elements that some  audiences may find disturbing. Readers discretion is advised.

On the way to Serenity Hospital...

"If you had told me I would witness this kind of scene eight hours ago, I wouldn't have believed it."

Only one word could describe it: "Apocalyptic." But this view didn't disturb Aiden's mind; you could say he was accustomed to it.

Before all this started, scenes like these were an everyday occurrence for him. The cause of his undisturbed mind was his father.

To everyone, he was the gentleman you wished to have as a father or an uncle—a kindhearted person who helped everyone in need. But, as they say, never judge a book by its cover.

Aiden's mind screamed disgust as he saw this narcissistic psychopath, his father, enjoying the despair of his victims as they pleaded for safety. Endless darkness resided in that man. The epitome of madness, he believed he was a being misunderstood by all, thus proclaiming himself the chosen one.

He stated that only someone chosen like him could kill him—a death befitting the graceful being he was. As no one understood him, he chose to create what he named his angel of death, and that so-called "one" was me.

"Yuck..." All these vivid memories left an aftertaste in Aiden's mind, but the only thing he could do was curse this photographic memory he possessed.

"What were you doing when all this started, Aiden?"

Taking a step and looking back at Dong's face, he said:

"I was just coming out from home when I saw it—a black entity with a human figure, with glittering white eyes and black flames surrounding its body."

Fascinated by Aiden's description, Dong said:

"Wow! I wish I could have seen it too."

A laugh escaped Aiden's mouth as he replied:

"You wouldn't be here beside me if you saw it."

"Ha! That could be right... By the way, you seem to have a good memory, Aiden."

He answered with a smile. "Seeing something like that, how can I forget..."

Aiden believed that saying too much would only endanger him, so he kept his mouth shut.

"Well, you're right..."

"And how about you, did you see them with those glasses?"

"No, I didn't... Actually, I was quite lucky. I was playing video games when I heard my friend scream on the headset. I didn't know what was happening; I could hear howling from everywhere. But then I heard the news on the small radio I had around. I took all I needed and headed out, lucky, right!"

Aiden's view focused on the pile of dead bodies on the ground. He looked back on the road and said, "Lucky! You could say you were."

"Ah... Please... stop!"

Suddenly, a woman's pleading voice was heard on those silent roads.

They both looked at where the sound came from; the infrared glasses showed three figures: a young child and two adults. One was standing, the other was on the ground, while the child was crouched in front of him.

Dong looked at Aiden and made a signal, waving to move forward. Aiden looked everywhere for something he could use as a weapon but couldn't find anything useful, so he looked down at his waist and took his belt out.

He unrolled one side of the belt to his right hand and firmly grasped the other side in his left hand. As they got closer, they could hear the conversation more accurately.

"Please... don't do it... just let my child go..." She pleaded as she cried in pain.

When they got there, they found a bloody scene: a pool of blood next to her, a woman with a wound in her abdomen, a painful expression on her face. Nevertheless, she was still trying to ensure her daughter's safety.

The girl didn't stop crying; she grabbed her mother tight and didn't want to let her go.

"Why should I?..." he said as he looked at the girl and smirked. "If she was a little older... maybe three years, she would make a nice plaything... Ah! Just thinking about it, I feel this urge to ravage her."

Aiden's mind screamed in disgust. He looked at Dong and waved to him that he would take care of the guy, while he should take care of the mother and her child.

Aiden made eye contact with the girl as he sneaked behind the man. He shook his head, telling her to look away, but she didn't.

With his belt, he grabbed the man's neck, tightening with all his forces to strangle him. The surprised man tried to fight him, but it was useless.

The sudden depletion of oxygen in the brain and the restriction of blood flow created a loss of consciousness. The release of pressure induced an influx of blood into the brain, triggering the vagal reflex and stopping the heart. Respiratory blockage irreversibly destroyed neurons, triggering a seizure. Four minutes, that's all it took for this human's soul to vanish.

Aiden put the man's body down and headed towards Dong. But just when his feet hit the ground, he heard laughter coming from his mind.

"Ha-ha! How was it? Did you feel it? The pleasure you get after you break something."

An annoyed expression showed on Aiden's face, but he soon covered it.

"Oh! Don't get mad... Aren't you happy to hear my sweet voice in your head."

"Shut it! Hadeon. I just wish you vanished as that man did."

A laugh echoed in his mind. "Don't get me wrong, Aiden... I can feel them, those dark and bottomless thoughts you repress inside you... After all, you are me, and I'm you."

Dong rushed towards the woman and tried to help her, but he saw that it was too late for her.

She knew it better than anyone; she took Dong's hand and begged him with her remaining energy to take her daughter with them.

Dong answered her with a shrug of the head; she thanked him and turned to her crying daughter.

She didn't want her to keep this image of her; she squeezed her hand and said with a sad smile:

"You should go with them. I will rest a moment and be right behind you, okay?"

The girl answered her with tears flowing down her cheeks. "Okay!... But don't be late." She knew her mother wouldn't make it, but she had to endure the pain and bid her farewell.

"Stay safe, Mia. I'll see you later, sweetie."

"Mm... sniff... I will."

She turned to Dong and said, "Please take care of her." He looked at her with a sad face.

"I will! Don't worry."

"Thank you... You should go now."

Aiden came by, looked at the mother, and nodded his head. He turned toward the road and said:

"Let's go!"

Once again, they departed for Sunrise Hospital but now with a third companion by their sides.

To be continued...