The Child

16

A man sits at an outdoor table in a cafe. He carefully watches the small construction crew across the street.

"Sir."

The man huffs, rolling his eyes as he recognized the voice.

"Johnathan, I thought we had a discussion already."The man says.

"I've come with a proposal."Johnathan says.

"Do you know how many people have spoken to death directly, twice?"the man asks.

"Not many I'm assuming."Johnathan responds.

"Go away. Can't you see I'm working?"the man asks.

"My master is your creator, Death."Johnathan says.

"Last I checked, I work for Hades. You know, ruler of the underworld. Where the dead go. After the die. Because of me."Death says.

"Right, the god that tried to give your job to rats and birds and called it the Black plague?"Johnathan scoffs.

Death huffs as he presses his index finger and thumb together tightly. Then, he slowly separates then, and between the two fingers was a glowing red string.

"Do you know what this is, Johnathan?"he says.

"No sir."

"This is your string of life. Well, Johnathan Bellini's string of life. Whatever you are, a snake inside of a man like a parasite. How would you get out of I killed your body?"

Johnathan huffs.

"My master offers you're release in exchange for your efforts towards the new world."

Death's head snaps towards Johnathan.

"What do you know of my freedom. Only Hades and She's can set me free."Death says.

"Master Belial is getting stronger. More powerful than he's ever been. He consumed a god, Death."

Death looks back.

"Which god?"he asks.

"A powerful one."Johnathan says.

Death huffs.

"Fine. But if I don't get my freedom.."he says, gently rubbing his finger over the small red string.

Johnathan's chest suddenly stops rising and he couldn't breathe.

He wheezes and stumbles, his hands coming to his throat.

"I'm going to take your breath away."

He takes his hand away from the string and Johnathan takes a big gasp.

"Understood."Johnathan breathes.

"Tell your stupid master that I'm in."

.....

Cain sits up, rubbing his eyes.

"Cain.."

He hears his name beging called.

"Hello?"he says, his voice soft and small.

"Cain..come to me.."

Cain stands up out of his bed, he steps into his bunny slippers and picks up his small blanket before walking towards where the voice was coming from.

"Hello?"Cain asks, hugging his blanket.

He hears an ominous hum and turns towards the long hallway, where he sees his old friend, the man.

Cain smiles as he wobbles toward the shadowy figure.

"Hi. Are you okay?"Cain asks, rubbing his eyes.

The shadowy figure doesn't respond. Cain looks at the pale color of the figure, and then looks at his blanket before holding it out towards the figure.

"Are you cold. Mommy says people lose color when they're cold."Cain says in his small voice.

The figures hand slowly reaches out and takes the soft blanket out of Cain's hand, making him smile.

Suddenly the light flips on and Cain gasps as he looks back, seeing his mother standing at the end of the hall.

The blanket, that was now suspended in the hair hanging from nothing, it drops to the ground and Cain looks back towards where the figure was.

Alice's lips tremble as Cain picks up his blanket, tucking it under his little arm and walking over to Alice.

"Hi mommy."he says, hugging her waist.

"Who were you talking to, Cain?"Alice asks, her voice shaking.

"No one mommy."he says, making her huff.

"Let's get you back to bed, baby."