Hell's Redeemer

Chapter 35

"So wait, you're saying you're the real Cain? The one who murdered his own brother? The one who's been cursed by God?" Spawn asked, not fully convinced by what he was hearing.

Cain's gaze locked with Spawn's, and for a moment, all the casualness in his posture melted away, replaced by something far more ancient and sorrowful. "I am that Cain," he said, his voice softer now, filled with a weight that was hard to ignore. "The first to take a life. The first to betray the blood of my own kin. And yes... I am cursed. To wander, to suffer, to live through the ever-changing world-seeing everything and yet being part of nothing."

Spawn didn't respond at first, staring at him in disbelief. It was hard to reconcile the man before him with the biblical figure from ancient texts. "If that's true... if you're the Cain," Spawn began, his voice filled with skepticism, "why are you here? In Hell? You're supposed to be marked, cursed to walk the Earth forever. What changed?"

Cain took a long drag from his cigarette, his eyes shadowed with regret as he exhaled the smoke. "I was cursed to walk the Earth, yes. But what God didn't say was that eventually... the weight of it all would bring me here. You see, Spawn, Hell isn't just a place for the wicked. It's a place for those who can no longer bear the burden of their sins."

"And you think you deserve to be here?" Spawn challenged, his anger rising. "Because of what you did to Abel?"

Cain's eyes flickered with something-remorse, perhaps. "Yes," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I deserve to be here more than anyone. The weight of what I did... it haunts me. I've lived thousands of years, watching the world grow and change, while I've remained the same. I've watched nations rise and fall, families grow and die. But none of it mattered. Not after what I did."

Spawn narrowed his eyes. "Why are you here? You've been following me around like a ghost, acting like this is all just coincidence. But I don't buy it. So tell me-what's your game?"

Cain let out a long breath, crossing his arms over his chest as he studied Spawn's face. "No game, Al. No tricks. The truth is, you weren't meant to be in Hell wandering aimlessly. They weren't about to let you roam this place without some kind of guidance."

"They?" Spawn asked, suspicion sharp in his voice.

"The powers that be," Cain clarified. "Higher than Hell, higher than Heaven. The Mother of Existence themselves chose me for this."

Spawn blinked, the words taking a moment to sink in. "The Mother of Existence? You're saying they chose you to be my guide?"

Cain nodded, his expression serious. "They knew you'd need someone who understood Hell. Someone who could walk these streets without being consumed by them. But more importantly, they needed a constant."

Spawn stood there, his mind swirling with questions as Cain's words echoed in his head. Something still didn't sit right with him. Cain's presence, his knowledge, and his connection to something higher-it was all too convenient.

"How is it," Spawn asked, his voice low, "that you know all of this? You say you're here to guide me, that you were chosen by the Mother of Existence. But how can you be sure? How can you trust what you've been told?"

Cain turned to face Spawn. His expression remained calm, though there was a flicker of something deeper in his eyes-something that spoke of countless years of reflection and regret.

"They gave me just enough," Cain said quietly. "Enough to understand my role. Enough to guide you. But no more than that. The Mother of Existence works in ways I don't always understand. They never told me why I was chosen, or why you're so important. I'm just here to do the task given to me."