The week had been uneventful, Hensen’s schedule remained unchanging, except on the last day. Today, for some reason, he decided to go to the cathedral. He didn’t seem like a thoroughly religious man, and it wasn’t a holiday of any sort, either. Aril had a plan now, and followed Hensen into the cathedral.
The walls were adorned with beautiful murals of angels and religious contexts. At the far end of the hall was the altar, a huge cross adorned with various other religious symbols and artifacts. The benches were mostly empty, a few people sat quietly, praying to God. Aril had never been all too religious, but had found himself praying from time to time. This was such a peaceful place, he liked it.
Hensen slowly made his way up to the central altar. Today he wasn’t too dressed up, he almost looked just like a commoner. As he stepped into a pillar of afternoon light, pouring in from the windows above the altar he reminded Aril of the angels on the murals all around him. He, however, remained in the shadows behind him, fondling the handle of the blade he carried in his jacket. Was he the demon hunting the angel, or the devout cleansing the wolf in sheep’s clothing?
Aril watched as Hensen got onto his knees and began to pray to the altar. Aril walked slowly up beside him, and knelt down, and began to pray as well. Carefully, he listened to the words Hensen muttered, barely whispering.
“Dear lord, give me strength….”
His muttering was hard to discern as he strained his ears.
“… This world is such a dirty place… those girls at the orphanage, those poor things… deliver those who did such a thing to hell…”
His words only further confirmed his disconnection to what had happened with the Red Ring Gang and the kidnappings, but what he said next caught him off guard.
“… Bless the soul of the one who freed them and killed them all…”
Aril held his breath, and listened closer.
“… This is a very complicated thing, and forgive me for thanking for murder. Such things are unacceptable, but good things have come from it. Justice is a strange thing… Amen.”
He wasn’t expecting to hear that from Hensen. Why was he of all people thinking so deeply about justice? Hensen Bills, the humble clothing company owner, was contemplating on justice. Maybe the two of them did have something in common. Aril peeked at the man beside him who had not risen from his place yet, and simply stared up at the altar. Aril finished up his fake prayer with an amen, and waited for a moment as well.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Hensen said, surprising Aril.
“…Yes.” Aril nodded.
“I don’t come here as often as I should.” He chuckled.
Aril didn’t know what to say to this man. Hensen had just start small talk with the man sent to kill him, what was he supposed to say?
“So why did you come here then, friend?” Hensen asked, laying a hand on Aril’s shoulder.
Aril froze.
“Ah, a personal question, I understand. Sorry.” Hensen said, nodding his head.
“… For the health and well being of my family.” Aril managed to squeak out.
Hensen smiled at the response, “That’s a good thing to ask God for.”
He nodded.
“Tell me son, do you believe in fate. Destiny?” Hensen asked him, looking up at the altar.
“I don’t know.”
“Well you should think about it.” Hensen said, patting him on the back, “We spend so much time asking God for things and help, but they also say he has a plan for all of us. What if our actions are out of our control? Everything you’re ever going to do, say, feel. All of it, predetermined.”
“… Then why would he even bother judging us?” Aril started, “If we’re inherently good or bad from birth, then why bother going through life to be judged?”
“Exactly, it’s such a strange thing.” Hensen said, “I like to believe in a middle ground. Some things are unavoidable, it’s how we react to them is what we’re judge by.”
“That’s a unique perspective.” Aril said.
“Bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people. God tests us in so many ways.” Hensen smiled, rising to his feet.
“Do you consider yourself a good person,” Aril found himself asking, “or a bad person?”
“Well I worked hard to earn my reputation about town” Hensen chuckled.
“I know of your reputation, Mr. Bills.” Aril said, also rising from his kneeling position, “but what kind of a person do you think you are?”
“So you do know who I am.” Hensen nodded.
Aril stared deep into his eyes, studying him as Hensen pondered the question. The man pondered on this for many minutes, and then opened his mouth to reply. He withdrew for a moment, hesitating on a thought, and then spoke.
“Good and bad are two sides of the same coin, a coin where both sides are heads and tails.” Hensen pondered, still staring off into nowhere, “Good and bad are just names that one gave the other, so I could be many things to you, and you will have your own idea of what is good and bad.”
Aril nodded, and thought for a moment. He had no reason to think Hensen was bad, he’d done only good things for the city. However, this was the first time he’d truly spoken to the man.
“Ask yourself the same question.” Hensen proposed, “Do you consider yourself good, or bad. Can one be a good man if they’ve done bad things? Could the reverse be the same? Could a man be bad if they’ve done only good things?”
Aril hesitated. Was he implying he knew who he was? No, that was impossible. Aril shook off the feeling, and focused on his words. “Could a man be bad if they’ve done only good things?”. Aril certainly considered himself a good man, and yet he was a murderer, a criminal. He had taken the lives of many people under the oath of a contract for payment. Yet, did his disposition towards it all really excuse it? Was he truly a good man?
“I see what I’ve said has caught you in deep thought.” Hensen laughed. “I’ll leave you to them, and have a good evening my friend. Perhaps I will see you again.”
With that, Hensen nodded and took his leave, and Aril watched as the great wooden door closed behind him. Could he be a bad man if he’d done only good things? He sighed, and adjusted his coat. The blade hanging in the inner pocket caused it to slump, regardless. Hensen really was an interesting man.
