Distorted

Chapter eleven, the play of fate.

Another understanding of life is that the cycle cannot be broken. It can only be paused, delayed but never stopped infinitely. Legends are reborn over ages to die once again. Scum are created once more to destroy again. It's simple yet complicated for all beings to understand that this world only repeats itself, it's not creative, it's not gifted, it's no heaven. It's nothing but a prison that never upgrades it cell bars, the iron rusts but never the core falls.

These muddy streets misty with smoke, those laser robotic lights hitting everyone, the smell of fuel and cheap perfume, the mob's garlic soups in the midst of the cold nights, all under the unifying black skies erupting with impure acidic rain that every sunken eye in this world waits for, it's all nothing but a portrait of hell, a nightmare where no one realizes they're asleep, where everyone wishes to accomplish nothing but surviving a decade more.

But maybe the warmth of a small wooden haven in the corners of the suburbs can wipe away a burden, it's tranquility can fix a broken hinge within them, because simplicity was enough to trigger peace for the poor, it was enough to erase the mess the industrial world has suffocated them with, and so, Merit was a benefactor from this small heaven she stumbled upon.

The words the old lady said sent a shiver down Merit's spine as she tried to tie a memory to this lady but with no success, "Do I know you?" She asked as she ignored the fact she just broke into her house.

"Oh, silly me! You must have forgotten me. But it doesn't matter, come, have a seat. The cake is almost ready." The old lady trembled as she laughed to hide her first words to Merit, she ushered Merit to sit on a chair on the other side of the fireplace facing her, and when the yellow light of the fire cleared the lady's image, Merit found see the remains of once a beautiful woman, having her white hair braided on her shoulder, a beautiful glimmering golden eyes that looked exactly like Merit's and a necklace that she hid behind her simple grey dress. The lady looked like she's in her 60's but had the beauty to still stun anyone who sees her.

"I'm sorry I entered like that.." Merit Shamefully apologized as she stuck her eyes to the ground afraid to face the lady.

"It's alright!" She giggled as she continued sewing, "Some accidents are meant to happen, right?"

"Accidents?"

"Well, you see, I believe in fate myself, young lady. And I believe you're here for a reason." She said, "And how rude of me! Name's Menda, Or at least that's what they call me." she continued.

"Oh..Mine is Merit.." Merit said with her cheeks turning red not only due to the warmth she felt, but fact she was shy.

"Merit! What's a sweet name, so, tell me, it's true you love cinnamon cake and hot chocolate drink? I think it's a beautiful combination."

"Yes, I love it. It's my favorite." Merit trembled as Menda got up and went to the kitchen to get the cake and drink, Merit felt weird thinking of the fact she expected to see a hundred years old witch considering the fact that this house looked quite weird.

"This is weird. I think you should leave." whispered Mechi as he warned Merit who quickly pushed him back to her pocket as Menda came out with the freshly baked cinnamon cake and hot chocolate drink that almost made Merit's jaws to drop and engulf the entire plate all by herself, she did have quite a huge appetite.

"I can't thank you eno-"

"Thank me for what? It's the small act of kindness that makes the sun shine another day, sweetie."

"I haven't seen the sun in a while" Laughed Merit as she took the plate from Menda who breathed heavily as she sat down due to her age.

"It's a sad world, indeed." Sighed Menda.