Light slowly streamed into the only bedroom of the tin-molded shack. It was the dawn of time; dawn of the time to make a decision, to change everything.
The mornings were as usual. A cup of instant coffee, a skim through newspapers collected from recycling centers, a sigh at the end. And soon enough, the birds would begin their daily routine of tweets, twitters and chirps.
But today, there were none to hear in Cleopatra's ears. None except the whispers of the wind as it caressed her hairs.
"Today's the time, my darling. Today's the time..."
"Do I really have to do it?"
"Yes, my dear. Don't you want their souls to be at peace?"
Her hair waved once again with the wind, slowly coming to rest across her cheeks and then, recede away in the shadows of her head. The light was bright yet the shadows lingered; the shadows of her past clung to her like a newborn clings to its mother right after birth.
A quick glance at the worn out, loosely hung Tag Heuer Carrera gave one an impression that it was stolen from the trash cans of a man who found his hands in new money rather than that it was of inheritance. Yet the watch was not for looks; it was for a purpose hammered into Cleopatra's heart.
Only 15 minutes were left.
But she had nothing to worry about. She was at his yard already.
"Wassup, Cleo? You coming to my party?"
"Hey, Anthony. Yeah, for sure. How could I miss the most popular kid at St. Krueger's birthday bash?"
"Whatchu doing here?"
"Nah, your dad called me. He said he could give me some work to do. Need the money."
"Nice! He's at his study. Dude, I was supposed to make him a cup of coffee but I'm sure he'd appreciate the gesture if you could do it."
"No worries, I'm on it."
As she went inside, Cleopatra couldn't help but notice the flashy posters plastered on the outer walls of the porch. All of them tagged, 'Mayor Briggers wins it again'.
As she prepared the coffee, her ears welcomed the news she was waiting to hear for the past few minutes.
"This is it folks. Five more minutes till we celebrate the Mayor Briggers' electoral victory with some bang! The townsfolk of KruegerDast have been.... "
It was time.
She climbed up the stairs, a creak following her every step. Like everyone, it was her first time so one could condone her relentless quivering, throbbing chest and her irregular breaths.
"Slow and steady, my love," the wind brushed past her ears.
She was at the door.
"It is time," the wind fondled her cheeks.
A knock and then a bang!
The fireworks had begun.
"Hello there, Mr. Briggers. Or should I say, Captain Alex Dampf?"
"What the hell are you talking about, child? Who are you?"
"I shall not be bound to their wishes. I shall not be bound to their ways. I shall rise from the embers of their mistakes and deliver the justice they failed to deliver."
"Forgive me-"
A firework blasted in the sky and then, a bang!
The .45 Double Eagle dropped from her hands. It wasn't the first time she had seen blood, it wasn't the last time she would be seeing blood either.
Yet the tender hands of a 16 year old were no longer soft, no longer pristine. She had done it, she had started it. Yet deep down, something inside her stirred.
Cleopatra Pythons wasn't always like this. She once had a life....
Photo by Jan Kopřiva on Unsplash
Hey there, Wattpaders! I hope you liked the first chapter of 'Redemption To Come'. This idea popped up in my mind as I was taking a shower. Wasn't really too keen on writing this down, let alone publish it here! Guess all this quarantine-blessed free time raised my standards of bravery. Want me to continue?
YOU ARE READING
Redemption To Come
Mystery / ThrillerWhat happens when what you are right now is shaped by how you were in the past? What happens when you ask questions that nobody feels at ease to answer? What happens when you have the choice of taking one's life so that your mind can be at peace?
