SACRIFICED

Prologue

"Don't worry baby you are going to be just fine" Nathan whispered to his wife who was lying on the hospital bed just four months into her pregnancy, the doctors insisted she had to stay there in case of any other emergency as she had already had two hemorrhagic incidents that almost led to her death. Nathan and Blaire had been waiting for a child for as long as five years into their marriage, but all Nathan could wish was that the baby would just go and they could try again when his wife was better.

Nathan pulled his jacket tighter around his shoulder. Winter was approaching quickly, and it was almost as if the bleakness of the weather was a prelude to his fate. He kept him asking himself what had made him not bring the car out instead of walking to the hospital. He passed an alley; taking a glance at it, he sighed. He was gradually reaching a grim part of his life. He could feel it creeping up his neck like a slimy snake in a poorly designed tunnel. When he looked away, he thought he saw something in the alley, the woe of persisting vision, He looked back, and sure enough, there was a dark figure almost like the grim reaper. Nathan didn't believe in such, but moved away just in case it was a madman wanting to cut his throat.

Nathan Cameron was a grocery shop owner. He was happy with his life; the same way Blaire had been happy with her life as a nurse before the child had taken everything away.

At that moment of his deep thinking, Nathan felt like he was being watched. He looked around quickly before he started walking faster than before; then he felt like he was being followed. His cold hands found refuge in his pocket, so his hand will be closer to his shop keys in case he suddenly wasn't safe anymore. He bumped into someone. He moved back a little, apologizing for not watching his way, and he tried walking around the guy. The mysterious stranger grabbed his arm that was supposed to reach for his keys and yanked him back for attention. Nathan could swear that he felt the cold from his hand pass through the jacket. Of course, he was barely wearing anything but a button-down shirt and trousers.

"Nathan Cameron right?"

"Do I know you?"

"Maybe, maybe not," the stranger smiled, making Nathan raise his eyebrows a little. "Probably not," the stranger finished.

"Then how do you know me?"

"That is not really important, Nate. Can I call you Nate"?"

"No," Nathan replied grumpily. He didn't want to be rude, but he had more troubling things in his life than listening to a man who was probably trying to sell him pans that could also be used as a washing machine. The man scoffed out a tiny piece of laughter.

"Fine, suit yourself. I understand your wife is dying."

"How do you know that?" Nathan asked harshly.

"Again, not important."

"Look, I am sorry, but I have no business with you. Can I go?" Nathan tried to manoeuvre around the strange man again and go his own way, but the man grabbed his arm and dragged him back again.

"I am still talking to you,"

"But I am done talking to you. Excuse me," the man allowed Nathan to go on.

"I can help you with your problem."

"Listen, man, you can't. Just who the fuck are you even?"

"I am glad you finally have manners; my name is Xavier hades and I want to help you."

"Help me?!" Nathan almost screamed. "You are not helping me. If you want to help me, get lost."

"I mean, I want to strike a deal with you."

"On the street?" Nathan raised his brow at the guy.

"Yes, it won't take a second."

"If I listen, will you let me go home?" this man was crazy, and it seemed like the only way Nathan could escape him was if he did things his way.