Journey Through Hell

Chapter 2 - Brother

'God blesses him who helps his brother.'

Abu Bakr

One thing is clear as I gathered my thoughts after the emotional battle against Mother. I am definitely in hell due to my sins that are yet to be reclaimed. I still cannot remember everything as there are snippets slotting into place like a puzzle of doom and despair. However, it does not explain the mystical library that has a mysterious divine aura. I wonder how I can reach that place since I want to rest my troubled mind and tormented soul.

I got my knife back in the inventory after Mother's corpse crumbled into dust. I wearingly continued wandering about in the corridor. There was a double door in front of me as I inspected them and it looked like I seen it before as a child. It was an antique-looking reddish-brown door with big black metallic rings instead of door knobs. I pulled the rings as it made a clanking sound while opening the door. There was a white flash that engulfed my vision and I felt an icy cold rush sensation that ran shivers down my spine.

I opened my eyes and I was in another bedroom. There was a double bed with an animated ink blots as a cover. There was a large cupboard and a dressing table next to it from the left of the room. There was a big black study desk with a sturdy office mobile chair. There was a portrait of flowers on the side of the wall to add some kind of color in a dull-looking room.

There were no carpets or rugs on the maple-wood furnished floor but there was a single barefoot left as a dusty proof that this room is currently occupied. I nearly touched the barefoot print but it blew away all of a sudden. I looked up to see a window being left open as the dust swooshed away into nothing. I peered at the window but there was an empty darkness beyond. I shivered and tried to distract myself by examining the room even further.

"Cool looking bed." I said to myself. I looked around and noticed some shiny object on the desk. I went over and it looked like an expensive analog watch. I picked it up and moved it around in my hands. It had a black strap and the analog watch had a shimmering logo. Just then, a memory fragment emerged once again.

"Hey Ali, I got a gift for you!" A little boy said as he was eagerly showing the watch to me. He seemed more excited than I was. I can barely see his face as the sunlight entered from the windows that angled it in such a way that it blinded my point-of-view. However, I can tell from his cheery light voice that he sounded enthusiastic and delighted about the fancy watch. We were in this very room and it was my 13th birthday.

"Oh...how nice. Thanks, little brother." I said absentmindedly as I was barely looking at the watch. I was looking into space, feeling dejected since none of my friends responded to my calls. I wanted to invite them but not one even wished me today. I felt so depressed but my little brother was trying to cheer me up.

"Oh, don't worry about your 'so-called' friends." He said. "Do you like the watch I bought for you?" I could barely see his face but he seemed to be anxious and eager about the expensive watch.

"Like I said, it's nice." I said a bit harsher than intended. My little brother flinched and looked a bit hurt. He put his head down and grumbled softly to himself.

"What was that?" I asked him. I never liked it when he mumbled and grumbled to himself every-time he does not get what he wants or if I don't react the way according to his expectations.

"Nothing!" He said with a sharp tone in his voice. I expected him to behave better than that since he should know how to act in a normal way.

"Hey...come o-," I was about to reach out but he just ran out of the room.

The fragment ended right there, I felt a bit guilty at that time when my little brother tried to give me a gift but I showed no interest or gratitude. I looked around in this bedroom and there were photos on the shelves fitted on the wall.