Chapter 38 – Believe me

…

“There you are.”

Cleo looked up and saw a man holding an umbrella. The latter bent down and wiped away the water on her face.

The clouds had been churning since yesterday, making the atmosphere too frustrating. Newscasters foretold a super typhoon was coming. A heavy feeling welled up in anyone’s chest as if forcing them to claw out all their pent-up emotions. And today, it finally rained at full strength.

People couldn’t see the road anymore. It was dangerous so no cars dared to drive. In fact, Emanuel even saw a motorcycle being carried by a flash flood and a roof sheet flying like a monster at night.

Still, he would risk everything for Cleo. He took his already prepared towel and wrapped her with it. He could feel her shivering body and he couldn’t help but tightened his embrace.

“Please, believe in me. We’ll get our life back.” This time, Cleo could finally see the man’s face. It was her husband. All of a sudden, her eyes lost their luster. A buried memory brought her back to the past.

It was also raining hard that day. But what made it special was that she actually uncovered a secret hideout of a large gang!

It was huge news back then. She even got rewarded by the old city mayor. It was an idiotic action of a college student. She soon learned that no honor was better than having any of it.

Crash. Thunder rolled and a flash of lightning opened up the dark sky.

She shivered. It became her nightmare for some time. A car sped up from the back before crashing head-on into them. Her family car was sent flying and rolled over the cliff.

Only she lived. She saw them dead, drenched in blood. A fume of smoke drifted down, clearing up her dazed mind. She scanned her surrounding – the overturned car and the dark creepy foliage outside – the grey smoke was vivid in her eyes!

It sent her into a panic! She wanted to live! But she couldn’t move! She started to feel suffocated. The car was too cramped. Soon, a fizzing noise sounded from the engine. A numbing sensation overwhelmed her. Worst, her other senses heightened. Her ears perked up as she discerned the abnormal clanking of the motors. It felt like a countdown. She could hear the steps of death. Getting louder with every passing moment.

Creak. She closed her eyes. But she noticed she was still alive. Thus, she opened her eyes in shock. What welcomed her was a face filled with relief and a touch of gentleness.

She looked back and saw a column of fire from the distance. Then she turned to the man carrying her. She thought he didn’t seem strong but he could carry her as if she was weightless. Cleo stared at this man who was too mysterious to be true. Even discovering a gang’s lair seemed small to all the things he was hiding.

“You are heavy.” Cleo woke up and saw his cheeky smile. She knew he was teasing her but she still felt embarrassed. But in a way, she was finally able to relax.

She looked back once again. Just a while ago, she was still talking about happy things with her parents. But now…

“Believe in me. I’ll find those guys. I’ll get revenge for your parents. A lady shouldn’t dirty her hands.”

Their eyes locked. She could see something beneath those gentle eyes. A raging fire enough to engulf the world! And beneath those flames was another layer of danger! But her senses told her that there was still something buried underneath! And it wasn’t even the bottommost layer!

Later on, the news of the world suffering catastrophic damage spread out. Several countries were having large-scale panics. Some small country was even destroyed. She couldn’t help but think of him. But she shrugged off her impossible thoughts.

Suddenly, he appeared out of nowhere, having a chubby cat on his shoulder while carrying a box. She was surprised to see its contents. A litter of kittens was barely able to open their eyes!

“Let’s go back.” Cleo woke up finding herself carried in Emanuel’s arms. She had gotten heavier but he was still able to carry her effortlessly.

“Hey. Don’t look at me like that.”

The same gentle touch on his stupid face made her choke on emotions. Like a dam, her tears fell down. She was scared. Scared to lose someone important to her once again. She barely hung on but she was dying inside after her daughter died.

“I want my normal life back.” She pleaded.

“For you, my Dear, I’ll even kill a god.”

…

The father prepared a glass of hot water for Cleo and walked towards her with level steps. He wasn’t even this serious when he was doing his work.

“Kill a god? Pfft! Hahaha! You are funny bro!”

Emanuel became gloomy after seeing Cleo’s plight. Now, hearing the shadow made him want to commit murder!

He roared. “Will you shut up?!!”

The shadow smiled and uttered something unexpected.

“You know how much I love you, ninth. That’s why I have a present for you. This time, you can showcase to Cleo how to kill a God.”

“!!!”

When Emanuel heard him, an intense foreboding feeling emerged from the recesses of his heart. It was to the point he quickly opened the monitor despite Cleo’s presence.

And what appeared before their very eyes were Illinois’ cry.

“The world disappoints me!”

They saw his shaky eyes and trembling body. But he was standing in front of thousands of figures ready to drown him with their limbs and weapons.

“Don’t let him get away!”

“Kill the demon child!”

“Kill! Kill!”

The boy caught everything in his eyes. Everyone inched towards him with no hesitation. Even though he was a child… the look on their faces told him they would show no mercy.

The child roared between laughter and tears. It was a desperate scream filled with unwillingness and hatred, trying to reverberate through the slowly tightening space.

“If I live today, I’ll make you regret what you did to me!”

And then, his figure vanished from their view. Even his shadow couldn’t be seen anymore.

Crash.

The glass on Emanuel’s hand fell to the ground. Cleo convulsed before she fainted on the ground. But the man didn’t even look at her.

A gurgling sound exited through the seams of his teeth. Then, blood slowly seeped through. His eyes resembled a dead fish – elongated yet frightening. As if everything was meaningless and lifeless. But at this moment… he was looking at the world like it was dead…

The shadow inside him shuddered before a manic smile crept on his abhorrent face. He looked at the center of the screen and gleefully shouted.

“Story is only interesting when the character is active! I like motivated people! Come! The fun starts here!”

…