Our Legacy - Episode 23

As parts of the world were in ruins, plagued by war, there were several innocents on the streets begging for money and shelter. Governments were too occupied to deal with the situation. A selfless act was hard to come by. Robert Haye, a man well over seventy, was one individual who tried to help a new helpless soul every day.

On his way back from the bread line a soft cry grabbed his attention. At this age, Robert was a very emotional person. With trouble back at home, he couldn’t imagine the pain anyone else could be going through. He couldn’t see where the cries were coming from. The buildings beside him were brick apartment blocks with metal fire-escape stairs running along the sides. He figured maybe someone was crying in their home. Best to leave them alone, he thought to himself, but he began to see trails of blood leading to a back-alley where he once kissed a girl many decades ago. The memory brought a smile to his old and wrinkled face. The blood suddenly wiped away the weak vision. It was fresh. With what speed he had, Robert made haste to investigate. Was someone wounded? Was that why they are crying? Thoughts, one by one, skipped through his mind.

Entering the back-alley, he saw a moving piece of cloth and beneath it were two bare-feet. “Hello?” he said but a cough followed. He held on to his chest, dropping the paper bag that had the bread to the floor while reaching for the handkerchief in his shirt pocket. He held a brown checkered cloth to his mouth as he continued coughing. Once the coughing stopped, Robert wiped his mouth and put the handkerchief back into his pocket, hiding the blood that had recently come out from himself. He had to be strong. Looking over where the person was hiding, he realised they had tucked away their feet from sight. “Don’t be afraid. I want to help.” He assured.

Walking slowly, making sure not to startle the person, Robert made his way up to them. “I don’t want help.” Said a female voice. “Leave me alone.” “Is the blood yours?” Robert asked. “…Yes.” “May I tend to your wounds?” This time there was no answer. He walked closer until there were only a few meters between them. “Are you still bleeding?” There was a brief moment of silence from her again. “I think so.” “Let me help you. You don’t want to get infected by anything.” “I won’t.” She hissed. “I don’t live far away. I have medical supplies.” “Go away!” she began to cry. Robert, a loving yet stubborn man, removed the cloth she was hiding under. He had immediately prepared his face to meet the also stubborn lady as he shoved his jaw forward and squinted at her. His expression changed instantly, as much to his surprise, the lady was completely naked. Robert quickly turned red and was ashamed of himself. “Please forgive me!” he begged. “I didn’t imagine you’d be naked.” The girl began to cry behind the sheet of cloth. Robert slowly leaned towards her. “Young girl… You mustn’t be afraid of me. I am a frail old man. Should I have any ill intentions, I’m sure you’d overpower me.” She looked at the man with bloodshot eyes. “Please, let me help you.”

Robert unlocked the door to his apartment flat and held the door open once he walked inside. The girl took a deep breath before entering. She had agreed to the man’s pleas and had followed him home, covering her naked body with the ragged cloth. “April, I’m home.” Announced Robert. “Come in, come in.” he then whispered to the girl. “Um, we have a guest tonight.” There were no replies as they made way into the kitchen. Robert places the paper bag on to the kitchen table near the sink. He then took a look at the girl and then proceeded to walk towards the bathroom. “We should get you cleaned up first.” There was a cupboard behind the door in which he took out two towels from. “One for your hair and one for your…body… yes?” The girl simply nodded in reply. She suddenly took an interest on the bathtub and the painting of an angel on the white ceramic wall next to it. “April loves angels.” Robert stated as he saw what she was looking at. “They make her feel safe.” He walked over to the sink and began washing his hands thoroughly. “I’ll just be a second and then be out of your way.” Once he was done, he shook his hands several times to shake off the water before drying them. “Once you’re done, just take a seat on the toilet and call for me. We’ll get you sorted out in here. I’ll also bring you some clothes to wear.”

Robert took his leave and left the girl alone. He then entered a bedroom down the hall. He owned a three-room flat, painted in a soothing and faded orange. There were no carpets and the wooden flooring was clean and polished. There wasn’t a speck of dust in sight. The bedroom was dark with only a single light source coming from a small bedside table lamp. April was in bed on the far side, her back turned against him, and was neatly tucked in under the duvet. Robert slowly climbed on top of the bed and gently kissed her wrinkled cheek. “Are you awake, my love?” he whispered. “Hmm…” she groaned. “We have a guest.” “Hmmmmm.” “You’ll meet her once I’ve prepared breakfast. I’m going to make French toast today.” He kissed her cheek once more and brushed her hair back with his fingers. “Just the way you like it…”

The girl had taken almost half an hour in the shower before Robert heard his name. He had prepared the table and the ingredients for the breakfast dish while she was at it. After washing his hands once again, he quickly grabbed his first aid kit and entered the bathroom. The girl was sitting on the toilet as instructed, her body wrapped up with a large towel, and her hair with a smaller one. Robert realised that he had never actually looked at her properly upon realising that she was a very stunning lady but his attention was diverted as he saw the wounds on her body. She was still bleeding as the white towel around her body was slowly turning pinkish.

Robert took a step to sit on from the cupboard which April used to use to stand on. He opened up the first aid kit and started working on an open wound on her leg. “So what’s your name?” he asked, while disinfecting the area. “Maha…” “Maha? That’s a nice name.” “Thank you.” “Well, tell me, Maha… how did you end up like this?” “I don’t know. I… woke up like this.” “Ok…” Robert sounded worried. “Got any friends or family here?” “I’m not from around here.” “Hmm, well these are very extensive injuries you have here. Did you get attacked by one of them?” “Them?” “Demigods…” he said distastefully. Maha took note of it. She would have to choose her words carefully from now on. “I don’t know.”

Maha got a break of solitude when Robert had to check on April for a while. She was repeatedly coughing so he went to get her a glass of water. While she was alone, Maha tried to heal herself but her heart ached immensely when nothing happened. She wanted to cry. Nothing was happening. She tried again and again. The muscles on her neck and jaw tensed up, her teeth gritting, trying to hold back the tears. She tried to conjure up other powers but nothing happened. “No no no no…” she cried in a quiet voice. A door was shut and the sound of footsteps were coming towards her. Maha tried to get herself back into a calm state but it was impossible by the time the bathroom door opened. “Alright, let’s finished you up. Oh no, are you ok my dear?” said Robert, spotting the tears on her face. “Yeah, it’s just… all this.” “Of course… Let’s finish up and have some nice breakfast. You look like you need it.”

Maha was handed clothes that were too big for her. The clothes belonged to Robert’s wife and they hadn’t been worn in ages. As she put on a flowery sweater, she could smell the detergent and the smell of old people from it. She didn’t bother with the underwear and went straight to wearing a pair of beige pants that clearly needed the assistance of a belt to stay put on Maha’s waist. Finishing off with a pair of wool socks, Maha entered the living room where Robert had breakfast waiting on a wooden, rectangular table. The smell of French toast and tea instantly made her happy and warm. She quickly took a seat but had to refrain from taking any food on her plate since Robert was helping April get ready in the bedroom.

Once the door opened, Maha turned around on her seat to watch them come out. She gasped when she saw that April was a cute old lady with short white hair and light blue eyes on a wheel chair, being pushed by her husband. Maha stood up to greet her and extended her hand. “Hello, April.” She said. The old lady looked up at her and smiled. “Hello, dear.” She replied, her voice weak yet strong at the same time. She was wearing a gown that went with her eyes and had white slippers on. Maha noticed that parts of her arms were bruised, as were her hands. “Are you ok?” she asked. “Did you fall?” “Oh I’m fine.” April chuckled. “I just bruise very easily in my old age.” “Does it hurt?” “I am always in pain, my dear. I take eleven pills a day just to survive the day.” “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” “It’s quite alright.” April began to study her and smiled. “I hope Robert kept his eyes off you. But I’m sure he did, otherwise he would have had a heart attack and died!” she chuckled.

Robert pushed April to the side of the table and nodded at Maha for her to take a seat. He then got some milk from the refrigerator and added it to April’s tea. After putting the milk away, he walked up behind his wife, kissed her head and proceeded to his own seat. “I hope you like French toast, Maha. It’s April’s favourite.” “Yes, I do. My um… girlfriend… used to make it.” She was suddenly frightened on what they would think about her as she spotted a cross on the wall. “I see. She must have excellent taste then.” “Yeah… used to… she… Never mind. May I have a slice, please?” Maha didn’t want to think about her late-girlfriend at this time. A lot of things were wrong with her. She was still confused as to why she couldn’t use her powers anymore. “First, we will say grace.” Robert sat opposite Maha with April between them. They held hands and Maha copied their actions as they closed their eyes and bowed their heads.

“Thank you, Lord, for providing us with bread and food on our table. Blessed we are to be one of few during these tragic days. Blessed are we to have a guest with us today. May your warm hand forever guide us and keep us safe. Amen.”

April suddenly began to shriek. Robert’s eyes sprung open to see Maha standing with April’s hand in hers, completely crushed. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” Robert shouted at the top of his lungs. Maha waved her hand towards him, sending him flying into the wall and kept him there hovering. “ET ERIT SANGUIS IN PLATEAS INUNDATA!” Maha chanted, her voice no longer her own as what was now coming out of her mouth was lower pitched and sounded like multiple voices, almost hellish. A vibrant red energy surged through Maha and entered April’s body. “Streets will be flooded with blood!” she cried after her. Robert looked at Maha and then April in horror. “MORTUI SUN ANGELI!” “The Angels are dead!” “MORTUI SUNT ARCHANGELI!” “The Archangels are dead!” “DEUS EST MORTUUS!” “God is dead!” “PUER AUTEM INVENITUR!” “The child will be found!” “MOLITUR LUCIFER VENIRE!” “Lucifer is coming!” “LUCIFERIUS DOMINUS NOSTER!” “Lucifer, our lord!” “MOLITUR LUCIFER VENIRE!” “Lucifer is coming!” “LUCIFERIUS DOMINUS NOSTER!” “Lucifer, our lord!” “MOLITUR LUCIFER VENIRE!” “Lucifer is coming!” “LUCIFERIUS DOMINUS NOSTER!” “Lucifer, our lord!”

The energy that had entered April spread and engulfed her in a light of blood red, which quickly followed as her entire body imploded. Everything in the flat suddenly shot up towards the ceiling, including Robert who was simply staring at Maha, too scared and frightened to make a move or a sound.

Several minutes later, the trance ended. Maha woke up, almost about to vomit and her head feeling fuzzy, but she woke up to a nightmare. April was nowhere to be seen but Robert… Robert was in an indescribable state, a part of a scene one could only think had been based on something from Hell.