FIFTEEN
1729 Words
I don’t know what is going on with my mind. I think I am kind of stupid and crazy at the same time. I am crazy for going away, I am crazy for disobeying Nemesis, I am crazy for moving on with my own.
Where am I actually right now? I don’t know but I did what I did. I don’t have memories, yes, but I am not paralyzed. I don’t need someone to dictate what I am going to do all over again. I have my own choices and I can stand on my own.
As of the moment, I am here sitting at the back corner of a bus. I am traveling to nowhere. Damn it. I just only have a few dollars in my pocket which I stole from Nemesis before I go away. Now what Thanatos? What is your plan? You don’t have a plan now huh? You have that courage to leave but then you don't know what you will do next? Amazing. You don’t even have anything. And it is raining outside!
I just looked at the outside scenery from the glass window of this bus. Wherever I am right now, it is beautiful. I can see the rich nature from here. The grass, flowers, cows, birds… I love it. By the looks of it, I think I am already far from the city where Nemesis and Makaria live
Somehow, I felt very tired. So I leaned my head on the side window of the bus as I close my eyes.
--A Few Hours Ago--
“I said… can you promise me that you will not do this kind of stuff again?” As I listen to every word that she says, my heart keeps saying NO.
I keep myself quiet for a while. Before I let my heart speak.
“What if I can't?”
“What did you say, Thanatos?!” I saw the gradual change in her facial expression. She was shocked by what I said.
“I can’t do this anymore” I started to walk towards the door, but as I expected, she blocked the way immediately.
“Hey no! You are not going anywhere!”
“Nemesis, stop. I want to go. Let me go”
“Then what?! You will follow that Makaria again? No way!” the tone of her voice is rising again. I feel sorry for her. She is being so stressed because of me.
I didn't even try to look at her face.
“It is not like that”
“Then what are you going to do? You know I have eyes. I can see how you look at her, and how you act in front of her. It seems like you are not being yourself when she is around.”
“Yes, and I know me okay?”
“How can you say that? You don’t remember anything! Are you saying to me that you can handle yourself just by having some gradual memory bits of yours?”
“Nemesis. Please! stop! Give me time, space, and freedom. I know I lost most of my memories but I am not a kid! I can make my own choices” I tried to walk past her but she still blocks my way. She really doesn't want to lose this argument.
“What kind of choices? Foolish choices?”
“MY choices. Not yours”
“My goodness why can't you listen to me?!” I saw her frustration through her gestures. I know I am being big stress for her, that's why I want her to let me go. One of the reasons why I want to leave is for her not to always look after me. I don't want her to carry all the weight.
“I am sorry, Nemesis.”
“Thanatos, don't do this. I am just thinking about you, besides, up above sent me here to guide you”
“I know. But I had enough. I am sorry” then I move closer to the door. She then let me pass through.
“If you walk out this door, don't ever come back, Thanatos,” She said with authority. I didn't answer that, and I didn't even look back at her. I just twist the doorknob, open the door, then walk away.
After that, I never heard a single word from her anymore.
--Present--
“Sir? Sir?”
I woke up when I felt some shaking. I immediately opened my eyes and I saw a man touching my shoulders.
Well, I guess I have slept for a very long time.
“I am sorry to bother you sir but this is the last destination of this bus. I want you to please go out immediately”
“Oh, okay… s-sorry” After that, I suddenly yawn. I don't know where I am right now.
I stood up and walked to the aisle of the bus as I checked outside. There are few houses here, but the good thing is that it is surrounded by trees.
The bad thing is, I don't know where I should stay the night. Great, Thanatos, you're great!
I stepped outside and saw the man who woke me up earlier. He just smiled at me before she went back to the bus.
“Hello, Mister”
Suddenly, I heard a voice. I turned around and saw a middle-aged man in front of me. He's wearing all white! Nice, I like the color of his outfit.
“M-me?” I asked as I pointed to myself. He just smiled at me.
“Yes, you.”
“Why?”
“Do you need a place to stay?”
“Yes. How did you know that?”
“I just did! Follow me *laugh*” What the heck? He is weird. Should I follow him? I don't know him, and he is laughing like an i***t. Well, I really need someplace to stay so do I even have a choice? I should grab this opportunity.
So I started to walk and followed him. He's walking and leaping at the same time. Really? He seems very happy huh?
“Just follow me, mister. You will see *laugh* you are going to like that place”
“I am following you,” I said as I looked confused. He is so weird. I don't even know why he is laughing. There's nothing to laugh about. I am crazy for following this man.
After a few minutes of walking, he stopped, then he showed me a small house beside a stream.
“Here. Open it. You'll see *laugh*”
The heck? He's starting to be so creepy right now. I just glared at him before I slowly went to the door and opened it.
“It is nice right? You can stay here as much as you like, Mister”
“What?” as much as I like? Well, it's small but nice and clean. I went inside and I saw one small couch, in front of it was a small table. Then at the corner, I saw a small kitchen with a stove and sink beside it. I walked further when I saw one door at the back, I opened it just to see the small bedroom. Inside the bedroom is the one and only bathroom.
Nice! This is all I need.
“How much do I have to pay you?” I asked before I turned around. I saw the man sitting on the couch looking far.
“It is for free. You just have to take care of this house”
“What?!” I was surprised. Did I hear it right? FREE? Nothing is free nowadays, what is he talking about?!
“I said, it is free” he turned around and looked at me seriously. It gives me creeps.
“Why?” I asked, but he just smiled at me. What the heck is going on? I am confused!
He stood up and then he slowly walked towards the main door.
“I will leave. Take care of this house” then he went away.
What the? I had a few seconds of buffering before I moved and tried to follow him outside, but he's nowhere to be found now. I don't even know his name!
“Where did he go? Did you let him leave?!”
Then suddenly… another man pops out behind me. He looks like he's still young. Who is he? And why is he talking to me? Who is he referring to?
“What? Wait, who are you? Do I know you?” I asked. Then he started to roll his eyes.
“Ugh… I am Sephtis. Thanatos, I am your substitute! While you're here being punished, who do you think will handle the souls? It's me, bro!”
WHAT? SO…
HE IS A GRIM REAPER?
NO WONDER WHY HE'S WEARING ALL BLACK RIGHT NOW!
“Is that true? Are you kidding me?” He started to go inside the small house and search.
“Do I look like I am kidding?!”
“Wait wait… what are you searching there”
“It's a soul. A soul of a middle-aged man who always laughs”
WAIT WHAT?!
My eyes widened. I am surprised. Is he referring to the man that I am talking to earlier? That is a soul?!
That's why that man is very strange, and he is giving me this house for free.
“Let me guess, he talked to you. THEN YOU LET HIM GO! You just made my day more difficult, I need to help that soul to go to the afterlife. But now he is gone!” He looked so frustrated. He's so young to be stressed like that.
“I am sorry, I didn't even know that he's a soul!”
“Yeah, great Thanatos. Just great bro.” he started to sit on the small couch then he let out a big sigh. He seemed tired and disappointed.
“I am sorry”
“Sorry can't fix this”
Oh no, this is my fault. What should I do? I need to think.
Think…
Think…
I have an idea!
“Okay, okay… I will help you find him. What is his name?”
“Luke Graham"
- Writer
