You, Midas

I woke up with heavy breathing, opening my eyes to gaze upon the palest shade of white that I’d ever seen.

This must have been the afterlife.

I slowly got up and glanced around. I seemed to be in a pure-white room. The color was consistent throughout except for one thing in the center.

It was a complete contrast from the pure white. It was pitch-black, and it appeared to be a sort of silhouette. That silhouette was…shaped similarly to me.

“Ah, are you finally awake?”

It spoke. The silhouette spoke in a rather sinister voice.

“Are you…the Devil?” I asked, simply mouthing my thoughts.

All of a sudden, it laughed. It laughed in such a cold, ominous fashion.

“The Devil?! Really?” the silhouette said. “I didn’t think you’d be bold enough to ask such a question.”

I raised my eyebrows.

“So what are you, then? And what is this place?”

The silhouette didn’t respond right away, and instead lowered itself and sat on the white floor.

“I don’t like your tone. You’re being much too serious. We’ve been together for years now, and yet, this is the first time we’ve ever spoken. You should be elated.”

I instinctively smiled, but as soon as I processed what it actually said, my eyes widened.

“...So you are the Devil.”

He, the Devil, grinned with my words. I couldn’t exactly see it with his pitch-black color, but I could feel it.

“By your definition, perhaps. You’ve always called me that.”

…By my definition?

I didn’t fully know what he was talking about, but things seemed quite peaceful in this room. I had the feeling that there was plenty of time for us to talk. Fear and intimidation weren’t even present. I simply sat down in place, just like him, and spoke.

“What would you say is your definition of the Devil, then?”

The silhouette stroked its chin.

“An entity created to lead others into temptation, and in turn, into Hell. It is an entity created for the purpose of causing mischief.”

“That’s similar to my definition,” I said. “And you match it quite well.”

It smiled once again.

“...Do I? When did I ever lead others into temptation and cause mischief?”

“You always did. You used me as your vessel to mess with others. A good example would be when you manipulated my friends for quite literally no reason besides your own amusement.”

“If I recall correctly, though, you desired the same outcome as me most of the time. So what sets you apart from being the Devil, since we seem to be so very similar?”

I averted my gaze.

“...Well, I was raised to be your vessel. That’s just how it is.”

“Oh, enough with that! Do you really think I’m the Devil? When you mentioned me manipulating your friends, did you not consider the result? Things worked out well in the end, correct?”

“Sure, but things would’ve been fine if you never got us involved in the first place. You simply create mischief for its own sake, then rectify it, and then cause even more mischief.”

The silhouette, to my surprise, sighed.

“Do you realize that, if causing mischief truly was my goal, I could’ve done much worse? I could’ve killed your friends if I wanted to.”

Those words struck something deep within me.

Gazing at him, I cracked a sardonic smile.

“You simply wouldn’t do that.”

It shuddered. Did it feel fear? I hoped I didn’t scare it.

“Anyway,” I said after a short silence, “you still haven’t answered my questions. What is this place? And if you aren’t the Devil, what are you?”

The silhouette stood up, a bit more serious in mannerisms.

“Well, this is my own domain in the corner of your existence. And I brought you here by doing what you just bore witness to before waking up.”

“So you brought me here by killing me? Am I actually dead? What’s your goal?”

“So many questions…you truly bother me.”

“Answer them, Devil.”

“Like I said, I’m not the Devil. Certainly you don’t believe that I was conjured through that silly ritual and then imprisoned in your body.”

“...Silly ritual?”

“Yes, all the people who partook in that were mad,” the silhouette said. “You didn’t believe in what the cult taught you, but you did believe in your purpose as a vessel for the Devil. I already understand that, since I’m a part of you.”

I paused to think.

“If what you’re saying is true, I’d like you to humor me: where did you come from, if not the ritual?” I asked.

Once again, the silhouette grinned.

“I came from a single prayer.”

There was a moment of silence.

“...A prayer? To whom?” I asked.

“Why, God, of course.”

“God? That’s quite a foreign concept. What was this prayer about, anyway?”

“It was a prayer to help you live.”

“But I’m dead, aren’t I?”

“Maybe only a part of you. But that’s besides the point. The prayer was for your well-being, not just your survival.”

“So are you claiming that to be your purpose? You’re saying you exist for my own well-being?”

“Indeed. That is why I was born.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Then why’d you do all of this? You brought me back to this abandoned village and made me stab myself. You showed me my death days in advance as well, leaving me with no other choice but to accept it. Was that also for my well-being?”

“There was a clear purpose for that. It was to sever your ties with the cult, as well as this place. And also, to sever your ties with me.”

“...Sever my ties? Are you speaking literally or figuratively?”

“Both. You’ll understand soon enough.”

I took a moment to process what we’d talked about. If this…silhouette was telling the truth, then everything I assumed about it, the cult, and myself would become completely upended.

I had to rid myself of all preconceived notions and consider this being’s words without any bias. And when I did that, I couldn’t help but lean toward believing them.

Did it really change anything? I wasn’t sure. But after further thought, I did have another crucial question to ask.

“...Who made this ‘prayer’ in the first place?”

The silhouette looked up.

“You were familiar with her. It was a woman named Romka.”

My eyes widened.

“Romka? But when? Was she really the one who did it?”

I wanted my questions to be answered, but I suddenly noticed something happening to the pitch-black silhouette in front of me. It seemed to be…decaying.

“Ah, looks like my time is up.”

I made a puzzled expression. “What’s happening to you? Are you dying?”

“I did mention that one of the reasons for all this was to sever your ties with me, correct?”

“So…you’re just going to fade away from existence now?”

“Perhaps. Don’t say it so somberly, though. I’ve accomplished my purpose. In fact, I’m even leaving you with a parting gift. There’s a reason I made us go to the place of Romka’s death.”

“A parting gift? What is it?”

“It’s simply something she left behind. You’ll see in just a few minutes. But in the meantime, I’d like to say farewell.”

Farewell?

Oh, right…he was with me all this time.

“...It’s been years, hasn’t it?” I said, a smile breaking its way out.

It seemed like he was smiling back.

“It has. And you know, although you always considered me the Devil, we were actually quite closely related. You could even call me your brother.”

“My…brother?”

He sighed. “You’ll understand someday.”

It was strange. I’d spent so many years blaming and cursing him, but now, seeing him being torn away from existence right before me, I couldn’t help but feel a little lonely.

“Well…that’s fine,” I said, standing up and walking closer to him. “I still don’t fully comprehend everything yet, but…I think I believe you. I don’t think I should have blindly hated you like I did.”

I thought about apologizing, but that wasn’t like me. We had no time left, anyway.

All he did was gently tilt his head in response. He had almost decayed completely. It was as if he was shriveling up and dying.

“...I have one final message for you,” he muttered.

I gave him my attention.

Raising his arm and pointing at me, he spoke with vigor.

“You, Midas, are but a child—free from any real blessing or curse!”