The End

The voices clashed, thundering over one another, louder than the thunder crackling outside. The members of the Grand Council of Greater Beings were arguing once more. 

“We mustn’t allow any of the lesser beings to take on the matter! For all we know, they’re the ones behind it all!” Water argued, rising from their throne to slam their trident down onto the marble floors, the echo barely resonating for a second before it was covered by another Greater Being’s yell.

Across the hall, Wisdom argued back. “For all we know, they could be the ones to save us all! We mustn’t discredit any being until we know who our foe is. I believe we must call on the Greater Beings outside our council for questioning.”

“But they haven’t been spotted since we came to the capital,” said Sun. 

Moon nodded, “they could have been taken by this devastation.”

Travel huffed. “Then we call their underlings. Their domains are still functioning and sending reports in and out. I know that much at least.” 

“Functioning? They’re hanging on by a threat! The passage of time is inconsistent! We’ve been abandoned by luck, and ignored by death. Surely these Greater Beings have some clue over what's going on with us. It cannot be denied!” Family said.

“You say that, Travel, yet you claim you haven’t seen them. Whose side are you on?” War bellowed. 

“Don’t pretend like you’re around all the time, War,” said Love. Celebration snickered, muttering something under their breath that brought on the arguments once more.

In the midst of all the arguing, only one being stayed quiet. Bron, who was a mere Great Being, had no way of interrupting those around him. He hunched in on himself, trying not to glance up at the progenitor of his kind. Fire didn’t even tilt their head in his direction all meeting long, but they have been ignoring his progress reports...

“Do not be ridiculous.” Law thundered, an electric silence hushed the hall. “Speak only of the truths and facts you know.”

Bron stood on shaking legs, finally finding the right opportunity to jump in. Looking over the script in his hands, trying not to ruin the parchment with his sweat as he gathered all the authority he could muster. “It's not just us, is it? The devastation has wrecked each of our domains. The only sacred space left unharmed is this country.”

“Bah!” Invention exploded from right beside him, sending Bron scrambling back to his seat. “This issue trickles down to the world. It hits us the hardest, and when we’re weakened, we’re unable to help those lesser.”

The argument drew on, but Bron didn’t say another word, choosing instead to listen, occasionally jotting down any new arguments that spring up, though those have been increasingly less common as the meeting drew on. All too soon, the meeting was over, with Sun excusing themselves to draw the sun across the sky and Moon having to leave to bring night on to the realms.

Bron gathered his report and left, speeding through the lengthy halls on the way to Earth’s office to drop it off for them to read over it when they had the time. “You’d think that the mighty Greaters would be powerful enough to have a dedicated scribe for all this busywork, but no… leave it to the underling.”

The office was locked when he got there. Bron heaved a massive sigh, getting on his knees to try and slip the papers in from under the door even though Earth specifically said they’d leave it open for them to drop the reports in. “I hope Hylfa hasn’t left for work already.”

“I hope Sara hasn’t left work already,” Saif thought, bouncing on his heels while trying to cross the busiest roads of Manama during the evening rush. His shift at Mega Store doesn't start for another two hours, but with their shift schedules, the pair didn’t see each other often. Saif had to come in early to try and catch a glimpse of his friend, if only to wave her goodbye.

The crossing light turned green; Saif waited a little longer to make sure none of the cars would try to run the red light before crossing. It wasn’t too far a walk from his apartment to the mall, but crossing a major highway always made him nervous. He’s seen too many car crash videos to truly feel safe. 

He almost made it to the mall when his phone buzzed. He whipped it out immediately, knowing the only people who would text him are his boss and Sara. It was the former, and his heart plummeted in his chest.

“You don’t have to come in anymore,” the text began. “Change of plans. The store will begin its expansion tonight. You’ll be sent your final paycheck at the start of next month.”

Saif stopped in his tracks one foot inside the mall. A security guard came up to greet him, but Saif couldn’t pay him any attention. “What are you saying? I’m fired?” He typed back urgently, wishing he could call, but knowing his voice would only get stuck in his throat.

The guard pulled off his hat and fanned Saif with it. Tariq, if the shininess of his bald head was anything to go by, was saying something about the weather and how red Saif’s face was, but Saif wasn’t paying much attention. He was staring at his phone, waiting for his boss to reply.
“You got the short end of the stick?” Tariq asked, Saif nodded. “Thought so. The rest of the lot were pissed too. I never thought Mega Store would be closed on a weekend, but there’s a first time for everything.”

Said got a message from Sara this time. “Hey, I didn’t come to the mall today. I know we were gonna hang but the semester started already and I completely forgot to tell you. Did you get a message about the store closing too?”
“I did,” Saif sighed, walking back home. “It’s a little disappointing, but maybe we can hang out another time?”

“Uh yea. Okay.” She sent a small smiley face. “It’s just that I don’t work while the semester is ongoing because of all the reports and labs and stuff I do. I’ll let you know when I’m free?”

Saif sighed, now back on the highway, waiting for his light to turn green. “Sure thing,” he texted back, looking up and seeing the cars start to slow.

From across the street ahead of him, a woman screamed. His head whipped up, seeing a little girl racing across the traffic light. A massive car with tires up to his chest was driving at full speed, ignoring the yellow light entirely. 

He needed to do something. The car was going to hit her. It absolutely will, there’s no doubt about it, but his feet were frozen. He could see the next moments clearly, the girl getting slammed by the car, hurling into the air at the speed of light, the car trying desperately to come to a stop, but it would be too late, the girl would be gone. He could stop it, but he can’t.

He reached out, but he didn’t have to. 

Another person, someone standing a couple steps behind him, rushed across the traffic and pushed the girl away just moments before the car would have gotten to her. 

All at once, the world unfroze. There was a symphony of horns and screams as people got out of their cars to see what happened. The bystander was huddled over, a hair away from the road, and in his arms was the little girl, shocked but bodily unharmed. Saif stood there, dropping his outstretched arm, now shaking. He almost let a little girl die because he was too much of a coward to do anything himself. If that bystander wasn’t there… 

Police arrived, cars flashing red and blue, but Saif had long since left the scene. He crossed the road, making sure the cars came to a full stop and then some. He made it all the way to his apartment, shoes already squeaking up the steps when a young girl left the building. Saif recognized her, he'd seen her playing on the street or in the elevator a couple of times, but he doesn’t know her name.

The girl had a look on her face that Saif would have normally ignored. He might not have even noticed it if he wasn’t on high alert from the near-accident. She was looking down to the floor and scraping her shoe against the tiles. 

Saif could have left it at that and gone home. He would have, normally, but instead, he knelt down and asked once again.

“Are you okay?” He gruffed, throat dry from disuse.

The girl met his eyes, shaking her head solemnly. “I have to cross the road to the supermarket and tell Baba we need juice and bread for my lunchbox for school tomorrow because he left his phone at home and went, but I don't want to go by myself.”

Saif smiled, lending her a hand and tipping his chin towards the door. The girl smiled wide and dragged him along, excitedly talking about how excited she is to start first grade. They crossed the road just fine, with Saif being more than careful.

He didn’t have to spend too long looking for the girl’s father, since the minute they stepped in, she let go of his hand and ran to hug her father’s legs.

“Zahraa? What are you doing here?” The man had been pushing an empty shopping cart, clearly having just got there himself.

“Baba! Mama said don’t forget your phone next time and we need bread and juice for school tomorrow!”

The man was flustered, “I see.” He looked up to Saif, “Thank you son. I don’t think she could’ve gotten across without you. Actually, I’ve seen you before, haven’t I? Who’s your father?”

Saif was now flustered as well, nodding and fumbling to try and leave without making conversation, knowing he’d only make a fool out of himself if he tried. His heart thundered in his chest and rang between his ears, he rushed out the door, across the street and- 

He ran directly in the path of a large truck.