Chapter 5.3

Home sweet home.

We were only away for about half a day, but It felt more like half a month.

I was pretty decent physically, but I was more than completely exhausted, mentally. I hadn’t quite absorbed all the information from today, especially the conformation that god really did exist.

To be honest, I was half convinced that demons and gods were nothing but fairy tales. I say half since I myself used to be a faithful believer in such topics. Praying everyday, spreading the word and such.

Though for some reason I can’t seem to remember when exactly I lost my faith. It's as if that chunk of my memory was replaced with a patch of haze.

As I opened the door, for the first time since wearing this useless suit, I truly realized just how much heat it was emitting. I was no longer in a biome so frosty, it averaged temperatures of negative seventy six degrees, but in a warm house in a regular warm biome.

It’s an understatement to say I was sweating bullets. My head was starting to feel dizzy and I began losing my balance. I caught myself as I was slipping, but before I knew it, I fell to the floor and was left unconscious. Only a few steps from my front door, was my unconscious, hot and sweaty body.

Slowly regaining my consciousness, my eyelids slowly flickered to reveal an ominous dark room.

As I lifted my head to inspect my location, the area was suddenly brightened with ceiling lights.

The sudden change in brightness jolted me, but for some reason I couldn't seem to enter my defensive stance.

That's when my brain finally processed, not only my surroundings, but also my predicament.

Looking around, I deduced that I must have been inside a large prison cell. Oddly enough the prison cell was far too large for just one person. Infact, I’m willing to guess you could fit well over 200 people here.

Though this was a bizarre scene, it was far from the most bizarre variable about my situation.

Located in the very center of the cell was me, seated in a wooden chair. I wasn’t strapped or locked in it by any means, but no matter how hard I squirmed and tried, I couldn’t seem to move an inch.

Suddenly, a sea of red liquids appeared under me. It absolutely reeked of iron and it vibrated in a way most like the waves of an ocean.

The waves settled and the hands of mere children erupted from the ocean of blood.

Kids or not, I could feel their powerful grip as they clenched my legs.

Slowly their arms rose more and more until their faces and torso were revealed, and as they rose, they took on an even more gruesome appearance.

The very skin on their back began melting, changing their faces to that of pure bones. Even their former meaty hands were reduced to the very same.

You could see the pains in their hollow eyes, as if their very soul were screaming out. And with each passing second their look of pain grew more and more, until they themselves started hurling their complaints towards me.

One asked me, “I prayed like you said, so why is he not helping me?”. Another said “Yeah, when will he help us?”. One of them behind me proposed an idea. “Maybe you can help us, instead!”

Agreeing with the idea, the other two began chanting “Yeah, help us!”, over and over again.

Then suddenly, my vision went black and I was lying comfortably in bed.

I opened my eyes and met the ceiling’s gaze. As I sat up, I felt a pain blooming within my head. I seemed to have caught a headache while I was out.

(The hell kind of dream was that?)

I viewed my surroundings to get an idea of where I was, and no doubt this was definitely my room.

I pondered on how I could have got here, but more than that I was confused on how my heating suit had vanished.

I was wearing it before I passed out, but now it was gone, and I was left wearing just my boxers underneath.

I seemed to be in the comfort of my home, so I headed downstairs all the same.

Ready to greet me in the living room, was a sight that pretty much answered all my former questions.

Sitting on the sofa was my father, glued to some manga. And laying beside him, was the bodysuit I had on.

(Ahh, yuh wake up , mon)

“Ah you’re awake”, he said as he closed his book.

If you haven't already realized, my dad has a very strong Jamaican accent.

“..Y-Yep.”

I looked away as I replied. I was pondering my best excuse for not just the suit, but everything really.

He slapped the sofa spot beside him, indicating he wanted me to sit there.

PAT! PAT!

[Come… sit]

“Come si dun”, he ordered with a calm tone.

Though he sounded calm, I could feel the atmosphere shift to that of an investigation room.

I may have only been wearing boxers, but all the same I was sweating bullets. I hadn't quite thought of a valid excuse yet, and so I was forced to do the next best thing. Wing it and hope for the best.

Flop!

I could feel the sofa bend under me as I planted upon it.

[So, Akuma… Why exactly were you unconscious at my doorsteps, wearing a bodysuit?]

“Suh, Akuma… Wha mek yuh did knock out a mi doorstep them, and wha mek yuh did a wear that bodysuit deh?”

There was a sudden pause, as I thought of the best way to improvise.

I figured it didn’t really matter what I said, as long as I said it with confidence then he would believe it.

I took a deep breath, and with a straight face that could put any actor to shame, I replied to his question.

“I'm sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but me and Tenshi actually went out to a cosplay party with his friends.”

[...You mean to tell me, you were hanging out with twenty year olds?]

“...Suh, yuh a try tell mi seh yuh did deh round twenty add year old pickney?”

“Yes”, I answered with no hesitation.

He looked at me with a face of sheer disappointment, and then released a sigh of disbelief.

[So for this cosplay party.. Why pick this suit exactly? I mean it’s so hot, you even passed out.]

“And wha mek yuh choose that hot sinthing deh fi wear? The way the thing hot, it knock yuh out.”

Once again I answered his question with no hesitation.

“It was the first one I saw.”

[...I see. I have something else to ask you.]

“Hmm… Mi have sup’m mi waa ask yuh.”

He grabbed the remote that rested in one of the cup holders and powered on the tv.

The dark screen opened up and displayed the news.

My eyes enlarged and my pupils shook as I stared at the screen.

Displaying on the screen was a female news reporter reviewing the aftermath of the explosion from earlier today.

“They are searching their hardest to find any survivors, but with no luck unfortunately”, the female reporter said.

The ambulance stayed on standby just in case any survivors were found, and the police were blocking off anyone or anything from coming close.

You could even see the desperation in the firemen’s eyes, as they scanned the ruble, just wishing to find someone.

But all of this was for nothing. I know first hand that no one could have survived such a disaster.

“We suspect that this must be a leak in the gas pipes, some sources even claim terrorism”, the reporter said.

Hitting the power button again, he turned off the display.

[You wouldn’t know anything about this, would you?]

“Yuh nuh know noting bout this, right?”

I accidently dropped my calm, straight face and the decibels of my voice greatly sunk. I even stuttered as I answered his question.

“I- I ahh. I don’t.”

[...Well if you say so then I won’t question you anymore…]

“Ohh?... Well If yuh seh suh then mi nuh have noting else fi ask yuh then.”

I rose out of the sofa and crept away in utter silence.

[Ah, I actually have one more question.]

“Wait deh, one more ting.”

I immediately stopped in my tracks, to listen to his question.

[Where exactly is Tenshi right now?]

“Which part Tenshi deh?”

“...He’s staying at his girl's house”, I answered.

[Ahh. That makes sense. Well I guess you should be getting some sleep for tomorrow.]

“Ahh. That mek sense mon, gaa yuh bed fi school inna de morning.”

“Ahh, yes I am… Goodnight, dad”

“Goodnight.”