[Contest Entry] Brother
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Go listen to Chapter 4 by Avenged Sevenfold. While reading this. Bloody good song.
Raised back from the dead, I walk this earth, an immortal.
And no, I'm not bloody Jesus(Seriously, I've heard it way too many times.). Though both of us were betrayed by someone close,only that much we have in common.
My name is Abel. Son of Adam and Eve.
First death of mankind.
It's really more insignificant than it sounds. All it took was a not-so-light tap on the head with a big rock and Cain got rid of me. Humans are so fragile.
He really wasn't happy after my sacrifice had been accepted by the lord.
Neither was god, when he found out what Cain did.
I learnt of how he punished him. How he cursed Cain to walk the earth eternally, until someone kills him.
Only to have that person be punished seven times over.
God offered me a nice little place in eden, which I politely declined. Instead, I asked to return. Politely, of course.
Now I seek Cain, as I have done for centuries. Walking amongst you, unnoticed and always searching.
I do not hate him. Time took care of any ill intent I had towards him.
I can't say I'm living a particularly hard life. When you have the lord's grace upon you, it's really not that bad. I own property throughout the world under several names and identities. I currently live comfortably in New York.
My brother on the other hand, is not to appear or be seen by the lord, never to receive his grace.
One could say that his life now is probably not so pleasant.
I will find him here.
Tonight is new year's eve.
The countdown shall begin once more, and people throughout the country shall celebrate the beginning of a new year. The continuation of a new chapter in life.
What I'm going to do is pretty much the opposite.
Closing the Fakku webpage(the last pleasure before I leave), I switched off the computer and left my current home. The door was left unlocked.
I couldn't care less if anyone tried to mug my place. Possessions are only so important when you've lived this long.
I let my senses guide me to him. After so long, I had finally tracked him to this city. Slowly, gradually, I walked through the crowded streets and into an alley. Two large trash dumpsters released smells that would make even the rats nauseous. The walls were decorated with vandalism, the usual anarchy signs and green sprayed-on words saying "Jesus was a failure."
Idiots.
I walked cautiously as I went in deeper and deeper, light barely reaching inside, as if into the mouth of a beast.
I got ready to snap the fingers of any damn fool that would dare attempt to ambush and threaten me. Centuries of existence teaches one how to defend himself.
Yet no one appeared, as if the alley was haunted by ghosts. Or something worse. Even the usual suspicious characters that frequented this sort of places dared not come here.
I delved deeper and soon came upon a figure lying on the ground, motionless.
To any other, it would look a carcass. Covered by newspapers for warmth and resting on pieces of rotted cardboard, the man who lay there was painfully thin.
Long, disheveled, black hair dominated his gaunt face. His clothes were no more than salvaged rags.
And on his face, the mark lay, the mark of the lord that warns those who might dare kill him, a glaringly obvious blood red mark.
I'll let you guess what it looks like. No chances given.
As if sensing my approach, he stirred and looked up. Bloodshot eyes gazed upon me unrelentingly. Eyes tired from ages of suffering. Eyes tired from living.
I felt old emotions that I believed long buried underneath come out to the surface.
I trembled and felt like I had a lump in my throat. Persevering, I let the words leave my mouth.
"Hello Cain."
His eyes opened wider with recognition, recollection and shock.
He tried to gather himself up and stand, but he lacked the strength. He tried to reach out to me but just barely fell short, before his hand collapsed to the floor. He tried to cry, but was too dehydrated to let his tears fall.
Ignoring his smell, I hugged him in a tight embrace. Bringing my ear closer to his mouth, I strained my ears to listen as he struggled to speak from his parched throat.
"So...sorry.. Please...have mercy. D..don't...want to be left..alone. Help..me....Abel."
I could hear the cheers as the end of the night approached, the beginning day of the new year forthcoming. Throughout the city, people screamed and shouted the countdown with immense joy.
"10...!"
I nodded sadly. I knew what must be done. Or at least what I must do.
"..8!"
Producing a long sharp knife from my trench coat pocket, I firmly held it.
"...5!"
"...4!"
A single tear fell from my left eye as I spoke one last time to him.
"3!"
"Goodbye, Brother."
"2!"
I plunged the knife into his heart from behind and felt his body go limp. I held him in a close embrace as the life within him left his body. I heard him utter a final sigh of gratitude, the weight and burden on him finally gone.
"1!"
Smiling sadly, I lay his body to the ground. The tears fell unrestrained now.
"0! Happy new year!!!" I swear I heard some asses singing auld lang syne.
"Happy ending year, brother."
Raised back from the dead, I walk this earth, an immortal.
And no, I'm not bloody Jesus(Seriously, I've heard it way too many times.). Though both of us were betrayed by someone close,only that much we have in common.
My name is Abel. Son of Adam and Eve.
First death of mankind.
It's really more insignificant than it sounds. All it took was a not-so-light tap on the head with a big rock and Cain got rid of me. Humans are so fragile.
He really wasn't happy after my sacrifice had been accepted by the lord.
Neither was god, when he found out what Cain did.
I learnt of how he punished him. How he cursed Cain to walk the earth eternally, until someone kills him.
Only to have that person be punished seven times over.
God offered me a nice little place in eden, which I politely declined. Instead, I asked to return. Politely, of course.
Now I seek Cain, as I have done for centuries. Walking amongst you, unnoticed and always searching.
I do not hate him. Time took care of any ill intent I had towards him.
I can't say I'm living a particularly hard life. When you have the lord's grace upon you, it's really not that bad. I own property throughout the world under several names and identities. I currently live comfortably in New York.
My brother on the other hand, is not to appear or be seen by the lord, never to receive his grace.
One could say that his life now is probably not so pleasant.
I will find him here.
Tonight is new year's eve.
The countdown shall begin once more, and people throughout the country shall celebrate the beginning of a new year. The continuation of a new chapter in life.
What I'm going to do is pretty much the opposite.
Closing the Fakku webpage(the last pleasure before I leave), I switched off the computer and left my current home. The door was left unlocked.
I couldn't care less if anyone tried to mug my place. Possessions are only so important when you've lived this long.
I let my senses guide me to him. After so long, I had finally tracked him to this city. Slowly, gradually, I walked through the crowded streets and into an alley. Two large trash dumpsters released smells that would make even the rats nauseous. The walls were decorated with vandalism, the usual anarchy signs and green sprayed-on words saying "Jesus was a failure."
Idiots.
I walked cautiously as I went in deeper and deeper, light barely reaching inside, as if into the mouth of a beast.
I got ready to snap the fingers of any damn fool that would dare attempt to ambush and threaten me. Centuries of existence teaches one how to defend himself.
Yet no one appeared, as if the alley was haunted by ghosts. Or something worse. Even the usual suspicious characters that frequented this sort of places dared not come here.
I delved deeper and soon came upon a figure lying on the ground, motionless.
To any other, it would look a carcass. Covered by newspapers for warmth and resting on pieces of rotted cardboard, the man who lay there was painfully thin.
Long, disheveled, black hair dominated his gaunt face. His clothes were no more than salvaged rags.
And on his face, the mark lay, the mark of the lord that warns those who might dare kill him, a glaringly obvious blood red mark.
I'll let you guess what it looks like. No chances given.
As if sensing my approach, he stirred and looked up. Bloodshot eyes gazed upon me unrelentingly. Eyes tired from ages of suffering. Eyes tired from living.
I felt old emotions that I believed long buried underneath come out to the surface.
I trembled and felt like I had a lump in my throat. Persevering, I let the words leave my mouth.
"Hello Cain."
His eyes opened wider with recognition, recollection and shock.
He tried to gather himself up and stand, but he lacked the strength. He tried to reach out to me but just barely fell short, before his hand collapsed to the floor. He tried to cry, but was too dehydrated to let his tears fall.
Ignoring his smell, I hugged him in a tight embrace. Bringing my ear closer to his mouth, I strained my ears to listen as he struggled to speak from his parched throat.
"So...sorry.. Please...have mercy. D..don't...want to be left..alone. Help..me....Abel."
I could hear the cheers as the end of the night approached, the beginning day of the new year forthcoming. Throughout the city, people screamed and shouted the countdown with immense joy.
"10...!"
I nodded sadly. I knew what must be done. Or at least what I must do.
"..8!"
Producing a long sharp knife from my trench coat pocket, I firmly held it.
"...5!"
"...4!"
A single tear fell from my left eye as I spoke one last time to him.
"3!"
"Goodbye, Brother."
"2!"
I plunged the knife into his heart from behind and felt his body go limp. I held him in a close embrace as the life within him left his body. I heard him utter a final sigh of gratitude, the weight and burden on him finally gone.
"1!"
Smiling sadly, I lay his body to the ground. The tears fell unrestrained now.
"0! Happy new year!!!" I swear I heard some asses singing auld lang syne.
"Happy ending year, brother."
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Xenon
FAKKU Writer
This is very nicely done and your literary voice and writing style is impeccably magnificent. To be so detailed, moving, and concise telling a story in as limited a space is a talented feat not to be taken lightly. Absolutely splendid.
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Thanks, and I must say I enjoyed staring at your Sengoku Nadeko pic.
*Stares~*
She blinks at me! I feel good....
*Stares~*
She blinks at me! I feel good....
