REDEMPTION

12. PART OF US.

Father Benedict could not breath. Something was suckling the air out of his lungs. He struggled with an invisible force. One neither he nor anyone could see. A hand stretched out to grab him when he shouted. It was a dream. All of it. He was drenched in sweat and the only thing he could remember from the dream was the hand. 

He searched his room and listened for any disturbance outside his room. No one had heard him. Father benedict kicked off his covers, swung his feet and hoped out of his bed. His head was fuzzy. What he had experienced felt all too real. His feet took him his bathroom.

The lights switched themselves on but he still walked since he had not noticed. Benedict walked to the mirror and froze. His neck was red due to the strangling marks. His eyes widened. He ran his hands slowly down his neck. It hurt making him stop. 

If what he had felt was not a dream the what was it? Was that hand trying to kill him? What was happening to him? He began panicking while his brain racked through all the possible explanations for what had just happened. The lights blinked. 

That did not catch his attention. He was staring at the mirror. Staring at himself but he was sure that this was not what he looked like. He waved and his image did the same. He smacked himself and the image did the same. He thought to himself that he must have been dreaming and laughed hysterically. 

To confirm one more time, he reached out and touched the mirror. It copied his movement. Benedict jumped back in shock. What he was seeing was really him. His hair had changed its color. It was no longer black, what sat on top of his head was red hair. His eyes were different as well. His crystal blue eyes were replaced by green eyes. 

He thought this was a dream but it seemed that this was not the case. Perhaps it was a prank by one of his colleagues. He immediately ruled out that option because no one had pranked him since he came to this town. So, what was this? 

The lights flicked again. This time he noticed and headed to the switch. Benedict froze when his eyes landed on the switch. He had not flipped the switch when he entered the bathroom so, how come the lights were still on? 

“It’s been far too long, brother.” 

Benedict’s legs gave in and smashed into the cold floor. If he was still dreaming, it was time he woke up because this was a sick joke. His vision became blurry as tears fell from his face. His body shivered from fear. He constantly convinced himself that this was not real. 

Footsteps approached him and someone patted his head. Benedict immediately slapped the hand and made an attempt to run but failed miserably. A hand stretched out and held his arm as the person sighed. 

“You were always this dense but I did not expect you to be this cute either,” Edgar teased. Benedict did not react which meant he was going into shock. 

Benedict’s memories rushed through his brain. He was sure it had happened yet he was here. He looked at Edgar and saw him speak but he could not hear what he was saying. His world was covered in darkness as he felt himself sink further and further into the sea of nothingness. 

It was five years ago when the incident happened. Their parents had long since left them and they were doing everything in their power to survive. Life had not been hard but it was not fair either. They barely managed to get through but no matter what happened they were always happy. 

This went on for a while until one day when Benedict was coming home from his part time job. He had gotten promoted from a part timer to a full time worker and this meant that he could finally afford his and part of his brothers tuition fee. They could finally catch up with their peers in school. Benedict had finally seen the light at the end of this dark tunnel. 

His joy breached the roof of his heart as he ran home happily to tell Edgar the good news. Yet when he got there, all these feelings were thrown into the trash. The first thing he saw was blood and a human hand. Edgar stood over a body that had been severely mutilated. Even he could not have been able to tell if it was human apart from the fact that it’s hand was right before him. 

Benedict hurled the contents of a burger he had just had. This caught his little brothers attention causing him to turn in his direction. Edgar’s eyes were full of fear. He looked at him and then himself. Lifted his hands to his field of view as he staggered backward away from his victim. He could not believe what had happened. 3dgar could not also explain how it had happened, all he knew was that he was dangerous. 

Benedict wanted to approach him when he was stopped by Edgar. Edgar backed away threatening his brother not to make the mistake of coming closer. He did not know what that meant and did so anyway. He convinced him that whatever it was, they could figure it out. But, Edgar could not hear any of it. He was convinced that he was the one that killed whomever it was that lay one the ground. 

Yet he did not carry any weapon or even posses one. He seemed to be sure that he did it with his bare hands. Benedict was stubborn as well and approached him without heeding to his warnings. This action was one that he regretted later. If he had not taken this option, then perhaps, what followed would not have occurred. 

As he approached him suddenly, Edgar shielded himself with his hands. This action created 1n air shield before him and this caused him to shout begging his brother to get it off him. Edgar straggled with this invisible force when the color of his hair began to gradually change. His pale white hair grew streaks of red till his hair was completely red. 

Benedict was about to point out this difference when Edgar began shouting angrily. He was shouting about killing someone. His expression sent shivered down Benedict’s spine. He was rooted to the ground unable to move. He wanted to run away but something froze him on the spot. Edgar noticed something was behind him and turned. 

Their eyes met and a wicked smile spread across Edgar’s face. His face screamed happiness and not the good kind. His eyes glittered with joy as he stared and analyzed his pray. On lifting his right hand, Benedict noticed that claws had replaced his fingernails. Fangs could be seen beneath his smile. And even though he looked into his eyes, he could not remember what color they were. 

As he was about to strike, he seemed to come back to his senses. Edgar egged Benedict to pick up the gun that had been dropped by his victim and shoot. Benedict’s body was able to move again like nothing had happened. He did not have time to think, when his hands grabbed the gun. He tried letting go but he was not in control. 

He looked up at Edgar and saw him smile one last time before he pulled the trigger. Edgar’s limp body had fallen to the floor, his smile still on his face. That memory was one that Benedict could not forget. Now the person he had thought was dead kneeled beside him. He no longer knew what was real and what was not. He looked at Edgar questioning his sanity. 

“I’ll explain everything, all you need to know is that you are part of us.”