Chapter 9: A Decision To Make
1028 Words
“Really? You know a way to help me fulfill my promise to live again? Can I go still go back to my dead body as a human?” Eugene's eyes were full of excitement, waiting for the angel to spill the bean.
“There is a way, Eugene. But, you can no longer go back to your dead body,” Gavreel was direct on saying that he cannot return to his dead body. Of course, it was true because his body was crushed, falling from the twentieth floor of the building he stayed.
“Then, in what way? Tell me. I will do everything to make it happen. I have to finish my unfinished business on earth,” a sad look began forming on his face. His excitement level back down, but he doesn't want his hope to lie down.
“Yes, there is. It might sound an arduous journey, but I bet myself into it that it is the fastest way to help you.”
The angel gave him an assurance look that Eugene can fulfill his promise.
“Spill it now. I'm all ears, Gavreel. I'm really, really excited!” Incitement started flaring up all over his body. He was eager to know the way.
“You have to reborn as a new and different person, Eugene.”
“That's very easy. Tell me more.”
“To be reborn again, you must complete a task in the Valley of Forgiveness.”
“And? Is that all?”
Gavreel sighed and decided to finish what he's about to say to the guy whose mind was occupied by the thought of living again. The angel understand his excitement. That is why he tried to persuade him not to accept the offer.
“In the Valley of Forgiveness, you have to complete a task, Eugene. That task is to forgive the people who hurt you in the past, days, weeks, and years before you found dead in your condo in Makati. After completing this task, you have to wash yourself in The River of Purity, free from hatreds, fears, and everything. Only then can you become a new person, a different human.”
There was a prolonged moment of silence from Eugene Laurent after hearing those task. He needs to forgive the people who hurt him in the past until the day he's found dead in his condo. He doesn't know what to say or react with Gavreel's condition.
“Are you up for the challenge, Eugene? If you're hesitant to accept the challenge, I'll give you some spare time. Call my name and let me know if you change your mind. For now, I'll play with Cirrus. Remember that I can see you. Think it over, please, Eugene.”
Angel Gavreel whistled and Cirrus appeared right away. He hopped in and swiftly disappear in front of Eugene.
Eugene was left alone trying to digest every word of the angel. He's dead, and he should not be thinking it twice or give more time to decide. Apart from that, he should not worry in facing those people. Dead people can no longer their memory, but his case is different. He can still remember the pain, and he's guessing that his heart is still beating and aching.
“Let me remind you about dead people, Mr. Laurent. It's totally true that a person's memories vanished right after their death.” A shocked expression in Eugene's face created an atmosphere of unpleasant surprise from Gavreel. All of a sudden, he appeared right in front of his face and pinched his pointed nose.
“I know,” he sadly said, trying to appease himself from worries.
“Then if you're quite reluctant, why don't you just enter the gate of heaven and be with the ruler's side. A lot of dead people before sentencing to the Abyss of Death would rather choose to stay with Him. Yours is kind of different for me. Perhaps, your case is too fresh from the heated oven.”
Gavreel's words pacified Eugene's heart. He calmly answered him without asking any more questions.
“I don't want to enter the gate of heaven and I know He will understand. In my case, my heart is earnestly seeking to reconcile with my unfinished business on earth.”
“Is that your way of saying that you agreed to my offer?”
“Yes. I will do everything to complete my task, so I can wash myself in the River of Purity.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I am sure.”
“About how many percent?”
“120 percent?”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Deal or no deal?”
“Deal.”
“Alright, let me call Cirrus and start our journey into the Valley of Forgiveness.”
“You mean, you're accompanying me to that place?”
“Of course. I need to make sure that all of your tasks is completed. I will be with you until the day you wash yourself in the River of Purity.”
“YES!”
Gavreel called Cirrus and both jumped right away. Then, they set forth into the place called The Valley of Forgiveness.
...
“What? Are you serious, Uwak? In the Valley of Forgiveness?” Patalim was furious upon hearing the message conveyed by Uwak to him. He was about to ask again when he saw Uwak's eyes changed into a ball of white pupil. He knew what's happening to her.
A moment later, Uwak is back to normal and told her another news.
“They are on their way to the Valley, Patalim. We must stop them. They can't enter the valley. You know what will happen to us if we followed them inside. Our powers won't work with Haraya.”
She's right. He must find a way to freeze them. His powers will not work in the Kapatawaran. Haraya will swallow their powers, making them powerless. Without their power, they will die.
“Right. We have to start catching them before they reach the entrance of Kapatawaran. I need to summon Halimaw now to form a soldier of killers to blocked Gavreel's path and snatch Eugene away from him. You go first and follow them. Alert me right away with their location, Uwak. I'll send Halimaw and the soldiers as soon as possible to catch them.”
Uwak nodded and flew right away, headed towards Gavreel and Eugene's location. Then, Patalim called Halimaw to assemble an elite soldier of killers.
- Writer
