A Promise to Live Again

Chapter 8: In The Dungeons of Killers

“How's the task I assigned to you, Halimaw? Are you able to pick up the dead soul? Why can't I see him with you?” Furious leader and chief of the Dungeons of Killers asked Halimaw about his task. The coward creature just bend down and shook his head.

“How dare you came back here without Eugene Laurent!”

A dissatisfied and disappointed look can be seen in his eyes. Standing six feet tall, with long black hair that reaches his butt, with a face of a three horned devil, Patalim walked towards Halimaw and grabbed his neck.

“My lord, I am fault because I did not arrive on time. An angel interceded and picked him up. He brought the person into the gate of heaven. But, I have a good news.”

Patalim loosen his grip on Halimaw's neck and listened to him. He nodded as a sign of agreement that he's all ears, ready to listen.

“I followed the angel into the gate of heaven and heard his name. He's angel Gavreel, the guardian of the gate. When he asked Eugene Laurent to enter the gate, the guy refused. I also heard that Eugene needed to fulfill his promise first before entering, and he needs Gavreel's help,” he paused for a minute, watching the expression on his chief.

“And then what else? What happen? What else did you hear?”

“Gavreel said that there is a way to help. After that, I just left.”

“How could you leave without hearing the important words from that angel, Halimaw? I did not raise you to be that stupid! Argh!”

“I'm sorry. I'll go back there and listen then,” he's about to turn his back to Patalim when the leader stop him.

“Do not bother, Patalim. I will ask Uwak to do the task. For now, I want you out of my sight. NOW!

Halimaw's spirit drooped down after hearing those words from his lord. He bade goodbye and walked straight ahead out of the dark and dim dungeons. The disciple did not look back, but deep inside he was hurt. He admitted to himself that it was indeed his fault and the lord wad correct for saying that he was stupid.

When Halimaw was out of his sight, Patalim seated on his throne. His chair was a two-legged snakes facing each other, fighting for the right to eat the human's flesh. He sat on that chair thinking how he should react on the news provided by Halimaw. His mission failed. An angel interfered. He needs a new flesh of soul to be eaten. A soul of a human who committed suicide from earth. And that soul is Eugene Laurent.

Now that there is no way he can find out what help does angel Gavreel have to offer to that guy, he must call Uwak for help. He grab his whistle snake tied on his neck and whistled, calling Uwak to come right away. He did it three times and it came all of a sudden in a flash.

“Is there a problem, Patalim? Let me guess. Your mission to capture the soul of a human to eat him failed, right?” Patalim heave a sigh and nodded.

Uwak stop flapping his wings and changed into a half-human, half-bird form. Her black wings stays hidden in his spine. She gracefully walked towards Patalim and cuddled in his lap.

“I see. You must have scolded Halimaw for not accomplishing his task. And now, you called me to seek help. Am I right, dear?” She caressed Patalim's long black hair and continued to speak. “I think I know what you are going to ask for me, my dear.”

“I know, Uwak. I know you can handle my request. That is why I prefer asking your help than letting Halimaw do the business. Are you up for the challenge?”

“If you can promise me that you will share a bit of flesh from that human, then I'll deal with it,” Patalim faked a smile and nodded to Uwak. “Then, it's settled. I'll leave you for now. Goodbye, Patalim.”

Uwak quickly vanished into thin air and left Patalim faking his smile because he fooled the bird-brain half-human, half-bird form Uwak. His laugh roared like a mighty lion inside the Dungeons of the Killers paving the way for the prisoners to make noise inside their cells. He can foresee that his plan will succeed, and he will be able to know what the angel is planning to help Eugene Laurent. Once he finds out what his plan is, Patalim will do everything on his power to meddle with the soul and the angel.

Uwak while flapping her wings on the way to the gate of heaven. After her conversation with Patalim, she set off right away because her beloved promised her to share a flesh of the soul to her. She needs at least a bit of it in order to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a beautiful human. She will do everything to make herself attractive in front of him.

High above the clouds, she reached the summit of the gate and look for the soul. Then, she found them talking in front of the gate. Since she doesn't want them to see her or feel her presence, she used her power of hearing to listen to their conversation.

“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?”

“There is a way, Eugene. But, you can no longer go back to your dead body.”

“Then, in what way? Tell me. I will do everything to make it happen. I have to finish my unfinished business on earth.”

“Yes, there is. It might sound an arduous journey, but I bet myself into it that it is the fastest way to help you.”

“Spill it now. I'm all ears, Gavreel. I'm really, really excited!”

“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.”

Uwak stopped listening because she knew about the Valley of Forgiveness. She already has an idea of what task angel Gavreel is about to say to Eugene, and she must pass this message to Patalim, to stop the soul from entering the valley.

If Eugene successfully entered the valley and complete his task, her dream of becoming beautiful in Patalim's eyes will be gone forever. Patalim will not be able to eat the human soul, and she needs to know the angel's plan to find a way to stop the mission.