1 Blessing or....

*Unedited version

Happiness—everyone had different interpretations of happiness, and they had their own ways to pursue and gain this feeling.

When I thought I had attained the happiness I wanted, why did I feel… so weird?

I looked at Amelia Frost, my first love, and my heart fluttered as usual. Wearing a pleated skirt and a full-sleeved t-shirt, she bustled around in the kitchen with a hint of a smile appearing on her beautiful face, her long brown hair swaying behind her.

I walked towards her and embraced her from behind. I inhaled her familiar, intoxicating scent as she turned around, and her brown eyes peered into mine. She asked softly, "What happened?"

I shook my head and kissed her forehead as my lips curled up. She blinked and then pushed me back.

I raised my eyebrows in question.

She answered by pulling me towards the sofa in the living room. We sat there facing each other, and said with a serious expression, "Now tell me what happened."

I looked at her solemn expression for a few seconds before deciding to tell her.

"I feel weird."

Amelia tilted her head and placed her index finger on her lips; it was a habit of hers when she's in deep thought. Soon, she gave me a confused look. I couldn't help but smile fondly and rub her head in response.

She huffed and slapped my hand away.

"Be serious!" She pouted.

Even though the previous feeling had vanished thanks to her—or so I thought—I still expressed my foreboding, "It's hard to explain it, but since yesterday I am feeling… anxious? I also had a nightmare today." I frowned, trying to recall the dream. Unsuccessful, I shook my head, and then I noticed Amelia staring at me.

She caressed my face, and softly questioned, "Do you know what I do when I feel bad or worried?"

"No."

She smiled tenderly. "I think of you, dumbo."

Her eyes crinkled in a smile, making me dazed.

"I feel so calm and comfortable when I am with you. All the moments we have spent together have become so special to me I can't really explain it."

She inched closer and gave a gentle peck on my lips. "I know we will be happy together. So, don't worry."

I couldn't say anything as her honest eyes, filled with unspoken love, had completely mesmerized me.

Soon after, I heard her chuckle. "Hubby, just look at you, smiling dumbly like that. You are so cute!"

"Is that so?" I touched her face affectionately, before saying, "You are so hot and beautiful that I can't help it."

"Hah! Is that so?" she cooed. "Then, what's my reward?"

I tilted my head and slowly kissed her full lips.

We were cuddling with each other, giggling innocently and smiling with pure bliss, when suddenly we heard a cough.

Startled, Amelia almost jumped back, but I held her tightly, fearing any injury that might have happened. Her face got flushed red as she saw the newcomer. I also looked furiously at the brown-haired man, who was wearing a police uniform. Sensing my stare, he winked and smiled mischievously.

Before he could say something, Amelia called out, flustered, "Good morning, da- I mean uncle. I-I was about to go home." She then turned towards me and apologized. "Cup- Erik, I'll make it for you later. Sorry."

Before we could respond, she left briskly. There was silence for a few moments before I pointed my finger at the man and barked. "Great! You were out for two days. And after returning, the first thing you did was interrupt your son!"

"So, tell me, did you do it?"

His counter was so heavy that I almost fell. Though I was sometimes naughty and thick-skinned to a certain extent, I still felt bashful about this. I glanced away and nodded slowly.

I thought he would be happy that we had progressed our relationship, but I heard him say, "Alright, young man, we need to talk," his voice stern.

I looked at his serious expression and nodded.

After sitting down, he faced me and asked seriously, "Erik Bodwyn, are you serious about her?"

I said without hesitation, "Yes, I really love her. I have liked her since our childhood. You know this, then why-"

"Did you use protection?"

"...Yes."

He narrowed his eyes, as if not believing me. Seeing that, I couldn't help mumbling, "Check it yourself then. It's in the dustbin wrapped with a tissue."

My father's expression relaxed. He leaned back on the sofa and said emotionally, "From now on, we will commemorate 3rd of April as the day 'My son became an adult!'"

"Now you are overacting, old man. And it's cringy."

He cleared his throat. "Yup, you are right. But this aside, son, I know that you both are serious. Still, it would be best if you started planning your future now and leave this place as soon as possible."

"But, old man, it's not been even a year since we returned to our hometown and you are like this. In a few days, our university's entrance result will be released. After that, we will be busy, so can't we enjoy ourselves here for some time?"

He looked up and sighed, "You don't understand."

He lowered his eyes, and a pang of sadness filled them.

I bit my lips. How could I not understand? This was the place where my mother died. I knew no one could replace her place in our hearts, but I also knew that we were each other's support. We were a family, after all.

I patted my father's shoulder and said, "Alright, old man, as your filial son, I'll do whatever you will say."

He raised his brows and opened his mouth, but at that moment, his stomach growled. He froze, and then we both burst into laughter.

Getting up, we made our way to the kitchen but once again froze as we saw the materials Amelia had prepared. I glanced sideways at him and smiled as I saw his guilt-ridden face.

He muttered, "I made a mistake by teasing you guys like that. You should call her and ask if she reached her home, and yeah, apologize on my behalf."

"Hey! Apologize yourself."

"Nah, gotta change." He hurried away.

I shook my head and called Amelia.

Time passed, and it was midday. I got ready to go out. I had promised my friend Beth Towerfall that I would tutor her. And it's not like I had many things to do.

But before I could leave, my father called out to me, "Erik!"

"Yeah?"

"I invited Amelia and her father for lunch. So don't be late."

"Shouldn't it be dinner?"

"I have some work at night."

"And why are you inviting them?"

He grinned. "Of course, for your engagement."

I shook my head and stepped out. My eyes constricted unconsciously as sun rays fell on my face. After being adjusted to it, I looked ahead.

In the distance, majestic hills covered with evergreen trees stood before me. A stream of a river flowed through, dividing the small town into two. Birds of many kinds flew in the sky, and many crop fields could be seen ahead.

With a not-so-significant population, and being not-so underdeveloped, Aelfair was a nice place to live. There was also a bustling city not so far from here.

After a few moments, I started walking towards Beth's house. Crossing through various average-sized houses and greeting people along the way, I finally reached my destination.

I spent two hours there, teaching Beth some basic things that would be useful in the final year of high school and eating the Takoyaki that Beth's father had promised me before.

After that, I strolled my way back as I hummed jubilantly. But when I entered the home, I frowned. Completely in contrast to the outside light, the house was pitch dark.

I tried to switch on the light, but it didn't work.

"Old man! Are you pulling another prank?" I called out as I made my way through the living room. An unfamiliar rusty smell entered my nose.

After pulling the curtains open, I turned around and froze before smiling in a relieved manner. I walked towards Amelia, who was facing another room with her back towards me.

I tapped on her shoulder. "Hey, muffin! What's happen-"

But I couldn't complete my sentence because I saw a glimpse of it. I couldn't believe my eyes and felt like I was hallucinating.

Humans claimed to be the most intelligent creatures, but many times, they took the dumbest actions. I was the same. What if I believed my gut feeling before? What if I didn't force my father to come back to this place to meet her? But my past and subsequent actions were not silly, and it was just that I had no way out of this. No matter what I did.

I didn't think, no, I couldn't believe it at that time. I didn't think of looking at the person beside me. My hands, though trembling, still pushed open the door. And I saw a 'humanoid' corpse lying in front of me.

Yes, humanoid was all it was. It bore absolutely no resemblance to its former shape. Indescribable injuries covered the body leaking with black blood.

The 'corpse' didn't have a single inch of intact skin. The face was no different from the body. Only a pair of eyes were wide open. So widely open that the corners were almost ripped apart. They stared at me in horror, making me feel the same pain and agony. Behind it was…

I immediately shut my eyes. Still, I had taken a glimpse. It was my father behind it. Unlike the other corpse, his face was pale and mouth agape, with no life in his eyes. I didn't dare to look any further, fearing the same horror I had just witnessed.

Before I could even recover from the shock, Amelia moved her hand over my shoulder. I felt a chill down my spine, and my heart started to beat in an irregular rhythm. An indescribable terror engulfed me, making my whole body go numb. She pulled me back, making me face towards her. But I still didn't open my eyes.

I heard her say in a monotonous voice, "Why aren't you looking at me?"

It was as if she hypnotized me in a way that I couldn't stop my eyes from opening. And I saw her, the love of my life. Her whole body was dyed black, and her face expressionless.

As our gaze met, her lips curled up in a never-before-seen smile, and she said in a sweet voice, "Welcome home, hubby~."

At that moment, my survival instinct — my urge to flee, suppressed the confusion, fear, grief. But, I couldn't, as Amelia's hands grabbed my shoulder with strength beyond what I could even imagine.

Soon, I heard the sound of bones cracking, and before the pain could even register, before I could even cry, her right hand moved and tapped on my forehead.

A single tap made me lose control over my whole body. I couldn't feel a thing. I could only see.

My eyes widened as I stared at Amelia in dread. My mouth hung open, but no voice came out. I couldn't understand what was happening.

As if she knew what I was thinking, she answered, "You will understand soon." And, to my horror, she dragged me into the darkroom behind me.

Before I knew it, I was lying opposite the disgusting corpse. No, it was not like I couldn't see what was happening; it was just that my brain, as well as other bodily functions, had slowed down. So much that I even had a problem feeling the emotions I once felt.

I just 'saw' my upcoming doom as she took a very long, thin sewing needle out of nowhere and sighed, "Pathetic! It was so easy. And I even prepared so much."

She shook her head and sat beside the black corpse, soon closing her eyes. Then there was silence.

Time slowly passed, and my vision slowly dimmed. Even if I couldn't feel it, I still could tell that I was dying. Was I dying just like that?

But, in this whole rising darkness, it was unusual that only she who was responsible for all this was clearly visible to me. It was as if a mysterious force was making me see her emotionless expression and hear her calm breathing. Soon, I couldn't think.

At that time, Amelia Frost opened her eyes, and a bizarre blossom-pink glint passed through them. The needle glowed with faint purple light.

She looked at me, and her hand moved, pressing on my forehead. As it did, the dimming stopped.

She flicked her other hand, and the needle vanished, followed by strange splashing sounds. She didn't move away from me as if trying to stop my ultimate end. Soon, she extended her other arm in a direction I couldn't see.

The next moment, the long metallic object came into my sight, still glimmering with purple light. And... it stabbed my chest!

A wonderful feeling rose through my entire being, and it was as if I had taken a cold shower after a hot day. It was as if I was once again in my mother's embrace. I reached a 'state' where I could think again, and strangely, I was frighteningly calm.

She took out the needle from my chest and flicked her wrist once again.

My brain registered a clattering and stabbing sound, and soon, my fixed view saw the corpse shaking like a leaf. The surrounding black blood also trembled with it. In no time, with a gurgling sound, it flowed in a direction I couldn't see.

The corpse's muscles twitched and started to wilt. It withered at an incredible pace—the faint purple glow at the edge of my sight dimmed at the same rate.

Now that I could think, I concluded calmly:

'She did the same with my father.'

At that thought, my vision blurred, and the surrounding became hazy.

'So, I am crying, huh?'

'I want to sleep. I... I give up.'

'But I know you won't let me... Right, Amelia?'

Sure enough, my sight cleared. Her emotionless eyes—burning with something I couldn't understand—met my artificially created tranquil gaze that struggled to show my hatred and anger at her.

"Darling, don't blame Amelia Frost for this. Otherwise, you might regret it later," she blurted out as she brought the now black needle closer to me.

'What? Was she not Amelia?' I couldn't think of anything more than that. I was just like a newborn baby with slightly more thoughts.

"Your core was weaker than I expected," she continued as the black thing froze before me. "You don't have to think much right now, as you will eventually understand everything you need to know." Followed by a warning with a hint of smile on her face, "Prepare yourself. It will be really uncomfortable at first. You will thank me later for cutting off your bodily senses."

As she said that, everything got plunged into darkness, followed by an eerie silence. It was the calmness before a storm.

The mysterious force acted again, making me see my body from an omniscient view. It was more like a translucent figure of mine floating in the darkness.

Then I felt it. 'It' was a feeling that human logic could not fathom. The only term that even came close to it was... hell.

The hellish torture began with a hint of hotness, soon exploding like an erupting volcano. In no time, the scorching heat engulfed my entire being.

'Please stop!'

It was as if my whole body was being slowly broken apart and molded into something entirely new. The sudden shift from feeling nothing to a plunge into hell's pits was too much for me. I couldn't do anything and just begged.

'I can't take this anymore! Please!'

But my voice got drowned in the unceasing lava.

Time passed by. God had finally listened to my prayers and put an end to this. However, sometimes God was the Devil itself.

As if trying to prove my point, the intense heat stopped; a cooling sensation enveloped me—only for a moment—before the heat erupted once again. It continued until I got adapted to my new condition.

Thereafter, my omniscient vision cleared. I saw my body riddled with countless cracks, like a frail mirror on the verge of collapse. A blossom-pink stream, the very source of previous infernal torment, whirled throughout me.

Before long, it concentrated into my heart. As it did, my whole 'body' shook.

My eyelids grew heavy as soon after the tides of sleep washed over me. But it was within that illusory state between awake and dreaming that I heard an ominous voice call out to me from the depths: ⠀

"It's time for all to begin anew."