“The hell?…”
I pulled my torso off the ground, rubbing my own head from the pain and dizziness. My vision was blurry, trying to stand up on shaky legs, I looked around for a moment before noticing something familiar sitting on the floor near me. Claire, or rather, the thing I hallucinated to be is instead a squashed rat corpse, its whole body was torn to shred as if someone exploded it to pieces.
“Shit, that is gross…” I muttered to myself, looking around once more before noticing the dent wall in the kitchen, “that what happened,” I said aloud, staring at the dent in the corner of the wall.
All of that was hallucination? Incredibly realistic but also so surreal. The same feeling as when I saw Claire’s corpse… Or is this just another side effect of my mind dealing with some shit?
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves, staring down at the dead rat that I punched many times, “I am sorry…” my voice trembled slightly. I deeply felt bad of brutally killing such an innocent creature. A sudden urge came upon me to apologize to it, even though I know that there is no way it can even hear me since it is already dead.
“Forgive me you poor thing,” I knelt down, putting my hand on top of the cold corpse’s head. My heart was racing and my hands were trembling. I tried to say a prayer for the soul of the deceased rat, but all I could do was repeat “sorry.”
Many would be disgusted or even feel relieved of seeing a dead rat or mouse in their home. But what they do not know is these rodents are also animals and they too have feelings like any animal does. I felt sad because I killed a poor innocent animal that had done nothing wrong to me other than being scared by the loud noises coming in the kitchen. Even then, it did not deserve such a brutal death.
No matter the reason for killing them, it hurts to see any form of animal being killed without just cause or justification. That is why I am sorry. I let out a sigh of relief as I stood up from the floor, feeling exhausted due to all the stress and anxiety. As I was walking towards the stairs, the sudden doorbell rang, startling me for a moment before going downstairs to answer it.
“Who is it?” I asked myself, reaching for the doorknob. Before I opened it, I noticed my hands were bloody and bleeding from my mental breakdown I had earlier, “shit,” I mumbled, having to return to the kitchen to wash my hands thoroughly.
The constant doorbell ringing made my head hurt with annoyance, “give me a second!” I shouted as I walked continued cleansing my hands in the sink, making sure there are no traces of blood left on them. After cleaning my palms, I turned off the faucet and grabbed a nearby towel and picking the poor dead rat from the floor.
“I hope you will have a happy life in the next,” I whispered to the lifeless body of the poor rodent before respectfully placing it inside the trash bin. It is better this way rather than leaving it lying around where people can see it. With a sad smile, I caressed my throbbing headache from the now loud knocks and ringing of the doorbell.
Christ, why can’t that person leave me alone for one day? I thought, turning to the door with a heavy heart as I approached towards it. The knock and ringings were getting louder by the second until I finally got annoyed enough to open the door. Standing outside was…Leprechaun?
“Good mourning to you laddie!” The Leprechaun said, having a floating present box at his shoulder with his height at 3’6″, “confused, aye? My name is Clover and I want to thank you for-“
“Not interested,” I immediately shut the door without saying anything further. I do not know what he wants or why he came here but I am just not interested. I have nothing to say to him other than tell him to piss off.
Clover frowned as if something wrong had happened, “well then…” he loudly said from behind my door, “you are a rude lad!”
“Go away.” I replied curtly. He has to be new in this cracked up city or he could be a mutant like my deceased dad. Regardless I do not care nor interested in anything now, so I told him to get lost.
I heard the sound of his footsteps slowly walking further away from my door, “oh well, poor old me has to try again tomorrow,” Clover mumbled loudly. His voice sounded disappointed, walking out of my hearing, leaving me alone once more.
Good riddance, the midget is gone and weirdest of all, a leprechaun just appeared from my doorstep? Funniest shit I have seen in this whole fucking city. I chuckled lightly as I took another cigar from my pockets before puffing it, the visible smoke billowing out into thin air.
It was time to relax after cleaning up everything. It is been such a long day and there is still a left for me to do today, perhaps I need to go ahead with my mourning routine?
As I spun in motion, what greeted me in my front view had made me drop my cigar from the shock. There was someone standing inside my house! My eyes widened as I stared at the figure, it cannot be…
“How the hell did you get into my house?” I demanded Clover who stood silently behind me. His hands were on his hips while his feet slightly apart. He appeared confused himself as he looked around curiously, “aye? Oh, hello Adam.”
I blinked twice at that name, unable to comprehend why would Clover called me by my given name, since I never told him my name. “Who are you? And how did you even get inside my house without making so much noise?”
Clover gave a slight shrug, “well lad, I came here through the window,” he said simply. That is a lie if ever I heard one.
I could not help but chuckle at that, “really? Says the midget with hovering present,” I said sarcastically, though I know the person has some strange abilities, which is apparent from his attire and appearance, including how he just appeared from behind without making much noise.
He frowned, “aye well, you know what they say about little people, we are quick and agile lads, do you not agree?” Clover grinned with his face turned red when I called him a midget, like he was trying to hide something. Or perhaps he was hiding his true form or identity altogether?
I sighed, “no, I do not. And does calling you ‘midget’ piss you off?” I smirked at my own joke, quite funny to see small and living Leprechaun get offended over such words. He glared at me before snorting out angrily, “yea, yea…you are a real funny guy arty….”
The leprechaun then took a deep breath as he exhaled heavily from his nostrils, “listen lad, I know what ya going through and I deeply sympathize with your situation,” his irish accent was thick while speaking in his native tongue, “but I am here for you lad, I will help you find a way out of this mess…”
I blinked, “help? What makes you think I need any help?” I crossed my arms and leaned back against the door behind me, “I do not even know you or seen you before,” I said bluntly. Never seen this person before but he knows quite a lot about me.
He raised his arms in surrender, “aye well lad, the truth is I was, following you,” sweat started forming on his forehead as he looked down, “and I can assure you that it is safe to tell you now, that I have been watching you since you left the asylum…”
I furrowed my brows, “so you were stalking me then? Great, just great, never know I had fan,” I chuckled, but I was not amused by Clover’s presence. This guy has a habit of being around me without permission and even followed me to my house. How am I supposed to trust him?
Clover gave a faint smile, “well, it was not really about being fan lad, more of someone who is grateful to helping someone that I know,” he said with sincerity in his voice, “aye, it is true. I did not stalk you all the time Adam my boy, in fact; I was living in that facility of yours.”
Ah, that explains then. From the present hovering behind him, it is no secret that I helped someone in the past that is linked to Clover, that is why he came to me with present.
“I see, so what do you want from me? Friendship?” I asked, trying to play along, “you can stop lurking around and spill the beans.” The leprechaun then snorted, “harsh are ya? Anyway, in exchange for my gift and gratitude, I want to live here,” Clover pointed at the floor, “as long as you allow me to stay there for free.”
I scoffed, “this is not a hotel or resort, but I do see some uses of you,” I paused, “however, we have our own rules, if you want to be part of this place, you must follow them,” I explained, “first off, you will not steal any of my shit here, nor break any of them, else, you will be out on your ass,” I warned him, “secondly, no killing anyone outside my premises, unless they try to harm you first, and lastly, you need to keep yourself clean and tidy, understand?”
Clover nodded, his head bobbing up and down, “aye that sounds fair enough. Ya going to open my present?” He grinned with eagerness in his eyes and face.
Present? Why do I need a present? But I am curious to know what it is inside and perhaps taking his gift can help me gain his trust more. So sure, why the hell not?
“Fine,” I approach the hovering present box, grabbing it and placing it down the floor, “what is inside?” I asked, curiously. Clover took out a small white envelope from his pocket, handing it to me with an excited grin, “here lad,” he said while pointing at the envelope, “open it.” I did so, seeing that there was only one letter written in black ink on the surface, my name. “read lad and ya will know.”
“This is his handwriting…”
I sighed in caution, opening up the letter slowly as I read through its contents,
Dear Adam,
If you are reading this then I am already dead. My old friend Clover and I had been close friends since the day I met him. You must be wondering why this is happening and how could someone like me become a victim in the death of a massive explosion. I am writing this now to know that there are forces beyond our control and knowing my fate, I wish to tell you something before I go.
I love you my son, I love you very much and if I knew what had happened, I would have done anything for your happiness, and I never regretted raising you as my own. Adam, you are worth living and being happy even without me. Don’t ever give up on yourself or anyone else because they might just need you someday, and do not let them withdraw all the good things in life that we once cherished together. I love you and always will, but I hope to see you again son.
And please do not be angry of me or Clover for holding secrets. There is a reason I am telling you this, because there are forces that play fate in our hands and you will soon know when the time comes. Be strong Adam, be brave, I love you dearly, goodbye.
-Love, Doctor Sol
“You okay lad?” He asked me with a concerned look on his face, gently patting my back, “I know that it is hard to comprehend all of this, aye?” Clover said, trying to look at me in the eyes.
Water streamed down from my teary eyes, mixed with many boiling feelings inside me, making me feel dizzy and sick. I could not speak or move properly as my body was still trembling. I wanted to say something, but no words came out. I had been so numb, yet here I am crying like a baby while feeling helpless.
However, one thing is for sure, I will continue living for my father’s sake, even if I die trying to live up to his expectations. Because that is what he wants me to do. To live and thrive. And I want to make him proud of who I am, because I love and miss him very much.
“Dad..I miss you…”
