Slave: Zero Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Read chapter 5 of Slave: Zero by HEAVENLYLARPER on NovelPedia.

Eric's eyes slowly blinked open as he gained consciousness. He got up and rubbed, still feeling the effects of his sleep. He could hear his father's footsteps coming closer and closer towards his door. Before he could have the chance to knock, Eric opened up the door just as his finger knuckle was nearing impact. "You're awake." His father said, with a tone of surprise. "Yeah. Should I get my stuff ready?" Eric asked. "No, not yet. I have to find out if we can get a vehicle from Adut." "Oh." "Weren't you listening when me and Keji were talking?" "No, I only listened to about a quarter of it." Eric said. "Alright, but before we leave we have to buy some bandages for Lacy. The old woman called me last night and told me that she needs some bandages because she got burnt playing with the village boys. And we need to buy some meat and rice for them too before we leave Bentiu. So hurry up and go bathe and brush your teeth, so we can go to the market." Eric nodded. 32 minutes later. Eric was walking along with his father and Keji to Adut's garage. On the way he saw children his age and below playing hide and seek, both boys and girls. Some running and hiding behind houses, and others panicking and running to find a hiding spot quickly. As they were nearing the garage, Eric noticed women and children, wearing torn clothes that had several holes scattered across them. In each of their hands they held buckets of water that splashed on their feet as they walked. But suddenly they turned to look at him and his father, their eyes once a pair of windows for pain, anger, and frustration, were now mirrors reflecting their hatred. They glanced at Keji with the same unforgiving eyes, before they walked away with their children and buckets of water. In that moment images of Eric's dream blurred his mind. It was as clear as it has ever been, the screams, the crying, the smell of burning flesh all returned to him. He stopped walking, clutching his chest, his vision began to be engulfed by the darkness brewing within him. That same darkness embraced his body with its long arms. It used its fingers to caress his heart, his deep black heart, as deep as a crater, sealing and steaming whatever dark sins he has, sins that are unforgivable. But try as he might, he could not recall a sin he made that is deserving of his pain, of his torture. Eric was confused. His mind, a stormy sea, filled with heavy thoughts crashing down on him continuously, as his sins descended upon him, mixing his thoughts with his regrets, his past, or was it the future. He was unsure at this point. The sea was just too dark for him to think really. As he was swimming to nowhere, he began shaking, he didn't know if it was fear, or guilt or because of the cold sea, but despite this he continued swimming, swimming towards an unknown place that would grant him salvation. Because deep down, he wants to live, he wants to be happy. As the grip on his heart got tighter, Eric's throat began closing up, everything around him was silent, the only origin of sound was his heartbeat, getting shallower and shallower. That black being whispered something to his ear, "Come find me at the graveyard, Southwest of the Northern world tree." All of a sudden his world was lit up with the bright light of the sun, now he can hear the children's laughter as they were found, he could also hear a voice, slowly getting louder. "Eric." His father called him repeatedly. "Y, yes." "Are you ok? You stopped walking, and you were gripping your chest." His father said, with a worried voice. "Yes, I'm fine." "You sure." Eric nodded. "Alek, the boy is fine. You worry too much. He is your son, not your daughter. You will make him soft." Keji said, turning to face them. Eric showed them an awkward smile. "See, he is fine." Keji said. Alek let out a soft, low sigh. "Alright, tell me if you feel sick or tired or anything." Eric nodded. They resumed their walk to Adut's garage. As they were walking Keji slowed his pace to