"Good morning, sweetheart"
"Good morning, dear, "
"Papa, papa, we're going to the amusement park today with Uncle James, right?!"
They awoke me by the two energetic women whom I deeply fell in love with. My wife, Tris, and our daughter, Lixia, who just recently turned 5. For her birthday, she wanted to go on a trip to a famous amusement park that was recently built on the farthest side of the town. Despite the long journey ahead of us, we are all eager to spend our time in this brief vacation my manager allotted that at work.
"Alrighty then. But first, we need to eat breakfast!" I caress Lixia's head and gave her a quick kiss on the cheeks. She immediately pouted and eventually stormed out from the room in a rebellious fashion.
"I'm not a kid anymore!" as she grumbles her way on the kitchen floor.
"Hey, where's my kiss~" Tris then teases me in a flirty manner and gently wets her lips against mine. Our tongue lapses with each other as we both feel the slippery sensation of our playful tongues from our compassionate kiss.
"The door's still open, you know?" I paused for a while and stared blankly at the open door. I didn't dislike what we're currently doing right, however it'll be too arduous enough for me to explain our 'actions' to our 5 year old girl who knew nothing about…our bonding of love.
"No fair~ why does Lixia gets to have a kiss" My wife then pouts similar from what our daughter had done. Eventually, I succumbed myself from her adorable demeanour as I lean against her forehead and gave a long forehead kiss.
"I love you"
"I love you too"
After our exchange, we soon ate our breakfasts and packed everything inside our car.
It was presently 7 A.M., and according to the guide we will eventually arrive at our destination at around 10 A.M.
"Sorry I'm late, guys" A man who's nearly at my age and his family enters the fray with their own car parked on the side of our house.
He is my child hood friend whom I can even call him my brother. Our family gets along a lot as we are both handling the same little business we had started to earn a bit of cash inside our pockets.
"How's the restaurant going?" James did a small research about what type of business we might handle. After the course of his findings, he finally had the luck to invite a young chef who just recently graduated and was held a prodigy amongst his peers. James recruited this man with haste and partnered up with my share, hence the 'Food War' diner was successfully established.
"Honey, we're on a vacation"
"Dear, let's put this money and business aside."
Both of our wives tagged team along and scolded us for our behaviour of talking money despite relaxing on our holiday.
Me and James couldn't help but laugh it out in an embarrassing manner and resigned ourselves from the manner.
"Shall we?" at long last we were finally be able to bond for a long time.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
"After all the energy you've shown earlier, you've became tired after a few ride?" My mouth curls up a smile as I carefully observe my daughter's sleeping face. I gently placed her on the car and buckled her seatbelts while starting up the engine of our automobile. My wife followed along and cautiously placed a soft blanket on her silent body to warm her shivering figure from the air-conditioner of our car.
"Did you have fun?"
Although she was staring at the tired Lixia who was fast asleep, the query she have asked was portraying to me.
"Yeah. We should this a lot" I replied, beaming her with my dazzling smile.
Tris returns the favour and abruptly kisses my lips and quickly grabs my body closer to hers.
"Thank you for loving me" She whispers and soon sheds a tear.
"What's wrong?" I asked, confused from her sudden teardrop flowing from her eyes.
"Nothing. I'm just too happy about our family."
"Tears of joy?" Her hand interlocks with mine as I give her another round of a caring kiss while gazing straight to her lovely eyes.
"No matter what happens, I will always be here for you."
Satisfied, we head out once more and journeyed back towards our abode.
The next morning went by and our normal routine soon resumes our life. Later around noon, I and James will hold a grand opening for our restaurant and soon introduce our diner to the world. Lots of reporters will be present during our inception, so we need everyone's enthusiasm to appeal our future customers.
"I'll be off then." I never grow tired kissing my beautiful wife, as she fixes my azure necktie that was unlatched from my abrupt movements of promptly eating my meal.
"Good luck~"
I wave her goodbye as I shuffled my way to the exit door and venture my way to my work.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
"It seems that I'm a little bit early…" I glimpse over to my watch and heave out a long a tiresome sigh. It was currently 11 A.M. before our long awaited opening. I was an hour early and excited to be here first before anyone else from the scene. However, there were numerous cameras and vans from the television studio who were here minutes before I have even arrived. I was unsure whether I would be sad or happy for that obvious fact.
"Well well, look what we have here! It's the store manager, Grey Turner." I was greeted by a fat man…er, big man who wore the same jet black suit that matches my own.
"A pleasant morning, Mr. Goodman. What brings you here today?" He is the manager of the large company near the district where my restaurant will be. However, his eyes were already lust with deceit as he scornfully glares me with disgust.
"Haha~ do not worry, Sir Goodman. I am pleased to invite you to our restaurant's grand opening. Feel free to eat once in a while inside!" I put up a face and hopefully wish for him to move his way. He brings nothing but a foul stench of greed radiating from his mouth, as he soon turns around and waves me goodbye.
"I wouldn't eat at a rundown restaurant. I'll contact you once I've gotten the time. " Mr.Goodman sarcastically said before moving on his way.
"God, I hate that guy" I grip my hand and contained the anger dwelt inside my mind. No matter how many times I would converse to that fat bastard, he would always condemn my achievements with revulsion. Not that that I mind.
"Anyhow, it seems our time will arrive shortly…" I peer over to my watch and waited for the remaining time before our restaurant's introduction.
However, just as I was about to step foot inside my beloved restaurant, a horrible earthquake tremble the whole ground. Everyone present at the location hurriedly grab something to hold onto. Some were gripping at the furniture violently shaking across the room while others ran away in a sort of a panic and hastily went for the open field.
"GRGGH" The world had the same eerie feeling of being driven over by a speedy rollercoaster heading upwards to the loop de loop ride without any sort safety precautions.
"MY FAMILY"
I shifted my focus to my family at home and began worrying about their present standing. The nearby buildings and the small houses structured across the road started plummeting down like dominoes being forcibly pushed at every direction. Soon after, the walls from my shop had vigorously plunge its way and scattered the debris from what was once the roof of the restaurant.
Despite the rigorous magnitude we're facing right now, James had the backbone to grab me from behind and guided me to the nearest vast field.
"QUIT SPACING OUT YOU MORON" His voice trembles down to my ear akin to the quake from the floor. It was so loud to that my eardrums felt like it was about to explode.
I couldn't help but ponder the condition of my family trapped inside our very home. All of the uneasiness of the world began rampaging inside my mind.
"James, how's your family?" My voice couldn't reach the ears of the man who had saved me from the disaster. Or did he heard my question but chose not to answer? Even so, James was determined enough to save both of us from the crashing buildings and street posts presently happening from the town.
Soon after, fissures from the ground was now visible at every corner of the road, making it quite difficult for us to bypass the other detritus and collisions that had happened from the cars roaring down town.
"James, I'm sorry" I've made up my mind and decided to check my wife and daughter stationed at my house 3 kilometres away from where I stand.
I unlatch myself from the sturdy grip of my friend's hand and swiftly dash towards my car which was fortunately unscathed despite the wreckage that had happened.
James hesitated upon reaching out for my back as he could only chase down my figure galloping away from the opposite direction of the crowd.
"KID, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
"IDIOT! DON'T BUMP RIGHT AT ME"
Despite the angered mobs running towards the field, I still ventured forth and received the tackles of the horde and shove everyone who dared stand against my way.
I eventually reached the parking lot and immediately run my car. I didn't care much about the speed and directions from where i was riding unto. As long as I could arrive quicker and safely arrive to my family, I wouldn't care bumping into 1 or 2 people along the way.
However, my home that was supposed to be visible from afar had vanished from sight. The moment that my car have reached the backyard, my legs quiver in fright from the scenery that greeted my eyes.
My house was reduced from ashes. The paintings hung above inside our dining room was resting on the floor halved from its original size. The chandeliers that was supposed to be hanging on the guest room was now shattered and mixed with the concrete walls and wooden foundation of what I used to call home.
"No…" my mind refuses to digest the sight before me. Even so, this event happening right now was no elaborate dream. It was a realistic nightmare that I can never escape nor wake up from.
I crept a bit closer from the wreckage and….discern 2 human bodies that was garishly smashed by the rubbles and stones which had from the various furnitures and walls.
Their faces was indistinguishable at the very least, but my heart had terribly screamed out their names. My chest is filled with agony and despair the longer I gape at the two dead bodies of…
My wife, Tris Turner
And my Daughter, Lixia Turner.
Their hands intertwined while gazing at each other's eyes. They've died without saying goodbye. They've died…because of me.
If only I was there to protect them from the crashing waste, then maybe…
Just maybe…
They'll still be alive…
I resign myself on the floor while hugging both of my knees as I can feel the rain heavily sliding down my moisturised face.
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
I was awaken from the beeping sound of the machine reverberating inside my ear. Before I can even pry my eyes open, the soft and gentle gale began touching my skin. The wind kept whistling from the nearby window, knocking over the tiny leaves stationed at the side of the aperture of the white and tidy room. Soon after, I attempted to move my body, but alas my efforts was left to no avail. As I lowered my pupils to discern what was intact within my skin, I was welcomed by the numerous bondages wrapped down from my knees and upwards to my face like a mummy ready to be placed inside a royal coffin. My hands and feet were immobile, and the only thing I could feel was my eyes blinking automatically from either its natural cause or the bewilderment from my horrible situation.
"MY DAUGHTER! MY WIFE! WHERE ARE THEY?"
I wanted to scream and resume my search for my family. I had hoped that what I've perceive was only a terrible dream.
"Doctor, the patient seems to be awake" A young voice of a girl resounded parallel from the room. Soon after, the door slowly creaked wide open and a man whom I can even call him my brother gently walks closer to my side.
"Grey…I'm sorry" James utters his deepest apologies. Confused, I shifted my head to the utmost strength that I could afford to as I study the next course of words he has about to utter. Yet, the words never came out from his mouth as he silently peered blankly at me voided from the merry he had once have.
"I couldn't help to save you…nor your family…nor mine."
He remarked, and abruptly left afterwards without uttering another word. Even so, I could feel the remorse inside his heart. But all of these series of unfortunate event was neither mine nor his fault to begin with. It was caused by the natural disaster that had wiped over the entire town, or maybe the whole world.
Thousands of cries could be heard at the other side of the rooms, yelling profoundly about their lost relatives and the like. I too was one of their kind as I could only gaze outside the beautiful sunset descending to its dawn.
2 days had passed however my mind was filled with sorrowness and despair. James have yet to visit me once more. It was understandable given that he would be currently managing the damage destroyed from the massive shock that trembled the world.
The next morning, the doctor in charge for my recovery had shown me a piece of paper which includes all of the expenses and the lab results taken during my stay. However, I was entirely muted and immobile to converse with the doctor, and according from the director of the hospital, they would transfer the patients to the public hospital if they cannot afford the charge of their stay; including myself.
My cash are all stored inside the world-wide bank, however they were unwilling to provide any strangers to accomplish the transactions. It can only be processed by me and James alone. However, he had not been visiting my lounge and that could pose a problem for my stay here in the private hospital.
Hence… the day had come and after 3 weeks, I was left on the public hospital with nothing but a sheet and water that they could only provide.
I miss my wife
My daughter
My family
My friend…James…. "Where the hell are you even?"
I waited for that day that my questions will soon be answered by the gods resting above the skies. How unfortunate I was that my body was still in a vegetative state, unable to roam around nor speak what was inside my mind.
The medical staff that had handled my body told me that I…unfortunately cannot be healed furthermore. The damage done from my kidneys, lungs, and even my punctured heart had greatly put a toll all over my body. The doctors had also added that I… have only 6 months to live before my body would resign itself and shut down accordingly due to the organs unable to sustain the nutrients and waste inside my body.
Thus…the idea had hit me.
Why would I even bother living in this damn world?
Tris and Lixia, these two people had already left me from this world. There is no point to continue living in this world.
I asked one of the kind nurses stationed at the public hospital to accompany me outside and guide me to the famous bridge known for its breath-taking scenery. It was heavily guarded with rails and other walls in order to fend off people accidentally falling over.
However…miracles do happen.
The wheelchair that I was placed to suddenly crashing on the nearby post and ended up falling against the metallic barriers that repels these sort of accidents.
Even so, it didn't stopped me from sinking down from the bridge. With the remaining strength left inside of me, I forced my muscles to push my lower limbs as I swiftly climb my way upwards from the flyover.
I soon found myself cascading down towards the concrete floor awaiting on the ground. The gravitational pull had perfectly did its job as I could feel the enormous speed charging from my dive, and the memories from the past began flashing before my eyes.
This was the story of my life….or so it seems.
But the crash had never reached my immobile falling body. A minute had passed since the time I had ventured out from the fall but the hard ground have yet to knock me over to the afterlife.
I was unable to peer open my eyes and discern my surroundings. Everything was black as if I was drowned underwater by an omnibus dark light trapping me from the heavens above. I couldn't feel nor discern everything other than the silence alone. Eventually, an audible sound became vibrating to my ear desperately barging in inside my head.
"Grey…."
I heard my name softly murmured by the mysterious voice. Its intentions were unclear and there was nothing for me to do to stop or check the unknown sound.
"Grey Turner…."
There it is again, this time the voice reverberates clearer than before. This time around, it had mentioned my complete name.
"Grey Turner…I shall bestow you a chance to revive yourself in my world. Thou you came crashing in this world without any of the god's permission, I shall grant you my own destructible power. However, your mission is to vanquish evil across the land and attain peace from the different nations of the world I had reside.
I am the Demon king who had rightfully governed the world, and my time has come to be dissipated from this world.
Oh, brave soul. I grant thee a chance. A chance
To live and see your family once more"