Chapter 26: Embrace the truth and pain

Brandon was now outside the police station, sitting on a wooden bench near a food vendor, and the fragrance of cooked food on the grill did not wake him from his trance. He was lost in thought, maintaining the image of that individual in his memory without losing it. He still felt a phantom ache that caused his body to shake, particularly his legs and arms; he sighed and inquired inwardly:

"Void, what was that I experienced?"

In response, Void added:

"That was the accumulated pain that needed to be released and if it wasn't released, the corruption would have used that pain as a catalyst to take over"

Bran inquired:

"What needs to be done to stop the pain?"

After a period of silence, Void added:

"Stop being a man who keeps his feelings a little too hidden and show some empathy. If you are angry, hit something that will relieve your feelings; if you are terrified, confess it and move on. "Don't keep things bottled up," is all I can say.

Lesley was extremely private and reticent about his feelings; he never showed them for others to view or feel comfortable around him. He had always let his guard down when it came to family, but after the island tragedy, Lesley transformed himself into what he considered a necessary tool to accomplish the job and return home, but it came at the expense of his humanity slipping away as he took lives after lives over those weeks there.

Now that he had died and become Brandon Wilson, Lesley wanted to embrace that this was the new life he should pursue because God had given him a second opportunity at life. To accept this, he required the approval of someone who knew Brandon well and was his father. Lesley wanted to forget Lesley Dorn, but he couldn't do so. He is and was Lesley; now he is and will be Brandon Wilson.

"You said I shouldn't bottle emotions upright due to the corruption of the curse taking over, right?"

"Yes, that is the unhealthiest way to die. "Bottling something that may affect your mental well-being."

Brandon nodded as he stood up and took a long breath. Bran was slightly trembling with a decision to make and a plan to make if it didn't work out, but it wasn't from the curse release. He feared something he shouldn't have. He didn't want to feel the same way when he returned from months of therapy; he didn't want the distance and fearful stares from the propaganda and madness of someone claiming to an elderly father that he wasn't his son but a young man with unresolved trauma.

'What's the worst that might happen?' he said nervously, drawing stares and muttering.

***

It was 16h46 when Bran arrived in the suburbs; he approached the gate and opened it, only to be faced with the identical scene as the original Brandon Wilson's residence. 

The cobblestone approach leading to the house, the thick emerald lawn, and the small pond of water appear to shimmer in the sunlight.

He traversed the cobblestone road with leisurely steps until he reached the porch and opened the door, then removed his shoes and walked in his socks. He heard a woman's beautiful voice soothe a man as he giggled.

Brandon grinned as he remembered his mother's laugh, which was heavy with the weight of a lady who wanted her children to treasure the sounds of love, as she would say. He scoffed and giggled softly:

"Wow, that seems genuine," exclaimed a familiar voice. Brandon wasn't surprised because he didn't jump in fear and simply nodded his head.

"Hey Ashley, how is dad?"

"Bright and energetic, why are you back so early?"

"Just came from a funeral and was suspected of murder but was just they just asked questions about Axel's murder"

"Oh okay, how was it?"

"About the questions, nuh I answered as truthfully as possible"

"No, I meant about the kid who was your friend"

Bran groaned, shrugged his shoulders, and said:

"I am still a little hazy in expressing sentiments. So, I'm not sure how to feel right now."

Ashley shook her head before adding:

"Be more vulnerable; it won't hurt like the last time. "Matthews was just doing what everyone thought was wrong..."

Brandon completed her sentence, adding:

"Half-breeds, just so you know, I'm not related to Drean." Or, at the very least, I hope I'm not. In any case, I'd like to speak with Dad alone for a little while."

Ashley just glanced at Brandon with some disgust and added:

"It's your home; go knock yourself out. "I need to smoke anyway."

Brandon nodded; he knew from the Original's memories that Ashely did not smoke.

That was merely a code to give us some space; occasionally the woman may read a scenario as she exits the house.

Brandon took a deep breath before knocking on the door:

"Dad, can I come in"

After a few seconds, a voice responded:

"Come in"

Brandon sided the door and entered the one bedroom where his father was now seated, his long white hair cascading down his shoulder, and he appeared wrinkled and lively as he bit into a strip of bacon and chewed it slowly.

The sounds of tongue, saliva, and teeth combine to create a harmony of chewing and swallowing food that warms the spirit. Richard then addressed Brandon, saying:

"Sit down, by the looks of things you have something bothering you"

Brandon carefully made his way to the bed, only to find he was fidgeting with his finger. Brandon paused and took a breath before sitting down.

Brandon's body trembled slightly; he was not terrified of telling the truth. He was frightened of leaving this old man devastated, yet all he wanted to do was inform him and let him grieve.

Lesley knew he was selfish and unconcerned about the well-being of this man, who was going to learn that his child had died.

Richard looked at Brandon, who was struggling to settle down, so he placed his food on the lamp counter and said:

"A calm before the storm is necessary before the downpour. "Be a drizzle, son; you will be calm."

Those words meant nothing to Brandon, but they triggered some lingering emotions as he cooled down.

Brandon took another breath and said, his voice shaking slightly:

"I've never been so emotional before..." But...damn…. This…. Kid…and …. Emotions… Listen, there is something I need to say."

Richard smiled and said something that made Lesley feel a little chilly:

"Sooth yourself Lesley Dorn, you are among family here"

Brandon retreated off the bed as quickly as possible and formed a combat stance:

"How long?"

Richard grinned and giggled slightly.

"Tell me something Mister Dorn, have you ever seen the sunset from the backyard it is beautiful. Okay I want to go, and you are coming"

Brandon stammered when responding:

"No, I do not recall his recollections having... What the f*ck, how do you know my name?

Richard stood up and added:

"Can you guide me to the backyard, and I will tell you something to soothe the mind"

Brandon reduced his guard after hearing this, but with cautious intent, which could come in useful if he needed to leave. He assisted the old guy to get to his feet while guarding the door.

Richard took a breath and added:

"I have known for a while that my son had died"

Brandon sided the door, then the old man stood up and stepped out with a gesture to follow, Brandon did the same and asked:

"How did you know?"

The old man Richard paused for a moment and said:

"About eleven years ago, I used my factor to leave a mark on my son's mind and body, followed by another mark on his soul. Which created this" Brandon noticed a dark rush that was trying to strangle the man's neck, so he gestured to the back. 

The identical mark that the Half-breed is believed to have, suddenly Brandon was visited with a specific recall as he said:

"It was a disguise, wasn't it?"

Richard nodded, adding:

"If I had let the doctors mark his body and mind, his factors would be permanently sealed off"

"Permanently?" Brandon asked, confused, adding:

"Wasn't the law supposed to release the seal when we become certified citizens?"

Richard kept walking as he shook his head slowly, chuckling in a hoarse voice and adding:

"I have a feeling you are much older than my son to accept such misinformation. The world does not intend to remove the seal. Heck, they can't remove it without the cooperation of the Edo country's seal masters, which includes me."

He took a deep breath as he approached the end of a corridor and turned right. He added:

"We established that seal to prevent the Half-breeds from continuing their rampage as they gradually regulate their chaotic inner energy and elements more serenely. However, men's greed recognized a way to cripple their former rivals of war; fortunately, we anticipated this coming when we promised to teach them the marking technique; we didn't teach them how to remove it, and they didn't want to learn either."

Brandon stated:

"It was a win-win situation on both fronts"

Richard nodded, adding:

"I made this mark to keep track of my son's well-being; if he got into danger, I would seek assistance from some friends to intervene in some way, while also leaving him with an awareness of how cruel life can be for his kind. When he died, something changed in my mind: my mark began to burn my neck, and I had the impression that my soul was being pierced by something big. It was painful.

I was about to cry and give up on my life when my mark opened a channel in my soul and mind that revealed my son's recovery; at the time I felt he had survived, and I was delighted for you. However, when you arrived, I pretended I had never seen anything that would typically kill an elderly guy via shock.

"When I saw you, the channel gave me a sight of a past of blood, betrayal, and rejection, somehow I saw your memories, and with the help from the channel I was able to make my deduction, and today I was able to confirm it by saying the memory person's name"

They reached a long door with paper-like windows that revealed some of the outside as sunlight attempted to penetrate. Richard gave Lesley the same smile that could melt a stone heart.

"I wanted to deny my son's death and pretend he was never gone. To avoid suffering, I hid behind a mask of ignorance and a veil; a soldier has an unusual method of absorbing pain. But when you said you wanted to tell me something, I wanted to cry. Cause I didn't want the truth but to hear your story. So, I brought it here.

He attempted to side the door, but Brandon did it for him. The backyard was a large area with lush grass and a particular allure because the sun's rays warmed the two men's observers' eyes.

They sat on a porch, knees bent down to serve as seats. The setting sun was slowly filling this vacant space with a wonderful loneliness, which caused the men to fall silent for a moment.

Brandon took a deep breath and said, with a tear in his eye:

"I... am… "I am sorry for taking your son's body, sir."

Richard did not respond, instead looking at the light through tears. He remained there silently for a bit, then said:

"We strive to guide our choices to make better decisions that would lead us to our destinies, somehow fate just makes the foolproof plan meaningless when faced with tragedies and unseen dangers…."

Richard was quiet again, as he stated:

"My son is gone; his body has been placed here with a stranger whom I believe I have known as a friend. I cannot see a buddy as a son since he is not my son."

Brandon wanted to say something because his heart was heavy and onerous; he wanted to wipe the tears from his eyes and console the elderly guy, the identity of not being his son still made him hesitant...Until...

Richard then sighed, with a hint of regret in his voice:

"Lesley Dorn, can I ask you for a request?"

Lesley responded:

"Anything I will do"

Richard grinned and glanced at Lesley, his lips quivering slightly as he struggled to hold back tears, and said:

"Can you give this old man a hug?"

Brandon hugged the old guy without hesitation, resulting in a symphony of tears from both men. Cried…. Cried…. cried….

Nothing needed to be stated about what was going to happen next for these two men. In their minds, they were commiserating over their losses. Richard lost his only son, and Lesley lost his life while attempting to avenge the woman he was supposed to protect but failed.

Nothing needed to be said between these two veterans of both Earth and the world where Lesley had found himself.

The embrace was sufficient, and it was what they had missed and required.

(End of Volume 1: Accept what is given; a chance is a gift.)

Author's Note: (I'll confess that the plot was slow and uninteresting. In this volume, I wanted Lesley Dorn to recognize that he is not alone in his sadness over the incident. Both of these men lost so much in just a few days, but the traumas they had to bear in silence allowed them to be released all at once. Being transmigrated is difficult for any human's psyche, especially when leaving behind so much on Earth, such as family and friends.

Lesley had no one at all. He became a friend/father to the original Brandon during their tragedy... Thank you for reading. I'll create Volume 2 soon... Hang in there.)