The Miracle Of Prayer

Havi's ethereal form, still hovering in the void, sensed a shift in the atmosphere. He straightened from his prostration, his spirit trembling with unease as his gaze searched for the source of the disturbance.

From the distance, a faint black dot began to emerge. It grew larger, darker, and more imposing with each passing moment, until its true form materialised, a figure cloaked entirely in black, its visage obscured beneath a hood.

The figure wielded a whip in its right hand, the leather coiling and uncoiling like a serpent eager to strike. Havi's initial composure crumbled, replaced by a surge of terror that coursed through his very essence.

'What is this creature?', Havi's mind raced as he instinctively prepared to flee.

Without hesitation, he darted through the endless expanse, his movements swift and erratic as he sought to escape.

Yet, no matter how far or fast he travelled, the black-robed figure always reappeared ahead of him, blocking his path with an unsettling stillness.

Desperation clawed at Havi's spirit. Just as he prepared to make another frantic attempt at evasion, the figure's whip lashed out.

With an unerring strike, it cracked against Havi's head, sending him spiralling downward. His body didn't hit any solid ground but remained suspended mid-air, forced into a prostrate position.

The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the figure's voice, a sound so otherworldly, so devoid of human timbre, that it seemed to echo from every direction at once.

"Where else will you run, Havian Shahreza?"

The question was both an accusation and a sentence, spoken with a chilling authority that froze Havi in place.

"Wh- who are you, sir?" Havi stammered, his fear mounting. "And how do you know my name?"

The figure took a step closer, the whip swaying ominously in its grasp. "I am an angel, sent by God to deliver you to hell," it declared, its voice neither male nor female, an unsettling amalgamation of tones.

Havi's heart, or what remained of it, seemed to stop. He felt a cold dread wash over him, its weight heavier than any mortal burden he had ever borne.

"Forgive me, Lord Angel! Please, forgive me!" he pleaded, his voice cracking with despair.

The angel's whip cracked once more, silencing his cries. "It is too late for forgiveness," the angel intoned. "Do you not recall the countless sins you committed during your life? The deceit, the theft, the pain you inflicted upon others?!"

Each word was like a blade, slicing through Havi's desperate defences. Memories of his misdeeds flashed before him, moments he had buried deep within, now unearthed and laid bare.

"Please! I didn't mean for things to turn out this way!" Havi cried out, his voice breaking as remorse engulfed him.

The angel loomed over him, unmoving, an embodiment of divine justice. "You had your chance, Havian Shahreza. Now, you must face the consequences of your actions."

The void around them seemed to darken further, an oppressive weight descending as the angel raised its whip once more. Havi, paralysed by guilt and fear, could only brace for the judgement that was to come.

Chains materialised out of thin air, coiling tightly around Havi's wrists and ankles. The cold, unyielding metal bit into his skin, their weight pulling him down.

With a desperate resolve, he struggled against the bonds, his muscles straining and veins bulging, but the chains only tightened, their grip growing stronger with every futile attempt to break free.

As Havi wrestled with his restraints, another chain appeared, wrapping itself firmly around his neck.

Panic set in as the links constricted his movements, rendering him helpless. The angel loomed closer, its hand outstretched to seize Havi's head and drag him to his fiery fate.

But before the angel could complete its dreadful act, another figure emerged from the shadows.

This new being bore an uncanny resemblance to Havi's captor, yet its presence commanded a profound reverence. Draped in the same dark robes, the newcomer approached with an air of authority.

The second angel leaned in and whispered something inaudible into the ear of the first. The words, though unheard by Havi, seemed to carry undeniable weight, for the angel shackling him paused and then stepped back, its hand lowering reluctantly.

"O mortal!" the first angel bellowed, its voice echoing through the void. "I do not fully comprehend the good fortune that surrounds you!"

Without warning, the dark robes of both angels began to shimmer, the inky black fabric transforming into radiant white.

The light emanating from their now resplendent garments illuminated their faces, revealing features of unparalleled beauty.

Havi could only stare in stunned silence. These were no ordinary beings. If they were to walk the earth, Havi thought, their appearance alone would captivate every soul, young and old alike.

One of the angels spoke, its voice gentler now yet still commanding, "O mortal, hear me well! There exists a woman on earth who has prayed ceaselessly to the Almighty. Day and night, she beseeches God for your return to life."

Havi blinked, his mind struggling to process the revelation. "A... woman? Who... who is she, Lord Angel?" he stammered, his voice trembling with disbelief.

The angel raised an elegant hand and pointed skyward. Suddenly, the heavens split open, revealing a vision as though projected onto a colossal, celestial screen.

There, Havi saw a middle-aged woman kneeling in fervent prayer, tears streaming down her face as she begged for his redemption.

"That... that woman!" Havi gasped, recognition dawning on him. "Isn't she the one whose bag I stole?"

"Indeed," the angel confirmed. "Her name is Nuriana Salim. Know this, O mortal, the power of prayer is immeasurable. Her unwavering faith has reached the Almighty, and by His will, even your fate has been altered. You, who were dead, have been granted a second chance."

The second angel interjected, its voice resounding with divine authority. "By God's decree, you shall not return to the moment of your death but to the prime of your youth. Use this chance wisely, Havian Shahreza. Redeem yourself and repay the one whose prayers have saved you. Remember this always!"

Before Havi could utter another word, his spirit was swept into a swirling vortex. The whirlwind engulfed him, and as he was flung through the temporal spiral, he caught sight of another form, his own physical body, younger and unmarred by the ravages of time.

The collision was inevitable. With a deafening boom, his spirit and body merged as one.

Awareness flooded back into him. Havi felt the vitality coursing through his veins, his skin rejuvenated, his scars erased. His youthful energy returned in full force, and he marvelled at the transformation.

"I'm alive!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with gratitude. "God, thank You! I swear I will be a better man. Mrs. Nuriana Salim, wait for me. I will find you!"

As Havi's heartfelt vow echoed through the void, the vortex sealed itself shut, leaving him alone in the stillness of a new beginning.

From afar, the two angels watched the mortal's departure.

"That human is truly blessed," remarked the first angel. "Not only has he been spared, but the Almighty has also bestowed upon him additional wisdom and an enhanced appearance."

The second angel nodded, a serene smile gracing its perfect features. "Indeed. When God decrees, Let it be, then it shall come to pass."

With those final words, the angels dissolved into the mist, returning to fulfil their divine assignments, leaving behind only the lingering promise of hope and redemption.

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Havi's mind swirled with disbelief, confusion, and an overwhelming sense of anticipation.

"Is this a dream? Or have I truly been brought back to life? And… young again? Where am I now?" he thought, his racing thoughts barely contained.

A familiar scent wafted through the air, delicate and tantalising. It stirred memories long buried, reaching the very core of his heart.

"This smell… It can't be! It's the same aroma that used to come from my mother's cooking! Even though it was decades ago, I could never forget that scent. Oh, God, please let this be real. Don't let it be another cruel illusion."

As Havi lay there, his senses heightened, his ears caught a distinct sound, one so deeply rooted in his childhood that it felt like a song from the past.

Crack… Crack…

The rhythmic sound of splitting wood reached his ears, as steady and familiar as the beat of his own heart. His thoughts tumbled forward again.

"That sound… Could it really be? Isn't this the same noise my father used to make when he split wood in the mornings? It was his routine, his strength, his care for us all embodied in that simple act. This is becoming too real to be a dream."

Havi's longing grew unbearable, and yet, his body remained still, his eyes refusing to open.

"I want to see… I need to see them! But why… why can't I open my eyes? It's as though they're glued shut, unwilling to face the truth, or perhaps afraid of finding nothing but emptiness."

The mixture of hope and fear churned within him, his mind replaying the scents and sounds of a life he thought had slipped away forever. Was he truly back? Or was this some fleeting moment of cruel hope before waking into despair once more?

Havi clung to his faith, silently pleading for answers. "God, if this is real… if this is truly You granting me another chance, let me open my eyes. Let me see them again."

A quiet resolve settled within him as he braced himself for whatever awaited when his eyes would finally lift the veil.

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