EPISODE 5

N.B: This chapter contains graphic/Violent scenes. This is my first time writing something like this though, I hope it’s not too terrible. 

“Whoever fights monsters should see that in the process he does not become a monster himself. And if you gaze long enough into the abyss, the abyss will gaze back at you”

Ten-year-old Sebastian read out the passage from the book by Friedrich Nietzsche to the woman standing beside the stove. He closed the book and looked over at her.

”What does that teach us, Sebastian?” The woman asked 

“Not to become monsters while fighting one...” he answered innocently.

“You’re right, baby, but it also teaches us not to let the evil of this world affect our mindset. We need to fight against it without letting it get to us” The woman explained and went back to chopping the tomatoes and the green ball pepper. 

“Is that why you’re not fighting back anytime papa hits you?” he asked pouting. The woman was shocked with the question, but she smiled gently at him. No, Sebastian, you’re too young to understand anything that’s going on w....”

She was cut off by a loud thud, someone had thrown a bottle against the wall and fell to the hard floor. They could see him struggling to get up to his feet, they couldn’t go near him to help as it was forbidden. He would kill them if they did!

” Where is my food, you good for nothing b*tch? I thought you should be sensible enough to realize I usually come home by this time” He screamed out.

”I’m sorry. I lost track of time. I’ll quickly get on with it, and it’ll be ready in a minute” She shivered with fear.

“Why? Because you were busy tending to that bastard of yours” The woman ignored him and went on with the cooking. Little Sebastian couldn’t look him in the face, he was terrified. 

“I said I was sorry” The woman repeated.

”You good for nothing, b*tch ” He threw the cooking pan at her, and it barely missed her. “You dare shout at me” He slurred. “The only thing you’re good for is sex.  Apart from that, you’re as useless as my lame grandfather, both you and this bastard” He moved closer to her and started removing his belt from his trouser. 

The woman cowered away from him while little Sebastian was tense and tears were rolling down his face. The man held her by her hair though she tried struggling away from his tight grip. He drew her closer, held the top of her dress and tore it open, he was slapping her and kissing her at the same time. 

Sebastian was whimpering, he couldn’t cry out loud, he knew it would be too dangerous for him. 

“Not here, please, not in front of Seb” The woman begged furiously 

“Why? You’re scared he’ll end up like his slut of a mother” He replied

”Kabir, please. I’m begging you. Don’t do this in front of him. Not again, please. It’ll affect him terribly”

”If he saw it the last time, then I guess there’s nothing I can do this time. Don’t worry, he won’t see you, he’ll only hear you. He went on to punch her in the face and dragged her down to the living room. Sebastian ran after his mother, calling out to her tearfully. 

“Go back into the kitchen, Sebastian. It’ll be over before you know it, cover your ears like I thought you Sebastian. Go!” His mother screamed at him.

”No mama! No'' The man was done with the scene in front of him, he walked towards him, slapped Sebastian twice and dragged him into the kitchen, punching him real hard in the stomach and spat on the boy withering in pain on the floor. 

He went back to carry on the business he left behind. Sebastian had stopped covering his ears like his mama used to tell him. He was beginning to face his fears and, like Friedrich Nietzsche had said,“If you gaze long enough into the abyss, the abyss will gaze back at you”.

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Aurora’s POV 

How I got here, this time and period at this particular moment in the universe is still a mystery to me and myself. I still don’t want to believe that I’m standing in front of my father's door, waiting for Sebastian or, should I say, Eric to pick me up. 

I can still remember the day his grandfather had called requesting for one of us to go to the so-called party with him. One of the events that I hate the most in this entire world. I’ve spent the rest of the week, happy and excited that I’ll be fortunate enough not to attend the party. 

I should have noticed my sister’s mood was different from the normal cheerful and happy-go-round young lady she has always been. But I wasn’t suspicious of the long look she was giving me, her intense gaze and how she had asked my mom how I would look in a pink dress. She had even successfully dragged me to the store with her, got me a dress while she got herself a shoe. When I asked her why, she said she already had a dress.

Until she betrayed me! She took off early this morning to God knows where, promising us she'd be back early, only for her to beg my father about three hours ago to let me go instead of her with Sebastian to the party.  

My father had insisted Sebastian was a gentle man, urging me to go with him because of his reputation with his grandfather. My mother almost screamed once I agreed and didn’t stop at anything to turn me into this vomit of colors that I am. 

The doorbell rang, and my mum hurriedly rushed to answer the door. The door opened revealing the chauffeur who walked me to the car. 

“What of Sebastian?” My mother asks. 

“He’s currently taking a nap, and I’ve been instructed not to wake him up” he replied and led the way to the limousine. 

“He’s really a gentleman”, I said mockingly as I looked back at my dad.

The chauffeur opened the door, and I bent my head to enter the limousine. I stopped for a while, Sebastian was there, wide awake, looking so different from the one I saw at the restaurant and yet so similar to the man I met in the Maldives a year ago. 

His eyes were wild, angry and confused at that time, and that is exactly what he looks like now. 

Scared, I gently entered the car and stayed as far away as possible from him. 

“Long time no see, Aurora. Don’t tell me you didn’t miss me?” My hands were shaking as a result of how scared I was. I don’t know what to think anymore. 

Is it possible that he’s really a psychopath just like Pearl had said, or is he really a good actor? 

Trying to stir the waters, I said what I should have never said. 

“Eric?” I asked 

“One and only”

Ooh! Ooh!