Chapter
4 – An Elder Sibling’s Role
After days of going from place to
place, I’ve narrowed down where John is. He’s in the crime-ridden city of
Meridian, a gothic, art-deco-looking city that’s notorious for its high levels
of crime and a dark hero known as L’Obscurité. He’s been sighted here recently,
the most for whatever reason, so I search every corner of the city, from the wealthy
suburban area to the city’s slums and most depraved areas. One of the people I questioned
ends up being an agent I should’ve recognized, who was wearing a disguise.
“I shouldn’t be surprised that you’ve
been following me,” I say.
“Why shouldn’t we be, especially
after all the commotion you’ve been causing? You’ve probably done more damage
to your image than John has, and should consider yourself lucky that we want to
keep good relations with you by covering for you in the media,” the agent says.
“You’re doing that just so I can
help you further your own ends.”
“Is that really a bad thing? John
has been helping us of his own free will without us pushing him. If he says no,
we leave. If he says yes, we’re glad and pay him generously.”
“Have you found out where he is
yet?”
“Almost. He’s here, but we’re not exactly
sure where. We were hoping that you’d find him by now or that he’d find you.
How about we help one another?”
“N-”
“Before you say no, let me tell you
that our targets are ones that your brother has been going after. Helping us
with them will show John that you’re the same sister who goes out of her way to
help others, that he thinks that you are, and not one who kills a person just
because they get on her nerves.”
“Tch. Fine! Give me a list of names
and locations.”
Within seconds, I get what I need
sent to my device and head out. Most of these people are simple targets to
eliminate or kidnap and bring to the requested locations; however, there are a
few who have strange powers that affect my black snake and strengthen it.
Thanks to going to confession, I have the grace to overcome their powers over
me. Still, the thoughts that they put in my head make it difficult to defeat
them, and I’m not used to fighting foes who have supernatural powers. When I call
the agent about it, they talk about a cult whose been making Meridian worse
through their powers, and despite their best efforts, they haven’t been able to
expunge them from the city, but my taking out these people grants temporary
relief to the people here.
“How charitable of you,” I say.
“You may not trust us because of
our previous actions, but we’ve changed and are trying to make this country a
better place, just like your parents wanted,” the agent says over the phone.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll believe it when I
see good changes because of you.”
“That’s the thing about being an
agent. We receive thanks and payment for our efforts under the table rather
than getting any kind of public thanks, stories written about us, or merchandise
made of us.”
“I’ve finished your hit list. Have you
found John yet?”
“Yes, we have, and you’re going to kick
yourself like we did.”
“Why?”
“Where would you think John would
go?”
“I’ve been searching for him for
weeks, and I’m tired of guessing. Just tell me.”
“A church, particularly its
adoration chapel. We’ll send you its location.”
“…I’ll give you that. Those kinds
of places should’ve been the first places I should’ve checked.”
“He comes and goes from that
location, so if you head over there now, you should be able to catch him. On
another topic, can we trust that you’ll help us again if our interests align
again?”
“Only if John says I should. Bye.”
Quickly heading to the church, I
find it empty except for John, who has a sleeping bed next to a monstrance. It’s
like the adoration chapel is his personal room with clothes on a clothes rack
and things placed around the altar, which are the same things I’ve heard people
giving him as thanks for helping him. He’s dressed just as he was when he left
home, wearing a red and blue hoodie with a golden cross on the back, blue
jeans, and black boots.
“John!” I say, immediately getting
his attention.
He smiles brightly at me like usual,
speeds over to me, and gives me a big hug.
“Idelle! I’m so glad that you’re here.
What brings you to this part of the country?” he asks.
Okay, this is the moment I’ve been
dreading the most. Do I tell him that our parents are worried about not hearing
from or seeing him in over a year? Do I act as the older sister that he thinks I
am? Do I guilt him into coming back? Well, I'd better first let him know why I’m
here and go from there. Please, God, help me say the right words to him.
“John. I’m here to tell you that
you need to go back home,” I say.
In nearly an instant, John says, “Okay!
Let me get my things first, and let my friends know I’ll be leaving.”
“…huh?” I say, completely taken off
guard.
“What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean by ‘what’s wrong’?
You’ve been gone from home for over a year! I’ve been searching for you for
weeks, getting into God knows how much trouble, was expecting you to have some
reason for not coming home, and that I’d have to convince you to come back home.”
“I’ve been roaming the country
helping others, especially my new friend, Timeo Severe, who is actually the hero,
L’Obscurité. He’s wanted me to look after his city while he looks after his
family and plans his return to defending it. I wasn’t sure if I should go back
home since so many needed my help, and I had been praying for a sign to go back,
particularly for you to find me since I told you to do so if I didn’t come back
after a year.”
Having no good argument for what he
said, I instead say, “You could’ve at least had your phone on you, so I could call
you to find where you were.”
“Yeah…I broke it during a fight
with a villain.”
“How have to been accepting requests
and helping with the government agents then?”
“I still have the personal device
our parents made for me that only responds to my biological signature. I guess
it must not have a tracking device in it since they’ve had trouble finding me
as well.”
“I can’t believe you!” I say as I punch
John in the elbow.
“What?”
“You’re so stupid! I’ve been
through and done so much to try to find you, and you’re just here as if missing
from our family hasn’t meant anything to you!”
I keep punching John, calling him
stupid, an idiot, and other related words, as I air out my grievances, and let
him know what I’ve been through and done to find him, as I try to hold back my tears.
He hugs me again and kisses me on the head.
“I’m sorry, Idelle. I didn’t mean
to make you go through so much for you to find me. I promise that I won’t do it
again.”
I hug John tightly and say, “You'd
better promise never to leave me again! I didn’t know if you lost yourself or
did something you would regret forever, or a bunch of other things! I don’t
want to lose you because if I did, I’d lose all hope in the world and myself.”
“Without me, you’ve remained strong.
You’re still the same big sister I’ve looked up to my entire life, who's
inspired me to not let the pains of the world keep me down. I don’t know what I
would do if I lost you. I’d probably lose hope in the world and myself as well.”
I cry in John’s arms as he begins
to cry with me. After calming down, John packs his things, says goodbye to the
priest in this church, his new friend Timeo Severe, and we head home, arriving
in about a day of running thanks to our super speed. Our parents cry and
embrace John when they see him, and we have a celebration dinner for John’s
return. He shares all his stories about what he was up to while he was away,
and I just listen to him speak. As much as he says that I’m his inspiration to
be stronger, he’s also an inspiration to me to be strong and to become a
better, more virtuous person who always sees the good things in life. I pray to
God that I become more like him in my own way, and that we’ll always be
together, only changing for the better.
The End
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