*Dedicated to DavidJThirteen .. it just made sense to dedicate Chapter 13 to him, haha, his number... check out his works 'The Things we bury' and 'Mr 8'*
'So what's so special about Penny Gardens?'
James looked at the detective, shook his head and replied, 'Penemue Gardens. It's a place of peace and tranquillity that not many people know off, sort of a sanctuary for the enlightened. It is said to be the most peaceful place on earth and created by the angels themselves.'
Detective Monroe laughed and asked dubiously, 'Angels? Really, are they real?'
James shook his head, 'I don't know. I've never seen one and I highly doubt they are real.
There would considerably less darkness and sin in the world if they were.
If they are real then screw them because they are just sitting there watching as a shadow beast is loose on the world and laughing as I fall to pieces trying to stop it.'
Detective Monroe looked out of the window and up at the sky. The sky was a light milky blue with a few white clouds scattered here and there. It was beautiful.
He had never been a believer in angels or a God but now that he had seen true evil and knew demons existed, he needed there to be a light. He wanted to believe that there was a heaven. He needed to believe that there was hope.
He sighed, looked at James and said, 'Maybe they are out there guiding us, unable to interfere because we have to find our own destinies or something?'
James laughed and replied, 'You have been watching way too many movies but then again, my reality is more unbelievable than any movie I have ever watched. Maybe you are right, maybe you're wrong. After all I've been through and seen nothing will surprise me.'
The detective nodded and said, 'True that. So you didn't actually answer my earlier question.'
'What question?'
Detective Monroe cleared his throat and asked, 'Why are we going to Penemue Gardens?'
James closed his eyes and relaxed his shoulders as he took in a deep breath and replied,
'When I passed out earlier and had my dark journey through Abel's eyes, something happened. There was darkness, shadows and then light. A pure white light that made me feel at peace. It was amazing. I've never felt so happy and so peaceful.
All the pain, the darkness and sins, they all disappeared for that moment. Then I saw a face.
Her name is Casey. I saw her in the light and then I came back to.'
Detective Monroe groaned rolled his eyes and said, 'That still doesn't explain why we are going to the whatever Gardens made by angels or something. Anyways, who is Casey?'
James smiled involuntarily at the mention of Casey's name. The detective saw and laughed at James' embarrassment. He punched James in the arm playfully and jeered, 'So tell me about her.'
James blushed, took a deep breath and began, 'Her name is Casey Williams and believe it or not, she loves me and I love her. She is my light in this world. I had to leave her and come here when the shadow beast was unleashed upon the earth. I didn't have a choice.
She is beautiful, sweet, kind and caring. One of the purest, innocent and loving souls I've ever seen. The first time I saw her I stood and stared at her in surprise because my mind wasn't being attacked by shadows showing me all her hidden dark sins. It sounds cheesy and soppy but I really did think she was an angel when I saw her.'
James looked down embarrassed, smiling from ear to ear as he remembered the day.
Detective Monroe smiled and said, 'Go on Mr Romeo, tell me all.'
James rolled his eyes and continued, 'Well I was drawn towards her because she put my mind at peace. I found out she was just human and sinned like the rest of us but she always felt so bad and did everything in her power to make up for whatever she did wrong. Casey always tries to make everyone around her happy and she managed to make me happy for the first time since I was cursed with the darkness. She was also the first person I told about my ability to see people's sins and unlike some other people, she didn't lock me up and accuse me of a murder I didn't commit.'
Detective Monroe groaned and said, 'Seriously? You are going to hold that against me?
Carry on with your damn story.'
James laughed and continued, 'Well I am glad you didn't have the same reaction as her because the first thing she did when I told her was kiss me.'
The detective looked at James with a raised eyebrow and said surprised, 'You told her that you could see the sins of every person you came across, that you were tethered to the darkness and she kissed you?'
'I was just as surprised then as you are now. She said that she knew there was something I was holding back from her and that she could see that I was in pain in public, even though I tried to hide it. She believed me, she accepted me and she did everything she could to help me. Casey would take me to different remote places where it was just us and beautiful mother nature. We would hike up mountains and explore nature trails. Anything to get away from people and their sins. One of the places she took me was Penemue Gardens.
It is a beautiful, peaceful place and it was there with her where I felt most at peace.
The last time I saw her I told her that when I was done with whatever the shadows were drawing me towards, that I would meet her there in the Gardens. When I saw her in my vision, I had this feeling that she was calling me to the Gardens. I don't know why or how she is a part of it but it has something to do with the shadow beast and it's important.
I can feel it.'
The detective nodded and said, 'She sounds amazing and I'm really happy that you have someone in your life. With all the darkness you see, you sure as hell need some light.'
He stepped down on the accelerator and increased their speed saying,
'Let's get you to your light.'
******
Cain screamed loudly as he threw his glass hard against the opposing wall.
The glass shattered and the water that was inside splattered all over the wall.
Broken shards of glass fell to the floor as Cain fell to his knees. He knelt with his head in his hands. He ran his fingers through his hair then screamed out angrily again. He needed to kill.
Abel had kept him locked inside. Abel spent his days watching cartoons and eating cereal while Cain watched from the dark recesses of his mind screaming to be let out.
Now he managed to gain control and there was nothing here for him!
Abel always got the women. He was the damaged little puppy that lured them in and then Cain broke them before they broke Abel's heart. This is the way it had been ever since Abel's parents. Now Abel was content just sitting inside and ordering food over the phone.
The delivery services comprised of either overweight or underweight acne riddled teenage males. That didn't help him either. Cain was happy for Abel, glad that he was content and enjoying his lonely life but Cain was definitely not content. He was not made to watch cartoons and eat cereal, this was not the point of his existence.
