Savior

Savior #E19

                       CHAPTER 1

             The boy looked down; he could see his shoes covered with ashes from a nearby fire. It covered almost the entire road except for a few spots which were still undevoured by the pale gray smoke which acted as a great hazard always finding a way in the boy's nose, killing him and the sky slowly.

The roadsides looked like drains filled with the dry leaves from the near trees which were plenty in magnitude, rustling along with the cold quick breeze. It was chilly, yes it was, chilly enough to make the boy to clench his coat more tightly around his body. He heard his stomach make a noise while feeling a warm sensation burn his stomach slowly.

"Nothing's better than a nice meal," the boy thought thinking himself eating a meal; the thought which accelerated his pace. Mommy always made great meals enough to fill him for the whole day, at least that's what he thought.

As he treaded forward and came upon a turn, the lad saw an old man using the trunk of a tree as a support. The boy could see his loose skin aged like the structure which seemed like his life line displayed by the manner the old man was leaning  against it.

He was old, weak, harmless with his beard covering half his face. His head was adorned by a black hat which was covered with some of the smoke residue, some of it fell on his face as well making it look a bit charred and dirty. The boy heard the man panting heavily; he was there looking as if everything except his flesh and bones were sucked out of him.

The boy felt a new sensation enter his body now, empathy. At first he wanted to keep on walking but after making up his mind he went over to the old man.

"Mister, is everything alright?"
The man produced a smile, the situation made it look a bit sinister shadowed by a sinister thought.
"If everything was alright, I would be dead by now boy...he laughed, its sound revealed that the old man smoked. He might have inhaled a puff of smoke as his laughter (which seemed sinister as well) was interrupted by a cough.

"Help me and lead me to my house," the man said softly gesturing with his stick. The boy could see the elderly man's eyes, blue in colour, good enough to trap any person.

These characteristics did scare the kid but his dread was kicked off by the man's appearance ironically. "Mommy told me not to talk to strangers but not old strangers."

The boy linked his arms to the old man's and supported him.
"Your name kid?"
Now that he was closer the boy could hear his shrill voice far more clearly.
"Bill Griffin," replied the kid subtly making a face due to a strange musk expired from the old man's clothes.
"What yours?"
"Call me Quillen Dolan."

                CHAPTER 2
          Bill and Quillen reached the place. The house was a small one, painted green, it looked as if it was a kingdom of algae. Bill saw the chimney where dense and black puffs of smoke liberated; a strong urge to curse the house was his first thought but this was soon neutralized by the fact that he wanted the old man die in peace. Griffin was confident that he had powers, powers of a wizard where a curse ( he didn't know any spells) could ruin someone's life. He was proud of it.

I am sensing some black spots in his future.

"You look pale son...Quillen started to deduct with his dark blue eyes with his striking white beard moving to and fro in the act. "Oh hungry I suppose, come with I have meat in the house."

Bill's heart struck cold when the man placed his weak hand on his shoulder. His intuition was to go in the house and soothe his hunger but this was what he said, "I am sorry  Mr. Dolan, I have to go my mom she is sick."

The old man nodded, "Sure, give Mrs. Sheila Griffin my regards son."
"Do you know my mother? How?" Bill was curious.
Quillen saw the dilated bright brown eyes and opened the door and closed it slowly. "Mr. Dolan! Mr. Dolan! Mr. Dola...he gave up and returned home.

Mommy was already waiting for her son and gave him a hug as he came running to her. She could sense the excitement that Bill had.

"So, enjoyed school?"
" Yes mommy, I had fun but I met a man..."
"After you finish eating...she smirked slightly, I made eggs and beans for you. You'll love it...she smirked brighter this time, seeing her son made her happy.
"Ok."
So, after he filled his stomach small Bill ran towards his mother and told her about the encounter with Mr. Dolan. Mom sprang up and covered her mouth with her hands, all of the worrying about the house chores, cleaning, cooking, throwing the trash and sewing the clothes disappeared.

She froze in that same position although she was growing more red.
"What happened Mommy?" Bill full of concern went and hugged her, Mommy hugged her even tightly; she sobbed harshly and kissed her son.

After Mrs. Griffin calmed down and thanked God she told her son that the old man was a very bad man who took the lives of small child; he was a monster! Bill kissed his mom after saying "Ok mommy" and went to his bedroom.

           CHAPTER 3
     "Roger, Bill met Quillen today."
Roger's face turned dark, it held anger and concern. " What? Where is he? Is he fine?" Roger fired, "He is ok, he told the man that I was sick which I told him to say when he met strangers."
"Thank the Gods...he wiped his sweaty forehead, I'll go and talk to him tomorrow."
"Bill?"
"No...as he said this Sheila's face turned dark, Quillen, I'll talk to him tomorrow, my son I'll talk with now."

The next day.

*Knock on his door*
Quillen opened it, "Ah! Son, come in."
His voice sounded clearer and tougher this time. Roger looked around suspiciously, "No smoke today?" he said softly.
"No not now, I met your son yesterday, glorious boy."
"Why? What was the reason for his existence?" he looked irritated.
"Maybe good food."
"No, why didn't you kill him?"
Quillen produced the same evil smile.
"Your father and I saved each other, but yesterday your little son saved me from dying. I was getting suffocated by the dense smoke and my legs were tired, and I forgot to bring my staff, your son lead me to my home. That's why I didn't kill him."
Shocked by the reason, Roger couldn't decide whether to thank the man or attack him.
"Even if he hadn't save me and if I had my staff I wouldn't touch your boy, he is the grandson of my best friend and my savior. Son, I kill only few children in a year you know who they are."
"Why don't you stop? There is life other than that...Roger was interrupted, "There is not...Quillen banged his hand on the wall, Roger thought if it had broken or not, "Today was the last time when this smoke is dark. I saw your son's eyes, it was his grandfather's."

Quillen shut the door, hard it banged.
"This poor man, I can't even say anything to the cops, he saved my and my father's life after all." Griffin thought.

He looked up the sky, yes it was shining blue with dark smoke blowing through the light summer gale.