July 2019,
In a Villa in the Swiss Alps, a family of 20 stood around a bed. This bed held a dying old lady, by the tear-stricken faces of those around her, you were able to tell she was deeply loved.
She laid there, once a woman full of energy and passion, now frail and on death's door. She looked upon the family she had built, her 3 sons and daughter, her grandchildren, and her grandchildren's children.
She was satisfied with her life, she lived a full and exciting life, she couldn't ask for anything better… but there was still something left to be done, she can't leave now, at least, not until he gets here.
Their room was quiet, only the sounds of the monitors beeping and sniffling could be heard, showing that the old lady's life was slowly coming to an end.
The family had come to said their goodbyes, it was almost time, the old lady was still waiting for someone, she would not go until she saw and spoke to them.
*Knock* *Knock*
Someone knocked on the door before opening it, it was John, he has been the family butler for as long as the oldest son could remember.
"Excuse me, Mr. Steel? I know it is a bad time, but there is a Mr. Acheron Belau at the door, he wishes to speak to My Lady"
"Send him away! Family only!" the oldest of her 4 children exclaimed.
Then the old lady spoke, her voice was soft, but it was still heard by everyone.
"Let him in John… I need to see him… I don't have much time left…"
John nodded before leaving.
Her second-oldest spoke,
"Is this the man you have been waiting for Mother? Who is he?"
The old lady smiled at her children before saying,
"Someone very dear to me, my children"
Once again there was a knock on the door, the door opened but instead of the old butler, a young man walked in. His long hair was intricately braided, and he wore a Versace suit, showing that the young man had lots of money.
The teenager walked into the room, his calm and kind smile only hid the overwhelming grief that could be seen in his black and purple eyes.
"Leave us…" the Lady whispered,
The family walked out as tears once again flowed down everyone's face, they knew this was the last time they were going to see her alive.
The young man approached the side of her bed with an apologetic smile on his face.
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"Sorry I'm late, Angela"
The old lady smiled at his words before shaking her head,
"You are right on time as always… Dad"
Acheron's smile grew as he heard his daughter call him 'Dad' after such a long time.
The old lady's name was Angela De Los Dolores. This named clapped like thunder in the ears of those that heard and recognized her around the world.
If you never heard this name before then you must have heard the organization affiliated with her name, 'Angels Sanctuary'. Angels Sanctuary was the biggest non-profit charity organization in the world.
Angels Sanctuary was involved in everything and anything, from feeding the hungry to disaster relief, if involved helping someone or something, they were the first ones there.
It just so happens that the founder of this monstrous organization was no other than the frail old lady currently on her deathbed.
"My sweet child, I'm so sorry I haven't seen you in almost 80 years… I have failed you as a father..." Acheron said
Tears rolled down the cheeks of the old lady,
"No, Dad, it was I who failed you when I renounced the Belau name"
Acheron shook his head at her words,
"No, no, no, no, my sweet angel! You are my biggest pride in this lifetime! You have done so much good in the world, more than you would have ever done inside the family! Your legacy shall echo through the millenniums, I will make sure of that!"
The old lady looked upon her father, his face hadn't changed one bit since the day he picked her from the streets of Brooklyn, New York.
This man, her father, had helped turn a street rat into one of the most respected and influential women in history. She was trained like all Belaus, but she could never get herself to kill anyone, instead, she would end up sparing them and letting them go.
She didn't want that life, she wanted to do more, she wanted to save lives, not take them away. So, on her 18th birthday, she told Acheron she didn't want to live that life anymore and renounced the name of Belau.
Acheron gave her money, enough to last 3 lifetimes, and a new name. That day, Angela Belau was gone, and Angela De Los Dolores was born.
"I have something for you, Dad… it's in that drawer over there"
The old lady pointed at the drawer with her eyes.
Acheron opened the drawer and reached inside only to find an album. The album was old, the leather cover was smooth telling him that this album was used a lot throughout the years.
He opened it and the first thing she saw was Angela as a teen, more specifically, when she was 18 and had just left the Belaus. He had given her a camera as a farewell gift, this was the first picture she took after she left.
He flipped to the next page and the next, a small tear fell down Acheron's cheek. He looked up at her only to find her smiling as she cried.
"You always did hate lying to your family… that's why you are so bad at it" Angela said,
Acheron looked down as he continued to flip through the pages, what made Acheron cried was the fact that a person in the background was circled in red marker in each picture.
It was him.
The picture when she graduated from her university, when she opened up her first charity HQ, her first date, when her husband proposed, when she got married, when she shook hands with world leaders, her first trip outside the U.S for disaster relief, her first family picture with her first son, her second, her daughter, her third son… and so on.
Acheron was there for every important moment in Angela's life, he was never far in the background.
"I didn't notice until my son pointed it out one day as I went over the pictures with him… that day, as I looked upon my son, I realized how vast a parent's love is…" Angela said in between sobs,
"You were always there weren't you, Dad?"
"Of course sweetheart, that's what a parent is supposed to do," Acheron said as his voice choked a little, you could tell he was holding back his tears.
Acheron knew her time was up, her flame of life was about to extinguish.
"Dad?"
She called as she stretches her hand towards him.
Acheron held her hand,
"Its okay sweety, I'm here"
Angela looked at Acheron, as tears rolled down her face endlessly.
"I missed you daddy!... I don't want to go... not yet… There's so much I still want to tell you…."
"It's okay my sweet my angel, your brothers and sisters are waiting for you, go meet them and wait for me… I love you.." Acheron said,
"I love you too, Dad"
Angela smiled and nodded, then the last wisps of life escaped her body.
The sounds of her flatlining on the monitor went off, as Acheron stood, grabbed the album, and walked out the room.
Her family stood there just outside the door, Acheron looked at his grandchildren and said,
"I'm sorry for your loss.."
Acheron walked away as they broke down crying behind him, his face showed no emotion but his eyes showed how his soul threatened to shatter from the heartbreak.
Acheron jumped into his car and took off.
Finally, the dam broke and tears gushed out of Acheron's eyes, he slammed the gas down as his car picked up speed going down the mountain.
He slammed the steering wheel as he wailed from the deep sorrow of his daughter's death.
There was a curve in the road coming up but Acheron pretend he didn't see it, he just kept changing gears making his car go even faster.
Acheron let out a tragic roar so loud and so full of anger, sorrow, and designation that it echoed throughout the mountain range.
"AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
*BAM* *SMASH*
Acheron drove the car through the barricade, hurling down the thousand-meter drop, his anguished yell never stopping.
*BOOM*
The car exploded as it hit the ground and tumbled to a stop, any regular person would have died on impact.
Acheron felt the explosion and also how his body was turned to shreds along with the car, he also felt as his body put itself back together without a scratch on him.
Acheron got up as he looked at the burning car before him, a single tear dropped before he walked away unscathed once again.