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The Last Prophet of Enia
Another Word Entirely

Another Word Entirely

I was half awake when the alarm rang, pulling me from the clutches of the dream I was fully intending to cling onto. None of them have been as pleasing and comforting as this one lately.

Wow... it's definitely been rough recently. Life really could be kinder to me.

Well, that is to be expected, with all the stress of life, right? One day, you graduate from school, the next, you're all up in arms with adulting. Yes. I suppose that's just how life is. Brutal responsibility you cannot run from. Though unlike others in my vicinity...

I don't have an attachment to life, neither to family or friends. Speaking of, I barely have any.

My father has long been dead. Mother is alive. I also have a sister and a brother, they are much older than me, and not concerned with me at all. At least my big brother isn't. My elder sister, well, she cares about me.

Needless to stay, I gave up pursuing them or getting in contact with them, trying to mend our family ties. Mother has been secluding herself. Every time I did try to fix it, brother drove me away, calling me a monster, blaming me.

True... My father worked his hardest to support us all. A workplace accident killed him.

Mother, on the other hand, has always been... emotionally fragile. This is an understatement. The death of my father completely paralysed her, she was catatonic. We often took it upon ourselves, each, to check on mother. But just like that, she, too, went ahead without telling us, ending her life so soon. The one who found her dead was me, one snowy evening in december, when all of us siblings wanted to do a check up together.

I was the first to arrive, to open the front door, to notice darkness hanging over the entire house.

The first to walk up the stairs, to see a door just shy of being closed.

I was the first to take a peek. It was so eerily quiet, I'm telling you - so much so, it scared me. A lot. To think of what would be waiting. No surprises, I found her hanging from the ceiling, in her own bedroom. It couldn't have been... long. She was staring at me, I was staring back. Sort of like a contest. A contest of shock.

It must have been an eternity I was standing there for, in the door. Looking, not looking away, I just couldn't. My sister was the second to arrive, squeezing past me, teasing me about why I was just standing around and not jumping at mother.

Yeah.. well. That isn't aging well, big sister.

The moment she actually processed it, her jaw dropped to the floor. Almost literally. She started throwing up. Big brother complained about sister making retching noises, though that also didn't last long. He came in to a scence of sister throwing up on the floor - poor thing was pale - mother hanging, and me, standing around uselessly, mouth agape.

That moment. As if he was about to jump at me, at my throat, claw it open. He looked at me. Into my eyes, my soul. My expression must have looked empty, unsure of what to make out of this situation. He raised his hand. The time it took was painstaking. It was shaking. Just like me.

Once it was high enough, it slammed down like a guillotine. At my face, powerful enough to make me stagger from a simple slap.

It was so loud, the slap echoed throughout the entire house. Loud enough to make our retching sister look up at the scene. Her eyes just widened in horror, darting to brother, sizing him up and down. His face was definitely furious. She threw him looks, expecting words to follow that reaction of his.

"Are you not the least bit ashamed of yourself? To stand there with such a dreamy gaze as your own mother is hanging from the ceiling?", he shouted me down, then looked down at sister, whose face was pale beyond recognition.

Awkward silence befell the room. I had a hard time finding answers. Brother raised his hand, but put it down without slapping me a second time. Instead, his voice got louder, as if to enter my brain directly through that thick skull of mine.

"Sister here is throwing up. She's pale, on the ground.", and so I nodded, making him angrier.

"I...", but before I could utter a word, brother slapped me once more, it hurt. This time, he slapped the other cheek.

"Are you devoid of any emotion? What the fuck is wrong with you? You've not got a single fledgling of guilt in that chest of yours?"

I stared at him.

"That you have the gall to be here, when you're the entire reason our family fell apart...",

sister managed to stand up straight, pulling his hand. She was begging him.

But I didn't hear her. It was as if everything faded into darkness. Yeah, he's blaming me. Big brother really hates me. Father went to work that day because of me. I had my birthday coming up.

And so... he wanted to gift me something, hence him working harder for a bonus....

I understand why he hates me. After all, I killed father. I didn't want to accept it, but brother hammered it home. That I'm at fault, I shouldn't exist. If I didn't, this all wouldn't have happened.

Maybe he's right, you know? Sister wouldn't look so pale. I hope she's okay.

My eyes darted around the room. Brother's eyes followed mine, as if to catch them. Sister, desperately clinging onto him as if she was trying to keep him from killing me on the spot, was crying, it was audible she was upset at him opening up that topic again.

Well, he never learns. And doesn't understand... that I just process things differently. I'm slow.

Or maybe he just wants someone to blame, and I'm an easy pick?

Either way, I'm the scapegoat of his mind. It'll be fine. Hopefully.

At least if I just take it, someday..

"You disgust me.", he says, while shoving me out of the way to get on mother's bed, cutting the noose from the ceiling.

Me? I just fell from his push, right onto the floor, where I hit my head, started bleeding too, staining the carpet.

Damn, that was painful. I did feel dizzy - woe me. Bleeding isn't just anything, from the head much less. I was still alive, to the active dismay of brother, who couldn't bat less of an eye about me, save for big sister, dashing to me.

All I could see in her glassy eyes was pity. For me being the chosen one to endure his wrath, that jumpstarted this family into a deep fall into an abyss we could never recover from.

Chances of us making up? Yeah, zero. Zero with many decimals, many more zeroes to come.

That wasn't happening. I could bet that against a lottery and I'd win every fucking time.

Big brother wasn't having it, and I didn't want it either. I'm sorry, sister. You've been an angel since forever. I love you. But please don't be with brother any more than necessary. Lest he treats her like me.

"Are you okay?", she whispered, helping me up. Brother stole nasty glances at her, though he was ignored. Feisty.

I nodded, attempting to speak, but nothing came out. Sister's expression was empty now, it seemed quite worried?

Opening my mouth yielded nothing but sounds that weren't legible. As if there weren't words I could speak anymore. Her eyes stared into mine. Big sister started speaking again.

"Can you hear me? Understand what I'm saying? Lil' sis?", her hands wrapped around my face. It felt warm. An uncanny warmth, to me at least. It was something I hadn't felt in forever.

Yes, I can hear you. I can understand you, dear sister. I nodded. But words would not come out of my mouth. Sister instead, after noticing I couldn't - or didn't - speak, took out a block of notes and a pen, handing it to me. I tried to write "thank you, I'm alright", but the letters were messy, jumbled, barely readable. Sister was shocked, to say the least.

"Your.. writing..", she hugged me tight. Well... she's worried. Thank you, big sis.

While we were trying to converse, brother had gone outside the room and made arrangements for mother's death. After finishing up his phone calls, he went to the bedroom again, seeing me sit on the ground with big sister standing wide away, looking at a piece of note, with writing that was extremely child-like. In typical fashion, he darted to her, took the note, asking if it was a last letter from mom; only to realise it wasn't, handing it back to her.

"Who wrote that?", he asked, being the clueless one in the room.

"... sister.", she stammered. He replied, asking her to speak up.

"It was from our sister, after you pushed her. You know...", big sister paused, "she was always meticulous and had neat handwriting..?"

His attitude changed a little, from earlier curiosity to anger.

"What with it? What does that have to do with our sister?"

"Isn't it... weird that she's writing so messy? After you.. pushed her? Maybe.. she's not fine? You over did it.", her voice grew noticeably quieter with each word, not wanting to rouse big brother even more. But he clearly heeded her words, and within seconds, flew off the handle.

"Are you accusing me of turning our sister into a special needs case?"

Yep, that's what he's concerned with. Typical, big bro.

"N-No...", she stammered. He grabbed her collar, but let her go.

"Just let it go. She deserves it. Let's go, the mortician is coming by soon. We have a lot of paperwork to do.", standing in the doorway with sister in hand, he looked back, leaving with a few words.

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"Since she's apparently not able to write or talk anyway, we'll just leave her here. You, little sister, get out of here, and stay out of my sight. You make me feel sick."

With that, he was gone.

Well... what would I even say now? If I could talk, of course. I need a taxi to take me home. There's no beginning to the shock I've experienced today. Yeah, I might be resilient enough to endure big brother's anger, but big sister? She's not. That, she got from mother. Being rather timid and fragile.

I always sought to protect her from big brother, who easily gets caught up in his impulsive anger. So, I chose to take his blame head-on. Even if that meant being the black sheep of the family, it meant that big sister at least was safe.

More or less, at least. She was rather successful career-wise, I heard last she also had a crush at work. Big brother, on the other hand, had a wife, who I didn't get along with either. Spiteful bunch, them both.

If I just... vanish from this house, this family, I could leave them to be a happier family without me.

I should.

"Goodbye, mother, father", the words echoed through the hallway, into her room and beyond. Then, I stepped outside, after getting up in the bedroom and stumbling out of the door. While I took my steps to the porch, I could hear and see in the kitchen, brother and sister talking on the phones, respectively. Big brother glanced at me as if he was going to.. kill me. I guess he would actually, yeah. He was throwing darts at me, figuratively.

Get the hell out of this house, and never come back. That's what he meant, I believe.

I opened the door, hesitated at first, but then turned to step outside, for a hand to grab mine from behind me. In my mind, a voice yelled *shit, shit, shit*, until I turned around to face sister. While on the phone, she darted to the front door and managed to grab me.

She mouthed some words and hugged me. I think what she said was

"I love you sister. I'll contact you later. Stay safe."

Then, she let go. I left. With that, the door fell into lock, and I stood on the front porch of the house I grew up in, that I hated after father's death, and now am scared to set foot into after mother's death.

While I should be entitled to some inheritance - of the house -, I think I'll just forfeit my share to sister, and then leave the family behind. For her sake.

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That evening, I just left the last of my family, basically cutting ties. As it got progressively darker and the sky above me blackened, my footsteps on the sidewalk grew heavier. Yes, as if I was heaving myself along to a place I didn't know. Walking without a goal, simply just to walk, away from that place.

I had obviously rung up a taxi to pick me up after having walked a dozen blocks. Understandably, I just wanted to be home and to cry myself to sleep. Perhaps I could have just... no, nevermind.

Cars continued to drive by as I was leaning against a wall near the spot the cab driver was supposed to pick me up. It's been a few minutes since he was supposed to arrive, so I checked my phone. One car pulled onto the street, but the light blinded me, and so I didn't see who was inside - if anyone, or what car it was.

For what it's worth, it could have been a ghost driver, not a taxi. I was too tired and exhausted, thus I moved to stand at the sidewalk. An eerie feeling befell me as the car didn't slow down - it even seemed to accelerate? That's weird.

Maybe it was just a random person, I went back to the wall I leant against.

Suddenly, the car started swerving onto the sidewalk.

In my direction.

Huh? The light wasn't blinding me anymore. An inexplicable THUMP could be heard.

I saw who was inside the car, huh. Of course it's you.

You.

There, that night, I collapsed on the hood of his car.

"W-Why.. big brother?", I muttered, with the last of my energy, spitting blood.

Big brother ran me into the wall. No chance I'll survive this? I thought so.

Though I didn't think he'd go this far... apparently looks can deceive.

My eyes grew heavy as I drew my breaths. They were ragged, I was bleeding heavily. My entire torso was crushed, that's to be expected.

"I.. hope you're.. happy."

I look to the side. He is standing there, eyes wide, just staring. Must have gotten out the car.. when I closed my eyes.

"N..No emotion, huh? You disgust me", I snickered with pained expression, seeing his contorted face of shock and horror. Thankfully, it was over. He freed me from my suffering.

I closed my eyes again, but they never opened.

White washed over me. I felt a calming sense of comfort surround me, and from one moment to the next, all the pain I felt was gone.

As if I never had a crushed torso and my limbs were fine.

I tried to open my eyes again, and, to my surprise, the place I was in had been nothing but black. Void. Naught.

Duh. I died. Is this limbo? The plane of the afterlife? Do I get reborn, or something?

A voice booms through my head. It feels.. like it's droning out my own. As if it was... an idea instilled.

"Ye who wish to live", it began to speak matter-of-factly, "shall be given chance. Death deals not in absolutes."

I nodded, closed my eyes once more, and loudly proclaimed my wish to live. Again, again, again. Until it's right, until I don't have to run from it all anymore.

"Ye art a curious one, verily.", I just stared into wherever I assumed the voice spoke from. Nothing was there. It was in my head.

Another chord was struck. It spoke, "I must warn thee, kindred spirit."

I tilted my head in response.

"Of course, I cannot send ye off to whence thee came once more, however", it paused as if to wait for another response from me, "thee certainly can be born again in another. See..."

There, this entity began devolving into a rant of how the world it created became one of murder and bloodshed, how humans and their kin destroyed it every chance they got. There was no saving.

".. and so, I must ask. Do ye think of me as crass, a mother like raven, or a caring parental figure?"

I only uttered a single sentence: "The latter."

"Quite short of tongue, ye. But I must express my thanks for answering in kind. And so, I shall recreate the world anew. This I fear is necessary. I hope ye understand."

Again, I am nothing but a mere soul, stuck in this plane of the afterlife. What say do I get in this matter? I wouldn't deny a chance at life anew, of course. That would be mental.

"Thee must be stoked to ask a great lot of questions, given mine existence."

I nodded, but then shook my head, prompting a curious outcry from the entity. I changed my mind.

"Oh, mine manners", it exclaimed, "I am but a humble Goddess, a backwater deity, as it would be called in the world thee came from."

Simply listening, I gently bobbed my head, indicating an understanding nod.

"Mine name, I hope thee use to address mineself, is Enia. Any titles art unnecessary. As it stands, ye art in essence mine a child, among many. Thee experienced hardship of cruel nature, for reasons beyond even mineself."

"Enia.", I spoke out loud. In my head, an audible gesture of surprise could be heard.

"What is the matter, child? I do believe... ye had a name. Yes. Elaine?"

I answered, with timid and soft-spoken voice: "I have a question. Only one."

Holding up a finger, Enia responded, her voice as soothing as a mother's would be, prompting me to go ahead.

"Why am I here, and not someone.. else?", this seemed to shock her. I get that. Everyone else would be elated to have the ability to ask anything of a deity.

"Verily! Mine hunch stands correct. Ye art definitely one of thousand, million, or more. See, thee art the human mineself managed to save at the very last moment."

There, I cut Enia off, appearing shocked. I asked her to elaborate, pleading.

"Oh, did ye forget already? Mine creation has been recreated. It is undergoing metamorphosis as we speak, see?"

A snap of a finger changed my surroundings, where I now found myself floating in space.

"Ye art a child of mine, thus worthy of trust. Do thee care to listen to mine story?"

A firm nod. One table and two chairs appeared, a lady that had my sister's appearance manifested.

"Is that you.. big sister?"

Enia gasped, then stumbled over her words: "Mine apologies! Is it fine for mineself to assume this form? It was simply one of a human thee trust most."

I see. You're benevolent and considerate.

"Many thanks, Elaine."

The voice I just heard made my eyes water. She sounds.. just like my sister. It's fine. I can do this.

Sitting down across Enia, I opted to listen to her story, all the while, in the background, the universe was forming. Watching from the side of my eye made this curious.

Yeah, I couldn't help my scientific curiousity, you know?! I was at university exactly because of this!

Enough. Back to Enia's story. It was quite interesting. Apparently, Gods can create and recreate realms as they see fit. They have taboos - those, that, if broken, lead to Gods being punished and banished into another dimension of their world, deprived of eyes and sense of touch and hearing, their powers as well.

It sounds horrible, actually. Checks out, everywhere you go, cruelty is a thing. As if you could never escape it.

Though... I do notice something concerning... there's a red "black hole"? Though my concern couldn't last long on my mind.

"Unfortunately, while our conversation has been thoroughly enjoyed by mineself", Enia spoke up, "the recreation is over. Along with it, our lovely tea ceremony shall come to an end."

She pulled me back to the moment, the red rift disappeared from my mind.

"Thank you, Enia.", I thanked her a lot, allowing me to see my sister one last time before I am reborn, "Will I just be reborn into another life on earth?"

Enia nodded, arms crossed, and said: "Why, yes. It is the spitting image of your home world. Mineself enjoys great renown among deities for mine immaculate crafting of worlds. I pray thee enjoy a life of riches and love. One last thing: memories of thee are sealed."

To that, I could only nod. It is understandable.

"Though, mine greatness can allow one exception to this rule. Ye can recover them at a certain age."

"Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Suppose.. it's time to go?"

"Farewell, Elaine."

"Farewell, Enia."

She only clapped, then my surroundings faded into pure white.

Am I being reborn already..?

A kind giggle could be heard. And then a gasp, shock, screaming...

What..?

My surprise was short-lived. With the rebirth already undergoing, everything faded to black.