Page 63 of Eyes Like Angel (Eyes Like Angel #1)

I practically snorted, letting out a soft chuckle. “Don’t worry, sweet angel. I’ll read it for you,” I said to her, pressing my lips onto her forehead, as I delivered it aloud:

Heroes are the villains in a monster’s story.

But sometimes nature of evil is born.

Life must deal evil with evil.

“Evil with evil,” she repeated, tracing her scar-burnt hands on my skin, sent a tingle down my spine. “Why must fight evil with evil? Is there a particular context?”

She assumed it’s a famous quote from the novels or a show, particularly she’s been missing out on, or been deprived on.

Oh, my darling, beloved angel. Eva still has so much to learn.

“Sometimes being good wasn’t the best option.

People can be…unpredictable and cruel. Things that transpired in our lives, within every ticking hour, are often the most hurtful.

Some people said it’s a lesson, while others said it’s a punishment, and a few said the punishments we earned are well-deserved because we ‘asked for it’.

I knew a fine line extensively distinct between personal hurt and lesson.

Kindness can hurt, like a finger is unknown to be flamed by fire.

Why be so gracious about it, and use it as a weapon?

If people gossip about a certain someone, and that said certain someone gives them the same mistreatment.

But often times, we’re the evil ones, and those who expected us to be more mature and refined, are those who masked and basked themselves in victimhood.

The game gets boring, running in circles.

Why waste being kind when we can do so much more capability? ”

“It doesn’t feel right,” she murmured, snuggling against my pillow.

My gaze softened at her words, her embrace. “Maybe, but sometimes in life it’s worth risking on being evil. The cycle will never end if we keep being kind to the people who wronged us.”

“Still,” she resumed, brushing my muscled arm with her fingertips, “it feels wrong. Jesus Christ sacrificed himself to save us, and pay him back in kindness. The evil in this world will be temporary, and the goodness always prevails.”

As I bit my tongue from the words I didn’t wish to dispute or justify, I nestled myself deeper into her touch.

“Maybe, but sometimes…we have to sacrifice the good in ourselves in order to win and survive. The only time we show our goodness is when someone gives us the attention we need, and it’s rare, like a diamond in a rough.

Or a priceless jewel buried deep in the sea. ”

“I have God,” she justified while playing with the bracelet I gifted her.

I lifted her right hand up and peppered it with my kisses.

She took a deep intake of breath.

“And I have you. I can’t risk this, Eva.” My fingers combed through her silken locks, her brownish-black hair. “Sometimes the goodness in me was dying, as if wanting a life support or a safety net to secure the danger nearing me.”

“But I’m here,” she objected in a softest tone. “I’m here for you, too.”

My heartbeat swelled at that. Her words consumed me, heart and soul, if I ever had one. But with her, it felt she brought the light back.

I cupped her back head, wrapping her thinly frame with my other arm, shifting her position closer to me. “My darling angel, stay close to me.”

In a few heart beats later, she said, resting deeper against my chest, hearing my heart rhythm like admiring like music.

“I will,” I made a soft reply, as my fingers tangling in between the golden chains she had on her wrist, wondering if she knew it was me who dropped it off at her dark attic.

However, due to my incredible skill on discreet, maybe she didn’t.

***

After Eva and I shared our moments, we soon separated by the time Bjorn came home.

I had to let her go, as much as I object to her departure.

In a new day, she did her usual religious tasks, knocking door-to-door and spread the gospel, as I was in a mystified daydream, wanting her to return back into my arms and sleep—protected and cared for.

My soul was dying, and I needed my lips to hers again, collided into one.

On Friday, she went over my household and had the area spotless in a short time. I didn’t let her do all the work, so I helped her, to ease a difficulty lifted off of her shoulders.

My mind wandered back at her scars on her whole hands, wondering how it transpired.

Did she accidentally burnt herself while she was cooking a meal?

Come to think of it, the times whenever she used the kitchen is when she either washes the plates and the trays at the Rivers Foundations, not once she used cooking utensils at my place, either, or gets near to the stove.

As for her backside, when we showered, she hissed, like her wounds sting still, old and new.

Dried red blotches on her skin had my skin crawl.

I’ve never seen her limbs, her flesh inflicted so much.

Some scars on her back healed on its own, others were unfortunate, scar after scar.

And so, I helped her by applying a strong antibiotic ointment I snatched at a mirror cabinet inside my bathroom, applying on a swollen area.

I’ve also applied Aloe Vera gel on her old burnt scars to moisten up, to let it heal on its own and cool off.

In great fear, Eva protested to have her gloves on at all times, but I insisted it wouldn’t anytime soon if she let it hidden inside. Skin needed air like lungs needed air.

“But, aren’t you ashamed you’re with me, seeing me like this?” she mumbled, her face turned back.

Instead of me answering, my heart dwelled in sadness, not because of being with her, she’s afraid someone might judge her if she unveil herself.

But I’m the only person who could see this—her marks, her agony, her suffering behind her emerald eyes.

My beautiful Jade.

My beautiful and beloved Jade.

In my eyes, we’re both outsiders.

The outsiders among the locals, and I don’t mind.

She hissed again, smearing the ointment her back after we took a shower together and had her clothes and velvet gloves tossed inside a washing machine.

Having her position faced me, I kissed her back.

It got her attention, hearing an intake of breath, shifting in her seat.

As her extended, to push herself away, I kissed her knuckles, her back hand, then the golden bracelet she wore; colorful gemstones glimmered, as I had my other hand grip on her hip, squeezing her ever so lovingly.

My eyes met hers, her face flushed in deep crimson, her body tucked in, but I had her stay where she used to be in, unafraid and vulnerability written on her face, progressed to a coy blossomed on her cheeks and averting hues.

Her eyes glimmered like gemstones, like I wanted a piece of her to myself, to be longed and treasured for.

Tucking a lose strand behind her ear, I told her the words she needed for a moment, at least this moment, kissing her cheeks, nose, eyelids and lips, to remind myself everything I do, and everything she feels are real.

“I’m not,” I finally answered her. “I’m not ashamed of you, of being here with you. No matter how your form was or what condition you’re in,” I stroke her dampened chin with my thumb, then her teary lashes, “I’ll always cherish you. For you, I’ll do anything.”

***

Three Days Later

At night, I haven’t seen Eva since the last day at Rivers Foundations. She promised yesterday that she’d meet up with me.

Fumbling through my pockets, I grabbed my phone and texted Marceline, assuming Eva’s with her, doing girlish hobbies and watch chick-flick movies at their spare time.

ME : Have you seen Eva?

MARCY : No, I haven’t. I was too busy cleaning up with the bakery shop at a closing hour. Why did something happen?

ME : I was wondering. I haven’t seen her in days.

MARCY : Maybe she’s at the Divine Miracles Church.

ME : typing…

ME : Maybe. I’ll try to see.

MARCY : Just let me know if something’s up.

Then I tucked my phone back in, wondering where the fuck could she be.

***

Around a dark hour, I snuck back inside the towering church and through a stained glass, I inspected if Eva was asleep.

She wasn’t there lying down on a wooden floor, and shot a panic straight through my buzzing head.

Where the fuck is she? I used to check on her each time she sleeps at night—every night before I drove back home and fell asleep.

Paranoia seeped farther, deeper, and it left a huge wreck, my mind wrangled and strangled into an unconscious mess, a place where I could no longer think and thought of a solid plan.

My fist pounded on a wooden wall.

“Fuck,” I hissed, and climbed back outside.

In my spare car, I roamed around town. Thankfully no one felt disrupted at my driving. If it were a sports car, I turned the engine louder.

But those unimaginable scenarios halted when Marceline called me.

MARCY : Did you find her?

ME : Is she with you this time? Are you with her at Aaron’s place for tonight?

MARCY : I’m not at Aaron’s place with her, and if you were to ask if I’m having a sleepover with him, it’s a no. Sorry, Adrian.

ME : Where the hell could she be? This is not like her. She wouldn’t take off elsewhere.

MARCY : Did you check if she’s at the church? She’s always there or by the bench to feed the birds. Sometimes she’s there at the group bible study, cleaning up artifacts and statues at the hall.

ME : No luck. But I’ll keep on looking for her.

MARCY : She might not be far.

ME : Try to contact Aaron, just to make sure.

MARCY : Okay.

I stuffed my phone in the pocket again and steered the car wheel, my concentration lessened, as my eyes motioned left and right, searching a figure strolling by the block, but none gave a sign.

Passing by the street name ‘Heavenly Avenue’, a bright object glinted at the concrete.

My right shoe stepped on the gas break as the sudden stop lunged me forward before unbuckling my belt.

From afar, the golden chain with colorful gemstones glinted under the moonlight. I recognized that bracelet.

It belonged to her—to Eva.

I gave that bracelet to her after the Rivers Foundation was over and done, snuck my way in a dark attic to make it as a surprise gift, hence why Mom and Dad headed out for a long vacation. Hard work granted a repayment, and excitement couldn’t contain me I snuck in—a habit.

Where could she have gone?

My mind clicked at a new idea. To my luck, my phone beeped in several rings, and clicked the screen on and the app sent a notification on the lock screen.

Unlocking the passcode, the app lead me straightaway at the map, and the red dot flickered, immediately pin-pointed in the middle of the forest of Fort Heaven, knowing my brawn and brains, and Saul’s inventory had come in handy on installing an app on Eva’s cross.

One thought raced in me.

Only one that mattered, as my mind formed in three words.

I found you.

I found you, at last.