It was another dream of mystery. This was another thought of enchantment that I would or would not remember as soon as I woke up.

I was surrounded by tall and thick trees. The breeze was cold yet the sun provided enough heat to tone the cold gusts. I was hiding behind a thick tree trunk that was three times my width. I seemed to be eager to catch a glimpse of something yet at the same time I was afraid to be caught. I peeked from behind my hiding place, seeing a man and a woman with no clothing. They were talking happily with no malice in their eyes.

The woman was beautiful and dainty while the man was very fit and a bit hairy from the torso and down to the south. They were perfect physical representations of the body of a man and a woman. They had no flaws in their features. The two walked hand-in-hand, not worrying if they were to be attacked by wolves or bears.

"Adam, let's pick some fruits," the woman said.

Adam and Eve? It must be a coincidence. It couldn't possibly be them. Eve had fallen for Lucifer's lies, taking home the forbidden fruit and making Adam take a bite. They both gained knowledge and wisdom, realizing their nudeness and becoming embarrassed over it. Because of that fruit, they had gained the sense of right and wrong thus they acquired the ability to sin.

My wings fluttered behind me, soaring up to the orange tinted skies and feeling remorseful yet excited to come back.

"Keetan!"

I was woken up by the fussing of Samantha over me. "What happened?! Oh my God I'm going to drown them in holy water and scrub their skin off with a cross once I find out who hurt you!"

I tried to open my eyes but little monkeys seem to hang on my lids preventing me from doing so. I snuggled at the warmth of the hard wall of muscle cuddling me to his chest. I was too sidetracked with the person holding me to even bother entertaining Samantha or to even worry about what she was worrying about.

"I will explain later. I don't mind carrying Keetan all day but I know that Keetan very much minds it. Let me put him to bed. I tended to some of his wounds and his condition is stable so do not worry."

Every word he said vibrated on his chest. I was carried upstairs and was placed in my bed. Little by little with the aid of time, I realized what happened to me. Tears welled up behind my lids. Mister Wall pulled the covers over my body. My forehead had tingled from the sensation of his lips.

I must keep my distance from him. He was making me feel things that shouldn't be. He was dangerous. His kindness was causing me to sin yet hidden behind those kind eyes was a man who should not be provoked. He was close to breaking my parents' necks if I didn't intervene.

"When you prayed to your Lord I was the one to help you. I will be the rival of anyone or anything when it comes to your heart even if my enemy is the God of creation Himself," he whispered. His breath tickled my forehead. Did he know that I was no longer asleep?

Mister Wall's presence lingered for a while until he left, leaving me in puzzlement. I finally opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling in deep thought. How was I going to handle this? I couldn't just ignore Mister Wall; he was Derek's boss and my English teacher.

What he said about being the rival of my Lord...I don't think he had a chance. He may have taken half of my heart by some miracle but he had not conquered my faith. He was a powerless man. I must not let a mere man destroy my faith that had developed over the years. I must not be part of an act of sodomy. I did not condemn homosexuals but accepting myself to be one and acting it out was like surrendering to the devil's wishes.

I want to be saved from this world. I did wish to suffer in hell. I have already suffered enough here and being thrown in hell for making love with another man was not my wish. I want to be by the side of my Lord. I want Him to take away all my emotions and make me sing holy songs that praise His holy name. I want to forget every bad thing that happened in my mortal body. I want to forget the abuse of my parents and their unloving nature.

I just want to erase everything. I rather be empty than be filled with hatred and anger.

"I will not be weak..."

"I will not be a part of homosexual acts..."

"I will serve Him until my last breath..."

"I will be saved..."

Would I be able to do it?

I repeated these promises over and over again but the image of Mister Wall only made those words feel wrong to chant.

I ran my hand through my hair, swallowing the soreness in my throat. "What do you want me to do?"I breathlessly asked as I looked at my ceiling like answers from my Lord would suddenly appear. "Why are you giving me impossible challenges, Father?"

I could only rely on God in the midst of my suffering and loneliness. How could I let him down over transgressions that were avoidable from the start? As long as I had this power, I still had this favor. How could I make it up to Him?

Warm and salty tears soaked my pillow.The murmurs downstairs made me sleepy instead of curious. The next morning, the highest peak of Kennedy's snore poked the Zs I had. I sluggishly rose from my bed after praying and noticed the chocolate bar placed beside my pillow. I picked it up, reading the paper that was attached to the wrapper.

"You are as sweet as this chocolate but at the same time you are as bitter because of the ones around you. Stop lying to yourself."

I repeatedly read the message, feeling the words get heavier each time my eyes passed the words. I broke a piece from the bar and put it in my mouth; the combined sweetness and bitterness melted on my tongue.

There was still soreness in my body but it wasn't as bad as I expected. I descended downstairs with the chocolate in hand after I washed my face and healed my other wounds. I was greeted by the worried Derek and Samantha.

"Are you alright son?" Derek questioned.

I let out a shaky and forced smile. smile before saying: "Yes."

Samantha placed her chin on my shoulder as she gently engulfed me in a hug. "You're not, aren't you? Don't lie Keetan. You're barely holding on."

I bit my bottom lip, shaking my head. "I know I'm not okay but I want to be. I don't want to cry anymore..." I broke at the last word and covered my tearing eyes. Samantha quickly stroked my back and cupped my cheek.

"Oh honey..."

Derek wrapped Samantha and I in his arms.

"There will be many points in life where you'll need to cry, son. It's the result of being so strong for so long. Crying is your resting phase. It's when you can drain all the pain and agony that fill you. If you don't cry and you continue to absorb the pain in this world, the negative things that fill you will break you down from inside."

"You aren't alone okay baby boy? We're family now. Consider Derek and I as your parents," Sam cooed. "You can call us mom and dad if you like."

I wiped my tears, giving them a smile enforced with gratitude. "Would that be okay with Kennedy?"

"I'm sure it's okay with him. Kennedy adores you. You're like a brother to him."

Derek ruffled my hair and Samantha gave me another warm hug. A knock on the door destroyed our sentimental moment. Samantha helped me clean my face while Derek answered the door.

"Ah, mayor!" Derek voiced out.

"Howdy, I was informed that Mister and Mrs. Halo's son is staying here. Can I talk to him?"

Derek let the mayor in and I shyly greeted him. I still had some tears in my eyes so I avoided looking at the Mayor. He was a tall man with the typical white colored skin with some redness in the cheeks. Kennedy just got down from his room to greet the mayor in his Kennedy way.

"Hi old man! How are the taxes we're paying? I heard you bought a new car!"

"Kennedy!" Samantha and Derek stressed. The mayor awkwardly let out a chuckle but his reddening face and the look in his eyes expressed how he wanted to physically assault him. Samantha hauled the whining Kennedy to the kitchen while Derek sat on the couch in the living room.

"What a funny kid. So uh, Keetan, have you seen your parents? We were supposed to have a meeting today but they didn't show up," he told me.

I didn't know where they were after they beat me up. I didn't even remember much from last night but maybe Mister Wall knew. "I'm sorry sir, I don't have news about them."

The mayor frowned. "Is that so? Well then, if you happen to bump into them, tell them to pay the money they owe me."

Derek got up from the couch to closely listen to our conversation.

Money?

"They owe you money?" I questioned.

"$300, 000" he replied with crossed arms.

"I can't believe you stole that much money from taxes," I slipped up as I was thinking about my parents' problems. Derek secretly elbowed me gently and cleared his throat.

"Well Mister Mayor, we'll call you if ever we meet Keetan's parents."

Derek escorted Mister Mayor out of the house before sighing. "Kennedy has influenced you for the worse."

I cocked my head to the side in confusion. "What did I say?"

Derek chuckled. "Nothing."

I suddenly remembered about Mister Wall having a conversation with Derek and Sam last night. Maybe he told them where my parents were. "Derek, what did Mister Wall tell you last night?"

Derek looked unhappy and very much annoyed. "He told us what your parents did to you."

"Did he tell you what happened to my parents?"

Derek tried to recall their conversation. "No...I don't think he told us. We were all tired last night. He brought you to us at two in the morning."

Two in the morning? Why did he bring me in at such a late time? What happened to Ethan?

I squeezed my brain to bring out the juices of the events last night. Mister Wall nearly choked the life out of them and if I didn't stop him, I could have been tending to their funeral. Samael was also there. Mister Wall told him to...take care of them when the older man lifted me up. Maybe the maids knew but I assume the mayor passed by the house. Why didn't the maids tell them about Mister Wall?

I told Derek that I'll pass by the mansion to ask something. He was reluctant for me to go since he feared that I had been traumatized but I assured him that I wasn't. Derek escorted me to the mansion by car even though it was near and I entered. The maids were cleaning and when they saw me, they greeted me happily.

"Ah, Sir Keetan, you're back!" I recalled that she was the maid that greeted me last night.

"Where are my parents?" I asked them.

The maids looked at each other before one of them said:

"We don't know sir."

"What did the guy do to them after I left with another man?"

Derek came up from behind me and the maids looked at me in confusion. "Did you drop by last night sir? We don't remember."

I released an annoyed huff. Were they playing with me? I just visited last night!

"And we don't remember any men from last night sir."

They appeared very bewildered. They were telling the truth even if it didn't make sense at all. Derek placed a hand over my shoulder in comfort.

"Let's go Keetan, the maids must be taught not to reveal any information. I'll talk with Mister Hellion."

Not to reveal any information? That sounded very political.

"No..let me talk to him."

There was seriously something wrong here. What in the world was I dealing with?