Before I begin the next chapter, I apologize for the long delay. Ever since school started it has been sapping my time, my energy, and my creativity. As a result, I've been unable to really write anything longer than a review. Hopefully Labor Day will lighten up for me.
Kyrie Eleison
"The constant downpour that started five days ago in Angeles Bay shows no signs of abating, baffling scientists with its sheer volume of rain and localized area of rainfall. In other news, the killer of nurse Angela Thompson was found dead yesterday in an alley. Although he was wounded by a bullet shortly after killing her, he is believed to have died from cyanide poisoning—"
Derek turned the TV off.
Rubbing his eyes but unable to rub off his weariness, he collapsed back onto his pillow. For five agonizing days now, every waking moment became a reminder of Angie. He couldn't even look at the food he was given without remembering whether Angie would like it or not, although he was also discouraged by its sheer unappetizingness. Compounded by his fatigue and general malaise, Derek felt more dead than alive. Only the fact that he would be able to see Angie one last day at her wake two days from now gave him slight solace.
His other tethers to life came into his room. Leslie and Tyler strode in, carrying a very large sack.
"Mail time, Derek!" Leslie said in her usually cheery tone. She was very good at masking her sadness. One had to search very deep to find that extinguished, melancholy part of her in her eyes.
Heaving with Tyler, she deposited the giant sack of letters onto Derek's bed, watching his somewhat shocked expression.
"W—Wow. That's a lot of letters."
"Well, take your time reading them. We've got some stuff to do. See you later!"
They left, leaving Derek with the sack full of letters in his lap. He reached in and took one, opening the envelope slowly and reading the flowing handwriting.
Dear Dr. Stiles,
I saw on the news about the death of your nurse Angie, and I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for what happened. I remember when she and you visited me after killing the GUILT in my body, I could tell that you two really loved each other. I remembered hearing a rumor when I was at Delphi that Angie was actually Blackwell's daughter, and I think it's true now. I don't know if that means I should hate her, and I don't wish I did. I wished I had someone who could stand up for me like her dad, and you guys helped me so much. I don't know whether you'll read this, but if you do, I hope I helped to pay my debt to you and comfort you.
Feel better now,
Emily Johnson
PS: I also sent my most prized possession along with this letter. Never lose faith! I just know something will happen.
Most prized possession? Derek shook the envelope, and a silver necklace fell out. There was a crucifix on the gleaming chain, just two simple bars molded into one another perpendicularly.
Although his mother was a devout Catholic, Derek had never quite grasped religion as strongly as she did. He had only gone to mass a few times, and half way through he had fallen asleep. His inner demons tore at him again.
How can God exist? He took her away!
"No…"
You know it to be true.
"It…can't…be…"
Another voice, another ghost came to haunt him. It taunted him with a tone that cut to the core of his heart.
Foolish mortal…how could you think she could actually be saved?
"Him again…"
There is no hope…
"Stop!" Derek shouted, snapping out of his daze. A headache violently pounded his temples as he clutched his face, trying to block out the pain he had suppressed. Then, the weight of his demons disappeared as suddenly as they had appeared. His migraine throbbed and was gone. His mind was filled with a single message, two words he remembered from the masses he had gone to. Derek had no doubt who had sent it to him, the benevolent being that always stopped whatever they did to rescue Derek from the clutches of evil.
Kyrie eleison.
But what does it mean?
Clutching the cross, he repeated it over and over in his numbed mind. The world started to darken and fade, but the words remained.
Leslie walked into the room to see the sack still on Derek's lap, his glasses askew, still holding onto a silver cross. Hauling the bag off him, she pulled him down into a lying position, tucking him into the bed. She stopped to look at him: a shell of his former self, a man who had the Healing Touch but at the same time had not been touched by a healing hand. She sighed, turning to check on the next patient:
"Lord, have mercy."
Bonus point time: The name "Emily Johnson" is actually a reference to another character in UTK2, which should be fairly obvious if you've played the game. Since this story takes place after that game, I ran upon some snags when using cameos.
UPDATE (8/12/2010)
