*click* *click* *click* Fingers lazily moved across the keyboard as the other hand aimed at another mob on the map. Despite playing shooter each move Solomon did was slow and casual. A moment later he died, again.
An obese man leaned yawning profoundly. His massive body overflowed into a massive chair filling it to the brim, testing his clothes endurance once again.
That's for today regarding gaming, he had enough for now. It's time to find something to watch. It was a long time since he watched criminal stuff, maybe it's a good idea to look for some classic like Sherlock Holmes. Solomon yawned profoundly. Well, now he had a plan for the next few days.
With a grunt, he reached a mouse and keyboard again, but something popped up in the corner of the screen. Intrigued he moved cursor to check it. He had downloaded some app to mark an important event if there were to be by miracle or curse, but not mentioning reminders to pay for the electricity it was very rare he scribed something in it.
He clicked it and one phrase appeared "Mother's funeral."... Well shit, he forgot about it. He got a call a few days ago from the hospital. Apparently, a heart attack finally gets her.
" It was only a matter of time given she smoked like a dragon and drunk more than a Russian soldier."
Solomon took a short look around. The floor was flooded by a sea of trash consisting of packaging after fast food and bottles of energy drinks. The table he had his stuff on was so sticky, small insects that happened to fly on it would not move ever again. Not to mention the rest furniture which was so dirty you couldn't say what their original color was. Still, at least he is aware of his imminent demise, not ignorant like her.
He checked the time hoping at least this time he has some time in advance. Punctuality wasn't his strong point. Fortunately, he had still about 2 hours until the afternoon, so slowly he stood up and began preparing.
First, he should clean himself up. While he couldn't smell anything wrong with him, looks he received whenever someone come to bring the food he ordered, subtly indicated he was in real need of a long shower.
Wading through trash he reached to the bathroom and immediately retreated. Okay, sooner he would get there dirty than clean. He went to the kitchen full of dirty dishes to come back with big guns.
Holding breath he barged in and began to spray everything, especially the sink and bath with cleaners and sewer laxatives. Even the strongest fungus won't stand a chance against base and acid capable of burning through the skin.
Awaiting for cleaners to take effect he went to the somewhat cleaner corner of his bedroom where few carton boxes were put under some foil. Rarely he had to go out, usually to pay for something and as a sane being, he was aware it's not a good idea to go as he was.
At best he would have to deal with annoying people, at worst he would not be serviced resulting in another walk. Therefore he had these few garments he tried to keep for these occasions in at least passing state.
Solomon took off the foil and search for anything suitable for something more official. In most boxes he found the same what he had on himself, only a bit cleaner and not very official. He looked further into the biggest box, where under the layer of old, definitely too small jeans he finally found what he looked for.
His old official outfit from times when he was a university student in spite of all these years that passed was in pretty nice shape. For sure it's not that fitting like in the old days but... it should suffice.
A strong smell of chlorine and other chemicals has already reached his nostrils. It was time to wash out all those nasty things that have gathered. He put the suit on a bed, picked a big mug along the way, and entered the bathroom.
Having in mind he had less than two hours he poured water in and out to clean it up then to wash off the melted fifth. It took him a few minutes and liters of water, but the sink and bath finally were usable. Theoretically, he could use some cloth but that would require having a clean one, besides it was less tiring this way.
Solomon washed with what was left of soap as he could and stepped out. He found himself in front of a broken mirror hanging over the sink. With unknown powers, Solomon was capable of turning the face of a guy in the late twenties into five decades-old mask.
He should probably do something with the beard but no way he would risk getting tetanus from a rusty razor. Just as well he can say he has it on purpose.
Solomon let himself dry a bit more, and went back to the bedroom to dress up. Prepared he went out of his small apartment and at a slow pace walked towards a nearby bus stop.
While on the way, lucky for him nothing happened. Then the moment he reached the destination bus arrived, exactly the one he would wait for.
" If they actually cancel the whole thing I might believe it's my lucky day." But it wasn't and a moment's later he could see a small stream of people pouring to a local church.
He tried to blend in, to avoid any interaction and pain coming with it. Even then he could see that witch called his sister, tall "hot" blonde jumping from person to person just few steps in front of the churche's doors. Oh, she grieved so much he was full of few meters away. Probably that's why she had cementaries worth of dead furry animals on her self, to fit the situation. The moment Solomon crossed the treshold he could swear her gaze pinning into his back. He entered her temporal lair.
Solomon couldn't recognize most people around, a result of his isolation which prevented any contact with the rest of the family, surely for better. Still, he had to almost duck into a corner to avoid direct contact with the rest family of sweet sister. The tall chad type of a guy with a sad face, the one and the original inspiration for female wattpad writers , and a pair of children so similiar to sis Solomon could swear he live in Star Wars universe but reptilians such as his mother keep the truth from the public. Praise the sun they were busy dealing with some people. The last thing needed during this whole ordeal was uncomfortable exchange of greetings.
Nonetheless, he was pretty impressed by seeing how many people came. Even before he left the ruin called household mother was in pretty bad shape, at war with most kin so it had to be his "dear" older sister doing.
Solomon took the strategic position at the back, on the bench next to the supporting pillar. From there he could see everything and be invisible to most.
There was no priest in sight so Solomon took his time to looked around. There was a time in the past when he attended regularly but then he became independent and no one could order him around thus he ceased.
Now the view turned fresh again, especially with a contrast of his own domain. As Solomon wondered what money had to go on the project to end up like this the voices in the background shushed and the ceremony began.
Solomon acted as if he cared, looking and nodding from time to time, awaiting the end. The mood made it part and step after step he was closer to fall asleep, but then something pierced his ears.
He almost jumped from shock. Fortunately, he regained composure in time, so no one stared at him. Solomon raised head to track source of sound and to his surprise it came from the phone of some guy who happened to sit in the same row on the right. How he managed to sit there without alarming Solomon's keen anti socializing senses will remain a mystery.
It was a man, typical to the pain. Not very tall, not to short just right in the middle. His face seemed normal too. Just a normal typical guy. Similiar with his garments, neat yet not eye-catching. No special sighs, no any distinct features... just something bizarrely normal. At least if his activity were to be omitted.
He just spread there taking somehow more space than Solomon and watched Minecraft on phone... without any headphones or anything... on full sound. Strangely enough this didn't catch anyone's attention. People were still listening to the priest silently who didn't even pay any glance towards the source of the sound. Solomon watched everyone carefully for a few minutes and no one even looked back.
Was he some kind of family retard who everyone besides him happens to know about and ignore. No impossible. Sweet sister would tear apart freaking Jesus right now if he came to say dear mum somehow ended in paradise.
Solomon feelt a slight urge to reprimand guy, he had his right to sleep as that guy to watch square tiddies, but in the end, it felt a bit of hypocritical so he gave up.
Time went by in a strange harmony of weird sounds and now it was the time to make the last goodbye to mother as she is eaten by worms. Solomon followed on the back, observing the beautiful coffin and surroundings. Rain clouds were blown away leaving beautiful rainbow gleaming in a gentle sunshine. He had to admit it was pretty amazing, good enough to make him consider going buy games personally instead of through internet, albeit only for a while.
From contemplation, he was drawn out this time by a weird tone coming from behind. Yup, that guy for reasons unknown had to choose spot exactly next to him, since as science proves positive cations and negative anions make one so reason and bullshit have to collide too.
It was long since Solomon felt the urge to punch somebody, yet the situation was so absurd he began to think perhaps this guy was here to make him go away and everyone was okay with it. Somewhat it was a bit painful, but fine he will put up with this.
People gathered around a hole, wherewith efforts of several strong men, the coffin was finally put in. Then classic from ashes you came to ashes you return and slowly piece of fine art was buried beneath the thick veil of the earth to rot. Some sobbed, others cried. Slowly crowd scattered in a small group to go on the farewell banquet, about which he conveniently wasn't informed about.
Now was his time to come over.
"Here lies Margaret Smith, a woman of great spirit who always brought help to those who needed it." read on the tombstone. Well, there was truth to that. Solomon doubted that without here he would end up like that. A kinda good deed.
"So, hey long time no see. We weren't on good terms when we have seen each other last time, but I never thought you can actually die. In a way, you were always present for better or worse. Well, that's our goodbye, I will never say I love you but I hope you find peace somewhere...bye."
He turned to go away and came face to face with blond hair.
"Uhm, hey Lily" was all Solomon could utter
"We have to talk." Her voice was steel cold. With no explanation she dragged him on the side.
"How dare you come here after all of this." Lily was visibly shaking as the words were coming from her tightly clenched lips.
"Well, I was informed." Solomon already prepared mentally for the shit that was to unveil. Some guests noticed the whole thing and now looked with confusion.
"That was a courtesy, and I already let you come on ceremony. How did you get balls to come in front of her when you had none all these years." She tried to be quiet but her tone was louder with each word. They already caused a commotion. Chad went with clones to pries pointing at him. This time Solomon was fully on the team security side, but something in Lily's words made him forfeit his retreat plan.
"Oh, seriously! Wasn't I perhaps too much present in a dozen. I was everywhere around here. Do this, do that, as if my sole purpose was to be around her.
"How dare you." Lily managed to chip in. but Solomon wasn't finished.
"I was a fucking servant, not a family and you participate in that eagerly! Did you forgot from whom work and money made by unplugging shitted toilets you get everything! All you had was to get a good education and job while having anything you want when I get fucking cotton plantations flashbacks to these days." He stooped to catch a breatch. He could not found any trace of emotion on sister's face. As expected. She lived with him so long she grew blind to it.
"and still besides dealing with the house and having a job I had to get to the college and become a doctor as our dear mother said ! I had nothing my own, NOTHING before I escaped " Telling all of this made him feel better as if a heavy burden was cast out of his back. However there was no coming back as Lily began literally fuming.
"Oh yes, I see where you lead yourself without her. It's always her fault yes !"
"It was my goddamn choice, FIRST in my life and I'm happy with where I am today. "
"You set your bar so high."
"At least I'm not lying to myself. You really think no one noticed all you give a shit about is your public image!"
*smack* she slapped him across face. A ring on one of her fingers tore into Solomon's face leaving a bloody trail.
"I hope your aware this place is monitored and you action call for legal reactions." Said Solomon while holding his face.
She raised her hand again.
"Damn right he is you devotee bitch!" Someone shouted and the whole place went silent. It was that guy. By some mysterious means, he managed to sneak right next to her and now stared and her. Lily's hand hung up in the air while she was unsure how to handle the new challenger.
"This is a personal matter, you have none to do with his." She came closer to confidently.
"aye, just like your claw has nothing in common with this gentleman's face." He laughed cheerfully ignoring her words and handed a clear handkerchief to grateful Solomon.
Solomon smirked at her, happy as never. In all his life he saw only a few times when her highty and mighty attitude was broken apart.
"Please ladies and gentlemen don't quarrel here." a priest came over trying to quell, but then Lily's Chad came along leaving clones behind.
"You will apologize for insulting my wife." He approached the mysterious man and put a hand on his arm. Lily swiftly came to his side with demanding punishment wailing " Jaaaaaames".
"Insulting? As fas as I remember she managed to insult herself well enough. There was no need to help." The stranger responded in a sweet voice while giving another big smile and as much as the rational side alarmed Solomon it would be the right time to get the hell out of there, he couldn't leave the guy alone.
"You will." muscles bulged and James's hand tore right into stranger's arm. Solomon hoped the priest was typing ambulance number on the phone, but to his surprise stranger had none of it.
"Nice." he gripped James hand causing it to squeak, making him stumble back in shock.
James took a swing with a roar but before his fist connected stranger nimbly evaded and swiftly kicked right in the gut making him fly.
"Jaaammeeess !" Lily ran over to groaning husband with children. Shaking she turned with fury towards the stranger and Solomon.
"I swear you will pay for this in court. I will make sure you be behind bars." She looked towards the priest and others still staring people expecting them to call the police, but before anyone acted a grim laugh echoed throughout cemetery.
"Seriously !? Your so fucking enjoyable to mess around I will tell you in secret that all this shite is only your doing and if someone Mr. Solomon deserves a reparation YOU..DAMN...KAREN" He looked deadly serious, even Samuel got goosebumps.
Then acting like nothing happened Stranger took priest hand between his and burst into tears.
"I'm a sorry holy father, but... I couldn't hold back my desire to punish such people defying this holy place."
"W-what." Poor guy almost jumped in surprise.
"I understand ! I will accept my penance in humility !" Stranger kneeled in mud , hands raised into the sky. Solomon just waited for angels to descend. Now he could accept everything.
"Forgiiiive me, father, for I have siiinned ! My arrogance pushed me to attack these people who DISRESPECT holy place." Weeping and sobbing he hugged the priest, who all that time really hoped for those angels to come and take him as far as possible.
It couldn't be a better moment for police to enter, yet here they were. Two poor bastards with marks of frosting suggesting donut break, stood afar unsure what to do.
After a too long moment of loud sobbing and groans of pain, they decided to start with a priest who had lost faith in salvation already being completely wet from the torso down.
"Did you, mister call police." Asked the younger one while the other wandered around unsure whether he should pull away ''hugger''.
"Uhm yes, there was an ... " Priest tried to put in words the whole case, but each time he uttered a word he corrected himself afterwards to the point when in turned into mumbling. Solomon kept watching this scene with amusement and compassion glad he avoid mess. Only then he realised stranged has been looking at him from between legs for some time, blinking conspiratorially.
Solomon realized it was now up to him to make this play keep going and given Stranger's psychical wellness he wasn't the one to refuse.
He took a deep breath and made his way to visibly uncomfortable officers.
"Excuse me, I think I can explain." He said confidently to the younger one.
"Oh, so please go on," Officer responded with a dose of suspicion but still relieved.
"Soo, this lady" Solomon pointed towards lily who furiously began to deny and accuse Solomon of lying, but the officer silenced her by ordering to stop interfering. This calmed her down but didn't stop from sending glares and talking under her breath.
Officer told Solomon to continue.
"As I said this lady attacked me, see" He showed bloody cheek " but this man" he gestured towards Stranger who as on command started repenting even louder. " came to help and ended up fighting with lady's husband." He didn't need to show who was he mentioning.
"Is that true." Older officer asked
"w-w-eel yes" the priest responded and curled under lily's deadly glare
Ah, now it's clear Older officer began to note something.
"The perpetrator of the whole situation is Lady" he looked at Lily questioningly
"Lily Zorway" she almost spitted out the name
"yes, and you injured Mr. ? "
"Solomon Smith" Solomon responded timidly. For a reason, it wasn't pleasant to self remind himself about surname. Wonder why he didn't change it way back in the past.
Officers went on with questioning the rest of the witnesses who under the pressure of members of law enforcement admitted, although not eagerly that was in fact truth. Lily and James told their own version, completely opposite but so inconsistent they began to argue about the facts in the middle, so officers left them be. They didn't try to question the children seeing they went throught rnought of the stress already.
After seeing the records from the cameras they finally came back to Solomon.
"Do you want to press charges?" One of them asked.
Solomon was more than eager to say yes but someone chipped in.
" I see! I see! Thine will shall be enforced." Stranger let go of the priest and stood up.
"As it is taught, even with such grave disrespect, good believer shall turn the other cheek, not pursue puny vengeance." He looked right into Solomon's eyes's who wondered what's actually going on. Why would he set a scene only to break it all apart? Perhaps it was his purpose since the beginning, but why?
He didn't have time to think more about it as a priest also jumped on the stranger's side.
"It's a a g-good solution mr Solomon. I-I s-daw during mass you acted a-as a devoted Christian, I b-believe the other side went through e-enough harm, b-besides siblings s-shouldn't mark s-such day and place with hostility." He said quickly as if under pressure.
Yup, he definitely didn't want to deal with that guy again.
"No! I won't let you get away ! You destroyed the whole ceremony and injured my husband! I demand justice!
"Yes, I suffe...what ?" James put a hand under shirt trying to find something intensively
"It's... gone !?" He repeated himself frantically.
"What's gone my dear ?" Lily asked while sending glares towards the police
"The-the pain."
"What !? Why !? She began shaking her husband.
" IT'S A HOLY SIGN " Declared stranger in a momentous tone.
"GOD HAD CHOSEN YOU! YES, YOU! TO PERFORM HOLY TASK OF BRINGING PEACE AND LOVE TO THIS REALM. ACCEPT HIS LOVE " He spread his arm's, smiled through tears awaiting.
So- so wh-wh-what is your decision lady" Priest asked again, visibly trembling. Stranger's new form must have had quite an impact on him.
"okay" lily responded looking down
"Could you repeat a bit louder my beloved sister" Okay, Solomon had to admit it felt very good.
"Yes !" She grabbed still groping husband with one hand, traumatized children with the other one and stormed off.
I guess our work is done here, the Older officer was visibly pleased. Fair enough, less dealing with people means more donut time for them.
"I-I-I w-would a-ask you two to l-leave t-too gentlemen." Without answer, priest turned back and ran as fast as he could stumbling across the way.
"Poor guy managed to catch a cold by only peeking outside, what a time to be alive." The stranger let out a short laugh but voice held something more refined and cold this time. He took out an old fashioned phone, checked time, and closed it chuckling. Solomon knew the lid of his coffin just has closed.
"So, it seems your bus will be coming in a moment. Shall we go? "
"Do I have other choices."
" hahahah... no "
"So be it."
Just like this Solomon followed mysterious being into the unknown.