Damian was in no rush for Ivan to answer his questions and tell him about the prophecy because it might seem suspicious.
There was nowhere to sit so Ivan brought three wooden chairs together and placed them like the edges of a triangle for the three of them.
After they sat down there was sudden silence from both sides. Ivan, contrary to how he smiled brightly before was now looking so frightened, switching glances from Damian to Mark.
Mark wondered why he was so frightened all of a sudden and wanted to ask, but before he could Damian spoke.
"How did you know my name and that we were coming?"
Ivan's fright increased by folds as he stared at Damian.
Is he bipolar? If that's the case then it's no wonder why he was titled crazy... Damian could tell, well, because he was a doctor.
"D-D-David." Ivan stuttered.
"You mean David told you we were coming here?" Mark asked.
"Y-Y-Yes."
Damian didn't want to say it but he knew the old man was lying.
"Don't be scared, ok?" Mark said, drawing closer and putting his hand on Ivan's shoulder, then continued, "We're the good guys and we need you to tell us about this apocalypse."
Ivan was still frightened but he gradually relaxed.
Damian and Mark were in no rush so they won't frighten him again and just waited for him to speak.
"T-Twenty years ago, I migrated from Germany to the USA with my wife and my two kids, a boy and a girl. The boy was 14 years old and the girl was just 10. I was watching a piece of aftermath news about 9/11, while my wife was cooking...
"S-She was the most beautiful woman I have ever set my eyes on. Ha! it's so funny because we were devout believers. It all changed that Saturday…" Ivan was already finding it hard to talk. He was filled with so much sorrow and grief.
"Just take it one at a time, ok?" Mark consoled.
"...I called for my wife three times then I heard a loud sound of an explosion and I lost consciousness nearly immediately. I don't know what happened after but I knew I was dead." Ivan then turned his head away from Mark and Damian and just stared into the air.
His fright increased greatly then he stood up and started shouting like a frightened maniac.
"I-I saw things! Things that can't be put in human words! Things that can't be fathomed!"
Ivan sat back on his seat, wrapping his arms around his legs and rocking back and forth.
"There are 12 Phases that represent the 12 Gates of Hell. The earth isn't strong enough to welcome the evilest beings so the phases are slowly adjusting the earth. By the 11th phase… he will come… and the world will end. It will only be filled with blood and hatred."
Ivan fell on the ground and held Mark's leg then looked up to him and screamed, "Just kill yourself! That is the only way to rid yourself of what is to come! Trust me, He's worse than death!"
Damian knew enough about religion from the orphanage and his foster home. He was taught that there was always someone above, watching him, but he never saw its relevance or meaning. For him it was just like western cuisine, it existed but he didn't have any interest in it or even cared about it; so he just had to ask, "What of the O so great and mighty one or ones that half the world believes in?"
Ivan looked at him and he could see the terror that filled Ivan's eyes. What he saw was likely what broke his mind...
"There's good and there's evil... evil brings calamities, pain and suffering... good brings joy, redemption and hope... but what happens when what caused the apocalypse is neither good nor evil?!" Ivan screamed.
Mark was confused, but that type of confusion is caused by fear. People never believe that the worst is to happen or had happened to save themselves from going crazy and giving themselves that last speck of hope that maybe it's all a joke or they're dreaming. This phenomenon in the psychology of human nature is called suspension of disbelief.
Damian on the other hand felt nothing. He knew it was a serious issue but it only piqued his interest. Awaiting doom? He didn't even care.
...Hmm, I must get to the bottom of this before I die.
"So what exactly caused the apocalypse?" Damian had a stern look on his face.
"I-I am not allowed to tell you that."
"Huh? Why?"
"D-Don't come any closer!"
Ivan pressed against the wall and used his hand to gesture Damian away as he kept on repeating what he said.
"Don't come any closer! Don't come any closer!"
Damian didn't see any reason to remain there any longer since Ivan wouldn't tell him what he wanted. Ivan was senile. Although he wanted to know there would be no point in forcing Ivan.
"Mark, let's go."
Damian stood up and left the apartment while Mark was still stuck on his chair.
He slowly stood up.
Ivan rushed to him and held his hand then said, "Watch out for that man. Stop following him if you want to live long because he is not to be reckoned with." Then left Mark's hand.
Mark didn't question Ivan. He just slowly walked out of the apartment.
The old man remained on the ground then murmured to himself, "I did as you asked, so now give me what you promised."
* * *
On their way back to the 4th floor Damian stopped in front of the door of the 6th floor and looked at it.
"What's wrong?" Mark asked worriedly.
Damian just ignored him and continued his journey down the stairs.
Soon after, they got to Damian's apartment.
They pushed the door open and entered only to be met with Stephanie holding a knife at Arthur's neck across the living room.
"What the? Stephanie, what are you trying to do to the kid?!" Mark shouted and wanted to charge at her.
"One more step and I'll slit his throat open!" Stephanie said, making Mark halt.
Damian didn't mind Stephanie and just observed Arthur. He was facing down, just staring into the air as his eyes looked like they had no life.
Damian couldn't sympathise with Arthur but he still sees Arthur as the only person worth protecting.
"How will you kill someone already dead?" Damian walked over to the smallest couch then sat down, relaxing.
"W-What do you mean?"
"Look carefully." Damian pointed at Arthur's face.
Stephanie studied Arthur. At first, she found it weird that he didn't try to retaliate but now as she saw his blank lifeless eyes she understood why.
"I-I don't care! As long as he's breathing I can still kill him!"
"But what if I told you his father got eaten by his mother in front of him." Damian stood up and started walking to Stephanie.
Stephanie was having a mental breakdown. She shouted at Damian to stop where he was but he still kept on moving. Her hand that was holding the knife was shaking.
"Living is already hard for him, so give him the easy way out." Damian stopped in front of Arthur and Stephanie. He waited to see if she'll do it.
Stephanie dropped the knife and frightenedly took some steps back.
Damian took Arthur away from her and performed a random check up on his body to see if he was fine.
Mark wanted to get angry at Stephanie but his guilt for killing over 20 people didn't allow him.
"Why did you do this Stephanie?" Mark calmly asked.
"I-I just needed you guys to help."
"With what?"
"M-My brother is missing and my father doesn't want to do anything about it."