"I was indeed right, you guys forgot to get dinner" Tom's voice sighed helplessly at the situation as he is accompanied by the group of children that left with him.
Hearing this familiar voice, everyone in the alley relaxed as the children opened their eyes and looked at Tom. In contrast, Samantha and Old Eddie relaxed their grip over their 'weapons' while looking at each other in embarrassment before rushing towards Tom and his group, ready for dinner.
'Hmm? This kid…' I thought to myself, realising that I had misjudged Tom.
"He's not what you thought, huh?" Old Eddie came and stood beside me as we watched the children's blissful expressions as they dug into their food like they had tasted the most delicious, tastiest, and greatest food of all time yet, the food that they were eating consisted of baked beans and mushroom soup from a can.
As they ate, cheers and laughter could be heard as some performed parlour tricks as entertainment for the rest to enjoy.
Dong
Dong
Dong
This time, the bell rang 22 times; everyone then realised how late it was. While the younger ones protested against sleep, the older children quickly finished their meals and prepared for bed knowing that a long and tiring day would be ahead of them.
After much coercion and coaxing from Old Eddie and Samantha, the younger ones finally went to sleep, leaving just the three of us still awake from among the sleeping children.
"Thanks for the help today. Since you are you-know-who, who needs no sleep, could you help stand guard tonight?" Old Eddie shamelessly asked as black rims started appearing below his drooping eyelids.
I turned towards him, staring at him.
Seeing my stare, Old Eddie immediately woke up from his stupor and wanted to explain himself, but before he could, I interrupted him
"Ok"
Hearing my reply, he immediately returned to his tired state as he walked to his spot and fell fast asleep.
With that left, Samantha and I that were still awake.
With fidgeting fingers, Samantha approached me nervously and asked, "Do you still want to return to the Dark Continent? You have seen it first hand; many people are suffering, many more being perpetrators, but not enough people are helping. Instead, many more are turning to the other side"
Seeing my unresponsiveness, it seemed a wave of courage had consumed her as she continued, "We need more people like you out there helping and influencing others to make a stand, a symbol of hope and peace, and maybe then, would the garden of Eden bloom".
"The garden of Eden," I muttered under my breath, looking longingly at the starless night.
The garden of Eden was the dream that I preached and believed in, where it is said that when the world is at peace, the world tree sprouts its roots, and the garden of Eden would reveal itself.
As for what it would show us has always been a mystery to everyone; there have been many hypotheses of what lies in the garden of Eden.
However, the more popular belief is that it either holds the key to evolution or is empty or a prison that seals the great devil.
When I was still human, I, too, believed that it held the key to evolution when conflict stopped and personal gains were given up, would we then be worthy to receive the power to evolve. After all, great power comes with great responsibility.
But now, I believe that it holds nothing.
I have experienced and seen enough to know how unachievable it is for people to give up their own happiness for others. No, for the world to work and function, there needs to have different and varied types of people. Whether they are selfless or selfish, lazy or hardworking.
It is the different kinds of people that we meet that inspire creativity and allow us to think outside of the box.
Thus, I believe that the prophecy and the dream of the garden of Eden were a lie made with the goal of uniting people together.
As for the last hypothesis, well, I know for a fact that it is not true, especially since I have been in contact with the primordial demon. Yes, although he is the strongest existence I have known and is trapped in the demon continent, it does not need to take the world to unite to kill it. Also, the demon continent has always been visible for as long as I can remember, so there was no way that there could be another evil creature would be lurking around without any of them fighting over sovereignty over the demons.
Having known him for some time, I don't think he would allow anyone to be above him, nor would he ever serve anyone.
"So, are you interested?" Samantha's question brought me back to reality.
Starring at her eager and yearning eyes, "No," I rejected her once again, knowing nothing good would ever happen when I interfered with others' lives and livelihoods.
"Fine! Then go back and continue rotting in the dark continent!"
The moment She heard my rejection, her face of anticipation slowly changed into a frown as she angrily stomped her feet and left, walking to an empty spot before lying down; within moments, I could feel her long, even, gentle breaths coming out of her.
Knowing that she is sleeping, I slowly levitated up into the air, sat on a roof, and remained as still as a statue, like a guardian angel guarding over them till the crack of dawn.