Marx could use fear to restore peace but he knew that it was just a temporary solution.
"You all have angered the gods. They have sent me the Angel of death to wipe you all out or have you change your ways," he said with his his head raised.
"Angel..." They all pressed their heads on the ground. They just heard of angels yet they had not seen one. Today, the gods had not sent a messanger but an angel. Even the ladies in the vicinity felt shaken.
The heavens just gave the most fearsome angel the most handsome face. Mia was the one in more shock. She dared try to order around an angel.
"I apologize for my mistakes. I was not aware of your identity and I pushed you to the edge. I am willing to accept any form punishment for my rudeness," she humbly said.
Marx did not enjoy this new status. Being treated like an untouchable was not something he wanted but if it could help him complete the mission, he could just go on with it.
"All of you rise!" He commanded and those who had bowed their heads raised them and stood up. Mia took steps behind to stay away from the presence of an angel for she was not worthy.
"I will offer the verdict of the gods tomorrow noon. Pass the message that all should attend without failure," Marx said still upholding his demeanor.
The people started dispersing and Mia and her parents were the only ones left. Marx looked at them and then walked towards Mia. He took her hand and she pulled it away. She did not even meet his eyes. Marx just smiled at the act.
"You don't have to distance yourself from me. I have chosen you to be guide as am here. Don't you think that you are more than worthy. Come on let's go," he said and she met his eyes once as she tried to hold back her smile.
He then took her to her parents who were still standing. He did not say much much but his words were were like lightning striking at their core.
"You all should get ready for tommorrow is the day," Marx said to them but he received an angry glare from the chief.
"We will obey," the two said. Marx turned to walk away but he was stopped.
"Could you leave us our daughter for a while. We have some things to tell her. She can also service the Angel by bringing you something to eat. If that is okay with you," the chief said and Marx did not disagree.
" You shall find me still waiting for you here. I don't think you have any other empty rooms. I just blew up the only ones. I also don't think that they are up to my standards," Marx had to act tough for them to believe him. He released Mia and she walked to her parents. They then walked to a room.
Marx had gotten tired of waiting. It had been one hour already. What was taking them so long. Maybe they were cooking. He had to agree that he was hungry. He yawned and stared at the stars. If only he could understand them.
There was so much hidden knowledge in the stars than one could ever garner. There were very many ancient cultures which used stars as ways of predicting the future. Maybe there was a hidden scientific explanation to how stars were connected to the life of a person.
If he could one day get that connection, he would achieve some great things in the future. He was still staring at the stars alignments when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned with a smile only to find Mia but she appeared to have changed.
She was no longer wearing the t-shirt and she was walking almost completely naked. She had an indifferent gaze in her eyes as she headed towards him. But he could not notice it first for he was already having a nosebleed.
Why did she have to come like this? Even when she reached him, he was still staring. He just could not look away. It was like they were his eyes magnets. She stood in front of him holding a bowl of food but Marx had not even noticed it.
She seemed to smile when she saw his reaction but Marx could not even see it. He felt her hands on his and it was like jolts of electricty were charging through his nerves. She raised his hand and then brought it to her chest as she squeezed the hand on her left breast.
Marx felt like his head could explode. His whole emeotions were in turmoil as he felt her breasts. His body shook and his heart beat between his head. His thoughts were no longer in this world. Even his spirit might have left him.
Marx squeezed but it was like his emotions were crumbling. He wanted to move but he could not. He just stood there like a fool.
"Here is the food I brought you," she said but Marx did not even avert his gaze. He was still squeezing.
On the bowl was rice. Mia dipped her fingers into the rice and pinched some. She then brought it to his mouth and he opened and chewed unconciously. By the time he was getting back to his senses, she had fed him half the food.
Marx pulled his hand away and took a few steps behind. He looked at her like he was seeing a ghost. He could already tell that something was wrong. He felt something choke on his throat. He tried to raise his hands but he could not.
"Wh..wh..at did ... I tell... Yo..you?" Marx asked as he felt his legs give way as he fell. She looked at him and shed tears. She came to his side and lifted his head placing it on her lap. Her tears fell on his face. Marx could already guess what had happened.
He should have connected the dots when he saw her walking to him half naked. It meant that she had been forced to do so.
"Sho...ul...d I ha...ve just... kill...ed the...m?" Marx asked after gathering his strength to speak to her. These words.
Just what poison had they given him. He raised his hands and tried to wipe her tears but he was too weak to even reach her face. His senses were giving way and only his vision was working but it was still blurring. He saw her nod in agreement.
"I am sorry. They wanted to kill my mother and every girl in the village. Please do not report hate me. I..." She sobbed as she watched Marx close his eyes. Just then, the chief and ten men came at them. They kicked her away from his body and started stomping on him.
How could they not be prepared? Since they heard the prophecy, the men had been waiting for this day in order to kill this messenger. How could they let someone who threatened their authority live?
Even if he was an angel, they did not care. Especially when he appeared nothing more but a kid. The stomped on him for minutes until his face was all bloody. Two men took him by his feet and started dragging him towards the crater he had created.
They then tied his right foot and dropped him inside the twenty meter deep crater. His hands and feet were also tied together. Mia had received a kick on her head and she was unconcious on the ground.
But tears still fell from her closed eyes. Take her too.
" Tomorrow is the day we establish our authority as the protectors of the culture. Not even gods can change our culture," the chief said and the men all nodded.
***
Rumours spread throughout the village. What rumours if not the messanger of the gods. He was going to speak to them at noon. Everyone was excited. Wasn't this the day they had all been waiting for?
The day they would all get freed from the shackles of this oppressive culture? When they heard who the angel was, they all connected about why he reacted that way. He was even able to beat those bullies as if they were nothing but kids.
They were eager to listen to him. His words were now playing in their minds. How could they have ignored the words of the messanger? They all got ready and went to the venue though it was hours earlier.
By noon, everyone was already there. Even the chief was there. He had arrived earlier than expected. Immediately it was noon, the chief stood up. Next to him were his wife and sons. The daughter was nowhere to be found. But they did not care, she was the one who was close to the messanger...
"I will not say much and I will just introduce to you the messanger of the gods. He said he is the angel of death who has the ability to kill us all if we do not change our ways. Lets all welcome the messenger," the chief said and the people started shouting and hailing at the gods.
Especially the women. They had been waiting for this day for generations. It was now time for them to have a place in the society. They were the most expectant.
They even thought that it would have been better if the messanger was a woman but they thought about it and realized that it was only a guy who could do the job perfectly. They waited for long and after around ten minutes, an ox drawn cart appeared.
The cart was all covered such that they could see nothing. They were excited as they made way for the cart. The cart reached the front and the chief pulled the white covering. The excited looks all faded one by one.
On the cart was a cross. There was a guy tied on it. They all could guess who it was despite the fact the face was all deformed. On floor of the cart was the lying Mia. She was 'close to him'. She was also unconcious. What they did not miss the fact that she was not wearing the upper clothing.
They looked at the guy who had his eyes closed and he showed no sign of life
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome the angel of death..."