Reshi walked out of the convenience store, relishing the cool wind that brushed his cheeks as he made his way home. It had been a good night. A night under a peaceful dark sky and full moon, a contemplative night of gentle peace and relaxation. That was rare for him. Usually nights would spell a time of burning grief and drowning misery as he recalled his family. Recalled his sweet and kind mother, his innocent younger sister, his stern father, and his twin brother. But he wouldn't recall the years of fun and enjoyment, he'd recalled their deaths. Eyes wide, contorted in shock and pain as they died.
"Ahh man, it was just going so good as well. Course I had to ruin it."
He was alone now, alone in a world that seemed three sizes larger now that his family wasn't there. In a sense, they were his world, so with them gone, it felt like he had transmigrated into a new place, like those protagonist in the novels. Only, instead of being someone with a tragic life going to a place of sunshine of magic, he was a person who had gone from a place of sunshine and happy days, to darkness and cold nights.
As he passed a dark alley he heard something. Scuffling maybe? Who knows. He continued down without a care. Maybe someone was getting robbed, or killed, but why would he care. No one had cared for him. It was just someone else's turn to get floored by life.
Then a scream broke through the melancholic tranquility of night. A desperate female scream, raw with emotion. Reshi paused, turning back towards the alley. But then he turned away, he wasn't a hero, nor some third rate villain. He…just didn't care.
Then a second sound pierced the sound, the sound of a boy, wailing. His cries echoing across the deserted street.
He was crying for his mother.
Before he knew what he was doing Reshi was running back, his cup noodles forgotten. His heart pounded thunderously as he raced down, turning into the alley without giving himself a second to think.
He saw a boy clutching a women on the floor who was bleeding out. Next to them was a man, clad in black, a mask obscuring his face, a large bloody knife gripped tightly in one hand.
He turned upon seeing Reshi, who refused to stop running out of fear that if he did… well he didn't know what he would do then but he knew it'd be someting he'd regret.
The robber was startled at the sight of a 20 year old man running towards him, dark eyes glinting madly, uncaring at the weapon held in his hand.
The man thrust the knife forward at the rapidly approaching figure, but it did nothing to ward him off.
As he made a swipe again, Reshi caught the hand, well more like the knife had caught his hand, but he didn't care. It had done his job, with his right hand Reshi swung his fist, smashing it off the attacker's jaw.
The attacker stumbled back, losing his grip on the knife which was embedded into Reshi's right palm. Before he could do anything Reshi ran at him, screaming as he continued swinging his undamaged hand.
The man fell on the floor, after the next hit. Then Reshi sat on top of him and continued pummelling, tears streaming down his face.
He couldn't remember for how long he kept punching. Once he got up, both hands were a bloodied mess. The attacker's face was a mass of swollen purple as he gasped weakly for air in between fits of coughing blood.
Turning back, Reshi saw the kid. He glared fiercely at Reshi, hands wrapped around his bleeding mother protectively.
"It's alright kid, I want to help."
He approached slowly, showing the boy he meant no harm.
"Help me carry her, my apartments close. I've got stuff there that can stem the bleeding."
The boy nodded slowly. Reshi then took of his top, tearing the fabric into strips. Using the cloth, he fashioned a make-shift bandage to reduce the blood loss for now. Then together they picked the women up, placing her on Reshi's back so he could carry her.
It was a quick walk to the apartment, on the way, he got the boy to pick up his bag he had dropped earlier.
When they entered, he laid the lady down on his couch, uncaring about the blood that was ruining the furniture. Quickly he rushed to his cupboard, where his medical supplies were.
Reshi had signed himself up to the army at 16. At an age where most didn't know left from right, he had been training to protect his country. Back then Reshi had been all about honour and helping the weak. He had foolishly bought into the idea of being a hero and protecting his country. He excelled in the army, but much to the surprise of his men, he had decided to specialise in field medicine and healing. Reshi was more about protecting than killing, so despite his talents as a soldier, he had decided to become a field medic. Then, after fighting on the frontline for two years, he'd been given the opportunity to have the army fund him through medical school. That was what he had been doing before his family died. Becoming a Doctor. Someone that actively cared about life.
How ironic.
He took out a suturing kit, clean bandages, and anti-septic.The women had received a slash on her midsection. Thankfully it had missed any major organs. It was mainly the blood loss that was killing her. He applied anti-septic, and stitched the wound close. Then he washed the bandages in the remaining anti-septic and covered the wound tightly.
Sighing heavily he leaned, back. He had ignored the gaping wound in his own hand as he worked. He quickly did thee same thing on himself. The boy who had been watching him silently, now approached him with apprehensive eyes.
"Uhh, thank you mister, but I don't have anything to pay you with."
Reshi turned back to look at the boy. He could see the fear on his face, that he might be turned away, now that he didn't have money. Or perhaps forced into something to pay him back.
'Poor boy. It's a fucked world we live in huh.'
"Don't worry about it kid, I don't want your money."
Turning away he took out the pots of cup noodles he had bought. How coincidental that he had purchased three cups.
He busied himself in the kitchen, making three cups of noodles and hot chocolate.
Then he brought it over, plating it on the floor next to the couch where the boy was sitting. His dark eyes, watching him warily through a mess of dirty straw hair. He was clearly under fed, giving him a gaunt, half-terrifying look. He gazed at the food hungrily, but refused to touch it.
Reshi chuckled, "Help yourself lad."
Immediately, the boy tore into the cup noodles, relishing it's cheap flavour as if it was the nicest thing to ever existed. Reshi enjoyed the noodles as well. There was something special about them this time. It was odd how cheap pathetic things could, on rare occasions, taste like the nicest thing in the world. Leaving lingering flavours that would grow into reminiscent and fond memories years down the line.
In mere moments the boy had eaten and drank everything. He seemed much more relaxed now, as if the warm food had somehow managed to thaw his cold demeanour.
"What's your name boy?"
The boy looked at him, if not warily, at least hesitantly, "Judas."
"That's quite a name for a child like you to have. Who gave it to you?"
"My father."
Reshi nodded. He didn't want to pry too much into Judas's life. He'd speak to the mother one she woke up. They passed the time in silence. Then Reshi got up. He returned carrying two spare blankets and pillows. One pillow he placed under the mother's head, before covering her with the blanket.
"I'm guessing you want to sleep here right?"
The boy seemed momentarily shocked, before nodding.
'Poor lad didn't expect i'd let him stay overnight.'
"Here then. I'll be sleeping in my room."
He turned away. The mother most likely wouldn't wake until tomorrow anyway, and it was pointless to kick them out now after he had risked so much to keep them safe. That's the reason he told himself anyway.
When he entered his room, he locked the door. Yes he had helped them, but only an idiot would trust strangers.
Climbing to his bed, Reshi found that sleep came easily to him. It had been a while before he'd been able to sleep without crying or gazing blankly at the ceiling for hours first.
It wasn't bad.