CHAPTER FIVE

"My son, you have been like this for too long. I told you everything will be fine. If this is about the ruined farm produce, we will start again. We will grow from scratch. Everything will be fine. We will be fine," Agnes consoled her son.

She knew those words were not true. She felt terrible, her body was in so much pain than it had ever been before. 

Her feeble attempt to try and make her son feel better was obviously not working as Ben snorted in disbelief. 

"Mama, how do we get your drugs? What if I lose you to death simply because we don't have enough money to get your drugs?" Ben sniffed, trying really hard to hold back his tears. 

"You won't lose me, Ben. I will be fine." 

"Can you just stop lying to me. I know you are not fine. I am not a kid anymore. I can feel your pain, mama."

That morning, Ben had bathed his mother and managed to carry her outside the hut for some fresh air. They were sitting under the big tree in their compound having this heart to heart conversation. 

Ben had suddenly gone quiet and was in deep thoughts. The words of that creature had always lingered in his mind. It had asked;  "Do not run away from your destiny, Jael. Do you not want relief from life's agony? Do you not want a better life for yourself? If he were to be truthful to himself, that was exactly what he wants for himself. He just wants a better life. An average happy life with his mother. 

"Ben, are you even listening to me?" Agnes asked his son when she noticed he has not been responding to her. 

"I'm sorry mama. Can I ask you for a favor?" Ben asked from the blue. 

"What is it my dear Son?" 

"Promise me that you will always be on my side. Promise me that you will never hate me regardless of whatever decision I might make. Promise to also be by my side,mama," Ben said, earnestly. 

"You know I will always be by your side. Even if I should die today, my spirit will stay with you for the rest of your life, my dear son."

"No mama. Do not bring death into all of this," Ben shook his head at his mother.

"What is it that you want to do? What is all this about? Hope it would not bring harm to you or anyone at all," Agnes asked her son, sincerely worried about what was going on in her son's head.

Ben thought about these questions his mother asked and then was taken back to the day he had an encounter with the creature. It had also said, "Do not let the evil one win again this time Jael, fight for what is right."

So if anything, he was actually supposed to fight against evil. Every thing that happened that day was still so clear in his mind. He could picture every single thing and every word that creature had said to him glued permanently to his brain. He was constantly reminded of the incident. Which had brought him to this decision. If that Chimera could be the solution to all of his problems, then he was willing to do anything and everything to save his mother. 

"Would you be okay sitting here or should I take you back inside?" Ben asked his mother, determined to find a solution at all cost. He was a man and the life of his mother was in his hands. He needs to make a decision, a decision that might help or ruin their life. 

The sun was starting to set and the people of Ama were nowhere to be found around the farmlands. Ben set out to their farmland where the Chimera first appeared after taking his mother back in. It was now or never. He couldn't just sit down and watch her mother die before his eyes.

It was eerily quiet, except for the chirping of crickets and birds. Ben confidently sat on the floor in the middle of the farm. 

"I am here. I know you want me here. I know you have been waiting for me. I am here because I want to listen to you. I want to know how you can help me. I want to know what I have to do to save my dying mother," Ben called out in a loud, clear and determined voice. 

He waited eagerly for few minutes. Nothing happened. Ben released a sigh and was set to stand up. Maybe it was all an imagination after all. A vivid one. 

"Don't tell me you would give up that easily. I thought you were ready and desperate, Jael?" A voice that Ben recognized so well asked. He looked up to find the familiar blue whirls that burned with soot-free combustion appear. He was here. He did not just imagine it after all. This was real. And it was happening all over again. 

Ben's heart was pumping so hard when the creature appeared. He wanted to flee the place so badly, but he had promised to see this to the end.

"You don't have to be scared of me, Jael. I am your friend. I will not harm you," the creature persuaded.

Ben composed himself and stood upright, forcing himself to look into the creature's blue eyes that was piercing back at him. 

"Hi," Ben mumbled, not knowing what else to say.

The creature chuckled at Ben, "One would think we are already past that stage. But of course if that is where you want us to start from, that's fine. Hello Jael, it's nice to meet you once again."

"Why do you keep calling me Jael? That is not my name," Ben inquired. As useless as that question might sound at the moment, it was a start point. 

"Because that is who you are. That is your name." 

"My name is Ben," Ben insisted.

"Would you like us to continue arguing about your name or are you here to claim your unimaginable powers?" The creature was attempting to be funny and as unbelievably as it may sound, Ben thought he saw a smirk in the corner of the creature's mouth. 

"Powers?" Ben asked.

"Of course. How did you think this was going to work?"

"You said 'claim'. Does that mean I have powers?"

"Look Jael, I can see your legs are already trembling from fear and fatigue. Don't you think we should sit under that tree and have a chat? We have a lot to talk about. It might take all night." 

"No. I can't stay out for too long. My mama will be all alone and waiting for me. I just want to know how you can help me. I want to know how you can save her." 

"Jael, your mother will be fine. She's been taken care of. But I will need you to listen to me. Are you not curious of what is going on? Do you have an idea what this is all about?" It questioned. 

Ben knew the creature was right. It was not every day one wakes up to talk to strange creatures. 

"Okay, Creature. Lead the way," Ben stated confidently. 

"Don't call me that." 

"What should I call you? Chimera?"

"My name is Mory," the creature declared. 

"You have a name?" Ben raised an eyebrow at it. 

"Now that's an insult," Mory chuckled and led them to the tree.

This was not so bad after all, Ben thought. Mory already felt like a friend. He had never had any, so it was new.

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Mory believed it was doing what was best for Jael. A sacrifice was required before the powers will be awakened. The powers was going to take the life of the dearest person to you. Mory was glad Jael changed his mind and agreed to awaken the powers before the death of Agnes. Jael would have fallen in love with a woman in the nearest future only to end up sacrificing her. That was worse, Mory thought.

All Mory wanted was for Jael to lead a happy life for as long as possible. The poor boy had suffered enough. He would have to awaken this powers sooner or later. It was his patrimony, whether he liked it or not.