I was paralyzed.
Even though my brain screamed desperately for me to move, I couldn't.
I just stood still, watching Angus's blood drip to the ground.
Faster and faster.
"Get out of the way, old man! That can's mine. Do you know how long it's been since I've had a bite of food?" said the man who had driven the piece of metal into Angus's body.
"I… I know you're suffering, lamb of the Lord… but a girl, a little girl with a long road ahead of her, needs it more," replied Angus. His voice trembled with pain, but remained firm.
"I don't care! Not about your God, not about the girl! If you don't give me that can right now, I'll kill you and the brat."
"Oh, little one… denying the Lord is one of the gravest sins we can commit, but His mercy is immense. You still have the chance to redeem yourself and receive forgiveness," said Angus, his voice steady despite his agony.
It was as if remembering and preaching the Lord's words gave him strength.
"Let the boy go. Let him take the can and save his sister. I'm sure that if you do, the Lord will grant you forgiveness. Maybe you'll ascend to heaven by His side. If not… only eternal suffering awaits you."
"Heaven? Ha. That doesn't exist. You think I care about hell? I'm already in it! This place is hell, and I'm not gonna miss my chance to stop starving."
As he spoke, I saw the piece of metal sink deeper into Angus's stomach.
Blood wasn't just flowing from his abdomen… it started to pour from his mouth.
"Angus!" I screamed with all my strength.
The man turned to face me, pulling his eyes away from Angus.
"Brat! Give me the can or I'll kill him right now."
No, Angus…
Without him we wouldn't be this close to the center.
Without him, we'd still be lost.
My sister… she always loved his stories about heaven and the Lord.
He always treated us well. Took care of us, helped us, even when sharing his food meant eating less himself.
And he never, ever complained.
He always had a smile for us.
He showed me the way.
If not for him, I never would've let God's love into me.
I never would've chosen to become an apostle.
I never would've become a light.
When it was just Mia and me against the world… he saved us.
He saved me.
I can't let him die. He has to keep lighting up other people's hearts… just like he did for us.
But…
Mia is really bad.
If she doesn't eat soon, she won't make it.
A few insects won't be enough for her to recover.
If I give the can to this man… it's almost impossible we'll find more food like that anytime soon.
Mia will die.
But if I do nothing…
Angus will die.
What should I do…?
God…
Please…
Tell me what to do…
The man, seeing I still wasn't moving, grew impatient.
He started to move.
He tried to pull the metal from Angus's body to come at me…
But Angus, with the last of his strength, grabbed his arm.
"Oh, little lost lamb… it's a pity you won't let God's love touch your heart. Every human is born with a purpose, a path the Lord gives us. But He also gives us free will to decide whether to follow it. Even those who don't believe… can still walk the path of goodness. And in the end, the Lord, in His infinite generosity, may grant them heaven."
"Sadly, I can see that you… you've completely turned away from the path of righteousness and kindness that God laid before you."
"Let me tell you something else; the boy behind me has chosen to follow the path the Lord marked for him.
And I'm sure he will be among the most glorious."
"That's why… I won't let you lay a single finger on him."
With that, Angus held him tightly, ignoring all the pain and agony.
Angus…
"You ridiculous old man! Fine. If you want to die so badly… then die."
"NO!"
The man stopped trying to pull out the metal. Instead, he drove it in deeper.
Blood burst from Angus's mouth.
He collapsed to the ground, the man on top of him.
I saw the attacker move his arm sideways, tearing into Angus's stomach.
No… no… no… Angus is going to die.
Without thinking, without even realizing it… I moved.
My body finally responded.
I got behind the man without him noticing.
He was struggling with Angus, completely focused on him.
I pulled out the thick hardcover book I always carried, hidden under my shirt.
And without thinking, I struck him with all my strength on the back of his head.
The blow caught him by surprise.
The man let go of Angus and placed both hands on the ground, stunned.
The piece of metal came out of Angus's stomach.
Landing just inches from me.
I saw it.
And I didn't hesitate.
I grabbed it.
When the man looked up, still disoriented…
I lunged at him before he could react.
I stabbed the metal into his neck.
As deep as my strength allowed.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!" he screamed in agony.
He shoved me violently, knocking me backward. The metal slipped from his neck in a gush of blood.
I grabbed the blood-covered metal again.
The man clutched his neck with both hands, trying to stop the bleeding.
It was useless.
Within seconds, he collapsed to the ground.
A pool of his own blood spread beneath him.
Moments later, he stopped screaming.
He stopped moving.
The light faded from his eyes.
In less than a minute…
the man was dead.
Right beside me.
I did that.
I killed him.
I looked at the bloodied piece of metal in my hand.
I felt my whole body soaked in blood.
And in that instant… I remembered.
The image of my father, also covered in blood…
…holding a piece of metal in his hand.
Just like me.
What have I done…?
I… I killed him.
I've sinned.
I won't be able to enter heaven with Mia.
With Angus…
Angus!
I snapped out of my thoughts and ran to him.
He was just a few meters away.
"Angus!"
He was breathing.
But he was drenched in blood.
"Wait… I'll cover the wound with dirt, that'll buy us so—"
Before I could finish, Angus took my hand.
He stopped me.
"Don't worry… little Aiden… my time to ascend into the Lord's arms has come," he said… with a smile.
"No… Angus… Mia and I need you."
"There will come a time when many more will need to hear the Lord's teachings. Many who will find their path… thanks to you," I said, through tears.
"Little Aiden… from the moment I saw your eyes, when you said you wanted to be an apostle… I knew I had fulfilled the role the Lord gave me."
"There's no greater glory for a humble messenger… than to have guided a brilliant apostle in his first steps."
"I, Angus… thank you for allowing me to be part of that honor."
His voice grew weaker and weaker.
"Honor…? Apostle…? Angus… I killed a man. I've sinned. I'm not worthy of being an apostle."
My tears ran down, washing the blood from my hands.
"Aiden… your heart is purer than any. Even though you could've run and saved your sister… you stayed to save an old man like me. And even now… you mourn the death of someone who wanted to hurt you."
He caressed my cheek, wiping my tears, smiling all the while.
"Aiden… that man had already lost his way. He was a source of evil."
"And you, by extinguishing that evil, while still a child, have done something truly commendable."
His words opened my eyes.
"Oh… what an incredible day… The Lord has rewarded me with more than this humble servant deserves… What a magnificent life… to have witnessed the birth of such a brilliant apostle… Aiden… thank you so much."
"Remember… you'll never be alone."
"The Lord will always be with you."
"And I… I'll be watching you, cheering you on from heaven."
"Aiden… live."
"Be the light in the world."
And as he finished those words… the strength in his hand faded.
The light in his eyes… too.
Only his body remained… in a pool of blood.
But unlike the other man, just a few meters away…
In Angus's gaze, there was no fear.
No anger.
No pain.
There was only happiness and peace.
-------------------------------------------------‐-------
That day, with a smile on his face, the Lord's most faithful follower left this world.