Malum grimaced in between his elated grins. A low scoffs heard whilst Moloch's lance impaled into his body. That abyss-like blood gushed out more evidently as he forced himself to hold on against the deepening force on his flesh of a now feeble body.
The guardian of Hell furrowed its brows slightly, yet still vigilant to every movement Malum would make.
"What are you thinking now, Karita? You never do things without scheming. I know you too well to surrender."
A breathless laugh yet menacing as he glared deep into those eyes that seemed to stare into his soul.
"Hah... I was just wondering. Who will come first?"
Another scheming snicker, before he drove the lance with force, plunging into his heart before he vomited yet more of that black blood. Malum's gaze blurs as he feels himself losing consciousness, then a thud, wafting wretched soils soft in that heated air.
His breath shallows. It was agonizing, that death was. Being impaled by a hellish lance wasn't his favored way of dying. Malum's heavy lids hang momentarily as his gaze fixates on his dropped hand. A recount of the girl came to mind:
A warmth suddenly seeped through his cold hand, one evening. It was Ene's small hand finding his. They were sitting outside the orphanage's lawn. She was giggling gleefully as always, before she read through his grim outlook as he snatched his hand, harsh. Crossing his arms in disinterest.
A pout. Then, swinging her legs, frustrated maybe. That little lady jumped down from the bench and ran into the modest property, sticking her tongue out at him before running away.
"Meanie! Bleugh!"
She ran past an old man with his hands behind his back. Soft olden chuckles heard. The old man went closer to Malum as he sat on the spot Ene had just occupied before. They were gazing up at the vast sky.
It was a peaceful evening, the sun was setting, only a chilly breeze, a starry night, and quiet passing between them.
"You know. I've never seen Hellene like that."
The old man began. His words slow and low, husky to hear, reflecting the hoarse throat of old. He didn't turn to Malum, only spoken softly.
The stern young man is clearly uninterested, yet it didn't bother him to span the time listening to that old man.
"She was sent here when she was still a baby. She practically grew up here in the orphanage. She's... always been special compared to the other children."
He continued, eyes cast to the swaying grass as he reminisced.
"She worries me a lot as the Head of the orphanage. She didn't talk a lot. She doesn't play with the others; in fact, I've never seen her smile at all. Haha..."
That chuckle sounded gaspy. Only now, he turned his head slightly to him, an old, weary smile carved across his aged lips, where creasing was seen. He was also smiling with his eyes, softening.
"That is, until one day. She woke up as if... she was a different person. Smiling, talking, laughing. She even greeted me like a normal child. It warms my heart truly."
A swelling felt in that aged heart. Even at that moment, the sensation he could still feel was rather mystifying.
"Grandpa?"
A sniffle was heard from the side. Probably from his old age, he hadn't noticed the girl's arrival right beside him.
Her eyes were ringed red, evidence of shed tears. No one had seemed to notice that the lifeless body was still slumped peacefully against the table of his study room.
"You..."
The old man's expression shifted from momentary surprise to an attentive gaze. He reached out instinctively to pat her head, just like how he used to do. Only for his hand to pass through her. It made him pause for a moment, then retract his hand to himself.
"So you can see the dead. You are really a special girl, Hellene."
The old man offered a comforting smile.
"Don't cry. It's fine. I'm just going to a better place. I'm just going to follow this young man and have fun elsewhere."
He still managed to sneak in sly and playful remarks as he winked at her. She sniffled once before smiling weakly with a nod to his intention to leave.
"Follow me? I'm not the Grim Reaper here."
Malum had his eyes closed, and his arms and legs still crossed. His answer struck a shock to the old man, who then chuckled softly.
"Oh? I thought you were, with that dashing outfit of all black. You seem like you're here for my funeral already. Haha, so where is my escort?"
The old man scanned left and right for the so-called Angel of Death. As surely it had missed his appointed time to be taken away for his next journey of life, to the afterlife.
A mystery to humankind, be it the existence of heaven or hell, according to their own beliefs. To follow the path set for them or be it the path they set on following through, surely met within the ordain of His.
"Ezrael should have been waiting for you inside. Go before you're listed as a missing soul. You'll miss your ticket out of this hell."
Malum directed him. That answer made him let out a guttural laughter.
"I wouldn't say it's hell entirely. Not when, I could say..."
His words trailed for a moment before dropping to Ene. His hand reached out to her again, tracing the untouchable little lady's head as he crouched to meet her gaze face-to-face. Through his weary soul, the pain usually felt in his knees was no longer there.
A warming smile spread across his face as he spoke softly.
"I've lived my life to the fullest. I have no regret whatsoever, I'm content as it is."
Their gazes held for a while longer, speaking deeper than words conveyed, wrinkling eyes of old meeting brilliant and vigorous stares.
As her tear trails one last time, marking that of a goodbye. She understood his words, and that is enough.
"Goodbye... Grandpa."
A beautiful smile, a beautiful goodbye.