The Past, Part # 2

Christian went to New York, he brought home for his mother, he kept his mother in the dark about his work as he kept doing all those illegal works and soon joined the Mafia too. He wanted to escape their desperation. He lost his track of ethics and began to do immoral things. He knew his mother would not like this so he kept it a secret.

The first person he met in New York was Tyler, they immediately became friends, Tyler also worked in Mafia, he was the mastermind. Tyler helped both Christian and himself to grow as Tyler obtained the position of the Leader by his devilish mind.

Christian just wanted to provide his mother all those things he always wanted, so he avoided gaining a better position and worked in the shadows. He gave his mother a big house, new clothes, all those luxuries he could afford, he wanted to make her a Queen and fulfill all his promises.

Amid his dark life, His heart always used to wonder about Sophie, how's she doing? Who's gonna tell him about her now? Is she still the same? But he didn't show it and soon he also began to forget about her as he decided to find someone for him, someone of his age and not a kid.

Christian also continued his studies of Business Accounts so that he can also start his own business because he also wants to leave the dark world.

He was happy. What else he needs when he has his mother but things took a sudden turn for him when he called his Aunt Amelia on Sophie's 14 birthday to wish her.

"Hello, Aunt."

"Oh, Hello, How are you, my boy?" Amelia's voice was rather scared.

"I'm fine. And you?"

"We're also.. fine." Her voice alarms him that something is going on.

"I want to wish Sophie for her birthday."

"Christian, you know it. Her birthday is with Eugene."

"She was born today, not that day." He said firmly. He never wanted to forget the day when he held her in his arms. Amelia sighed because she knows it's futile to argue now. There was a brief pause and Christian asked again,

"Now, tell me, What happened?"

"We.. have moved to New York." His eyes widened as he burst with questions,

"When? Why? Why didn't you tell me? What happened? Why New York? Is everything alright? Is it related to Roger? Did-"

"No. No. No. Calm down. It's about something else and as for Roger, I don't know anything about him. The last time we met was when Sophie filed a complaint against him." He sighed in relief.

"Then? What is it?"

"Well... there are some people to whom I have a debt to pay... I did pay it but.. they... all of a sudden added interest and even though I repaid the money I borrowed they.. are after us... They are following the kids and threatening me... you weren't here too.. we just escaped to New York but they are still after us.."

"What is it they want now?"

"Uh.. they... You see... You know.." She trailed off.

"Tell me."

"You know Sophie seems bigger than her age."

"What does it have to do- don't tell me." His words became faint as an extreme feeling of rage took over him.

"Yes. They want her... I am so worried about her.. they are after Sophie... They want to sell her... I am alone and they took advantage of it." Amelia began to cry. She couldn't help it, her heart was breaking. She can't lose the child she devoted her life to protect.

"Please.. help me Christian..." She sobbed.

"Okay, send me your address, I'll come. Please don't cry Aunt, I'm here. I will never let anyone touch Sophie." He said as he got their address and went to his Aunt. He will not tolerate anything about her, he promised Eleanor to protect her.

He entered as his Aunt hugged him and began to try. Seems like that Sophie and Eugene aren't at home. That's their home. Their house they spent all these years in.

"Calm down, Aunt. Tell me everything now." She sniffed and pulled away.

"I-I don't know what to do. T-They..want her. I-I hope it's not because of Roger. I-I.." She was breathless, the feeling of restlessness was eating her up. Christian tried to soothe her and finally, after discussing for a while, he finally left beyond angry.

After a few days, Christian gathered some information about it. During this, he met Merlin in his university.

"Is she Merlin Florence?" He asked Tyler who was there for his recreation and gave rise to his business, he was humming and lost in his world. He looked at her and said,

"Yeah.. the topper from the fashion designing department, do you know her?" Tyler asked. Christian didn't answer as he went to her. Christian cannot forget her face, it resembles a lot to her mother. She has grown into a fine woman, a truly enchanting one.

"Merlin!" He called her. She turned and flashed him a smile.

"Yes? Do I know you?"

"Yes. I mean no. I mean kind of." He said nervously scratching the back of his neck. She narrowed her eyes at him as he began to say.

"I am Christian Elvis. We have known each other ever since our childhood. I mean you were just 5 and you left Boston and we never met again but.."

"Christian!? Aunt Eleanor's son!?" Her face lit up in happiness. He smiled and nodded. She pulled him in a hug as she squeaked in elation.

"I didn't you are here. I vaguely remember you but I clearly remember Aunt. It's been a while... mother used to talk about you..." She said looking away shyly.

"I hope it's not bad."

"Oh, no, It's not.".She chuckled. Then Merlin excused herself and left as their friendship started. He then went back to Tyler who was curious to know. Christian sighed and told him everything about himself as well as the current problem of Sophie.

"So.. what you're gonna do?"

"I don't know. But I have to protect her. She is my responsibility. Can you find her for me?" He asked. When he asked for Tyler's help to find Sophie. Where she is because his Aunt has sent her to her friend's home.

He found Sophie and saw her playing with her friends. She seemed so happy. A smile also crept upon his lips by seeing her like this, he watched her afar.

"So, what are you gonna do? You know, these men are planning to take her away tonight." Tyler said leaning beside Christian, liting up his cigarette as he spared a glance at her and said,

"Dude, She is just a child. How can they offer her to you? They are just turning you into a pedophile." Christian glared at Tyler upon hearing it.

"I have no intentions of using her for my pleasures. I promised my mother to take care of her, I'll protect her. But, I'll never enter her life. It would be better if she lived her life like a normal girl. Even Aunt Amelia didn't tell her anything. So don't call me that"

"Wow man, you're such a gallant guy," Tyler said in admiration. "Less than you." Christian said, "You treats Lydia like a Queen."

"Of course dude, I love her." He laughed.

After a silence, Tyler offer him a gun,

"Here, take it. It's yours. In our world, you need to have it; to survive." Tyler said looking down, knowing the pain and atrocity evoked inside you in this world.

"I can't kill anyone."

"If you can't kill. They will kill you." Tyler said nonchalantly. Tyler turned his head to Christian and said,

"Take it. It's yours." He handed him the gun. Christian stared at it for a long time but didn't say anything.

"That's a silencer, isn't it?" Christian asked. Tyler nodded and said, "You want to let the whole area know that you are firing a gun?"

Christian chuckled and hid the gun.

Soon, Midnight came as he saw some men entering the house Sophie was staying at. They successfully took care of it without knowing anyone but then Tyler whispered to Christian,

"Sophie is not here." Christian lost his strength as he quickly left the house and saw a guy taking Sophie away. He was far, Christian and couldn't catch up to him. His only option was to use the gun. He swallowed hard and shot the gun. It hit his heart as he fell on the ground. Christian eyes widened his horror as his hands began to tremble.

He stood there stunned, lost in the agony of what he had done. He took life just for her. Lost in the depths of despair, he falls on the ground when he realizes what he did. Tyler came and shook him hard, Christian, who was trembling violently, pointed his finger at them,

"T-Tyler... I-I don't w-what get o-over me.. I-I.."

"I got it. Calm down and sit in the car. I'll take care of it." Christian sat in the car and waited for Tyler.

He came as Christian began to cry.

"What have I done?!"

"Christian, dude, that day has to come one day or another. You have to be strong."

"Tyler... I killed a man. An alive human being." He put his hand over his mouth as sweat rolled down. He was disgusted at himself, lost in the prisons of fright.

"Dude, you did it to save her." Tyler looked on the other side and continued,

"It seems like they have given her chloroform, she didn't move an inch. I took her back and made sure it doesn't seem like someone broke into the home.

"And p-police. T-the body?"

"I'll take care of it, man. Don't worry. I'll call my men to take the bodies away."

"B-Bodies?" The fear in Christian was clear.

"Christian. I am in darkness ever since I can remember. I have lost my emotions as I can't feel anything while killing them." Tyler said with an empty laugh as he drove off and took him to his place.

Christian sat under the shower as the coldness made his heart clench, his corrupt soul causing him to shiver in dread. The remorse of taking a life filled him with a deadly poison. He cried his heart out, what he had done. He couldn't sleep. Every time he closed his eyes he felt blood all around him. He was petrified. His heart was shattered.

He couldn't live his life in peace, he kept having nightmares for months but soon all scars healed. During all these tribulations, Merlin stood by his side and helped him to get out these wraiths. She intoxicated his mind about normalizing his acts.

At the same time, Tyler also announced to get married to Lydia; his girlfriend and to leave this dark world. But poor Tyler's soon to be wife died by unknown causes leaving him devastated.

Christian's heart also began to turn into ice as he was lost in the dark world.

Happy...

Everything was going well. Merlin was at his side, Eleanor never liked her but for her son's happiness, she never stopped smiling. She was a woman with a golden heart and Christian, he was also like her. But only his loved ones can see it. He never told his mother what he does, that her sister is in New York, he cut off all the connections with her. It would be better if they stay away from them. But still, he helped Sophie to get over every problem in her life from the shadows.

Soon, Christian started his own business and hired the people he used to work for and build his own Empire, of course, his money wasn't even righteous but at that point, he has lost the track of it too. Merlin fuel it.

Merlin's mother always used to say that Merlin has to stray Christian away from the path of right, she has to manipulate him and she did it and Christian lived his life oblivious of this fact. He believed Merlin loved him.

Soon, they got married- too much to Eleanor's discontent. She always wanted to have Sophie as her daughter in law but her dreams didn't fulfill. Christian, after his marriage, stopped even looking at Sophie. How he used to watch her from afar. How he helped her to get a scholarship. How he helped her in every aspect of her life. He stopped everything and let her live her life from that moment.

Everything was going good, or he thought so. To him, he felt so happy. But, Merlin changed after marriage, she began to call him a murderer. She knows who he did that for. She always used to say that he'll choose her Sister over her. That he'll choose Sophie over her. Christian loved Merlin a lot and for her, he even stopped aiding her, for Merlin he tried his best to keep her happy. But she did it to make the condition of Sophie worse. Merlin is taught to be selfish.

But everything shattered when Eleanor came to know about Christian's work, her world's crash. She couldn't take it anymore.

"Mother.." Christian tried to make her understand but she kept crying.

"What have you done, Christian!? I was so proud of you.. you were my pride.. just like everyone else you also broke it... I no longer have anyone for me.."

"Please mother-"

"Don't call me your mother! I can't be the mother of a murderer! All these years... you made me live in delusions.." She sobbed. He kept looking down in shame.

"I could have lived the life of poverty happily but this.." Eleanor cried her heart out. Christian tried to come closer but she pushed him away.

"How could you!?" Her pain is too much for her to bear. "You are not my child! You are not the Christian I raised!" She let out her agony.

It was too much for her to carry on her shoulders when her pride broke her, she couldn't bear the feeling of this anymore. Her feelings were shattered.

The day, the party for his success to become a young billionaire. The day his devastation started, the day his mother attempted suicide.

Devastated...

He lost his mother. The person he loved the most. The person he did all this for. She killed herself. He began to think of himself as the culprit of her death. He lost her, his whole being lost itself in misery. He no longer can feel the feeling of being secure in the arms of his mother. His grief was beyond anyone's comprehension. Like his heart is in a desolated place filled with the apparitions of different people whose life he destroyed. He no longer can feel. He no longer has parents. So much anguish that he can barely contain it in himself.

After her death, he vows to make all the amount of the money he earned righteous. He left the mafia world after 8 years, at the age of 25. He devoted his life to make every single dollar he earned righteous. He was determined to redeem his mistakes and not lead the dark path anymore. He wanted to make everything right.

But during all this, his phase of being cold started when he caught Merlin; his wife in the arms of another man. In his house, in his room, in his bed.

Cold.

It not been a year since he lost his mother and this happens. He felt his heart stopped as well as his emotions. The last once of his love shattered beneath Merlin's feet. He felt so cold and void. Like a single breath leaving his lips were suffocating him. An emptiness took over him. By looking at them, he first killed the guy the moment he saw him he then turned his attention to Merlin who was a crying mess.

"Get dressed and come downstairs," he ordered and left the room. Merlin quivering form walked down,

"Chris, I-I am so-" He grabbed her arms roughly and hissed,

"Shut up." She was scared shitless. She couldn't even speak in his lethal presence. She has never seen him like this. He was never this terrorizing... To her.

He dragged her away. They both sat in the car and Merlin was crying nonstop. They reached her house as he took her inside.

"ROGER!!" His voice boomed in the empty hall. Upon hearing the voice of their son in law, both Juliette and Roger walked down.

"What happened Merlin?" Juliette asked, concerned as Merlin hugged her mother crying out loud. Roger became so infuriated looking at his daughter like this.

"What have you done to my daughter?" Growled Roger. Christian let out an empty laugh and began to say mockingly,

"Well, Congratulations, Your daughter has proved that she is the daughter of an asshole like you."

"Watch your mouth!" Roger scowled.

"Fuck you. Bastard, isn't it? Sophie used to call you that, right?" He laughed again. Then his expression was replaced by an intense dire one as he snarled,

"Keep your cheater daughter to yourself. She has fooled me enough. If she wants to fuck a guy, tell her to do it at your place, not mine."

His words shocked Roger as he turned to Merlin who was looking down in shame.

Christian turned to Merlin and burst his emotions,

"I loved you so much, Merlin. I fought the world for you, even my late mother. You push me away from Sophie. I promised my mother to marry Sophie, I broke my promise and married you. I promised mother that I'll protect Sophie just because of you, I even stopped looking at her. I don't even know how she is. I did this all for you! And you.. you didn't think for a second and shattered the very little feeling of love left in me too. Don't ever show your face to me. I'll send you the divorce papers."

"Please Christian, allow me to justify myself." Merlin cried.

"What is left to say, Merlin!? Tell me." Christian said as tears flowed from his eyes.

"M-Mother told me. She is the one w-who told me to love you. To m-manipulate you. She told me to d-do it. At first, I d-didn't like you but e-ever since our marriage... I...I have loved you. Mother told me to do it.. she'll-"

"I have listened enough, Merlin Florence. I'll send you the papers. Now, Get out of my life."

Her betrayal turned him empty. He was lost. He couldn't think. He couldn't speak. She took his will to live with her. Her was lost... Having no one by his side... He was in the deepest depth of misery all alone with no source of salvation...