SAINT

By Azul Herrera

Well, the job was done, and it happened faster than expected, but the feverish murderer was still on a high for the realization to hit him. Too high for him to notice the once warm body rapidly cooling, too high for him to notice the gelatin-like, red substance that was forming on the bathroom floor and the cluster of crimson ribbons that spilled out from the body. The thoughts that rushed through his head were the words spoken from insanity themselves, seeds left to grow in a healthy mind that flourished under the care of influence and trauma. Fully dilated pupils flashing with colours and images that weren't there, and ears strained to a maximum trying to catch voices with no source; his heartbeat drumming at a dangerously fast pace as his body tried to catch up with the unnatural shift.

“What a mess,” Death muttered.

“Truly unfortunate,” replied Life with no sympathy. The two had been watching this unravel for some time now and they were getting impatient for the results.

“Do the thing already, let him decide,'' Life suggested in a bored tone, “We both know what's going to happen. You just want to put on a show.” Death glared but still reached out his hand and tapped the man's forehead twice. A sudden glaze seemed to come over his eyes, like a curtain closing over a stage blocking the view from spectators; the male's hysterical state seemed to have flown out the window as he stared quietly at the two beings that appeared in front of him.

The two saints stared down at him and started to speak as one, “We watched you commit to a path that only brings more dismay and death upon you, so we ask; do you wish to be saved or does rotting within yourself seem more pleasing?”

The man who had been awfully quiet for some time now spoke up in a startled tone, “Who are you? What do you want? I’m calling the police!” In a bit of shock, the two looked at him, looked at his blood-stained hands and the cold body behind him, then back at each other.

“I don't think you're in a position to do that, big man,” stated Life. The man broke out in a cold sweat and started shivering with every inch of his body, and a clammy complexion came over him.

Death noticed this sudden change “You might want to hurry unless you want your body to naturally fail you.”

The man seemed to get the hint and snapped back at them, “Well, is that a stupid question then?!” He yelled, “Save me and do it quickly now!” His teeth clashed against each other as drool ran down his chin. Well, Death looked over at Life, who had a look of distaste in their eyes.

They looked the man directly in the eyes with a slight frown and said, “Don't wanna,” in a bitter tone. The man's eyes got incredibly wide, and he started to make noises that didn't seem human. With a sigh, Death closed the veil between them and watched the human's last bits of sanity crumble, along with his deteriorating health. Already exhausted, Death glanced up at Life, who watched in amusement as the man ripped the skin of his cheeks and scalp, screaming and cursing at the imaginary bugs that infested his skin.

“You really are a cruel one,” grumbled Death.

“Me?” gasped Life in fake surprise, “How could you?!” they paused, “I'm an angel.”