"Excellent decision." The figure says calmly.
The fake Mercy that is lying on the bed, gets up and walks straight to the real mercy. It copies Mercy's posture and then disappears, the figure joining it. The room falls back to it's normal state, quiet and awkward.
"Good evening Ma'am" Mercy says in an almost quiet voice.
"Good evening love." Miss Emmanuella sighs. "Look, I'm-"
"It's okay, mum." Mercy says, cutting her short. "It wasn't your fault." He turns around, a wide smile on his face. "It was mine." He walks out of his room and straight to the parlour were everything is. He couldn't help but smile, even though he feels sick. "Thanks a lot." He says happily.
'"Make sure not to tell your family, or else it is over for them."' The figure says in Mercy's head.
'"Okay."' Mercy manages to reply. He walks to their dining and sits on one of it's chairs. He smiles wide. "Come on! No way is my birthday of all days gonna feel like a funeral!" He shouts in a funny dramatic way, causing Amanda and Miss Emmanuella to laugh.
"Now let's begin!" Amanda, being a true party animal, shouts aloud.
"Yes!" Miss Emmanuella shouts happily. "Let us celebrate and forget the past!" She smiles warmly. "Why stay bothered about the the past when there is a future?" She grins. Her stomach growls aloud, surprising them. "Oh?!" Miss Emmanuella says in shock, a priceless expression on her face.
"Looks like mum brought a lion home." Mercy jokes and they all burst into laughter. "Or could be another gorilla?"
"Ehhhhh?!" Amanda shouts. What's that supposed to mean?!"
Mercy shrugs, a mischievous grin on his face. "I dunno. I was just saying." Mercy says innocently, but Amanda isn't buying it.
Amanda smiles, causing Mercy to stare at her in confusion. "Is that so?" She asks, her smile widening.
"Uhm..." Mercy trails off as his feeling of discomfort increases. "Yh?" He smiles awkwardly.
Amanda stands up from the chair and begins walking towards him slowly.
"Mum?" Mercy calls, not daring to look away from Amanda.
"Yes, sweetheart?" His mum answers.
"Amanda is at it again."
Amanda stops right in front of him, a sweet smile on her face. She grabs his shirt and begins shaking him violently. "Who are you calling a gorilla?! Hmm?!"
"Oh, have Mercy on me, sis." Mercy says in a pleading tone, shaking like he would soon break at any minute.
"No way!" Amanda shouts. "Now I shall show you the ways of the gorillas." She says, cringing and causing mercy to chuckle.
"Didn't see that coming." Mercy says.
Amanda increases the shaking. "Bet you didn't see this too!" She shouts.
"Can you guys have some manners." Miss Emmanuella says calmly. "This is a dining." She chuckles. "And Amanda dear, please stop before you will break your brother's back bone." She and Amanda laughs.
Amanda frees him. "You are lucky." She says in satisfaction. "I would have shifted some joints."
"Everyone knows gorillas are capable of such." Mercy laughs aloud.
"Mum?!" She shouts, turning to look at her mum.
Miss Emmanuella sighs and laughs. "Sure hon."
"Noooooooooo..." Mercy shouts dramatically. "Mum, how could you?" He asks in a dramatic tone.
Miss Emmanuella laughs. "You brought it upon yourself."
Amanda rushes forward, grabs his two shoulders and begins shaking him more violently.
"Please have mercy on me." He pleads. "Call the animal control, oh dear mother of mine! There's a gorilla on the loose."
Miss Emmanuella laughs aloud. "Stop being silly and stop and she will too."
"Noooooo... Ooooooo..."
"This isn't satisfying." Amanda says. "How about a little change?" She asks as she stops shaking Mercy.
Mercy tenses. "And that is?"
"Oh, you know..." Amanda trails off. "The punishment you got when we were kids." She says as a mischievous smile appears on her lips.
Mercy eyes widens in horror. 'No! Not that! No! No! No! No!' He shouts in his head as some sweats begins appearing on his face.
"Well?" Amanda asks, her smile widening.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Mercy says with an awkward laugh.
Amanda laughs. "Oh come on, dear brother of mine. You know what I'm talking about."
Mercy gulps quietly. "I really don't."
"You forgot the knife Amanda." Miss Emmanuella says and begins walking to the kitchen.
"Sorry, mum" Amanda says.
"It's okay, hon."
"Do you need help, mother?" Mercy asks.
Miss Emmanuella pauses, turning to look at Mercy. "No."
"Oh..." Mercy trails off. "Okay. But can I follow you?" 'Please say yes!' He pleads in his head.
"Sure." Miss Emmanuella says and continues to the kitchen.
'Yes!' Mercy shouts in his head and attempts to stand up.
"Oh no, mister!" Amanda shouts and forces him to sit down.
"Mum-"
"Shhhh..." Amanda places a finger on his lips. "She doesn't need an escort."
Mercy tries a pleading face, but fails badly. "Negotiation?!" He shouts dramatically.
"Stop being such a drama queen." Amanda says with a laugh.
"Please. You know we have pass that stage." Mercy pleads.
"Look who's talking." Amanda says with a mischievous smirk. She cracks her finger. "Well, enough talking." She cracks her neck. "It is princess tickles' time."
Mercy tenses, his eyes wide in horror as his sister rushes forward and begins tickling him. "No! Please!" He shouts and bursts into a fit of laughter.
Amanda continues, going all out. "How's this now, dear brother of mine."
Mercy continues laughing uncontrollably. "Please, stop! I'm going to fart." He pleads in between laughs.
"You wouldn't dare!" Amanda says in a tone that is daring him to try it so she could tickle him to coma ville.
"I will!" He laughs. "Please stop!" More laughter.
Amanda continues, not caring about the rains of pleading that are coming from Mercy.
After some solid minutes of bearing the torture, Mercy manages to free himself and run off into his room. He tries to close the door, but Amanda is already in.
"Ready for more?" Amanda asks with a mischievous smirk.
"I'm sorry." Mercy says in sincerity, causing Amanda to stare at him in confusion.
Amanda opens her mouth to say something.
"But it is all according to my plan." Mercy says in satisfaction. "I win!" Mercy locks his room door, collects the key and drops the bomb. He begins laughing aloud as Amanda struggles to breathe. "How is it, dear sister of mine?" He asks, laughing more.
"Ew! Gross!" She shouts. "Please! Have Mercy! You win! You win!" Amanda pleads.
"Is it a promise?"
"Yes! Yes! It is!"
"Much better." Mercy opens the door.
Amanda zooms out of the room, panting for air and for her dear life. "You might have win today!" She shouts. "But remember princess tickles does not accept defeat."
Mercy laughs aloud, walking back to the parlor. "Good luck, my love."
Their mother comes back with the knife. "Sorry for the hold up."
Mercy and Amanda quickly walk to their mum.
"Where is Mrs Anna?" Mercy and Anna asks.
"Double!" Mercy shouts.
"Are you for real?!" Amanda shouts in disbelief.
"What's that?" Miss Emmanuella asks in confusion.
"It's a game." Amanda says.
"I hope it isn't a bad one?" Miss Emmanuella asks.
"No, mum!" Amanda and Mercy shout, each holding the urge to shout the word.
"Ok then." Miss Emmanuella says in satisfaction. "Mrs Anna says she might come." She sighs. "So, it's a fifty fifty."
"Okay." Amanda and Mercy say calmly.
They begin arranging everything and in no time, the top of the table is loaded with all sorts of goodies.
Amanda and Mercy stare at them hungrily.
The door bell rings. "So, she did make it." Miss Emmanuella says with a thankful sigh and goes for the door. She comes back with Mrs Anna. The both of them are carrying two big bags each.
"Hope I'm not late?!" Mrs Anna shouts happily.
"Good evening Ma'am." Amanda and Mercy say.
"Good evening lovelies!" She shouts with a wide smile. "Did I miss anything?" She asks.
"No ma'am." Amanda answers with a soft smile.
"Yay!" Mrs Anna shouts in a childish way and they all laugh. "What are we waiting for?! Let's start already!"
They all sit down happily.
"Let's pray." Miss Emmanuella says calmly.
They all pray, taking turns.
"... In Jesus name we pray." Mrs Anna says.
"Amen." Everybody, including Mrs Anna, says.
They begin eating and drinking, chatting away happily.
†‡†‡†‡†‡†‡
It's eleven O'Clock and everyone is still wide awake, chatting away happily.
A figure with bright glowing red eyes is watching them from their window.
Mercy and his mum feels it's presence and turn to look, but see nothing.
Mercy looks back at Mrs Anna while Miss Emmanuella looks at Mercy for some seconds, but Mercy doesn't notice. Then she looks back at Mrs Anna who is happily chatting away about her rich life.
She continues, surprising them with so much stories that sounds like movies. Some funny, others sad, and some down right hilarious and unfortunate moments.
"So that's how I ended a whole family of rats for a poor stranger I didn't even know." Mrs Anna says with pride and they all laugh. "I had to make the milky chocolate tasty and irresistible or they wouldn't drink it." They all chuckle. "You should have seen the little movie they acted and the way they all dropped dead after some drinks." She laughs. "The drama was insane."
Everyone bursts into laughter.
"And that was how I ended a stranger's suffering for free." She concludes and they all laugh.
Mercy and his family can't help but feel fascinated by the woman's positive energy and vibes.
This causes Mercy to reason why her son was a piece of trash.
"Thanks for the night story." Miss Emmanuella says with a wide smile.
"Yeah." Mercy and Amanda says.
Mrs Anna smiles wide. "Sure. Anytime."
"Go to bed now. We're all going to church tomorrow." Miss Emmanuella says.
Mercy and Amanda groan.
"You know you have to." She laughs. "Especially you, Mercy. I don't think I can watch you sleep in church. It's embarrassing. But I'll bear it."
Ama!da chuckles. "Kinda like a snoring ape."
Everyone laughs.
"Nice one sis." Mercy says with a grin. "Nice one."
"Well thank you." Amanda says with pride.
Mercy and Amanda both stand up, none wanting to go to bed, but left with no other choice.
Mercy hugs Amanda tight. "Good night, chimp." He whispers in her ear and chuckles. "Oops. I meant champ." He laughs. He releases her and bolts to his room.
Amanda starts to follow him.
"Heys, little miss. To the bedroom." Miss Emmanuella says warmly, she and Mrs Anna laughing.
Amanda groans as she begins walking to her room. "I'm so going to rearrange his bones tomorrow, mum." She says.
"Of course you would." Miss Emmanuella says with a funny tone that causes them to laugh.
Amanda hugs her mum. "Good night mum." She walks to Mrs Anna and hugs her too. "Good night ma'am." She smiles sweetly. "Thank you both for today."
"Sure love." Mrs Anna says.
"Welcome darling." Miss Emmanuella says.
Amanda goes to her room, shutting the door behind her.
Mercy bolts out of his room, hugs his mum and thanks her and Mrs Anna, then zooms back in.
Mrs Anna and Miss Emmanuella laughs aloud.
"You sure have a lovely family." Mrs Anna says.
"Yeah..." Miss Emmanuella trails off. "It is very surprising, but I'm very glad they are good."
Mrs Anna sighs. "Lucky you. I wish my life was like that." She says in a sad tone.
Miss Emmanuella places a hand on Mrs Anna's own. "Don't worry. It will soon be." She says reassuringly. "God will soon turn to your own chapter and change your story."
"Amen." Mrs Anna says. "Thank you."
They continue chatting happily about their pasts, laughing and chuckling a little bit too loud.
Mercy stands looking at the shadowy figure, his body trembling uncontrollably. "W...who are you? Wha..." He trails off, too scared to talk. "A...a...and wha...what do you wa...want?"
"I am a demon." It says in it's deep dark voice, causing Mercy's eyes to widen in horror. "Your demon. Your guardian demon to be precise."
"A demon- My demon- A guardian demon-?" Mercy says quickly, not hiding the horror he is feeling.
"Yes." The figure says. "And I think it's time you go retrieve something."
"But-"
"Tomorrow night." The figure says, cutting him short.
Mercy feels a strong urge to ask why tomorrow, but keeps quiet due to the intense fear he's feeling.
The figure disappears.
Mercy breaks down in tears. "Why?" Is all he could say. He showers then forces himself to bed, wishing he would wake up the next morning from this bad dream of his.