Chapter 4: Responsibility(4)

Jessa was anxiously holding Jake's bloodied hand. She couldn't tremble while remembering Jake shielding an unknown child in an accident. She can't think straight because of the two dangerous situations that Jake partakes especially the latter one that made him bathing in his own blood. She can't take a blow for losing her brother. When they had arrived in the hospital, they were stopped at the entrance of the emergency room. She was walking back and fro while nervously waiting for the doctor's report.

"Are you the guardian of the one who saves my little brother?" a lady asked Jessa.

Jessa was interrupted by her train of thought and faced the lady. She helplessly smiles and nods. The lady took Jessa's eye and tearfully looked at her.

"Thank you, if not for that guy. My brother might not reach the hospital," the lady said gratefully and suddenly hugged Jessa.

Jessa could only console her and let her.

"Jake to Earth. Earth to Jake. Oh wait, we're not even on Earth. What did this place call again? It's not Purgatory, oh, its Limbo of the Fathers." the voice interrupted Jake's sleeping consciousness.

Jake was looking at the young man who was seating on a chair in a coffee table. Its heterochromia eyes were looking straight to him. Jake looked at his surrounding, He was in a place that was supposed to be a castle and there was a pile of old papers near the corners of the room.

"Where do you came from?" Jake asked.

"I suppose to be the one asking you that? You're intruding on my space. Why don't you seat and chat with me for the meantime," the young man gleefully said.

Jake was horrified when he saw a plate filled with assorted cookies appeared out of thin air in the table. Even the cup and kettle appeared in thin air.

"Who are you?" Jake inquire meticulously.

"Me? For heaven's sake, you've forgotten my name again? You're a quite troublesome fellow, aren't you?" the young man complained indifference with his playful expression.

"Who are you?" Jake repeated.

"You should remember that you're a regular visitor? You even said once to me that you wanted to play a guessing game with me anytime you visit me?" the young man answered discreetly.

"WHO ARE YOU?" Jake asked again.

"I won't just guess. Why don't you take a seat while guessing my name? My trigger that answers for your current questions," the young man said.

Jake could only follow what was the young man said. He took a seat. The young man pushed the plate full of cookies to Jake.

"Take a bite, it was specially prepared for you. Then, why don't we take a recap while leaving my name as your problem?" the young man suggested.

Jake nodded and took a cookie.

"What do you remember?" the young man inquired.

"I don't know much," Jake answered and he was immediately annoyed seeing the young man's expression.

The young man seemed to be playing Jake. Jake returns the cookie to the plate and stand.

"You're toying me. I think we don't have anything to discuss with," Jake said and walked away.

The young man just looked at him silly and take a cookie from the plate. He didn't mind to stop Jake from leaving because, in the end, he will return here. Jake walked toward the desert without any destination in his mind. All he just saw was the still dawn sky and an empty desert that seemed not to have any living creatures except him. He just walked without stopping. The same landscape greeted him and in the end, he just admits his defeat. He thought about how much time he will need to return to the castle. He was bewildered when he saw the castle saw right on his back. He entered the castle and gone directly to the place where he meets the young man.

"How's your trip?" the young man's greeting right after Jake's entrance to the room.

Jake couldn't help to be silent after the young man's greeting. His cheeks turned red in embarrassment.

"Well, why don't you take your sir," the young man offered.

Without a doubt, Jake took the sit and look at the young man.

"I don't want to make this gave too long but I must uphold the rules. As you see, I had hidden my name in the whole room. It was written somewhere here. After you say my name, we will go to the main thing." the young man spoke.

Jake instinctively looked toward the ceiling and he saw something was written there.

"Suffering," he mumbled, and like a unblock river, the memories started to flow in his mind.

"Do you now remember me?" Suffering asked after sighing.

He put down his cup and looked at Jake.

"Yes," Jake shortly answered, and once again his cheek reddened in shame.

"You have taken so much time walking outside so we will be going to the main point. As I said earlier, what do you remember?" Suffering asked.

"I saw some kid will be part of an accident and I tried to stop it but I failed aren't I?" Jake answered lowly while remembering his actions.

"Did someone say to you that you should save the child? There was no one right? It was your own initiative and it bore fruit. The child was safe from danger because your body took almost all of the impact," Suffering describe Jake's actions.

"Good but wait am I dead?" Jake felt relief knowing what happened to the kid but immediately realize the consequence of his action.

Suffering laughed.

"Do you think that you will meet me if you're already dead. It is a big no. Your body was in the state coma-like when you are visiting me," Suffering rebutted.

Jake smiled knowing that he saw still alive.

"There are two incidents that happened that day. Can you give me the similarity between the two?" Suffering asked.

"I see two different images of futures. The first one was the consequence of my decision and the last one was the repeating images of the child being part of the accident," Jake answered briefly.

"The two are the two types of futures, the Certain and the Faltering Future. The Certain Future is the undeniable scenes that will not change even you tried your best. The Faltering Futures are a type of future that can change that depends on how you will handle the situation. By the way, there was a piece of big news for you, war is coming and it was unavoidable," Suffering spoke and his face turned serious as he said the last line.

Jake was overwhelmed by the sudden facts said by Suffering.

"Are you serious?" Jake doubtfully inquired.

Suffering nodded.

"Yes, it is. Without a doubt, it will come, don't worry it wasn't coming without sound. The world would see the smoke to signal the upcoming war," Suffering said.

"Wait why are you saying this to me?" Jake asked while feeling there was an involvement between him and the war.

Suffering's serious expression changed into a smile.

"Do you think you will be the hero of this war?" Suffering asked like reading Jake.

Jake was immediately embarrassed knowing what Suffering meant.

"My friend Jake, you can't be a hero. First, you're too weak to become one. Second, you're just an ordinary kid with a power to slightly see the future. Last, that war didn't need a hero." Suffering spoke without Jake's feelings.

Jake remained silent in Sufferings mocking.

"The upcoming war needed commanders that will lead the war in Humanity's victory, not just a hero. The Holy Trinity like you to find them and prepare them," Suffering added.

Once again, Jake was shaken.

"You mean..."

"Yes, God chose you to be the forerunner of Human forces," Suffering assured Jake.

"But can't God just send someone to stop it in the first place?" Jake asked.

Suffering shook his head.

"This war was already foretold before the War 200 years ago. The War was a Certain Future and can't be changed in any way," Suffering sadly exclaimed.

"The only thing that can be changed was on how Humanity will prepare for it. We need to do it step by step and thus we need you as a forerunner to prepare them. The Holy Spirit will guide you. Will you take this responsibility?" Suffering asked will weight in his every word.

"Do I have a choice?" Jake asked jokingly.

"Same as the question of Archangel Gabriel to our Blessed Mother. The choice is always with you," Suffering simply answered.

Jake took a deep breath.

"It is my pleasure to serve, God, as his forerunner," Jake answered in a calm tone full of humility and he even bowed his head.

Suffering immediately stood.

"Jake Reyes, I servant of God and Counsellor of God's Last Call of Mercy bestows you the responsibility as the Forerunner of War. May the Lord always be with you," Suffering pronounced and there was a moment of silence before he took his seat.

"Jake, you should go now. Many people are waiting for you to wake up. Your stubbornness had already taken a long enough time. We will see each other again when God wills it," Suffering bid with a small smile.

When Jake looked to Suffering he was starting to vanish and he didn't given a time to speak. Suffering sadly smiled at him while waving. Right after Jake vanished, Suffering looked at the ceiling and laid his back on the chair.

"My friends, it had started." he murmured.

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ARC 1: WAR AND FUTURE FINISH