DANIEL

’KNOCK, KNOCK’’ ECHOED A CHILDISH VOICE THROUGH A LARGE APARTMENT COMPLEX. The sound was unnerving and resonated with the residents, leaving them feeling so calm that they could drift off to sleep forever. EXCEPT FOR ONE RESIDENT WHO FELT THE ECHO AS IF A NAIL BEING DRIVEN THROUGH HIS EAR, THE MORE HE TOSSED AND TURNED ON HIS BED, THE AGONIZING THE PAIN GOT. EVERY SECOND FELT LIKE MOLTING METAL WAS BEING POURED DIRECTLY INTO HIS EAR, HE THOUGHT IT WOULD NEVER ‘END UNTIL HE HEARD A KNOCK AT HIS DOOR. THE PAIN DISAPPEARED AS QUICKLY AS IT CAME, AND WITH A RELEAF EXPRESSION, HE SLOWLY MADE HIS WAY TO THE DOOR PASSING BY THE HIPS OF TRASH AND THE GOD-AWFUL SMELL, HE MADE IT TO THE DOOR. UPON LOOKING THROUGH THE PEEP HOLE HE SAW NOTHING. WITH A LOUD SIGH HE OPENS THE DOOR.

‘’I AM YOUR FRIENDLY GOD, HERE TO GRANT YOU A WISH, IF YOU GRANT ME MINE’’. A CHILD WITH BRIGHT BLUE EYES, AND GOLDEN HAIR, LOOKING AROUND THE AGES OF 7 TO 9, WEARING A MAJESTIC WHITE PRIESTLY ROBE WITH BLACK LINES RUNNING ACROSS IT SHOUTED WHILE GIGGLING. HE HAD A PERPLEXED LOOK, THE CHILD IN FRONT OF HIM WAS FAR TOO BEAUTIFUL TO BE IN HIS PRESENCE. HE THOUGHT THE PAIN FROM EARLIER WAS CAUSING HIM TO HALLUCINATE, HE TRIED BLINKING MULTIPLE TIMES, TO MAKE SURE.

‘’MR DANIEL ANTIDOT, AGE 28, MY NAME IS NORMALIS, AND I AM, THE!!, GOD’’

THE MENTIONS OF HIS NAME CAUSED HIM TO JOUTE BACK BEFORE HE CAME OUT OF HIS HOUSE QUICKLY TO MONITOR THE AREA.

‘’THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW’’ DANIEL SHOUTED WHILE FRANTICALLY LOOKING AROUND

WHILE NORMALIS WAS SMILING AND LAUGHING, HE WAS CURRENTLY IN THE FORM OF A CHILD AND WAS COMMITTED TO THE ROLE

‘’MR DANIEL WHY ARE YOU SCREAMING’’, NORMALIS SAID WITH A CHILDISH TONE

DANIEL HAD WHITE SKIN WITH BROWN EYES AND BROWN HER, HE WAS VERY SKINNY AND CURRENTLY LOOKED UNWASHED. HE THOUGHT A BIG TV HOST WAS PLAYING A PRANK ON HIM

‘’OH PLEASE DON’T FLATTER YOURSELF, NOBODY IS WASTING THEIR TIME AND MONEY ON YOU’’. NORMALIS SAID IN A DEEP VOICE

DANIEL QUICKLY TURNED AROUND WITH FEAR IN HIS EYES, HE ONLY NOTICED NORMALIS ROLLING HIS EYES AT HIM. THIS DUMBFOUNDED HIM, HE WAS NOW THINKING ABOUT THE CHILD IN FRONT OF HIM AND THE STRENGE OCCURRENCE HE HAD FOUND HIMSELF IN. BUT NOW MEMORIES OF AN UNFORTUNATE EVENT WERE FLASHING THROUGH HIS MIND, MEMORIES HE KEPT LOCKED UP DEEP DOWN IN HIS SUBCONSCIOUSNESS. HE SCREAMED AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS, CLENCHING HIS HEAD

‘’WHY!!!!!,WHY,WHY’’

HE FELT WEAK FROM THE KNEES DOWN, AND HE BEGAN FEELING DIZZY. HE DIDN’T UNDERSTAND WHY HIS TRAUMATIC MEMORIES RESURFACED, UNTIL HE GAZED INTO THE EYES OF NORMALIS WHO LOOKED BORED TO TEARS, THAT’S WHEN DANIEL UNDERSTOOD WHY

‘’GOD!!!!!’’. HE SHOUTED WITH DISDAIN IN HIS HEART

‘’YESSSSSSS’’. NORMALIS SAID WITH A LIVELY LOOK

DANIEL GAVE NORMALIS AN UGLY LOOK AND TOLD HIM TO LEAVE AS HE MADE HIS WAY TO HIS ROOM, WITH A LOUD THUD HE SLAMMED THE DOOR. HE MOVED THROUGH THE JANK-INFESTED ROOM WITH A MELANCHOLIC LOOK, THE BED FELT VERY COLD, AND HE COULD ONLY THINK ABOUT THE UNFORTUNATE STUFF IN HIS LIFE, TEARS BEGAN FLOWING FROM HIS EYES, AND HE WAS IN A MISERABLE AND MESSY STATE.

‘’HELLO MR DANIEL, WILL YOU GRANT ME MY WISH NOW’’.

DANIEL WITH A FRIGHTENED LOOK, JUMPED OUT OF HIS BED, LIKE GRAVITY DIDN’T EXIST, HIS BACK FACING THE WALL AND HIS GAZE LOCKED ON NORMALIS.

‘’HOW THE F*** DID YOU GET INTO MY ROOM’’. DANIEL SCREAMED OUT OF FEAR

NORMALIS IGNORED HIM, HE CAREFULLY LOOKED AROUND DANIEL’S ROOM WITH HIS TINY BODY, AND AFTER HE WAS DONE TAKING IN THE DISGUSTING VIEW AND SMELL, HE LOOKED AT DANIEL WITH THE SWEETEST SMILE. THIS JUST CREPT DANIEL TO THE CORE, HE NOW MORE THAN EVER WANTED TO GET OUT OF HIS ROOM. HE RACED TOWARDS THE DOOR, GRABBING THE KNOB WITH ALL HIS MIGHT BUT HE FELT NOTHING, JUST A SECOND AGO HE HELD IT, HE COULD FEEL IT IN HIS HAND AND NOW IT WAS GONE. IT FINALLY HIT HIM THE DOOR WAS GONE, THERE WAS NO DOOR IN FRONT OF HIM. PANIC TOOK OVER, HE BEGAN FRANTICALLY BANGING, PUNCHING, AND KICKING THE PLACE THAT USED TO BE THE DOOR. AFTER TIRING HIMSELF AND REALIZING THERE WAS NO WAY OUT, WITH A HEAVY BREATH AND A SHAKING BODY. HE QUICKLY TURNED AROUND TO FACE THE CHILD WITH HIS LAST OUNCE OF COURAGE

‘’MISTER, MISTER, WHY DOES YOUR ROOM SMELL SOOOOOO BAD AND LOOK SOOOO DIRTY’’ NORMALIS SAID WITH A PICTURE-PERFECT SMILE BEFORE HE STARTED LAUGHING LIKE AN ANGEL.

DANIEL WITH SWEAT DRIPPING DOWN HIS FACE BEGAN BREATHING IN AND OUT, SLOWLY BUT STEADILY IT HELPED CALM HIS NERVES. IN A LOW A AND CALM VOICE HE SAID

‘’HOW…… DID YOU GET TO MY ROOM’’.

‘’I JUST WALKED IN, AND I WAS, INSIDE YOUR ROOM’’. NOMALIS REPLIED WITH AN EXAGGERATED VOICE AND FACIAL EXPRESSION

DANIEL HAD HAD ENOUGH OF IT, HE THOUGHT NORMALIS WAS MAKING A MOCKERY OF HIM.

‘’WHO THE F*** DO YOU THINK YOU ARE JUST COMING INTO A STRANGER’S HOUSE, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO LEAVE’’ DANIEL SCREAMED WITH ANGER AND TERRA IN HIS VOICE

NORMALIS QUICKLY ANSWERED ‘’ JUST YOUR FRIENDLY GOD’’

HEARING THAT ONLY ELEVATED DANIEL’S ANGER AND RAGE

‘’PLEASE STOP WITH THAT BULLCRAP, THAT NONSENSE NAME THAT CAME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH MAKES ME SICK, JUST SHUT THE F*** UP AND LEAVE AND STOP MENTIONING THAT NAME BEFORE I SHOVE IT UP YOU……..’’

BEFORE DANIEL COULD COMPLETE THAT SENTENCE, NORMALIS WITH NO EXPRESSION INTERJECTED

‘’WHAT A SHAME, WHAT A SHAME, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, BUT LOOK AT YOU SCREAMING AT A CHILD, JUST BECAUSE, WHAT, HE MENTIONED THE NAME OF GOD. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF’’

AFTER THE FINAL WORDS LEFT NORMALIS MOUTH, DANIEL FELL INTO A TRANCE WHERE HE SAW BLOOD SPLASH EVERYWHERE AND THE SCREAMS OF PEOPLE IN AGONIZING PAIN. HE CAME OUT OF THAT TRANS LAUGHING MENACINGLY WITH A CREEPY SMILE.

‘’I DON’T CARE, THAT THING NEVER DID ANYTHING FOR ME, IT ONLY BROUGHT PAIN AND MISERY’’

‘’ WHY ?, BECAUSE YOUR WHOLE FAMILY WAS MURDERED, YOU DROP GOD AND LIVE LIKE A PIG’’.NORMALIS SAID STICKING HIS TONGUE OUT WITH ONE FINGER ACROSS HIS CHEEK.

DANIEL WAS ABOUT TO GO UNCONSCIOUS, HIS HEAD FEELING HEAVY AND HIS KNEES FEELING WEAK, HIS CHAINS FINALLY BROKE ON THE MEMORIES HE KEPT LOCKED UP DEEP IN HIS SUBCONSCIOUS. TRAUMATIC MEMORIES BEGAN TO FLOOD HIS BRAIN. HE FELL INTO ANOTHER TRANCE, THIS TIME EVERYTHING WAS VIVID, IN THE LIVING ROOM OF HIS HOUSE THEIR WHITE FURNITURE WAS NOW THE COLOUR OF BLOOD, AND HIS TWO SISTERS LAY DEAD ON THE FLOOR WITH BULLET HOLES THROUGHOUT THEIR BODIES WITH THE MEN WHO DID IT STANDING ON TOP LAUGHING DEVILISHLY. HIS PARENT LAY ON THE FLOOR WHILE KNIFE PLAYED WITH THEIR BODY, DANIEL, JUST NINE, WATCHED AS HIS WHOLE FAMILY WAS BRUTALLY MURDERED IN FRONT OF HIS VERY OWN EYES. THE LAUGHTER OF THE KILLERS HUNTS HIM TO THIS DAY. DANIEL CAME OUT OF THE TRANCE WITH A MISERABLE LOOK AND REALIZED HE WAS ON THE FLOOR WITH NORMALIS CROUCHED DOWN STARING AT HIM. HE QUICKLY MOVED AWAY FROM HIM, ABOUT TO CRY ABOUT HOW MISERABLE HIS DAY WAS WHEN NORMALIS YAWNED, HE FELT RAGE AND BLOODLUST FROM THE DEEPEST PIT IN HIS SORROWFUL SOUL. HE CLENCHED HIS FIST AND CHARGED STRAIGHT AT NORMALIS WITHOUT HESITATION, NORMALIS HAD A LOOK OF DISGUST. DANIEL WASN’T ABLE TO TOUCH HIM, HE JUST WENT STRAIGHT RIGHT THROUGH HIM FALLING ON ALL THE GARBAGE LITTERED ON THE FLOOR. NORMALIS GIGGLED LOUDLY

‘’UNFORTUNATELY, YOU CAN’T TOUCH GOD WHILE YOU LACK FAITH, ARE IN DENIAL, MISERABLE, AND CARRY AROUND A BAG OF MISTAKES, PROBLEMS, AND HATRED ON YOUR BACK’’. NORMALIS SAID IN A SLIGHTLY SERIOUS TONE

DANIEL STOOD UP FROM THE TRASH, HIS EYES LOOKING DEEP RED LIKE BLOOD WITH HIS VEINS POPING OUT, HIS FACIAL EXPRESSION WAS THAT OF A DYING ANIMAL WHO WOULD DO ANYTHING TO SURVIVE.

‘’WOULD YOU JUST SHUT UP ABOUT GOD THIS AND GOD THAT, WHERE WAS HE WHEN MY FAMILY WAS KILLED, WHERE WAS HE WHEN THEY WERE SCREAMING IN PAIN, WHERE WAS HE WHEN THE MURDERERS LAUGHED OVER MY FAMILY, CAN YOU JUST SHUT THE F*** UP ABOUT THE USELESS BEING. MY PARENT WOULD SPEND ALMOST ALL OF THEIR TIME PRAISING HIM AND WORSHIPPING HIS FEET AND LOOK AT WHAT IT GOT THEM, DEATH, A MEANLESS DEATH. GOD DOES NOT EXIST’’

AFTER GETTING THIS OFF HIS CHEST, HE WAS ABOUT TO RELAX WHEN HE NOTICED SOMETHING HORRIFYING, THE SIGHT OF WHICH FROZE HIM STIFF, HE DIDN’T DARE TO MOVE A MUSCLE, NORMALIS BLUE RADIANT EYES WERE NOW A FIERY RED WHICH EMITTED THE HEAT OF THE SUN, HIS GOLDEN HAIR BEGAN TO FLOAT AND WAVE IN THE AIR IT THEN INSTANTLY CHANGED TO A BLACKISH COLOUR THAT BROUGHT FORT A COLD BREEZE. HIS ONCE BRIGHT SMILE QUICKLY TURNED INTO A TWISTED CARTOONISH FROWN.

‘’I WISH JESUS CHRIST WERE IN MY DIMENSION ALWAYS CALM AND COMPOSED, BUT HE IS NOT’’

NORMALIS SHOUTED IN A SCARY AND TWISTED VOICE

DANIEL FEAR LEVEL WAS THROUGH THE ROOF, CLOSED HIS EYES AND BEGAN REPEATING THE SAME WORDS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, ‘’GOD DOES NOT EXIST’’. UNFORTUNATELY FOR HIM, THAT WAS A VERY BIG MISTAKE, WHEN HE OPENED HIS EYES HE WAS MET WITH AN UNHUMAN-LOOKING FACE, WITH MULTIPLE EYES AND A GROTESQUE BODY WITH MULTIPLE LIMBS.

FACED WITH THE MOST FRIGHTENING THING EVER CONCEIVED ON EARTH, THERE WAS ONLY ONE PATH HIS BRAIN COULD TAKE, AND THAT WAS TO SHUT DOWN, THERE WAS NO TIME FOR FEAR OR PANIC, HIS MIND COULDN’T UNDERSTAND OR ACCEPT WHAT WAS IN FRONT OF HIM.

‘’ WAKEY, WAKEY’’

DANIEL SLOWLY OPEN HIS EYES, THE EVENTS STILL VIVID IN HIS MIND. BUT THERE WAS NO PANIC OR FEAR, HE FELT THE BEST HE HAD EVER FELT, EXUDING AN UNGODLY AMOUNT OF CALMNESS. HE WAS SO AWW STRUCK BY HOW CALM HE WAS HE DIDN’T REALIZE WERE HE WAS UNTIL

‘’ SORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED I AM JUST GETTING USE TO HUMAN EMOTION ‘’

THE MOST COMPOSED AND ANGELIC VOICE DANIEL HAS EVER HEARD SAID

‘’HOW DO YOU LIKE THE PLACE’’

 DANIEL HAD HIS EYES OPENED WIDE WITH HIS JAW ABOUT TO FALL OFF, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE EVER KNOWN TO MAN—A GRAND CELESTIAL PALACE WITH GOLD IN EVERY VIEW, AND STARS DANCING ABOVE AND BELOW HIM.

‘’IS THIS HEAVEN’’ DANIEL SAID FULL OF PLEASANT EMOTIONS.

THERE WAS A LAUGH THAT SHOOK THE FOUNDATION

‘’HEAVEN, SORRY DEAR YOU WON’T EVEN MAKE IT TO THE GATE’’

NORMALIS SAID AS HE DESCENDED FROM ABOVE WITH STARS ORBITING HIM, THE SUN ABOVE HIM, AND GOLDEN STREAMS FLOWING AROUND HIM

‘’THIS IS JUST A PLACE FOR AS TO TALK’’

HE LANDED GRACIOUSLY WITH THE FORM OF HIS CHILD PERSONA. THE MOST MAJESTIC TABLE AND CHAIR WITH DESIGNS OUT OF THIS WORLD APPEARED BEFORE DANIEL

‘’PLEASE HAVE A SEAT’’

DANIEL ACTED LIKE A CHILD WHILE SITTING DOWN, IT WAS EXPECTED, AFTER ALL, THEY WERE NOT ON EARTH, AND EVERYTHING IN SITE WAS JUST TOO AMAZING, NONE OF IT COULD BE PRODUCED ON EARTH OR IN A DREAM.

‘’RIGHT YOU ARE, MISTER DANIEL ANTIDOT’’

DANIEL STARED BLANKLY AT NOMALIS AS HE TOOK HIS SEAT, HE TOOK IN A DEEP BREATH AND THEN SAID

‘’SO YOU ARE HIM’’

NORMALIS SMILED

‘’BE A MAN, AND SAY IT’’

‘’ SO YOU ARE GOD THE ALL-POWERFUL BEING WHO CREATED HEAVEN AND EARTH’’.

DANIEL SHOUTED IT OUT, HE FELT A BIG WAVE OF RELIEF WASH OVER HIM, HIS MIND FELT CLEAR AND  LIGHT.

‘’I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTION YOU HAVE FOR ME’’

IT DIDN’T TAKE A SECOND FOR DANIEL TO ASK

‘’ WHY DIDN’T YOU PROTECT MY FAMILY’’

NORMALIS LOOKING HIS CUTEST ANSWERED

‘’BECAUSE I AM NOT THE POLICE, YOUR NEIGHBOURS OR FRIENDS’’

IF THE CALM EFFECT WASN’T ON DANIEL, HE MIGHT HAVE GONE INTO AN UNNECESSARY RAGE, BUT DEEP DOWN HE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD NORMALIS

‘’I CREATED YOU, YOU CREATED EMOTION, CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND YES, WAR, VIOLENCE, AND MURDER. HUMANS GOVERN THE PHYSICAL WORLD AND I CONTROL THE OTHER SIDE. THERE IS NO ANGEL AND DEVIL BESIDE YOU, IT’S JUST YOU. I GIVE GUIDANCE NOT DESTROY THE FUNDAMENTAL REALITY CREATED TO SAVE A SOUL. THE GOOD IS REWARDED, THE BAD ARE PUNISHED. HUMANS DIE, I NEVER CREATED YOU TO BE IMMORTAL, WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE POINT OF CREATION IF YOU DIDN’T DIE, I WOULD HAVE JUST CREATED MORE ANGELS IF I WANTED MORE IMMORTALS. DANIEL, PAIN MAKES YOU HUMAN, DEATH, REGRET, SORROW, JOY, AND HAPPINESS MAKE YOU A TRUE HUMAN’’

THE WORDS OUT OF NORMALIS’ MOUTH HAD THEIR INTENDED EFFECT, THE GATE THAT BLOCKED GOD OUT WAS NOW BURST OPEN TO RECEIVE HIM

‘’ARE THE BAD GUYS DEAD’’

‘’ FOR THEIR CRIMES, THEY DO NOT EXIST’’

DANIEL WAS SO HAPPY ABOUT THAT 

‘’ GOD’’

‘’PLEASE CALL ME NORMALIS I DON’T WANT YAHWEH TO COME FOR MY HEAD’’

‘’ NORMALIS IT IS, CAN I SEE MY FAMILY’’

HIS FACE SHINED RADIANTLY WAITING FOR THE ANSWER

‘’ NO’’

‘’WHY?’’ DANIEL ASKED INSTANTLY

‘’BECAUSE YOU ARE STILL DIRTY EVEN FOR THE GATE OF HEAVEN, BUT IF YOU GRANT MY WISH, I WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN’’

‘’REALLY, DOES A DEAL’’

IMMEDIATELY HE SAID THAT THEY WERE BACK IN HIS ROOM. THE ONCE FILTHY ROOM NOW LOOKED LIKE A PALACE.NORMALIS HAD HIS CHILDISH SMILE BACK, HIS EXCITEMENT WAS OVER THE ROOF.

‘’ WHAT WISH DO YOU WANT ME TO GRANT, O, GREAT NORMALIS’’ DANIEL SAID WITH A BOW

INSTANTLY NORMALIS ANSWERED

‘’ I WANT YOU TO RUN AROUND THE CITY NAKED SHOUTING GOD IS REAL, GOD IS THE BEST’’

DANIEL HAD HIS JAW ON THE FLOOR

‘’THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT AS A WISH’’

NORMALIS JUST OPENED THE DOOR FOR HIM AND POINTED OUT. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME DANIEL BEGAN TO LAUGH, THE JOY WAS ALL OVER HIS FACE. AFTER HE WAS DONE LAUGHING, WITHOUT A PINCH OF HESITATION, HE STRIPED BUTT NAKED AND RUN OUT THE DOOR, SHOUTING

‘’ GOD IS REAL, GOD EXIST, GOD IS THE BEST’’

NORMALIS ON THE SIDELINE LAUGHED UNCONTROLLABLY WHILE ANY RESIDENT WHO CAME OUT AND NOTICED DANIEL EITHER SCREAMED, LAUGHED OR RECORDED. FOR THE FUN TO GO  UNINTERRUPTED, NORMALIS REMOVED THE CONCEPT OF POLICE FROM THE CITIZENS ‘ MINDS.  DANIEL HAPPIER THAN EVER KEPT ON SHOUTING AND RUNNING AROUND THE CITY, AT ONE POINT HE STOPPED TO DANCE WHICH MADE NORMALIS ROLL ON THE FLOOR FROM LAUGHTER. DANIEL BECAME A HOT TOPIC IN THE CITY, HE WAS KNOWN AS THE NAKED PREACHER. IT WAS FINALLY NIGHTTIME, DANIEL HAD BEEN RUNNING THE WHOLE DAY BUT WAS NEVER OUT OF ENERGY.

‘’ HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS’’ DANIEL ASKED LOOKING EXCITED

‘’OF COURSE, NOW HERE SOME CLOTHES’’.

DANIEL LOOKED AT THE CLOTHES ON HIS ONCE NAKED BODY, IT REMINDED HIM OF THE ONES HE HAD WORN WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED TO HIS FAMILY.

‘’NORMALIS WHAT ARE YOU DOING’’

‘’GRANTING YOUR WISH’’ HE SAID SMILING

NORMALIS HELD DANIEL’S HAND AND WITHOUT A SECOND DELAY THEY APPEARED BEFORE A BLUE MANSION. DANIEL HAD REVERTED TO A CHILD, HE GLANCED AROUND, AT THE FAMILIAR SURROUNDINGS THIS BROUGHT HIM THE PUREST JOY AND HAPPINESS THAT FILLED HIS HEART.

‘’HOW’’, WITH TEARS FLOWING OUT OF DANIEL’S EYES.

‘’ I TOLD YOU, THE CRIMINALS DON’T EXIST’’

THE DOOR OF THE MANSION SWANG OPENED, AND TWO GIRLS IMMEDIATELY RUSHED OUTSIDE, ONE TALL THE OTHER SHORT

‘’ WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN’’ THE TALL GIRL SAID, FOLLOWED BY THE SHORT GIRL

‘’WE SEARCHED EVERYWHERE FOR YOU, MOM AND DAD ARE WORRIED’’.

DANIEL COULD ONLY BURST INTO TEARS, THE WORRIED SISTERS QUICKLY CAME TO HIM, COMFORTING HIM AS THEY SENT HIM INSIDE. YOU COULD HEAR THE HAPPY VOICE OF THE FAMILY FROM A MILE AWAY.

NORMALIS FULFILLED WAS NOW LOOK FOR THE NEXT PERSON

‘’FOUND YOU, MONICA’’