I have always been an enemy of myself. I hated the fact that the devil in me could only work at night while the angelic side of me was present throughout the day. This has been my way of survival in this goddamn shithole of a country.

First thing I do in the morning after waking up is to grab myself a cup of coffee, a classical music playing at the background, dancing my way to the bathroom. Then, I wear my well ironed shirt and a black trousers complimented with a matching suit to complete the outfit.

I ride myself to my office in Canary, just beside the famous river. It’s chilly all the time even during the summer. At work, I run through my task for the day in addition with previous tasks if not completed. Until someone ruins my day for no particular reason.

“Your writeup does not sound professional. I need you to write it again.” His team leader rebuked him.

“Yes. I’ll do that quickly.” He sounded polite like he had made everyone believe. Deep inside, he was marking him as a target. A foe. Or even still his very own prey.

Ah! I forgot to introduce myself.

I am Aiden. Aiden Wyndham born and bred in Great Britain. The only son and the only child of my parents who suddenly lost their lives to an accident that I caused. It broke my heart as I watch the terror in their eyes, breathing their last breath and still shielding me. It was then I knew I wasn’t normal.

I grew up in a peaceful community with peaceful neighbours. No record of crimes were reported in my vicinity. It was that peaceful. Until one day, I saw him…..the demon himself. He came to me, covered in crimson red, holding a knife that glistened by the cast of light. He handed the knife to me and said:

“It’s your turn. To carry on the legacy.” The demon said.

Normally, I should be surprised but I wasn’t. Instead, with courage I took hold of the knife and what felt like a transfer of anger, hatred, pain, suffering etc engulfed me. My whole body was on fire and my head began to throb with pain. It was painful to the extent that my eyes shot red.

That was when I knew that something had been transferred to me but what in particular, I knew not. Weeks later, I noticed the changes…..I could barely sleep at night. I was tormented by the screams of people that I could not see but I could hear them. They were loud. So loud that I felt my eardrums were being ripped.

I went out for a walk around the peaceful neighbourhood when a dog appeared before me whimpering. I gawked at it as it had a snake wounded around its body. Wherever it had gone to for the snake to prey on it was certainly not my cup of tea.

I watch it as the snake bit it with its venom several times weakening it. It took short breaths, his heartbeat rate reducing afterwards. It passed on and I wasn’t fazed. Instead, a smile crept on my face and a malicious laughter followed afterwards.

Present day………

21st July, 2027

“Honey. When are you going to return tonight?”

“Why do you ask?” Aiden questioned.

“I have a surprise for you. It will be no fun if you return late.” His girlfriend answered.

Aiden has been in a relationship with his current girlfriend for six years and nine months. They began dating in her first year of university in 2020, till now. In the next three month, on the fifth of October, their relationship will be seven whole years.

Macaria Jacques, is the name of his girlfriend, the only daughter of the Jacques family and heiress of the company. Sadly, she lost her parents after her 25th birthday two years ago due to failed brake. Right now, her maternal aunt, Marliene Iverson is in charge of overseeing the company until she gets married as stated in her parents will.

“Alright. I promise to get back early.” Aiden promised. She was elated.

Soon, like he promised, Aiden returned home earlier than usual. Macaria was not in his house though she asked him to come home early. He texted her to find out her whereabouts. She replied immediately.

“I’m at my house. Come over.” He sent a text back to her responding with a “okay.” He drove to her house, it was 30 minutes away from his house, he arrived in no time.

He walked into the house. It was dark. He could barely see. He heard footsteps coming before him, just like that, he seemed unfazed. Due to the darkness, he began to hear those screams again. They were deafening. He was losing his sense of reasoning. His lips began to curl into a wicked smile. The sound of laughter, ready to escape his mouth when Macaria turned on the light with a shout.

“Surprise!!!” She screamed. “You were not scared?” She frowned. Aiden let out a sigh before pulling her into a hug.

“Don’t ever do that again.” He warned her.

“Whatever.” She turned around to sit on the couch. “Come here.” He obediently walked to her side and sat down.

Before he could say anything, she blindfolded him with a white cloth. Though he was not surprised by her scare, he decided to find out what other tricks she had under her sleeve.

“Give me your hand.”

He was not sure what that was about yet he still gave out his hand. “Both of them,” she says while holding a small piece in her hand.

He felt a small solid object in his right hand while he held a weightless object in his left hand. “What are these?” He curiously asked. She whispered in his ear to guess.

“This, refers to his left hand, is a paper; a file or document.” He wasn’t sure of his answer. “But on here, I know what it is. A key.” He smiled.

“A key to what?”

“Car? No! Wait…..is it a motorcycle?”

“Yes.”

“What?” He was shocked and his jaw dropped. She released the blindfold from his eyes and found him in the weirdest expression. Was he about to cry?

“Why?” She mocked him. He pulled her into an embrace and expressed how grateful he was for such a surprise.

“It’s fine. You always told me how you would prefer to ride a motorcycle at night especially for our late night getaway,” a smile appears on her lips as she was pleased he loves the surprise.

Aiden was so happy with the motorcycle he got from his girlfriend. There was no intention of him riding the motorcycle with her like he claimed. The sudden interest in the motorcycle was to help him chase down his foes and to flee the scene quickly. It was not her wishy-wishy thought.

“But why today? Is there anything special?” He suddenly asked her.

“Sort of.” She gave him a peck on the cheek. “Your birthday is coming soon and I decided to gift you everyday until your birthday.” She revealed.

“You are too good for me, Macaria.” That was the honest truth. If she were to find out his secret identity, will she still feel the same way towards him?

“You are too good for me too.”

The couple embraced each other listening closely to the rhythm of their heartbeat. She felt safe in his arms. His cologne lingered on the corner of her nose, he wore her favourite one. She smiled.

“At first glance, Aiden looks a bit standoffish and cold but he is warmer than me. He barely hates anyone even if he’s wronged. I fell harder and harder.” Macaria was thinking to herself.

“Have you had dinner?” Aiden pulled her out of the embrace, scanning the room.

“Erm…..I have.” She blinked continuously.

“You’re a bad liar.”

“I didn’t lie.” She blinked again.

“You keep blinking……I saw that.” She pushed him towards the kitchen aiming to distract him with something else.

“Then cook for us. I really miss your cooking.” She admitted.

Aiden shook his head.

Nevertheless, he began making something for them to have for dinner. All this while, Macaria was finishing up some work she had left undone. She was going through the files her aunt had sent her for an upcoming project that she was put in charge of. Although her aunt was the acting Chairman, she always brings Macaria on board especially if it involves the company’s management and growth.

“Food is served, milady.” Aiden teased.

“Thank you.” She closed her laptop and walked to the dining table. “That looks yummy.”

“Of course, it has to be.” They both laughed.

They both ate in silence stealing glances at each other as though they were being watched. She couldn’t speak, not because her lips were sealed, but it was their norm. No speaking on the dining table. It was Aiden’s idea. The last time they ever spoke on the dining table was a day before her 25th birthday with her parents.

Macaria’s parents were never in approval of her relationship with Aiden, looking at his humble background. They thought he was with their daughter for the money and not love. They have severally forced her to break up with him on different occasions, even on that very day.

He had had enough of their tantrums. He needed to shut them out but who could have thought that they would end up in an accident the very same day. He was elated. Even to the extent that he planned the whole burial on the pretext of taking the burden off Macaria’s shoulders.