Hero of Darkness

Chapter 2: The End

3 days later, he finally received a call from Katherine at night.

"Hey, it's me."

"Where are you? What happened? Why didn't you pick up any of my calls ?" Elric asked.

"I'm sorry. It's been hectic recently. I just didn't have time to explain." Katherine replied.

"Now tell me exactly what happened? I at least deserve to know that, right ?" Elric said.

"Well.. It's my Dad. He... He.." Katherine suddenly started sobbing & her words stopped coming out of her mouth.

"You can tell me, I'm always here for you." Elric said out of genuine worry.

"My dad has been diagnosed with stage 3 Cancer. We just found out. He didn't tell me & my mom because he didn't want to worry us. And we don't have enough money for the treatment either. That's why he hid his illness." Katherine said and started crying loudly this time.

"I don't know what to do Elric. My Dad is dying and I really can't do anything to help him. I have no money, no insurance.. Nothing." Katherine's sobs didn't stop. Elric was listening to this on the other side of his phone felt as if his father was dying at this moment. Due to his attachment towards Katherine, he felt her pain as his own. He quickly replied.

"How much do you need ?" Elric asked

"What do you mean ?" Katherine replied

"I meant how much money do you need for your Father's treatment? I can arrange for it. I'm an accountant, remember ?" He said with worry & care in his voice.

"Around 30 Thousand Dollars."

"Don't worry. I have some savings. I can help." Elric said with a resolute voice.

"No, I really can't ask you to help me. We haven't known each other for that long. Even our relatives won't give us that much money even if we begged them. And I have no way to pay you back even in the next couple of years." Katherine said hurriedly.

"It's okay. The truth is I really like you, Kate.. I know this is coming out of the blue and at the wrong time but hear me.. It's okay. I trust you enough to know that you won't cheat me. And I won't be able to sleep knowing what you're going through and I could've helped. So please don't refuse." Elric said in a soft and gentle voice.

of

Thank you. I mean truly thank you. I had no way to get out of this. I knew you felt about me this way.

that talk again when you're in a better position. Now send me your bank account. I'll send the money." Elric

his groceries, rent and other taxes, he never actually had to spend much on anything. So in the past two years, he certainly made up some dough and did some side hustles for some private customers as well.

connection to in

leave a deep impression

in her name & Elric transferred the money without

he didn't get any calls from Katherine. He thought it'd be bad to disturb her in such time. On the 9th day, he finally decided to

responded after he tried to call. Elric got curious and tried again. But still nothing. He found it odd and tried from his other number which he barely used. So nobody knew his other number. But the same response came. He didn't know exactly which Hospital Katherine was at so he could only go to her apartment he once visited. But after talking with the landlord and her roommates, he found out that Katherine came to her apartment the very next day after he sent her

what was happening around him.. He

HE HAD BEEN DUPED!!

app used to search for renting apartments. There was really no other way to look for Katherine any longer. He quickly took a cab and went to the coffee shop he

ran off out of fear of not being able to pay him back. But everything he came to know about her seemed to be

name. Nor did she have a dad with cancer. She seemed more of a professional than someone who did such a

hungry but didn't have the willpower to eat something. He was still in shock. For the first time in a long time,

He called in sick leave for the next few days and contacted the Police and filed a case. But there

Elric returned to his job, everyone was sneaking glances at him. One of his colleagues came to

Hahaha!" With a smug smile on the face, his colleague made the last part very loud for others around them

you mean

a con. Which surprised many people including the coffee shop staff. But to have cherry on

put a lot of shame & mockery on his head. This was their chance to berate Elric with an excuse. Because Elric had always been a guy who got the job done at right time & never actually refused a

is enough to drag down your

working hours ended. Every breath he took felt like an eternity. After the shift ended, he didn't immediately leave;

This hurt more than the beatings he got from the kids who bullied him in school. This hurt more than the look of disappointment his parents gave him. Never was his mental fortitude & his pride was tested up to this extent. Tears dripped down across his cheeks like a river..

put a hand on his shoulder and tell him that it was gonna be okay. But there really wasn't anyone who'd

actually had any form of bond with him since childhood? His fictional characters & idols he looked up to in his teenage days? Friends.. What are

to a multinational company's CEO had their own self respect & pride. But today, all of it was shattered for Elric. And