The Holy Quest

CHAPTER TWO

He felt a gentle poke on his buttocks. Turning round, he found a cop who was so overprotective of himself that he had himself covered from his hairs to his toes with a face mask that was so stuffy Kelvin felt it would choke him out.

His eyes which were the only things left uncovered had that hostile, unfriendly look. Kelvin knew he had broken a rule: “Protect Your Community.” The Covid breakout had reached a record peak that B had been unanticipated. Vaccination seemed to put the virus at bay for a while but it only turned out to strectch its potential to dangerous uncharted levels.

The rule wasn’t to “Stay At Home” anymore. It was now put this way: “You Must Stay At Home.” Scientists were now in a race against time to find out more aboout this newly evolved virus - what made it survive the vaccination, what’s its new strong point, its weak point, life cycle… just about anything.

The fear among the public was reestablished and had peaked as muc as the recorded deaths sweeping around the world. Kelvin wouldn’t blame the cop. He was simply doing his job of protecting himself and everyone else.

“You might want to put on some pretty long tough pants,” The cop suggested dryly. “It’s cold.”

“Or it’s Covid.” Kelvin corrected, smiling at the huge effort the policema was putting on to be as cool as possible.

“Whatever.” He replied. “Go back inside and get your protective pants on. You know it can get contact on your skin, infect and sread from there, right?”

“That has not been confirmed yet!” Kelvin was tired of the scared-liner of the newly evolved Covid infecting people through skin contact from the atmosphere.

“Trust me on this boy. You don’t wanna find out.”

“Fine.” Kelvin rolled his eyes and went back through his gate, the mail still in hand.

“Remember to put on your mask next time you come to check your mailbox!” The cop called after. “You’re cute. If not I’d have had you arrested for breaking multiple regulations.”

“Sweet of you. Thanks!” Kelvin replied and slammed the gate shut on the cop. He walked straight back into his house without looking back.

The atmosphere that greeted him inside had dread written all around it. It had the unwelcome smell of pandering rats hung in the air. The housekeeper had to leave for her life’s sake while his wife and kids had locked themselves up for their husband and father’s sake respectively.

For all he cared, he was alone in this battered world. His wife and kids seemed to do fine beyond the screen. The improvised quarantine room was tidied up perfectly as opposed to the bachelor mess he had made out of his home. Looking at them waving at him from the glass, they looked better than him, the healthy one.

The disease brought them closer. He was perfectly healthy, yet the stranger - the consequences of being the odd one out. They didn't need him around. All they needed could easily be gotten. To Kelvin, it was the perfect excuse to chase the adrenaline rush he had always missed.

Moreover, the object of his quest possesses so much power that the wielder could do almost anything on the face of the earth - according to legend. And this includes healing powers. If he couldn't liberate the world, he should be able to liberate his family. And if they're already dead... well, he would bring them back to life. This is a risk he was willing to take.

Taking one last look at the letter, and smiling warmly at his wife and kids, he dashed upstairs to wash and prepare for The Quest...

It took a little while before he came down, fully washed and packed up with a bagpack stuffed with clothing, water jug and edibles for whatever lay ahead. He wasn't going to leave without a stunner though.

Standing right in front of him, not bound by the glass, was his wife. She stared at him red-faced and teary-eyed though she had this proud look on her face.

Kelvin stood stunned at what had just happened. He figured that she had understood what he was about to do and she had taken the health risk to come out to prevent him from killing himself outside.

"Uhh..." Kelvin just couldn't get the words out.

He didn’t need to. She ran up to him, holding her huge stomach as she bounced with each stride, and with all the energy she got kissed him passionately. Tears poured down her face as she locked lips with Kelvin.

Kelvin didn't resist her despite the huge health risks implied. For some reason, she deserved to be cuddled, padded and taken care of. For God's sake, she was carrying his baby. A girl he had dreamed all sorts of weird things about. And he looked forward to carrying her in his arms - without the virus.

After they have had their fill, he gently held her face and said:

"You don't want me to go?"

"Of course not." She said smiling. I know that where you're going to, you'll be in extreme danger."

Kelvin couldn't respond, he was dumbfounded. She continued anyway, the tears picking extra momentum to flush through her eyes.

"I strongly feel you'll make it back with the cure."

"How do you know I'm after the cure?" He asked, in disbelief. He wondered for a moment if the virus gives one extra-intuitive abilities.

"I dreamt you and a lot of other people were chasing a shiny golden pill on a plateau. I was able to see everyone's heart and just a few of you had good intentions. You were one of them."

Kelvin smiled at her sweetly. Losing his inner struggle, the tears finally had a way to express themselves out of his eyes. He hugged her very tight.

"Promise me you'll be back." She said.

"I promise. Take care of our baby."

"Let's make sure you come back safely." She said, getting out of his arms and running back to the glass.

"What?" Kelvin was confused.

"The Archangel Michael Ritual of Protection!" She called beyond her shoulders without dropping her pace. "We have to ensure you survive!"

At that moment, the alarm on his phone rang loudly. Terrified at the abrupt noise, coupled with the fact that he didn't set any alarm in the first place, he nervously brought out his phone from his pocket to check the screen.

Boldly written was the time, 4:44pm, with the words, "You have an hour left!"

Terrified, he rushed out of the house before his wife could come out with the ritual items. Pacing frantically towards the car, he checked the fuel gauge. It was empty. Without a second thought, he burst out on foot through the front gate.

Then he started running. The desire to beat the clock gained more ground in his mind than the fatigue piling in.

Some policemen spotted him. Confused over what he was up to, they began to chase him. This only intensified the speed with which he ran.

He went down a few blocks before he started to lose gas. There was another police patrol ahead and they had been notified by the ones closing in behind to doublecross him. Those ones already got into their patrol cars in an attempt to cut the chase.

Kelvin ducked a corner to buy himself a little time. Right ahead of him was a short guy in normal tees and pants standing in front of a black car. He gestured to Kelvin to get in the car to which the latter couldn't resist.

In no time, they zoomed off to the disappointment of the policemen. They were not ready to give up though, as they adopted a full car chase.

"I admire your bravery." Kelvin's rescuer said. "Imagine what would happen if you got caught."

"Alright," Kelvin said dryly. "Thank you. Satisfied now?"

The driver didn't reply. The car went on a few meters in silence. Feeling uneasy by the silence, Kelvin asked.

"What's your name?"

"Jude." The driver replied crisply.

"I'm Kelvin." He said with a smile.

The driver looked at the head mirror but didn't even bat a blink.

"I know," he said. "You're cute. If not, I might have just handed you over for breaking multiple regulations."

The statement was so starkly familiar to Kelvin that he sat up straight in caution. He recognised the driver as the cop that met him in front of his house. A mischievous smile crossed the driver's lips.

"You've got no cause for worry boy," He said chuckling. "I needed you to get on so we can get started quick. Is the mail with you? We need it for the journey."

Kelvin's face deflated with relief. Relaxing on the backseat, he nodded his head.

"Sure."

"Great." The driver was so delighted. "Let's push on then."