the blue

The devil was handsome in a white suit. Like a movie star from the black & white era. He sat in a corner. The light from the bulb in the centre of the ceiling reached his feet, and fell there. Leaving him more in shadow than light. But it was all good. He owned the place. He wore the darkness like a robe. And the light seemed to be gracing his feet. This was the scene Aidan woke up to. Beautiful as it was, he was confused. Last he remembered, he was in the car. Everyone was in the car. He was the birthday boy. He got to choose where they celebrated. He chose the new pizzeria, opened just weeks ago. Everyone from class had been to the pizzeria. And everyone gave glowing reviews. He waited this long because he wanted to celebrate his birthday at the new pizzeria, with the best pizza in the city. The six of them had a feast. Stuffed themselves. And left only when the pizzeria was shutting the doors. It was end of business hours. They got into the car. The two men were in the front. The women in the second row. The birthday boy at the back. It was late. The streets were empty. The street lights lightened the night with a comfortable yellow hue. There was breeze, and it was pleasantly cool. They rolled down the windows, enjoying the refreshing night breeze. Put on glorious oldies, as they called them. Mellow songs from, like, fifty years ago. And they were driving back home, slowly. Then, something happened. Aidan couldn’t remember. The memory was abruptly cut off. Next, he woke up here. In a strange room. With a strange man staring at him. “You’re up. Good. Not that I’m short of patience. I just don’t enjoy waiting very much. You can call me Mr D. You can think of me as the devil. That’s kind of the name you lot have given me, in your many stories, across the thousands of years. And I am here for you.” “Mr D? The devil? What’s going on?” Aidan’s confusion seemed amusing to Mr D. “Allow me to provide some help. You were in the car. Returning home, probably. With your family. Something happened. I am who I say I am, but that doesn’t mean I can be everywhere at once. Not even the other one can claim to that. Let’s just say, there are rules, that we put into place, of course, that limit us. The point being, something happened. You should be dead. But you aren’t. You aren’t exactly alive, either. At least not in the way you think of it, being alive. That puts you in a unique situation. Leaves me curious. So, here I am. Beat the other one to you. I have an offer. I will help you. In return, you will sign a contract with me. What is it you say? A deal with the devil. We can talk about that later. First, to prove to you that I am indeed trustworthy, we shall take care of you. I shall help you.” Mr D snapped his fingers. And the room changed. Gone was that room bathed in light and shadows. Instead, the room was now bright. Clear. A hospital room. Aidan was on the bed. Wires connecting him to machines. Thin tubes feeding clear liquid into his bloodstream. Almost all of his body wrapped up in bandages. “What is this?” Aidan asked. “What’s happening?” “That’s you,” Mr D answered. “Like I already told you, you should be dead. But you aren’t. You’re in that in between.” He put up his left hand. “Life.” Then his right. “Death.” He paused for a beat. “And you’re in between. A unique place. A unique situation. Now you understand my curiosity.” “The others?” Aidan asked. Mr D snapped his fingers again. They were in a different room. There was a doctor. Aidan’s father and mother, and uncle and aunt, and Aida. All five hurt. Black spots on their faces and arms. Bandaged. But more than pain, there was anxiousness. Worry. They were talking about Aidan. The doctor went first. Then, the family asked questions. The doctor answered. And then, there was silence. And then, Mr D snapped his fingers again. This time, they were outside. On a street. In the darkness of night. Only, this street was familiar. Aidan hadn’t yet figured out why the street was so familiar, until he saw the car. And it came back. This was the street where it happened. The two of them were in the middle of the street. They watched the car drive past them. They saw the six faces inside, smiling, singing along. They watched the car for a couple of seconds, driving away. And then, the scene froze. “This much I can recreate,” Mr D said, “from your memories. The rest, is a blank.” He pointed at Aidan’s head. “The rest is blacked out in there. I can’t dig it out. Only you can. And this is all the help I can give. Send you back into your memories. Wherever you need to go. You must figure it out. The secret of the night. When you do, you can show it to me. Additionally, I can help your family. You clearly missed it.” “Missed what?” Aidan asked. Mr D snapped his fingers. They were back at the doctor’s office. “Can’t see it, can you?” Aidan really didn’t. He needed Mr D to point. And when he followed the finger, he saw it. The bandages around the eyes of his father and uncle. Aunt’s missing feet. Mother’s wheelchair and her wrapped back. And Aida’s expressionless face, empty eyes. Aidan was in tears. In so much pain. “How do we help?” He asked. “That, too, is actually up to you. You must find the answer,” Mr D said. “And it all begins with that night.” “That’s right. Off you go, then. Good luck.” Aidan nodded. Looked at his family, taking in their faces. There was this voice inside his head, asking him to look, to commit every little bit to memory. He didn’t understand. He didn’t question. He just followed. And then, Mr D snapped his fingers.