PUER MORTIS (Child of Death)

18: Doubts

Three days has passed since Chibi’s reveal. According to Zoranne, Leilyn’s officially three months pregnant. The woman sometimes ponders if she should go get more baggy clothes before she couldn’t be able to move anymore.

Her new daily routine for the past three days has been waking up to the usual nausea and vomiting her guts out in the toilet; washing her face then brushing her teeth; stretching and excising a little; bathe; dress up in loose clothing; cook breakfast for her and Chibi; studying various planets with Zoranne – who records everything – whilst eating – getting a blank look of amusement from the resident Eldritch, who’s currently donning a cat hybrid form so as not to waste much needed energy –; washing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen; studying more planets while Chibi takes a nap; preparing an afternoon snack – more like brunch – for both herself and Chibi; eat whilst studying more planets; wash the little dishes before going out back and sitting on the en and studying more planets while Chibi runs around; going back inside around after two hours outside and prepares lunch; eats while studying more planets; cleans up the dishes and the kitchen; studies more planets while Chibi naps again; cooks dinner seven in the evening; eats while studying more planets; cleans up the kitchen; still studies more planets while Chibi watches a movie; taking Chibi upstairs to sleep around 11pm; going back downstairs to continue her studying and documentation with Zoranne and doesn’t stop until 3am in the morning; goes upstairs to sleep; wakes up around 7am the next morning and rinse and repeat.

Leilyn has studied and documented more than one hundred planets; their way of life, societal process, technological advancement and so much more in those last three days. She’s tired to the bone, she has little eyes bags under her eyes and her eyes are screaming at her.

“Lyn, I think that’s enough planet binging for you. You have been going on like this for three days, without any proper rest. You look like you’ll fall down any second.” Chibi says. The Eldritch is currently in their humanoid child form, floating in the air with their arms folded, blessing Leilyn with a deep frown.

Currently, it’s day four since Chibi’s reveal. It’s 11pm and as usual for the past three days now, Leilyn’s studying more planets.

“I’m fine Chibi.” Leilyn says with a groan, fingers massaging her eyes.

“No, you’re not.” Chibi immediately counters. “I know that you’re excited by all this, but you have to rest. This is currently no good for the child you’re carrying. Trust me, I know. Right now, you’d think that as your pregnancy hasn’t yet progressed, it’s safe for you to do this. It’s not. From what I’ve heard from yours and Zoranne’s discussion, this pregnancy is a miracle, and as such, it’s very delicate. Lyn, you might miscarriage. From what Zoranne has told me about your driven personality, this –” They gesture at Leilyn’s tired and worn out appearance. “Might become a norm if not stopped on time. Rest, child. The planets won’t be going anywhere. Take everything slow. What matters now is your health and that of your child’s.”

“But Chibi! I have study them! I have to see how advanced they are so that I can improve this f****d up planet!” Leilyn yells. “Earth is so far behind in advancement that the planet is a f*****g joke! We are a joke! How can we be this far behind?!” She grips her hair. “All these years, I thought that we’re the s**t! That we scientists have finally brought us somewhere! This is so- f**k!”

Leilyn doubles over, gripping her stomach. Chibi suddenly appears before her, a worried look on their face.

“Ms. Leilyn! Calm yourself!” Zoranne says with a loud voice. “Right now your blood pressure is spiking, and the stress you’re currently going through is distressing the fetus!”

“Lyn.” Chibi leads the woman over to the couch, sitting her down. He shuts off the holographic projection coming from the circular holo-device with a snap of their fingers. They comb their fingers in Leilyn’s hair, getting a sigh from her.

“Honestly, I also thought that I’ll bring earth to technological advancement. But now… I’m not so sure that that will be possible.” She sighs. “By the f*****g Cosmos, we’re a joke.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, child. You’ve done what you can. Heck, from what I’ve learnt, you’ve done more than enough. Lyn…” They gently take hold of Leilyn’s face, making her to look into her eyes. “For a planet to develop, it has to be a joint effort. You can’t shoulder the whole world on you back. That’s suicide. Development takes time. It doesn’t just happen overnight. Those advanced planets you’ve seen, it took them years for them to get to where they are now. So, don’t fret too much. In time, your planet will reach their level. Well, that is if they don’t destroy themselves and the planet before that.”

Leilyn snorts at their ending statement. “Well, I guess you’re right.” She sighs.

Chibi removes their hands from her face, giving Leilyn a soft pat before dropping their hands.

“At first, I thought maybe I should show you to other people like myself, to see if we can turn the technological advancement of the planet a notch. But then I remember that it’s humans I’m talking about. We’re prone to be afraid of what we don’t understand. We either exterminate them or t*****e them in the name of research and science.”

“So you decided to take the whole weight by yourself.” Chibi summarizes. They’re met with a nod. Chibi gives a warm smile at her. My… they have never met a mortal like this in a while. “Well, like I said, you can’t shoulder the whole world on your back. Development of a planet is teamwork effort, which sadly, you guys don’t have.”

Leilyn throws her head back and lets out an exaggerated groan, making Chibi to chuckle deeply in amusement.

“Don’t remind me.” Leilyn groans out.

Chibi lets out a bark of laughter. Leilyn raises her head, lips tilting in a small smile.

“Oh well, you’re right. I’ll take everything slow. After all, I can’t kill myself for a stupid race. According to my mom’s favorite quote, ‘I can’t come and kill myself’.” She says in a Nigerian accent, a wide grin on her face.

Chibi nods at her statement in approval.

Leilyn tries to stand up but her legs couldn’t support her. She cusses.

“You sure over did it. Come, let me help you.” Chibi outstretches a hand to her and she takes it.

“Wow!” Leilyn exclaims as she starts hovering in the air, her hair softly blowing in an invisible wind. “Sweet.” She grins in happiness.

Using a bit of their powers, Chibi leads her upstairs and into her bedroom; Zoranne shutting down the downstairs lights as they went. With the snap of their fingers, Leilyn’s instantly clean, her body feeling refreshed as if she took a bath. Her clothes change into a midnight blue nightgown that reaches her mid thighs, and her hair is loosed from its messy braid. With a wave of the same hand, the bed covers roll down, allowing them to set Leilyn down on the bed, on her back. With another wave of their hand, the duvet covers her.

“Ahh.” Leilyn sighs, adjusting her body. She opens her eyes and looks at them with a smile. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” They return her smile. “Now sleep. And don’t you dare wake up until morning.”

“Don’t worry, Chibi san. I’ll personally see to it that she don’t.” Zoranne says with a promising tone, which makes Leilyn chuckle.

“Traitor.” She mumbles, getting a huff from Zoranne. “By the way,” Leilyn starts, stopping Chibi on their way to their pillow. “I haven’t asked you about your name. I get that Chibi is quite degrading for a being as yourself. So, if you don’t mind me asking, what’s your name?”

Chibi regards her for some seconds before answering.

“?#*?!#&*”

Leilyn lets out a pained yell, hands darting to cover her ears. Chibi snaps their mouth shut, and the sharp noise stops. Leilyn slowly raises up from her bed, looking at them with a confused look.

“What the f**k was that?!”

Chibi heaves a sigh. “It’s seems even in this Universe and galaxy, mortals can’t hear my name.”

“Why?”

“Our very existence is cosmically divine, so it’s natural our names are too. Even in my weakened state, my real name still can’t be heard by mortals.”

“So… what do you want to be called?”

They look at Leilyn with a small smile. “You can still call me Chibi. It’s the first time I’ve ever bore a name that’s cute.” He chuckles.

Leilyn nods with a smile.

“Now, go to bed.”

Leilyn lets out a loud yawn, burrowing into her duvet. “Yeah… Goodnight Chibi.”

“Blessed night be unto you, dear child. Pleasant dreaming.”

And with that said, Leilyn falls asleep. Chibi watches her for a minute or two before changing into their cat hybrid form, walking over to their pillow and they too fall into Morpheus’ arms.