"Please, spare some change." He held the cardboard box high, offering it to everyone who passed him. It was a cold night with rain piercing his wrinkled skin.
"Look at this beggar. Is he really blind? Did he lose his legs too?" a woman whispered to her male companion, casting a cynical glance at the homeless man.
"Just ignore him. People are faking it these days." The man walked quickly with his woman, bumping into the cardboard box the homeless man was holding, causing it to fall.
This life I'm living might be karma from God. Before I became this pathetic homeless person.
I was a renowned mercenary in England. Everyone who heard my name would tremble in fear and show respect just by hearing it.
"Please, spare some charity. I haven't eaten in days." His face full of hope, he looked at everyone, hoping they would give him a little money.
Jayde Islwyn was my name. An orphan who lived in a special orphanage established by a British Army General.
Here, we were trained and taught how to survive in a world full of war. Because in this era, war could happen anytime and anywhere if there was an opportunity.
At my age, I was the most talented child among those my age. Perhaps even comparable to adults.
By the age of 15, I had already carried out various espionage missions, assassinations, and occasionally smuggled illegal weapons to different countries.
One of my most famous missions, which elevated my name, was when I was on a mission in Russia. I infiltrated one of their weapons production facilities and spied on the plans of the Russian military brass.
Of course, the mission was a complete success. I returned to England with a wealth of information stored in my mind.
I also killed several soldiers and one general to cover my tracks. At the end of the mission, I was caught red-handed while entering their weapons depot.
And thus, I became a suspect to the Russian military. That's why I returned to England after over a year there; I needed to erase my tracks.
My skills reached the ears of the leader, the one who founded this orphanage. Not long after, I was appointed squad leader in a new organization he created. He named the organization Octagram, when I was 17 years old.
Octagram consisted of eight people, including myself as captain. We carried out various other dangerous missions assigned by the leader. We executed all our missions flawlessly; the personnel Octagram chose were also talented individuals.
Eventually, our organization became truly known in the criminal underworld as formidable mercenaries.
The orphanage leader became increasingly gleeful as money flowed to him incessantly from Octagram.
Those who hired us through the leader always paid extra for our services because we performed our duties with utmost professionalism. However, the happiness, joy, and fighting spirit didn't last long.
September 7, 1940, Germany attacked Britain. They bombed Britain right in the heart of the capital, London. With 300 bombers, the Germans attacked the London docks.
During that incident, all of Octagram's personnel and I were undergoing special training there, as we had received orders that we would be undertaking a new mission in Egypt to help America repel the German army.
The unexpected attack incapacitated me and the other Octagram members. As a result of the attack, I lost my sight. A piece of building debris hit my head, and my left leg was crushed by rubble.
From that moment on, my life took a turn. I was no longer a money-making machine for the orphanage. I was no longer a killer wolf.
In his eyes, I was just a robot's battery, disposable anytime when depleted, because he could create new batteries, even superior to my former glory.
From then on, everyone who knew me distanced themselves. There were no more friends or companions.
I was truly alone in this dark and war-torn world. And I had to hide from the shadows of those who held grudges against me.
Those whose families I killed or whose possessions I plundered. They chose me as their target for revenge. I had to live in hiding for the rest of my life.
Hahaha! This is truly Karma. The karma I'm enduring now, the cause and effect of the murders and kidnappings I committed as a mercenary. Now, I'm a beggar in a corner of London.
I am now 56 years old since that day. I've spent 32 years of my life as a beggar. Back when I lived in the orphanage, I could get food anywhere.
But the hunger I've felt all this time is incredibly painful. I've become a walking skeleton, with only skin and bones left.
This dark world through these eyes. My steps are never steady, my body dry like a twig. I feel like the most suffering human in the world.
---
Taking a deep breath, he looked up at the sky, the raindrops wetting his face. I'm truly exhausted. "Hungry..." Jayde mumbled.
He then picked up his wooden cane. "I knew this place was always the worst for begging."
Then, something he remembered flashed in his mind. Ah, right! The place that was quite crowded yesterday. I'll move there. I remember the direction. But, because of the rain, my hearing is a bit impaired, Jayde thought. "Excuse me! Excuse me!" he said, walking slowly.
He had only taken a few steps when he heard gunshots from a relatively close distance.
"What was that? Is someone crazy again today who lost a bet?" He tried to sharpen his hearing.
I'd better leave here quickly. Rich people always do anything to satisfy their desires, he thought.
But all he heard were screams of people scattering away from the source of the sound. Until suddenly, a man crashed into him forcefully.
"Aaaa!" His body slowly fell to the ground.
BANG!
Another gunshot was heard, and without realizing it, a bullet lodged itself in his body, piercing Jayde's lungs.
"Aahk!"
Damn it! Is this how my life ends?
Killed by a madman?
Shot to death?!
Well, I'm sure this is the sensation of a bullet lodging in the body. How could it not be? I was a former mercenary; being shot was a common occurrence for me. Hahaha! Jayde thought with a full smile on his face.
If it's possible, I wish I could live again, be reincarnated. Of course, to live again as a human in my next life. To live a normal life like any other human, not as a killing machine obeying its master like a dog. And to experience love and affection, family. It wouldn't be so bad. But, MONEY! That's what's most important. Without money, life is like coffee. Bitter.
His mind began to darken, and he felt a cold sensation. Hahha, money! My life was spent only in pursuit of money. BASTARD!
---
It's so dark.
Am I in Hell now?
People often said that to me when I was a mercenary. Those who committed crimes, they said, would go to hell. Well... maybe I do belong in Hell. After what I did in my life.
Ahk! Damn it! It's really dark! HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST?! he thought.
A faint light slowly appeared in his vision, until that faint light slowly widened before his eyes. He saw the face of a woman smiling at him with warmth and affection.
Her smile was like a wide beach, her shining eyes like the sun swallowed by the sea. Her soft hair cascaded gently and waved.
"Wohwowh!"
Why is this woman so close to me? What kind of situation is this?!
Wait! I can see?
No! Her face is so close, ahk! This is huge!
GET AWAY FROM ME, DAMN IT!
Ah, damn it! She's smiling. Jayde thought, terrified, imagining the person in front of him was a giant like in the fairy tales he'd heard in his life.
The woman continued to smile and said in a soft voice, "Today, you are the most beautiful gift I have." She gently touched Jayde's tiny nose.
WAHH!!
Why are her fingers so big?
Ahk! She's really a giant! Someone, help!
Ah, damn it! Stop touching MY NOSE!!
Wait! Why can't I speak? What's happening to me? My voice hasn't come out at all.
"Kyaa.. huaaaa.. "
Is this punishment?