Author's note:

Please note that I am not taking a stab at anyone's religion. Back in the 1800s there was a lot of corruption in churches and corruption in belief by bad people. That is what is being said in this story.

Helios's Point Of View

My shirt was drenched in tears so I quickly took it off.

I was lost in my thoughts as I was staring out the window in the room, looking up at the stars.

I turned around and saw Jack leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.

"I brought you another shirt, y'know something more new." Jack faintly smiled as he tossed the shirt to me.

"Thank you." I whispered.

"Those scars.... Man what the hell happened to you?" Jack asked.

"Life is what happened to me, Jackson." I replied.

"You know, I've never asked you about your story. There's got to be more to you than you just being a little church boy, man." Jack laughed awkwardly.

"You're right, Jackson. There is more to me than what meets the eye.

If you saw all of the scars on my body, you would wonder what I've lived through.

If you read my soul, you would know why I'd rather be dead.

If you read my heart, you wouldn't wonder why I'm humble." I smiled, but one couldn't easily tell that it wasn't a real smile. It had been a forced smile that had been practiced and mastered for years.

"Let me tell you a little Once Upon a Time story, Jackson. But remember, not all stories have happy endings." I smiled faintly at him once again.

"Once Upon a Time there was a boy named Helios. Helios was a 7-year-old boy living in the bustling city of London.

Helios had what he believed was a loving mother and a loving father, but behind every person there's a dark secret.

His life took a drastic turn when tragedy struck.

Helios and his mother took the first ship to America while his father waited for the second one as he was the one transporting their belongings and money.

The first ship made it to the port of New York safely, while the second one never made it to the dock.

Soon after the news of the tragedy struck and his mother was left as the only provider.

Unable to get a job with no stable housing, his mother resulted to the only thing she could do, working in a brothel. Winter then came and his mother fell ill, she could not provide for both of them and soon he had lost her.

With no immediate family to turn to, Helios found himself alone and destitute, struggling to survive in the unforgiving slums of Manhattan New York.

During the young boy's time, the boy was exposed to many of things.

The Bullying of other kids, the harassment of aristocrats, and the inhumane trade that went on underground.

The boy was picked up by different families and worked for them around their houses just to survive. When they were tired of him or didn't need his assistance anymore, they dumped him back onto the street, fending for himself against the evil world. In and out of the clutches of evil people whom he innocently trusted, thinking to himself

"this person will be different."

But foolishly, they were not.

Amidst the squalor and despair, fate intervened in the form of a power that bloomed within him.

One night the boy was trying to sleep, he heard whispering, and a light shone brightly in front of him and a voice came to him and said

"Helios, the god and personification of the sun, you shall wear this crown of light upon your head, with this divine power, you shall do great things.

Do not give up my child, awaken this power of which you were born with,

he will save you and you shall save her."

The voice and light disappeared and moments later a warm loving hand had reached out.

The first gesture of kindness and the first bit of warmth that the boy had felt in a long, long time.

The man took the boy to a small church nestled amidst the dilapidated buildings. The church, with its worn-out stone façade and weathered wooden doors, emanated an aura of hope amidst the darkness that surrounded Helios.

Seeking solace and assistance, he stepped inside, his tattered clothing a stark contrast to the sanctity of the place.

The kindly pastor, Thomas, noticed the weary and forlorn boy and extended a compassionate hand.

He listened intently to Helios's story, his heart heavy with empathy for the young lad who had endured so much loss at such a tender age. Recognizing Helios's dire circumstances, Reverend Thomas adopted him and offered him shelter within the church, providing him a place to sleep and meals to sustain him.

Within the church's humble confines, Helios found a glimmer of hope.

The community that gathered there, comprised of the downtrodden and the destitute, offered a sense of belonging he had never experienced before. The church became a sanctuary, a place where he could seek solace from the harsh realities of the outside world.

Helios's days were filled with new purpose as he became an integral part of the church's daily activities. Under Pastor Thomas's guidance, he discovered a talent for caring for the church grounds, tending to the garden that surrounded the building. Helios's diligent efforts breathed new life into the neglected soil, and the once-dreary surroundings began to bloom with vibrant flowers and lush greenery.

The church community embraced Helios as one of their own, providing him with friendship and mentorship. He learned valuable skills from the skilled craftsmen and artisans within the congregation, acquiring knowledge of carpentry, painting, and other practical trades.

As time passed, Helios's confidence grew, and he started to envision a future beyond the slums-a future where he could carve out a better life for himself. But he wanted the pastor to be proud so he wanted to follow his footsteps.

Pastor Thomas recognized Helios's potential and encouraged him to pursue his dreams. With the church's support, Helios enrolled in the pastor's training, where he eagerly absorbed knowledge and honed his intellectual abilities. Education became a tool for empowerment, allowing him to break free from the cycle of poverty that had plagued his life.

As the years went by, Helios transformed from a desolate young boy into a resilient and determined young man.

With the skills he had acquired and the knowledge he had gained, he secured a position as an apprentice to the pastor. The slums that had once confined him were now a distant memory as he stepped into a world filled with beauty and possibility.

Helios's journey from despair to triumph serves as a testament to the power of compassion, community, and resilience to himself. The church, serving as a guiding light in his darkest hours, became the catalyst for his transformation.

Through their unwavering support and belief in his potential, Helios emerged from the shadows, shining brightly like the sun god he was named after, ready to make his mark on the world. But even through his termination and transformation, they were still some that looked at him as if he was nothing but dirt to walk on." I smiled.

"And those scars..... How did you get them?" Jackson asked.

"I got them from fighting to live, Jack.

Want to know something funny about this one? Of course you don't, because it's pitiful, but I'm going to tell you anyways. This one on the left side of my chest, that's what happens when ignorant kids try to "crucify" you. The bloody bastards didn't get too far as Pastor Thomas stopped them so it grazed the surface. " I chuckled.

"What about the ones on the back of your shoulders?....." Jackson asked.

"Ah, these ones. Well let's just say I was stripped of my wings, yeah?

So in turn, I was then a bastard and Lucifer himself according to the town. You know, because Lucifer is a fallen angel?" I chuckled again.

"I'm being serious. I'm taking the time to get to know you, Helios.

What happened for you to get those gashes in your shoulders, man?" Jackson urged.

"As I said, I was in the trafficking system, Jackson.

When you run or disobey, punishment would be given when the "masters" seen it to be fit, and you don't ask questions of who, what, when, where, how, or why it's happening." I paused, looking down at my chest, "Those scars were the cost of my freedom, they were the last mark that I got before running away to freedom.

That's what happens when someone stabs you in the back, literally." I laughed once again, but as I looked at Jackson he didn't find my trauma as humorous as I did.

"To others, these scars are just proof that I am pitiful, but to me, they are just proof that I am strong.

The occasional pain is just a reminder that I am alive.

That I'm still a living, breathing human being too and not just some monster that people make me out to be." I sighed.

Silence then filled the room.

I looked over at Jackson, his face looked ambivalence as if he was trying to think of what to say, whether it be words of comfort or pity until the silence finally broke as he spoke,

"How can you look at me in the eyes and smile after telling me this and then act like all of this, something that painful, was just nothing at all to you?" Jack asked.

"Just because I'm smiling doesn't mean that it was nothing at all to me, Jack."

I partially smiled.

"Jackson, I've seen things that you wouldn't believe me if I told you that I've seen.

I've been through things that you couldn't even imagine could happen to someone.

If I showed you all of my scars, you wouldn't look at me the same. I've made many choices in my life that I Wish I Never Had To Make and it was all just to survive.

The only reason I'm smiling now is because now I know that I will never have to go back to the streets ever again.

The harassment still continues, but at least I have a place to sleep that's not ever in the rain.

I never have to worry about when my next meal is going to be, and I never have to worry how many months it's going to be until I can bathe again." I faintly gave him yet another reassuring smile.

Aisha's Point Of View

"I hate to interrupt you guys, but we still have a lot of stuff to do. Like going through some of these papers." I sighed.

"Right, I'm sorry. I guess we got a little bit side tracked." Helios apologized with a smile.

I carefully walked through the rubble of scattered papers and medication bottles on the ground. The papers seemed to be ripped out of a diary as the papers were ripped unevenly and withered.

One by one, I picked up each paper.

Each paper had a number in the top right hand corner so I decided to rearrange them into order.

"What are those, Aisha?" Jack asked.

"They seem to be ripped out diary entries. They have numbers in the corners so I'm guessing it's the order they were written." I replied.

"Read them out loud, it might be a clue." Helios smiled.

I looked down at the first paper entry, and I began to read,

Dear Diary,

My heart is heavy with the weight of the secrets and lies that have haunted my family and me.

My name is Ashley Jordan, and I find myself caught in a web of deceit that I never could have imagined.

In the grand estate where I was raised, life seemed idyllic.

My family was admired and respected among high society, and we lived a life of privilege and luxury.

But beneath the façade of opulence lay a dark and sinister truth, my family was deeply involved in the illegal drug trade, dealing in opioids that brought ruin to so many lives.

- Ashley Jordan

I carefully shifted to the next paper,

Dear Diary,

I found that the underground drug trade business spanned far beyond the borders of our small town.

They operated in shadowy alleys, away from the watchful eyes of the law. My father had built a vast network of connections, drawing associates from all walks of life.

Their wealth, it seemed, was built upon the ruin of others.

Ignorant of their illicit dealings, I lived a sheltered existence, unaware of the sinister underbelly that lurked within my own home.

The day the authorities stormed our residence, my world shattered.

My parents were arrested for their crimes.

- Ashley Jordan

Again, I shifted to the next paper,

Dear Diary,

I found myself thrusted into a nightmare from which there seems to be no escape.

Terrified and confused, I managed to slip away unnoticed, desperate to flee the horror of my family's deeds.

Alone and on the run, I sought refuge in the anonymity of a distant city, where I hoped to rebuild my shattered life.

It was there that fate brought me face to face with Bill, a kind and gentle soul who extended a helping hand when I needed it most.

His heartwarming smile and unwavering support gave me the strength to confide in him about my past.

To my surprise, he revealed that he was well aware of my family's notorious history, having been following the situation from afar.

Instead of judging me for the sins of my kin, Bill offered me compassion and understanding.

He explained that he had managed to buy out my family's crumbling drug trade business, vowing to put an end to their wicked operations and bring justice to those they had harmed.

- Ashley Jordan

I felt my pulse start to quicken as I shifted to another paper.

Dear Diary,

As time has passed, my admiration for Bill has grown, not just for his remarkable deeds but for the genuine love he has showered upon me.

Despite my tainted name, he has cherished me for the person I am, untainted by my family's dark past.

With Bill's love and support, I have found the strength to face my demons and heal the wounds left by my family's treachery.

Together, we forged a path toward a future built on honesty, love, and redemption.

- Ashley Jordan

My uneasiness had started to increase in my chest as I flipped to the next paper.

Dear Diary,

As we stand now, having left the shadows of my family's misdeeds behind, I am filled with gratitude for the chance to start anew.

Bill's unwavering love has brought light into my life, and together, we strive to make a positive difference in the world, leaving behind the sins of the past.

Oh, how different my life has become since those dark days of secrets and betrayal.

I shall cherish every moment with Bill, and together, we shall face whatever lies ahead, grateful for the chance to leave the darkness behind and embrace the light of a new day.

Yours faithfully,

Ashley Jordan

A/N

I got writers block so this one is a little lazy.

Chapter 18 - Savior & Secrets

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