Today was the day. Me and my brother Abel were carrying our offerings to God atop the mountain.
In my knapsack were my most prized crops, the best of the best in each batch I've grown. My brother Abel was carrying a sheep Dad had slaughtered himself since Abel was too squeamish to do it himself.
And as we climbed higher and higher toward the top of the mountain, I suddenly heard rocks starting to fall from the top. Thinking quickly, I took my brother's hand and moved us to the side to narrowly avoid the falling rocks.
When the rocks finally stopped falling, I looked around cautiously while still holding my brother's hand and slowly began our climb once more.
As we climbed higher and higher, the steps began to become even steeper. This inevitably caused my brother to trip and slip off the side of the mountain.
I didn't waste time. Jumping at my brother as fast as I could and desperately holding on to him, I tried my best to pull him up, but he was simply too heavy. But I wasn't giving up, so with all the strength I could muster, slowly I was able to pull him a bit higher.
But when I was so close to pulling him up, birds began to surround my sack, ripping and tearing at it, aiming to steal my best crops. I tried to swat them away with my other hand, but that moment of hesitation made my hand slip a bit, making Abel fall slightly.
I quickly grabbed him and, using both my hands once more, began to pull him up. I couldn't get rid of the birds as they continued to rip open my sack and steal my offerings to God.
Even so, I didn't stop pulling. I kept a tight hold around my brother, and with one final pull, my brother was out of harm's way.
"Ha… ha… thanks for saving me… Cain…" Abel spoke, grateful.
I didn't reply, merely examining the torn sack and how much the birds had stolen from me.
"Let's just go," I told Abel, who quickly followed behind me.
As we took our final steps toward the top and finally reached it, there preparing and waiting for us was Dad.
He was preparing everything for the ceremony, and hearing our footsteps, he greeted us with a smile.
"Glad you boys finally made it! Come get your offerings and place them here." He pointed toward a large stone slab with a large piece of cloth covering it.
Carrying over our knapsacks, Abel placed his offering on one side, and I placed mine on the opposite end.
Dad then kneeled in front of the offerings and gestured for both of us to kneel beside him.
Once both of us kneeled beside Dad, he began praying, and so did we.
After what felt like hours, a bright light began to shine high up in the sky and descended toward the offerings. As we tried to look upon God and all His majesty, the light was simply too bright to look at.
When He finally left and the light disappeared, we looked toward the offerings and found He had only taken Abel's offerings.
Why…
Was my offering not enough…
Why…
Why…
Why!!!
"Hey, let's go home. Maybe next time when we do this again, God will accept your offerings," Abel told me, trying his best to comfort me.
Why was he trying to comfort me? I see—it's because he knows he's God's favorite, just like how he's Dad's favorite son.
I simply ignored him and continued to kneel in front of the offerings.
Abel tried once more to comfort me, but Dad simply stopped him.
"No, Abel… just give him time," Dad told Abel as they began to slowly walk off.
Why… why does no one care what I do? I did everything! I saved his careless ass from dying! I sacrificed my gift to You so I could save him!
But as I continued to kneel, my vision began to slowly turn red. What was happening?
Oh, you poor dear. You should do something about that. Don't worry, I'll help.
My hand began to move, reaching for a rock. Why was I grabbing this?
You know, if you get rid of Abel, your mom and dad will only love you.
You're right… if I just… get rid of him…
Your family will love you… and only you.
I got up and slowly began to walk toward them. He didn't see me. Lifting the rock high with my hand, I struck Abel behind his head.
This knocked him down on his face, and his head began to bleed nonstop. Dad, who was walking beside him, couldn't quickly process what was happening, but looking behind Abel, he saw me with a bloody rock standing over my brother.
"What the hell! Cain! What have you done?!" He rushed at me.
I didn't know what to do in that moment. I just moved out of the way, avoiding his punch. Dad skidded toward the ground, and quickly getting up, he turned to me.
"Cain! Why?! He's your brother!" Dad yelled at me with tears in his eyes.
He charged at me once more, trying to hit me again, and dodging once more, I was able to avoid his blow. But this time he didn't land on the ground.
No—he was close to the cliff. Moving quickly, I dropped the rock behind me and ran toward my Dad.
As he fell, I jumped at him, grabbing his hand, and with all my heart I pulled and pulled, but it was not to be.
I felt cold hands wrapping around me. I felt heavy. I felt tired. My eyes were getting heavy, and before I knew it… my hand slipped.
"Dad!" I screamed, reaching my hand out, but it was too late… Dad… Dad was gone.
Even though I felt tired, my head had become much clearer, and like a tidal wave, what I had done came crashing down on me.
The guilt, the pain, the anguish.
I felt awful. I was a monster. But as I panicked, I looked toward where Abel lay, and crawling toward him, I slowly made my way to him, maybe even helping him.
But when I finally reached him, my worst nightmares were quickly found. I tried to shake him, feel his breath, his heartbeat—anything that told me he was fine.
But he wasn't.
What have I done?
Why…
Why did I do this?
And as I laid beside my brother, I felt my chest burn with excruciating pain. I turned and screamed as I felt the burning sensation sear into my body.
Once it had finally stopped, I looked down at my chest and saw a symbol burned into it.