10 years ago

  A necklace with the symbol of the Lord, came into view, tracing what appeared to be a figure of a two-winged warrior drenched in dazzling gold. It was placed on top of a table full of offerings ranging from foods and fruits, to beautifully decorated flowers and burning incense. People called him the Lord, and younger people refer to him as Lord Father.

  A couple and their young daughter were kneeling in front of the table praying to the Lord.

  “Welcome to the House of Glory.” A man dressed in a pale yellow robe came forward and greeted the family with a bow. The family stood up and bowed back respectfully.

  “Master, thank you for welcoming us.” The father spoke as he leaned forward to hold the man’s hand gently.

  “We should be the ones thanking you. Thank you for donating to the temple and bringing all these offerings for the Lord. You are a kind family.”

  The young daughter looked up at the head teacher curiously. His voice was calming and soothing to her ears, but what caught her attention the most was his eyes. They were always closed and still. She couldn’t tell whether he was visually impaired, but it didn’t seem to affect him. She recalled what her mom told her before they arrived here.

  Mom said dad requested to meet the head teacher of the House, who is a widely respected Oracle. He is going to perform a special ritual on dad to cleanse his mind and increase his holy vibration so he will be protected from negative energy when fighting against demons.

  The Head Teacher led them into the temple. The daughter couldn’t help but marvel at the tranquillity of the place. The interior compound was spacious and decorated with a simple aesthetic of rosewood furniture from the table, floor to the altar. The main temple overlooked a huge water lily pond at the heart of the compound. Its crystal clear water reflected the silhouette of the building with such stillness, it pleased the eyes like a traditional piece of art. Walking along the open-air corridor, the bright sunlight lit up the little girl’s face as she got excited by the tingling sounds of wind chimes in duality with the silent group chanting coming from the top of the temple. She turned to look at her mom eagerly, but received no attention in return. The little girl turned away, almost embarrassed. It was not unexpected, but that coldness was something she could never get used to, especially when the focus here was on her father. A few kind teachers walked past them and smiled politely. The young girl’s gaze followed them. For some reason, they felt warmer than her mom and dad, who were walking beside her. She stole a glimpse of her father and noticed strains of tears on his troubled face before he entered a separate room with the head teacher. Her mother and she stayed behind and waited beside the door.

  Mom told me dad is a good man and one of the strongest members of the exorcist group. The House of Glory is his favourite place, and he often comes here to better himself as a person and as a leader. He is a hero who saves lives, but his work is stressful, mom always emphasises this. It shows him the dark side of life and makes him an unhappy person. So, as his kid, I need to show him more understanding and not cry over any trivial matter.

  Suddenly, a kind teacher, who was sweeping the corridor, spoke out loudly. His voice was trembling, and his eyes were wide and stunned. Little Zun got scared and hugged her mother tightly without saying anything.

  “It’s nothing, darling,” her mom responded absentmindedly and almost immediately, her stare went back to the room her husband just went into.

  “Oh Lord, do you hear it? There's a soul crying for help. It's trembling in pain, wounded deeply and slowly giving in to impure temptation. That innocent soul is suffering. I pray that Lord, your unconditional kindness will reach it and guide it to transcend from this cycle of pain.” The kind teacher looked up to the sky and prayed.

  The young girl’s eyes widened upon hearing those words. Her body trembled with an unfamiliar feeling. He turned to look at her as he spoke the last few lines of prayers and met her glance. She looked away quickly and hid behind her mother. A few moments of silence later, the room’s door swung open, and her father came out with the head teacher. A number of other kind teachers also came out to greet the family and see them off. As they approached the gate, the previous kind teacher who was sweeping the floor came along.

  “Thank you for the visit. May I offer a special gift for this little girl?” he walked towards her and handed her a necklace with the symbol of the Lord.

  The girl looked at him, perplexed.

  “What is your name?” The teacher asked.

  “Hm…my name is… Zun.”

  “Here take this Zun. It is a gift from the Lord.”

  Koi looked and didn’t give too much thought to it.

  “Thank you so much teacher. Zun, say thank you to the teacher properly. Remember to bow,” Lily quickly instructed her daughter.

  “Feel the love of the Lord in your heart. May your tears dry and the sun shines through your scars.”, he spoke those words softly to her and helped her wear the necklace.

  What does it mean? Why is he saying those to me? Zun couldn’t help but wonder what the deeper meanings of those words were. It made her feel strangely comforted, although she couldn’t explain why. Her yearning felt answered.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “Thank you, Master. I will pray to the Lord Father.” Zun replied and bowed awkwardly.

  The memory faded out.

  …

  "Ever since then, my prayers were the only things that kept me sane inside this home made of Hell. Hush! Hush!"

  Inside Zun’s home

  Little Zun and her mother, Lily, were having lunch inside the dining room. Lily looked at Zun and put more vegetables on her plate.

  “Here, eat more so you can grow into a strong girl one day,” she smiled and poked her daughter with her chopsticks. Zun laughed and poked her mom back, putting her tongue out and making a funny expression.

  “Oh look, who is this monkey?” Lily joked and started to tickle her daughter.

  Out of the blue, Koi stormed in and, without a word, flipped one of the chairs away. The loud crash sent Zun into panic, and she fell off her own seat. Lily quickly rushed to her husband.

  “My dear, please calm down. Did something happen? If you start hitting things, you might hurt yourself.”

  “WHO DID THIS?!!” He held out wet papers in his hand. “Who wet my journal and documents?!!!” Koi yelled with an outbursting voice and threw the bunch of wet papers on the floor.

  “No, no, I don’t know my dear.”

  “It’s you, little fool. How dare you destroy my important documents?!!!” Koi turned to point at Zun. Tension grew as she felt cornered by a knife pointing at her.

  “No, dear. She didn’t enter your room. She was playing in the garden the whole morning before coming here for her lunch.” Lily quickly replied.

  “TELL ME RIGHT NOWW!!!”

  Zun knew she didn’t do it. Her mom was right; she didn’t even step a foot inside his room, but the blind threat directed at her was causing her mind to go blank. The thought of talking back to her father and telling him he was wrong was adding another layer of fear to her thoughts. Zun shook her head but failed to respond with any words.

  “Zun, tell your father!” Her mom looked at her in desperate annoyance. “Answer quick!”

  “YOU!!” He grabbed a cup from the table and threw it at Zun. It hit her on the cheek, leaving a dark bruise and broke into pieces upon hitting the floor.

  “TOLD YOU NOT TO PLAY WITH WATER! Told you!”

  “Zun, apologise to your father at once! How careless are you!! Apologise at once!” Lily urged tremblingly.

  “So-sorry… I am sor—sorry. I’m wrong.” Zun immediately responded, following her mom’s instructions.

  Koi was not satisfied. He took out a whip, “Lily, you are going too easy on her. This is how you lecture a naughty kid.” And with that, the whipping started again, along with an unseized young cry that had never found solace in this house. “Teach that girl well. Don’t let her come to my room next time!”

  “Of course, I was too careless. I will be more careful to prevent it next time.”

  After Koi left the room, Lily rushed to the wounded child. Zun was crying too hard, she was choking on her own tears and breath.

  “Don’t cry, Zun. Let mommy see your wound. Here, I will put on a bandage for you.” Lily was once a medical member of the Exorcist organisation.

  “I didn’t do it. I didn’t wet his paper. Why does daddy have to hit me every day?” Zun started biting down on her lip hard, not withstanding the taste of blood. Her eyes were swollen red like bloated apples, and her gaze fixed on the wet documents Koi threw on the floor. With every shivering breath, she grabbed her own dress tighter, almost like bracing an incoming seizure attack.

  “No Zun, don’t say that. Just apologise to your dad, then he won’t hit you again. Just do what he wants. He is really stressed. We don’t need to add more stress on him. Be a good girl, ok? You are still young, you will eventually understand.”

  Zun was devastated upon hearing those words. Her nails were almost digging into her palm as she grabbed her own skirt even tighter, feeling insecure. Hot flashes washed her face and neck, but she couldn’t tell what she was feeling.

  “No mommy, I didn’t do it. Why are you telling me to apologise all the time?!”

  “Don’t complain!” Lily raised her tone but pressed it painfully low. “Mommy is so tired. I am so tired of facing all of this. I just…just want to run away, but I stay for you, Zun. Please don’t make it harder for me. Your dad’s anger comes and goes, it won’t last. Why can’t you understand mommy? Please!” Lily started to cry.

  Fear stroke little Zun’s heart. Almost immediately, the sense of guilt gripped her throat. “Mommy, I will be a good girl. I will be a good girl and make you the happiest mom. Don’t cry, please don’t cry.” She leaned towards her mom and hugged her tightly.

  Lily hugged back, but she didn’t respond to any of Zun’s words. There was no sign of relief, no warmth in her embrace. Yet, like a miraculous painkiller, dripping drop by drop of intentional sweetener, Zun was overwhelmed with gratitude and quickly felt at ease, leaving behind her wronged pain.

  “Lily, where’s my lunch?” Koi called out to his wife. The suddenness almost made Zun’s jump.

  “Yes, dear. It’s in the kitchen. I will take it out for you now.” Lily stood up. “Zun, go back to your room and stay there, ok? I will come and check your wounds once I am done.”

  After Lily left the room, Zun walked over to check the wet papers out of curiosity and smelled strong alcohol. Her hands began to tremble again.

  That’s right. I didn’t do it, that old man was the one who spilt his own alcohol on his papers. I didn’t do it. Why do I have to apologise??!!! But mommy said to be a good girl. A good girl doesn’t create more trouble for her mom. A good girl listens and never complains. If I am not a good girl for her mommy, who am I?!!!

  A deep sense of despise clenched between her teeth. The emotion stirred her heart with a thirst for justice. Then she remembered the necklace the kind teacher gave her. His words repeated in her mind like a fresh breath of spring air.

  “Feel the love of the Lord in your heart. May your tears dry and the sun shine through your scars.”

  Zun quickly positioned herself to pray in desperation. In her mind, deprived of something she desired, she was bathed in pure sunlight as if the light was reflected by all the stars of hope on her.

  Lord Father, please end this all for me.

  Please stop father from beating me.

  Lord Father loves my soul and my scars.

  Lord Father loves me like his own child.