Warning! This chapter contains sensitive topics about violence, assault, vulgar language, and rape. Viewer discretion is advised.
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We beg the question. Why are we created? Why do we have to be human when we could be animals, plants, or even aliens? If you believe aliens exist. However, we never want to see ourselves to be as monsters, beasts, or even demons.
We find aliens fascinating because we know so much little about them. Yet we already fear monsters and demons because we know what they look like or seem to know what they look like. It's not proven whether they are real or not. Even though, we have already seen articles about demon possessions or some sort of sightings of a monster in the wild.
We already have the knowledge of what aliens could look like based on the atmosphere and gravity of a planet that can inhabit life. Without getting further from my point. Why don't we want to be demons? But we want to be aliens. Even when they're both terrifying creatures. Today's world is just vast and-
"Okay. Imma stop you right there. You may go back to your seat." Miss Garland interrupted my report. I heard people chuckling in the background.
"But, I'm not yet finished, Miss Garland," I replied frustratedly.
"Uhm, you know that your introduction was about why we are created, right?
"Yes," I answered
"So why are we talking about demons and what-not, and not focusing on-" I immediately cut her off by saying, "I was getting into that Miss Garland. If you didn't interrupt me then we could've gotten to the point"
Miss Garland looked annoyed and dismayed, and with her look, she then made me proceed.
"As I was saying," I looked back at my presentation on the screen and continued discussing my report.
I could already imagine her look, rolling her eyes. She never liked me from the start. She thinks I'm such a smart mouth. An attention seeker. But I didn't care that much as I continued my report.
-we were created that way because we were designed to be like that. Whether you believe in a higher being or not. We are carefully designated to our lives the way they should be. We don't own our lives, instead, we borrowed them, but that doesn't mean we have no free will.
That's the reason we have separate lives. Because it is our choice which path we choose. We may be designed but we make the changes. Just like a house, it was pre-designed but it is up to us how we want to decorate it.
Our life itself is the design, the paths we choose are our furniture. Let us not depend on fate or beliefs to pave our path instead our will and passion. Because nobody is telling you-
Another interruption was heard and it was a loud fake snore from the back of the class. Then someone from the class shouted, "Hey! Looks like your mass worked miracles, mister priest!" The whole class laughed at me.
Then Miss Garland went in front and said to me, "Mr. Saintend, take your seat. That's all the time you have." I went back to my seat disappointed. She looked over our papers, and then called out the next reporter.
I know she doesn't like me but, as a teacher, she should at least say something to me about my report. She told us to discuss topics that we are interested in. So, why didn't she give any input about my report? Even just for education's sake?
"It's because she's a whore," I got surprised by that sudden voice. I looked behind me and no one was there. Everyone at the back was doing anything that they wanted to do. Eating, sleeping, talking, and even using their phones. They might think I'm a nerd but I don't want to ruin my future by having bad grades or worse, bad conduct.
And why do they have to say my report was like a mass? How little respect do they have for something that is popularly known to be holy? Well, I don't go to mass but I'm interested in angels and demons, and I need to learn about God and the Church to understand them.
I'm not religious or anything. It's just that I love supernatural things. Because I fell in love with philosophy. Well, someone who was good in philosophy.
The bell rang and everyone in the class went out immediately. I tried to ask Miss Garland, what she thinks about my report.
Yet she just told me "You'll know when I will give you your grades." Then she got up and left.
What did I ever do to her to make her hate me that much? That she refused to even have a decent conversation with me? A student? Fortunately, not every teacher in this school is like her. It's just that, the good teachers aren't designated to any of my subjects.
I'm still studying in High School. In Helton High. And I'm always bullied whenever I go out of class. That's why I stay in the classroom all the time. Thank God, my classmates always go out during recess. And when they stay in the classroom before the next class starts, they sometimes come to my seat and tease me. The boys always played with my stuff and asks for my assignments. Even the girls do that to me. Being in high school sucks. It's like a prison for troubled teenagers.
The day went by and the final bell rang. Everyone went home but I stayed waiting for my father to pick me up. My little brother and I always get picked up by our father every school day. He picked him up first because his class ends earlier than mine.
Time passed by, and usually, he doesn't get late. I suddenly got a feeling that something was wrong. My father should've been here a few minutes ago, he doesn't like being late, He is punctual. Was there an urgent call from his work? I tried calling my mother, but she doesn't answer. I tried calling my brother. He didn't pick up too. I was getting nervous.
I went inside the school again and looked for the faculty members to call my family on the landline. But the teachers already went home. I then called my father to check if he was done with something that was making him late. I couldn't get to them, so I just went on my way home. I don't carry money with me to school because they always try and take it from me, so I had to walk cause I couldn't even pay for a cab.
As I was near our street, my classmates appeared from the alleyway. Some of them went behind me and grabbed my arms, tying me down. I was struggling to get out but they were stronger than me. Then they took my bag and took everything out by throwing it on my face.
"Please, just take my things and let me go I need to go home!" I yelled at them with frustration.
One of the boys came closer to me and then punched me, "You grew some guts, faggot"
"Please," I continued begging them to release me, but they kept on punching my stomach until I vomited.
"Shit, that's disgusting!" They all laughed and then they kicked all my things to where I vomited.
They finally released me and not one minute passed by, I left all my things there and ran as fast as I can.
I didn't care if they ran after me. I only cared if I could make it or not. Because while I was being punched, the thought of my family being punched too frightened me. As I was running up the stairs in our apartment. I managed to reach our floor and I saw our door open. I hurriedly went there and then saw the room as a mess.
Picture frames and vases were broken. Our furniture got destroyed and all over the place. I looked at every room and found no one. Then out of my frustration, I broke the mirror in the bathroom. Then I slowly leaned down against the wall crying.
As I wiped my tears I saw something behind the door of the bathroom. It was a flash drive. All the computers we had were broken. So I went and knocked at our neighbors for help. But none of them answered. I looked around the apartment complex and all of them were gone.
I still had my flip phone with me. Good thing those boys didn't know I use a low-tech device. I tried calling the landlord but he doesn't answer. I kept on calling people but no answer.
Then as I was dialing the number for the police, someone from behind hit me with something hard and I fell. My glasses fell off and I tried to look at their face but it was blurry. All I can remember was they tied my hands then blindfolded me and put me in a vehicle with people in it.
As I was inside, I heard a familiar way of breathing. My younger brother has asthma so I knew right away that it was him. I called his name and he responded, but the kidnappers yelled at us and threatened us if we make any more noise. They would kill one of us.
All I heard were the cries of children and no adults. I panicked thinking that our parents might've been killed. I touched the surface using my hands behind my back, allowing myself to make my way toward my brother, and then we were finally able to reach each other. My younger brother leaned on me while he was trying to hold back his tears. I was scared but I tried to comfort him.
We made it to their destination. They slammed the door open making us panic. Each one of us was forced to go out blindfolded, threatening us not to make a ruckus. When it was our turn, I went out first before my brother and tried to stay close to him.
Then as we were all out, they removed our blindfolds one by one, but my vision was blurry, so I couldn't see anything. But my sense of smell was strong and I can smell that we were in some sort of factory. I can smell rusting metal and chemicals.
I panicked a little and then looked at my brother and saw him looking at me with fear in his eyes. I wanted to say something but I knew that if I make one word they will hurt one of us or maybe all of us.
As I was thinking about that, someone cried out, "Please let us go." One of the grown men went towards the girl who said that and slapped her.
"Shut up you brat!" He yelled at her while pulling her hair.
The girl was crying so loud that some of the men went and hit the others too. Telling them that if she doesn't stop crying they will hurt everyone. The girl finally stopped crying and the others held their cry. I was the oldest among them.
One of the grown men, who seemed like their boss went in front of me and said, "Aren't you pretty?" then he punched me in the guts.
I fell down and my brother screamed, "No!"
Then I looked immediately at the man and jumped in front of him to protect my brother.
"Oh, so are you guys brothers? Huh!" He grabbed my brother's hair.
I immediately yelled, "Don't!" I startled him.
Then I said to him hesitatingly, "I will do whatever you want me to do, just please don't hurt him." My voice was trembling because I already what they're gonna do with me.
The man let go of my brother and then I saw him sobbing so much. My heart was hurting from seeing him cry. The man approached me then grabbed my hair pulling me away from them. I could see all of their faces fading. And slowly losing sight of my brother.
The man who was gripping my hair told something to one of the men but I couldn't hear what they said due to the pain. Then they shouted at the kids telling them to go somewhere. I couldn't see where they were headed.
The man who pulled me away brought me to a room. I then asked him, "What are you going to do with us?" He responded while removing his clothes saying, "They're gonna pack some shit for us, and you, you're gonna be my little bitch." I closed my eyes as I was trembling and let him do what he want to do with me as long as my brother won't get hurt.
After he was done, I was laying on the cold concrete naked. I was crying and then vomited as I went back to my senses. I was disgusted with myself. I was raped by a man who looked 40 and I was still 16. I am male and I had been treated like I was a girl.
Somehow, whenever I went to new schools, I get teased for looking like a girl. There was one time in my freshmen year. A senior student asked me to help him with something in the gym. I was so naive and went along with him. He made me do things like what that man did to me. So, this wasn't my first time. But it's still so repulsive that I want to rip my mouth out and want to bathe my whole body in bleach.
I then remembered my report. Why are we created? Just to suffer? Well, I don't blame God for what's happening to us right now. I blame humans. I blame society. I blame the system. I blame everyone who has the power to control anything.
If we didn't live in a cruel world made by corrupted rulers. We wouldn't have to face the hardships. I am tired of surviving. I want to live. I want us to live.
Then I looked up and prayed. "Please, Oh God, take away our sufferings. I will sacrifice myself. Just please save my brother and the others. I don't care if I'm going to hell because of this. Just please save them."
After all of my struggling, I finally lost my conscience from the amount of exhaustion and pain I dealt with that day.
While I was unconscious, I heard a voice whisper in my ear and said something incomprehensible, I only understood the words, "~~no longer~~". It was said in a harsh voice. Same as the one I heard in class. Was it just my imagination? I know that wasn't God. Was it... a demon?