The boys and girls that were never there They had hopes and dreams They had goals of their own They were just like us; humans Perhaps, they would've even surpassed us In ambition, peace, and kindness To have more humanity than these humans pretend to be We would never get to learn of their faces We would never get to learn what happens after, if. The boys and girls that were never there Simply because they were not allowed to be.

"The Boys and Girls That Were Never There" - (18/1/24) 🎈🍉🕊️🪁

Dear Judge,

I really don't get the point of standing in front of this court and having to say all my final words again. I'm innocent, but if execution is your final ruling, so be it. I've already explained everything but as I've said before, the first was honestly an accident, but hey- his accomplice saw everything and tried to run; so while I was at it, bloody hands and all, I thought I might as well. Dude A- bam and Dude B, gone.

And yes, I know, I know. Calling them dudes is 'wrong'- fine. Teenagers. Still, these two teenage kids had nothing to do but play ding-door-dash in the afternoon?! I was finally able to get an off day from that shitty company when these knuckleheads- heh. See what I did there? Knuckle.. cause I beat their heads with my.. anyway. So what if the second one wasn't an accomplice? Really, they shouldn't have rung my doorbell at 2PM in the first place. Who does that?! I wasn't in the best of mood as of late cause of Piggy, oops- no offense Mrs. Bones. That's my nickname for your husband by the way. Heh. That's the only thing I agree on in my department, really. Anyway, these kids, they've been at it for weeks. And that day, tough luck, I caught them.

Speaking of Bonesy, oh man. Sorry Mrs. or is it just Ms. now that he's dead? Sorry not sorry about that. Well, I've gotta say your husband- what? Ugh. Fine, I won't look at you. Aaanyway, my boss, Mr. Bones, is one bad dude. I mean, like seriously. I told you all I was having an off day, right? I was sick. I have been sick. Stressed. Frustrated. Angry. Stress. Stress. Stress. More stress. I hate them all. What? Yes, yes. I'm okay. As I was saying, I was sick, and as I was cleaning up the bodies, guess who called? Yup. My damn boss- who decided to call me in. An 'emergency' he says! Hah! It's always do this, do that with that guy.

So I got to thinking. I looked to the two bodies which were then wrapped around my carpet- lazy, I know. No challenge at all for the forensics team I bet. The blood was seeping through to the floors and my hands. My hands were still bloody. And I thought, I might as well.

I grabbed the keys to my car and left. Reached my office in records time woo-hoo! Walked across security, across the reception, across my own department on the same level as the meeting room and there you have it beyond the door; my boss and all my lovely colleagues. No one even looked up to notice. I told you it was a shitty company.

Ever heard of the saying, 'when a killer is killed, the number of killers in the world stays the same?' I personally extend that to not just 'killers', but to anyone that commits any type of crimes and personally, annoying people should be on that list.

I mean, have you ever stepped outside before? These people man, they really needed to be stopped and our usual laws ain't gonna cut it anymore. I was the consequences but I'm not sorry. That just means one less annoyance in the world.

So really, you should be thanking me.

The animosity between two rival kingdoms would finally rest upon the alliance agreed using the unity of the Prince and Princess of another kingdom. The marriage is grandiose in every way possible; the perfect tailoring, the majestic decorations in and beyond castle grounds, variety of food preparations and noble guests coming from neighbouring countries as well as all across the globe.

The marriage was blessed with the perfect clear blue skies. Outside the castle walls, the citizens celebrated it as a sign of good times to come.

For the bride and groom, though, the day was grim as ever. They would tie the knot that would seal their fate. A fate that they never wanted.

For just last night, they had one last honest conversation with their true loved ones.

The Prince, facing a burial ground with an unnamed tombstone, vowed "My heart. It was meant to be for you. I only ever wanted it to be for you." He had wept, his shoulders shaking while his fingers gently caressed the tombstone.

And

The Princess, who had sneakily followed her first love upon arrival from her own kingdom, with her back to the Prince, vowed inside her heart, 'While mine, was yours to begin with. Forever and always.' She gripped her chest, pain at knowing she was not his first choice but convincing herself that this was for a greater cause.

And so, with heavy footsteps, they headed towards the center that would initiate their ceremony. They faced each other with a fixed look. Both knowing their responsibilities and duties, to each other and for their own kingdoms.

The ceremony starts with their vows to love each other.

Their first lie or perhaps, a kept promise, out of many to come.

I wish I had never let go those childish drawings treasure hunts, scrapbooking the random video projects I just felt proud I could call it mine young me had no worries young me smiled so wide

Then came what I wished was my happy days Lived the rest of my life head down, no noise, no sound stopped trying for fear of rejection and humiliation, embarrassment fear gripped my present because of those thoughtless words

Now I am just hoping time would slow down better yet, rewind reset delete so I could catch up, clambering for any ambition and passion that I let slip between my fingers because of those thoughtless judgements echoing both awake and asleep

Still don't know what it is I long for I have reached adulthood with no thought while others seemed to have a future so bright as for me, a hazy and blurry path lays in front My only hope is Allah, on the prayers of times spent raising my hand and bowing my head to the ground. Perhaps then, I'll move on and find my purpose.

The baby in her cradle starts moving, signs that she'll be awake soon from her afternoon nap. After thoroughly checking every inch of the note, Nami chucks it away in a nearby trashcan and hurriedly made her way into her car.

Meanwhile, her head was churning theories after theories. She had been in this small town since her childhood. She didn't leave when her parents finally passed, not when she got married, not when that incident happened, not even when her husband also passed. This town had roots and it had shackled itself onto her or she herself refused to let go.

So, how did someone find out all of a sudden?

She gently placed the baby on a baby seat, but the sudden shift of movement inevitably woke her up. With a pair of blinking red eyes, she then started crying.

Nami coos gently, "Shhh... honey. I'm sorry. It's okay.. it's okay. Mommy's here." Baby Freya's cries started slowing down a bit, recognizing the familiar voice, but it didn't stop altogether and Nami knows why.

With a sigh, she stares at her baby's open mouth. More specifically, at the spot where one's canine should be, but instead, her fangs had started to grow.

She took a glance outside the car. No one seemed to be looking. 'Should I risk it and take out the bottle?' Then, thoughts about the note came back and she decided against it. She willed herself to tighten Baby Freya onto her baby seat despite her wailing and hunger, and her guilt-ridden feeling of starving her child for even a moment, then made her way to the drivers seat.

Once her seatbelts on, she turned around in her seat so one hand can reach the back to soothe her child. "Honey..shhh... I'm here okay?" She continued whispering comforting words, while her other hand made quick work rummaging the grocery bags she got earlier. She pulled out a bottle she stored in there in case of emergencies.

The red liquid sloshed around inside after being pulled out abruptly. She noticed that the contents seemed far less than she had first filled it. A feeling of dread ran through her spine. Picking up the grocery bag, there it was; spillages caking the bottom and seeping through it.

She cursed inside at her stupidity. She must've missed the smell because of her overdue stay at the meat section. It's been a long time since she had meat, less of all fresh one. And despite garnering some odd glances, her feet were glued there and that butcher looked especially-

She snapped out of her train of thought. 'Shit. This is bad.'

Nami gently passed the bottle to Baby Freya who happily accepted it with a squeal before sucking it. A soft smile made it's way to Nami's tensed features at seeing her child happy.

'What should mommy do, Freya?' She sighed morosely.

She takes out her phone and started browsing for plane tickets. After scrolling for some time, she heard a burp and a soft, "Mah-mah," coming from the back.

Her neck turned so suddenly she must've had whiplash but she didn't care. "Momma? Yes, Freya! That's me! Can you say Mama again? Mama. Maaaa-Maaaa." Nami repeated again and again while pointing to herself.

Again, this time, with her own eyes, she saw Baby Freya utter the words, first starting unsurely but then with confidence after seeing her mother's enthusiasm. "Ma..ma."

"Freya honey! Yes! Mommy's here! Oh good job, dear!"

With a new sudden feeling of hope brought about by her own child, she took another glance where the notes had been placed on her windshield, and then towards her phone again where lists of plane tickets are shown.

"Freya, honey, I think it's time for a change of scenery."

I was never one to shine. People have always described me as an average person, and I'm fine with that. Living a normal, stable and peaceful life has always been the dream.

At least, that is, was what I told myself until the moment the clock struck midnight on my 30th birthday.

Celebrations were never my thing, but that day, I felt the need to buy one small cake. It was rare, buying a favourite I've long forgotten the taste of. There was no fancy set up, just me in my small office cubicle. The main lights had been turned off and all other cubicles were empty. It was a norm, working until the depth of night.

It was 11:58pm.

In the vast office space, I found comfort in the small flickering candle placed on top of my cake. It was quiet, the only sound coming from the clock’s ticking hands.

And thanks to that silence, comes that lingering feeling inside of me that has been overlooked for so long. All these years, I’ve managed to suppress it; but I guess, hitting a major milestone of 30 years comes the question; what’s next?

I felt empty.

11:59pm. I raised my hand and closed my eyes. A silent prayer. 'Make me shine'.

12:00 AM. On my 30th birthday, I asked for something and got an answer.

The candle snuffed out. The trail of smoke lingered but then, instead of dissipating, it coiled together, becoming bigger and bigger until it formed a figure. I had watched in horror, fear, awe and anticipation. The figure spoke, bringing me news of a land, needing an heir to the throne. A realm so different from here and on the brink of war…

My eyes were the first to shine. Gleaming in excitement. In a state of overwhelmed emotions, I didn’t realise that the smoke figure had managed to turn even more human-like in its form. It extended a hand, wisps of smoke circling around it and all over its body.

I accepted it.

—

“So you just went, Grandma?!” little Nur shrieks. Her blanket covers her whole body, only her eyes peeking out to hear the story.

I laughed. “Yes, darling. I did.”

“But why?” Nur pouts. “Mama always warned me about ‘stranger danger’.”

I laughed a bit harder at that familiar saying. “Well, your mother got that saying from me and I from my mother. Besides, if I did not, I wouldn’t have such a cute grandchild now would I?” I tickle her playfully. Nur giggled, tossing around in her bed.

After a while, she asks, “When will Ma and Pa be back?”

I glance down to the emerald tablet. “Their trip to Earth was for one week… so just another 3 days.”

“I miss them. Why couldn’t I go… I wanna see your birthplace too!” she whines.

“It’s not that much different dear. Both are very beautiful,” I reply wistfully. “The trees, the skies, the people…”

“Do you not miss it Grandma?” Nur hesitantly asks. “Were you not happy there?”

A sad smile forms on my lips. “I do miss it once in a while. And for your second question, it turns out… I wasn’t dear… Which is why I gladly took your grandpa’s hand that day.”

Nur’s eyes shine at that. “I do love your stories, Grandma. Tell me what happened next.”

“The moment I got here… war greeted me.” I fixed Nur’s blanket, getting her ready for bed and sat up in a comfortable position to continue the tale. “Your grandpa, on behalf of the Magic Realm and I, then appointed on behalf of the Seven Kingdoms, rushed to the Capital to put an end to it all.”

“How?” Nur asks giddily, though a yawn managed to sneak in.

“Well…” And so, I continued until little Nur’s eyes were too heavy and she finally slept.

(tw: mild mentions of abuse)

BAM!

Another slam on the bathroom door jolts her awake from her daze. She scoffed and muttered, 'side-splitting, life-changing, end-of-the-world, huh...' Those were the very words she once scribbled inside a diary as a teenager and carried forward to her adult years to find the 'one'.

Now, those naive words were what's about to get her killed.

BAM! The doorknob rattles aggressively and she could hear swears outside but she tunes it out. The water from the sink helps exceptionally in that too.

She looks to the side. The floor surrounding her was painted red.

Hah. Her sides were splitting alright.

She doesn't even have the energy to move anymore and yet, it's funny how at a time like this, her urge to laugh has never felt greater. It's been so long since she felt so free to just... be humorous. To just be herself. And so, she laughs; ignoring the pain in her side and the person she doesn't even know anymore behind the door getting angrier by the second.

After a while, she paused to look at the ceiling light. The door slams and her pounding heartbeat in her chest creates a somewhat calming background noise.

Was it wrong to be herself? Frowning, memories flowed into her mind. Countless moments where she had to alter her own behaviour out of 'sincere' comments from him. Then, whenever she hesitated, the relationship would turn sour for a while. It was never enough, all until she couldn't even recognize herself anymore. All these signs...why didn't she see.

She closed her eyes, the lights had become too blinding.

Was it wrong to wish for true love? No- more specifically, was true love supposed to hurt? It's not supposed to, right? All the efforts to find true love...this one's not him, right? If so, that means...

BAM! This time, the door gives way a bit. She knows her time is about to come to a close. She tries to gather one last bout of vitality to stand up, falls on her knees and tries again and again until she manages to stand and hold a defensive stance.

The door finally burst open, the man came strutting in with a knife in his hand. His entire face was gleaming with sweat and popped veins. His anger was at an all-time high.

She wills her hands to stop shaking and takes a deep breath. Shaking her head, she focused on what she just thought about.

"You're not him," she stated. Firmly, she decided. "What the hell are you going on about?!"

Firmly, she decided.

She'll fight to see another day and maybe...

Maybe, one day she'll meet the one true love that's written for her.

tears tears tears grief is what overwhelms me first will will will no name of mine written here

glint glint glint is that a scheming smile i see doubt doubt doubt my siblings wouldn’t do this to me

money money money was worldly wealth worth the betrayal family family family how love now feel so distasteful

It's been a while since the scars have been so visible. It's so much easier to sympathise with strangers when their body is an exact replica of the stormy path of their hurdles; with zippers riddling through their skin.

This is a city where annually, scars are showcased through zippers holding the body of skin together.

You can't help but stare at one passerby; her walks slow and eyes the very definition of no spark. But what truly caught your eyes were her zippers; most were unzipped and underneath, there were only empty voids.

You glance away out of respect and clutched at your chest. Your hand felt the form of your own zipper through your shirt. It was zipped up, but still there. A sign that the scar is still healing.

Not yet healed.

There have been experiments done on the town's population and still no explanation. Every year when the zipper appears, where there should be tissue and blood underneath the skin, instead comes out an assortment of visuals representing peoples' pain, mentally and physically.

When it was the first month after your parents' death, you thought you were doing okay then, with the numbness in your chest and your dry tears. Only to realise it was just denial. The first time you got the zipper, it was placed on your chest, unzipped with white lilies littering your bedroom.

A bump on your shoulder snapped you out of your daze. The stranger bowed apologetically and rushed away with a wave of, "I'm really sorry about that!"

This time however, you notice that this stranger had no zippers whatsoever on his skin. A sudden feeling of jealousy surges up but you quickly quell it back down, realising your own outward appearance. From the outside looking in, others might also think you have no zipper because it's hidden.

Besides, whether visible or not, and having one or not, it wasn't right to judge. Maybe that was the point of the zipper's existence?

Steadying yourself, you clutched your grocery bags. Time to go home.

If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there, does it still make a sound?

Anita can answer with full certainty, that, yes, they still make a sound. And that sound was what carried her over from her dormitory, which was nowhere in sight of any forests to the famed towering trees of Pillar Forest- the entry reserved only for one with high authorities.

Before she had time to worry about entry, (as she was only Tier-C on the Hex Ranking and only A's or above can enter), the guards who were standing guard immediately eased as soon as she approached the entrance. The gate was opened and she made her way in.

Before, the sound was merely that of a soft whistling but now it also included whispers. Of what, she doesn't know. When she entered the dense forest, a gentle breeze followed her journey, wherever that is. Her feet carry her forward anyway.

Closer and closer, the sound increased higher in pitch, the whispers turned louder until she had to close her ears- then, she noticed the fallen tree and she knows, she had arrived at the right place.

The forest went silent instantly.

She took the time to take in everything. One fallen tree amongst all the towering others. It had keeled over, almost hitting the nearest ones on its way down. It didn't have a clean cut, as the trunk was splintered open.

She approached it slowly. "Was it you?" She felt silly, talking to a tree. Hah! In all the classes she's been in, there was no one that could ever master the final part of the Earth Hex. It's been centuries since the last Master of Earth. Even the recently crowned Queen of Witches, which was rumoured to be a madwoman, strictly forbids anyone from achieving that mastery all because Her Majesty herself couldn't. A newly made law for 'funsies', as her roommate calls it.

Nevertheless, Anita continued to try. "Was it you?" she repeated. "Did you call for me? As a...last call for help?"

"For warning."

The silence was replaced with sounds of bristling leaves and the sharp gust of wind. The forests had come alive once more. The answer came for everywhere, echoing from the farthest region to the nearest whisper, carried by the cold breeze.

"Who's speaking?" Anita nervously asked, glancing once at the fallen tree, then towards the others.

"We all speak, true one." The voices of the trees were echoes of each other. A combination of unknown and familiar languages she has heard before, piled layers upon layers.

The trees all around sway with the pull of the wind. The sounds of branches creaking added to the symphony. Anita came to three conclusions; one, she was sure the trees were talking, two, this means she has somehow mastered Earth Hex and three, which also means if the others knew, she'd be put on trial for going against the Queen's Law. She's in big trouble.

"There's no time, true one. One of us has fallen and soon, more."

Anita snapped out of her stupor and steeled herself. Earth Hex, finally mastered. This was something that could change the world. Something big was coming, she could feel it.

"What did you mean by warning? And why do you call me ‘true one’?" she asked.

"We are getting weaker day by day. A sign of the evil that approaches. We have lived far too long. Seen too much. Know too much. Now, we know enough. It is time for you to gather trusted ones to fight."

"Wait, what do you-?"

The voices spoke quicker as if every second counted. The wind picked up and just up above, Anita noticed the clouds start gathering, darkening the forest even more.

"You've been given the gift to enter our world. Every ground you step on will be heard. If you call for us, we will come. What is ours is yours. You are now our master. Use us to fight. Control us for good only. Don’t ever give in to the evil ones."

Thunders began rumbling.

Anita suppressed a gasp. “Fight what? I still don’t understand!”

“You must leave now. It’s coming.”

“What-? What is it?! You can’t just ramble and expect me to understand everything!”

Lightning strikes one of the trees, the ground shaking upon its impact. She looked up to see the tree engulfed in flames. She picked up a wailing sound from the jumble of voices she was talking to which made her want to hurl.

“Leave!”

—

“You’re so funny, Anita,” Ilian said as he continued laughing. “So you’re saying they just… let you enter? Hahahaha! Oh, I’ve never laughed this much in so long. I have the best roommate! Seriously, Anita. Have you ever thought of being a comedian instead of a Witch?”

She had made it back safely. She went out the way she came in, albeit running frantically this time. The guards at the front were still suspiciously unfazed, and opened the gate when she approached it. Now, here she was back again in her dormitory, just done telling the whole story to her roommate, a Wizard named Illian. She was still shaken after everything, she had to get it all out.

“I’m not lying.” She stated matter-of-factly.

Illian has been her roommate since the beginning of the Wizards and Witches Academy. A master in Flame Hex and one of the top students in his class. He is her best friend, a Tier-C just like her on the Hex Rank, and she knows when she gets serious, he can sense it.

His boisterous laughter dwindled down to nervous ones. “Anita, you do realise what you’re saying right?”

She nodded her head and gripped her fist to calm her nerves. “They said…,” she paused, her mind wandering to all the words that were uttered. “...to use them.” She glanced at the multiple decorative potted plants Illian and her had hung on the ceilings. She reached out her hand.

Illian playfully jokes, “to use our potted plants specifically?” with a mischievous smile.

Nothing happened for a while and inside, she almost felt relieved. If everything was just a dream, then it would be better.

Then, the plants inside started to grow, from saplings to seedlings, even the roots grew larger and thicker until the pots couldn’t keep them inside and it shattered. The soils and vinery plants came flying down on both of them.

“Nice,” Illian whispered in awe.

“Sorry…,” she clasped her together in apology. “The trees made me do it.”

Illian shook his head, the soil on top flying everywhere. He chuckled, this time there was a more serious undertone. “What else did they say then?”

She paused. Her hands were still shaking. Then, she looked up.

“They also said to gather trusted ones to fight.” She locks eyes with Illian. “I can trust you right?”

No longer was that mischievous glint present in his eyes. He nodded.

“You can trust me.”