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YESTERDAY NIGHT

BEFORE THE CALLS OF DEVAARRA, SALILI NAHAR

"Ada, mobou da?" [Did you kill them well?] The woman in green asked about the intruders that were captured in the palace in another room filled with different dark colors of red and midnight purple silk curtains sticking and hanging around on the emerald-colored ceiling while brushing her hair with a clean straight wooden handle using it like a comb covered with unidentified white jelly-substance to her red hair making it look stronger and straight. She is sitting on a well-crafted chair facing the wall of a portrait crystal mirror in front of her, still wearing her dress but without the crown. Her position was elegant and postured like she was practiced so: Her back was straight, her head a little lower that is focused on the mirror; looking at her beautiful self like an important treasured object.

"Kan." A calm voice but alarmed, one of the Children of Ishtar was summoned from behind the side of a cased opening with his right hand on the center of his chest with a bow of his head. "Ala, maie Kan-Ophannari Mayesa," [My, yes Kan-Ophannari Mayesa].

The queen they called flinched hearing her full name from the Children of Ishstar. It was disrespectful to their hierarchy class ethics, however, it is a part of their tradition with the Children of Ishstar, calling the Kan's full name like it needed to be addressed. She has still maintained her composure and continued brushing her hair straight. "Mou kosiense ah," [I sensed a problem right there,] she sounded more serious and demanding with her voice low.

[My, it is Kan-Ophannari Mayesa. We believe half of our people with some of our masters vanished and the cause are the Vharesa,] The chubby man answered remaining her stance towards the royalty with a calm tone. [The woman who the soldiers dumped her into the swamp I supposed, I believe that she was not in her place at that time.] The woman brushing looks at the Ishstar, thinking about the woman earlier that she ordered to dump her in the deep swamp. [Do you believe that?] She looked at him very seriously.

[My, I find that to be likely. Anyhow, when the masters were here, there was a presence of light on their skin before they vanished.] He said with his eyes closed. "Kabi?" [Light?] She looked on the other side with a question on her face. [If there was light of the people who vanished. Why did not I witness it?] She looked at the Ishstar again, hoping for a possible solution due to the commotion in their territory, the place where they lived many people were worrying about their vanished family members. [Perhaps, we were not chosen to be vanished,] He stated, and the woman continued, [or lucky.]

[Kan, I believe that too.] He smiled like she got the same answer as he. [Do you have any corrections to subdue this commotion?] She asked, and then she stopped brushing. [Kan, there are letters of concern, but I believe it is about the intruders.] He released his hand from his chest, showing five light-brown papers with written words that came from their language. [Why there are only five reports? I do presume that there are more?] She looked at the page with still disappointing green eyes.

[Most of them were captured, Kan.] He said. She nodded as approving as it made sense with the small amount of reports. [Yet not all of them were captured.] She continued, she closed her eyes going for a short breath before spouting her natural vocals. [What were the letters said, then?] She finished her brushing, and then she faced forward to the Ishstar with her hands clasped formally on her thighs. [Three reported about the intruders,] he stated, and a sudden spout "Momu dei" [Kill them] from the woman sitting like it was declared already by the words that are written. He continued the reports [one is in need of help, but, My, it is from the intruders,]

[Perhaps, good people do exist,] A gentle smile from the queen, but she declared [Kill them too. We do not have any benefits of preserving them in our place if they don't have any value to us.]

His last report, [and the last one said that they are travelers who came from Up North.]

The women got curious. "Up North?"

[Up North? What foolery is that?]

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CHAPTER 8

I smile at them, feeling satisfied. I know what I'm doing is insane, but it helps me get things over. Their pathetic faces: their cries, leaning on each others' shoulders, pleading and praying to Baba wishing that they might be saved caused the laughter of the crowds that made me think they were saying "What are these idiots doing?"

They screamed that no one could understand, but I think what they were saying was:

"What did we do wrong?"

"Help us!"

"Have mercy!"

"Baba, God have mercy on us."

"Baba! Save us!"

I could hear them by just their nonsensical scream, but all I felt was self-satisfaction that made me smug at them. Smirk or smug, both of them express my truest emotion to them.

Laughter, enjoyment, anger, and vengeance boast each other like siblings.

This feeling it's all I have to get some peace of mind.

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After what they've done to my friends, none of the families or the ones who had thrown stones at my friends' deaths mourned for them. After the death of Mima and Anne, the next day all of them looked like it was a normal day and they all blamed Emil for their death, I'm really glad that she was not there to hear about her she stayed locked up in her home.

My people felt what they were doing was the right thing because it is said in the Lib. They still smile after what happened like it was a normal day, I felt they were honored by what they did. "It's to honor our God, Tuk," they said.

Is this what they call Honor Killing? None of them have remorse for the deaths of my friends: Mima and Anne. They felt so proud and honored because they eliminated a sin that was outside of the boundaries of the Lib.

By hearing "What happened to Anne and Mima?" and when they answered about the homosexuality act, they were supposed to feel bad and pity for them, but it turns out like a valuable reason to kill them.

"It is necessary," they said.

"It's said on Lib, so, it's a sin," they said.

At first, I didn't know about the word "homosexuality," because not anyone here will suspect that it will happen to anyone, so, it is a rare occasion for homosexuality acts. Ms. Guin taught us to "Love who you love," she stated but did not mention what sex she meant, so I did not mind any love interest of others, because I have watched dogs having same-sex intercourse which people did not really mind, not until I learned Ms. Guin's reaction when she was talking to someone about Anne and Mima's death she was pleased after, and she said, "God, save us from our sin," with her hands clasping together like she was lucky to not get infected by a disease.

I was almost a part of Anne and Mima's death, but with the help of my father as a preacher, he said that God had spared my life or he was trying to persuade the members just because he is the preacher of the Lib. I think it's both of the options. "You better be thankful that God gave you many chances while they have wasted their chances," my dad said to me like an echo of a dark past, because it is that dark.

I will not forget how angry I was, but I was smart enough to hold back. I was lucky to not be part of them, because of my dad, and I'm glad and grateful that Emil wasn't executed too because they haven't done anything blasphemy to our religion.

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

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The soldiers or guards who are close to the edge picked 3 no-tongue people randomly. I am still making a smug face at them, they finally got to taste their own medicine with the crowds with me cheering the soldiers like a hunting festival.

Carlos looked at me with shock in his eyes, knowing what kind of a person I was to them. I frowned when my eyes met him as his supposed friend, but I immediately shifted my eyes away from him, it was not time for me to let my guard down by forcing myself to not let this feeling eat me up.

"VHARESA!" Screams of the crowd with the same name again. I wonder if it's a word or a name in their language.

I witnessed the guards push them into the pits. Three people fell into the pits over the bridge, screaming like fading echoes. The crowds without tongues tried to escape from the guards or soldiers, but one of them got caught by the bird's giant beak with a fast swallow.

Screams. More screams.

Cheers. More cheers.

Cries. More cries.

I was watching Mima's father crying with no sense of his words coming out of the cut tongue, he cried so pathetically. I can't help but smile and smug at them like pathetic creatures.

How does it feel now?

Honestly, I am disappointed that it is not the way how they were punished like my friends, and I know that they have no idea why I'm making a smug face at them. However, I won't deny their pathetic faces of expression making me feel entertained.

Anne. Mima. This is for both of you.

When Carlos was taken on the edge, I wasn't ready to face it. He doesn't deserve it even though we only met for a day. He is a good person by the way he acts, and I respect him more than I respect myself.

I can't stand watching him die.

"My, what happened to you?" An unexpected whisper came from my right and it was the chubby man, the Children of Ishstar they called. I felt a lunge of anxiety poured out from my inside. I felt my chest heavy again. Did he suspect me?

"You're a strange young one," he bent his head facing me with a gentle smile, but I sensed malice. I was right in my instinct, I was just so slow to not pay attention to it.

"VHARESA!"

"FEED THEM!"

The people raised their hands flapping like birds when three-by-three people were getting thrown into the pits above the bridge. "It is rather loud here," he said with a pat on my right shoulder. "Come with me, young one," he whispered calmly again, then another statement continued, "if you wish to not be part of them." I nodded without hesitation, there's no other options to think about, I'm only making my death early if there was.

After I agreed he only smiled, he looked like they had a plan for something worse. There's nothing anything positive to think about too. "Follow me, young one," he demanded again with a calming tone sounding like a wise person. He turned around and he started walking.

I did not hesitate to turn around and follow him, the crowds backed away when the Children of Ishstar is walking in his direction I was following, making a small path that is less crowded for him to walk.

Children of Ishstar are that important to them, huh?

I look around for a bit with my head low, trying not to be obviously suspicious of them, but I think they are more focused on the execution behind me. They are smiling. They are enjoying it as they have already taken revenge for their family member's unknown disappearance.

Thank god that I didn't witness Carlos being executed and that made me guilty. I hated myself for it for not being able to help him.

I'm not a great person. I'm sorry Carlos.

I know there's nothing I can do to help him, but I can not stop this guilty feeling from trying to eat my inside. It's like something came out of my chest, something dark and black ink pouring out trying to drown me.

My hands are fidgeting.

"I'm so sorry, Carlos," I sounded regretful, but I was as quiet as possible to not let anyone near me hear me saying my native language. I wanted to pay my respect to someone who deserved more than I.

I shook my head getting back my attention to the chubby man in front of me, taking me somewhere private because that's obvious and expected. When we left the crowds behind us, we went back to the town or city, feeling the rocky road tiles, and seeing building houses made of red and grey bricks again. The flags raised on their houses with the same fox-like creature like my badge. I'm not entirely sure if this is a city or a town, looking at their cultural design that is historic compared to ours on my home planet which is modernized.

This guilt feeling is still eating me up. Again my chest felt burning as my breath kept breathing very deep. I zoned out again.

Back to your senses.

Back to your senses, Tuk.

I squinted my eyes and shook my head again, maintaining my focus and awareness of my surroundings. Forcing myself to ignore this feeling that I know I can't escape for now.

We're still walking, I notice this place is mostly empty or it is entirely empty, but I see some guards or soldiers that I don't know what to call them, and while walking passing the town or city we are walking straight to a stone wall with a circular opening with the Children of Ishstar are at and we're getting closer to one of the Ishstars, and of course, he is doing the talking. "Ala, pimoy comiesa?"

"Maya kadamos siemente?"

"Iwe, kamos obanmos kobas to."

"Maie," he answered. The other Ishstar nodded with the other Ishstars that he is with. "Young one, where is your other one?" I still felt a chill in my spine when they spoke in my language. Now he is talking about Emil. I agitated my eyes in the other direction.

I noticed that they were talking about us: Carlos, Emil, and I. He mentioned that Carlos had died, and he asked if I was with them. I think I've created gossip about us from Up North I just made up. Shit.

What should I do? Do I lie? Do I say "I don't want to say it?" to them? Do I make up the location of where Emil at? Do I say I am alone now?

"It's all ri-" I interrupted him, "W-working in the library..." with eyes to the side, I'm scared of facing them because I don't know what will happen to me or Emil. My eyes were still forced to look in the other direction with my head low. "My, thank you for your honesty. It is very unpleasant to lie and very impossible to lie to us, after all," He said to me.

"Now, child. Follow me." He turned around and ordered me. "Two of us," he corrected. I looked at both of my sides, looking at the other Ishstars feeling their menacing smiles. I'm scared with my heart racing, and my eyes blurring from nervousness. I closed my eyes even though some of the Ishstars saw me breathing in and out. I want them to know that I pose no threat to them and I was trying to calm myself down.

Considering what happened earlier, I really am a strange one.

I followed another Ishstar again. Hopefully, this is the last one, I walked through the circular passage of the wall and they scooted away from me because of their big bellies, making a larger path that is less narrow. The passage is completely dim but with a source of light at the front of maybe 50-60 meters distance (I think?) of these thick walls. I smelled something like smoke in here and felt a touch of something slimy when I touched the walls, an amount of substances on my hand, but it's too dark to see, and I wiggled it out of hand away from me.

I was supposed to smell that jelly that I got off, but I don't think I had time, so I headed straight to the light for a minute, my eyes got strained by the light, so, I covered my eyes with my hand, and felt a gushed of wind cooling me.

"Stop," a large figure blocking the path, the one Children of Ishstar who said I follow him is blocking the path. "Child, you should be thankful that your life has been blessed with mercy."

"T-thank you," I thanked him anxiously. I felt disappointed about not having the chance to see what was behind that path at the end. I couldn't get a closer view because it shun too bright. I felt a fast gush of wind coming from that light.

"My, I do request you to answer my questions and some after the questions," he requested me, but it was a demand for me to answer, or else death. I didn't say anything, but I think he knew that I couldn't deny it.

"Who are you people?"

I took a deep breath before answering, "W-we're not from here. We're from up there on that object," I pointed him to my planet upward to the sky, I don't think they'll understand the word "planet," to them, there might be a different word for them. I remembered where it was because I was paying attention to it. "That's Up North? The moon?" He asked sounding like he was disappointed, I think he just heard a joke than the facts behind it. His face looks like Dubin-sak's confusion. Fuck!

"Y-you can say that," I just agreed to what I've created rumors about us by me, the Up North I made up. "What does that mean, child?" He sounded more serious. I'm scared.

Focus, Tuk. Focus.

"Something just transported us to this place, and I cannot explain why," I try to avoid being complicated which is related to my home planet, and I focus on what happened 'til now. "Something's on our skin just glow, and we are here."

"Child, you didn't answer my question," He refuted.

"W-we are from Up North, a far land that is further beyond this place," I said, I didn't want to point out random places, because he might think how did I know how far was it?

"I've heard Brábás Kapur is far beyond," he assumed. "I'm afraid, we're far from Brábás Kapur," I tried my best to copy the pronunciation from him of whatever that place is. "Child," he sounded more demanding like he sensed what I was doing by reading my reaction while mixing truth. "I'm sorry." closing my eyes, admitting my actions and mistakes. I tried to think again, and my last option was, "We aren't familiar with that place," I said sounding worried. "I see, that's very interesting. You all possess some different tongue," he said bringing his chest up, looking down at me like a small prey to be devoured.

"How much details do you know about this place?"

"I-I don't know anything about this place, all I know is I was rescued from the Poseria's Swamp Valley," I told him. "What were you doing in Poseria?" He got curious on the subject. "That's where I was when I disappeared," I answered.

"My, it is no surprise that you lied about being travelers," he knew. "Perhaps, you do not have a place to stay at, that's why" he speculated and he read me right. "Du-Dubin-sak let us stay," I said, and I continued "for a while."

"My, for a while will be a dream, my child."

Will be a dream? There's a sharp breathing coming out of my breath. I am scared, afraid, and terrified. My eyes went wide started with my vision blurring in my panic session. What will happen to us? I vision when I was at the swamp again, going back by throwing us to the pits, getting eaten of our flesh and thrown like garbage bags.

"That's all my questions, young one."

He got something left. "I think, you know your position in this, correct?" He asked and I nodded at him.

"If you want to grant another mercy, child, I would like you to do something for us."

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A MENACE TO BE AWARE OF