Christiana woke up that morning to find herself isolated from the village — both literally and literarily.
Every morning, the first thing she did was open the curtains.
But that morning felt different. There was something outside — movement, voices… something was happening. She hesitated, her breath caught. Carefully, she peeked from behind the curtains, hiding herself so that only one eye could see through.
People were scattered across the streets. She moved to another window — then another — and saw the same scene everywhere: confusion, panic, movement.
But what truly unsettled her wasn't the people. It was the buildings.
Half of them were gone. Some had collapsed entirely. Others stood charred and blackened, skeletons of what they once were.
And then she noticed something stranger — all the people outside were looking toward her.
Her heart tightened. Did they see me? Did they find me?
No... their eyes weren't on her. They were fixed on the building itself.
But why?
We were so hated in this village that no one ever dared to build their house beside ours. We stood alone — a stain, a curse, an eyesore they wished would vanish. Was it because we were poor? Or because of something deeper?
Maybe it was because our family's entire legacy was this building.
A house that took generations to construct — and still remained unfinished.
It was supposed to be our dream, our pride… though I never truly understood why.
My family and I lived on the third floor.
Our way of life was… systematic. Controlled.
Each couple could have only one child. If twins were born — one had to die.
We don't have the luxury of having better life, reality was rotten insides our hearts, and we don't how to get rid of the smell.....
We organize our self in the building like this:
The first floor is for the father and mother. They will mate and have one child — male or female.
When that child grows enough to get pregnant or to make a woman pregnant — around 13 to 18, depending how early they are ready — they will marry someone and move to the second floor.
There, they will mate and have one child, then wait until that child becomes ready to receive or give the seed. When that happens, that child will marry and move to the third floor.
So in total, if we say the average age to have a child is 15:
The first-floor parents will have their child when they are around 15.
They will wait another 15 years until that child grows up, and another 15 when the grandchild is born — by then, they are between 45 to 50 years old.
When the parents on the third floor have their own child, they live with them until the child reaches 15 — ready to marry and continue the cycle.
Then it happens — the parents on the first floor commit suicide.
The parents from the second floor move down to the first.
The third-floor parents move to the second.
And their children, now married, take the third floor.
Every 15 years or so, the first-floor parents die, and everyone moves up one floor.
We are waiting for the fourth floor to be finished, to add more years to the cycle.....
This system, I don't know who created it, but I grew up and taught to cherish every moment of it... We aren't the only one who uses this method.....
There are other houses that have the same system — the only difference is that we are the poorest of them all...
We have to do the extreme.... To live..
Why am I wondering about the way we live… is it because of this time of the day?
Oh— I think I'm late. I have to get ready. Which one… this or this?
It doesn't matter. Am I ready? Let's go.
I need to calm down. Breathe in… and out.
In… out… that's it.
I open the door, step outside, close it, and start walking.
I wonder why I'm doing this—like I'm running from something.
I won't give myself a chance to change my mind, so it has to be quick.
Now I'm walking, and I can't go back because of my anxiety.
Haha… weaponizing my own fear against me.
Still, today feels different.
Uncomfortable.
Everyone seems to be looking at me…
No, no way— I must be imagining it. I'm not the center of the universe.
Oh… James. There.
Calm down. You didn't see him.
Yesterday was the best day ever. I—
What happened?
The flowers look so beautiful…
The sky feels bigger than usual.
What am I doing? It's not like he can read my thoughts.
He didn't come to stop me… maybe he didn't even see me.
James— he's the village's sweetheart.
A handsome, rich man who's been taking care of us for some time.
I'm nearly seventeen now… and I'm the first in my family who hasn't married before sixteen.
All of them did before me.
It's all thanks to him.
We've been building the fourth floor for nearly thirty years, and it was still under construction.
When I met James, he took it upon himself to finish it quickly.
He promised my family that the fifth and sixth floors would be done in far less time than the fourth.
I don't know what James saw in me…
The fourth floor is almost finished now. The building looks old—like it took centuries to reach this point.
James said he'll handle all the repairs and everything we need to make it last.
He even promised to start a business for us, to teach my family how to manage it.
And when we're rich enough, he'll come to marry me.
Even better, he said—we'll build our own house. Maybe even a few buildings that will belong to us.
We still don't know what to make of that dream.
The look on my father's and grandfather's faces was priceless.
So many of our ancestors died without daring to dream like that.
It wasn't even a dream for them—just the wish to live together in one place.
I was told once that our family was too large for the world we had.
We lived in open places… under a poor sky, above the poorest ground.
But we were rich—in family.
Then one day, disaster struck the village.
People died. Buildings collapsed.
The only ones who survived were my family.
The villagers said we were the reason.
The massacre started soon after—they hunted us down left and right.
When we were little, the village showed mercy and let a few of us live.
The system we live under now—it was forced upon us.
But it's also the reason we're still alive.
That's why we cherish it—because without it, we'd have ceased to exist.
Time changed things.
The villagers began to see us as humans again.
Some still hold grudges, but fewer and fewer with each passing day.
Still… why were people looking at our building so strangely today?
There were so many of them—an entire street staring.
And after what happened yesterday… what could've caused the building to collapse like that?
"God doesn't exist, and He abandoned us!"
What the hell—who said that blasphemy?
There's a crowd of people. Let's take a quick look…
Is this some kind of theatrical performance?
Why is no one stopping him from saying such an infidel thing?
Does God exist?
And if He does, where is He — amidst all the evil in the world?
If He has abandoned us, then why should we continue to believe in Him?
If He created us without our permission, then why must we seek His permission for everything?
To answer that, we must ask ourselves one question:
What does God need from us?
To glorify Him.
But that seems impossible.
We say God is perfect — and we are not.
We say God is unlimited — in power, in knowledge.
He created time itself, so time does not affect Him.
We, on the other hand, are limited in everything.
Everything affects us — even thoughts overwhelms us.
So if we are so small, how could beings like us ever glorify Him?
Then why do we pray?
First — what is the concept of prayer?
Anyone up there...?
"Oh, that's interesting. What should his answer be? He isn't speaking blasphemy."
"Oh... me?"
Yes, you.
> "Hmm... to be humble."
Not Exactly. That's how you should be while praying — humble.
That's the spirit, the state of mind you should enter.
The concept of prayer is to disconnect yourself from the world —
to think only about the greatness of God,
so that all your problems seem small in comparison.
And after that... you can stand and fight another day.
> "So you're saying the purpose of prayer isn't to be submissive or satisfied with life?"
Let me ask you this:
Why would He reward or punish you
if all He wanted was blind submission?
If you were born in a house that doesn't believe in God,
shouldn't you then be satisfied with disbelief —
if submission were truly what He wanted?
Of course not.
The true purpose of prayer is to cleanse the human soul —
from stress, from despair, from dreams that hurt, from thoughts that drown us —
to focus only on God,
so we can continue to live.
> "Does it matter if someone doesn't believe in Him?"
If we live under the rule of a king,
and you as a person do not believe in his authority —
does that change anything?
Of course not.
> "But why does God let people suffer — from war, from poverty?"
The answer is: He never left them.
We abandoned them.
If God truly forsook them, they would be immortal —
because in that case, even death would not touch them.
But death itself is mercy from God.
He didn't abandon them — we did.
If we, as humans, sheltered them,
their suffering would not exist.
Yet we blame God
for something that lies within our own hands.
It's not as though we are fighting angels —
we're fighting our own indifference.
God gave us everything we need to live, to fight, to help one another.
So what more should we ask Him for?
People suffer —
because other people allow it.
........
Oh my... I'm late. I should go get some bread for my family.
That was interesting... people suffer because others allow it.
It's a bit sad to think that, for some people, the only mercy they have is death. Why are humans so cruel?
Anyway, I got the bread, and I'm heading home. What will we eat today? The same as always—bread and water with salt and black pepper... or maybe we'll add a tomato.
I guess it'll be the usual—dipping the bread into water, sprinkling a little salt on top.
Wait—what is this? What's happening? No... no... no...
Get out of the way! Let me through!
Why did this happen...? Why is my entire building on fire...? Are my family... are they dead...?
: One of them escaped, didn't I say they use dark magic?
What? I wasn't even in the house!
: Do you think we're idiots?
I swear! I was just buying bread for my family!
: And where is it?
It must've slipped from my hand while I was—
Wait… did you do this? Why?
: Why do you ask? Fine then, if you still want to keep acting…
Acting? What are you—
: Surprised?
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Ahhh!"
: That should be your whole family screaming. Don't just cry tears—come on, do worse. How about crying blood?
What… how could I—?
: You and you… hold her.
No, no—what are you going to do?!
: What does it look like? I'm going to take your eye.
No, you wouldn't!
: Haha, it's better than saying I couldn't, huh?
No way—he's bluffing. Haha… no, there's no human with a heart who'd do something that brutal.
No, I'll be fine… I just need to keep my eyes closed. I'll be fine.
Haha… he thinks he can scare me… But I heard my family scream. He really killed someone.
And that look on his face… he enjoyed it.
Wait—why can't I close my left eye? What…?
: I don't know what's in your mind, but I wasn't bluffing. You'll shed blood from your eye—and that's an order.
Please, no! I'll do anything, no… no…
Anything but this! I'll be your maid, I'll eat from the garbage, I'll drink your piss—just don't—
: Well, that's an interesting idea.
Thank God… he stopped before taking it out.
I don't know why I still can't close my left eye… is this some kind of device?
At least my right eye still works… I just need to buy time—until James saves me… or anyone…
What is this feeling?
Did I close my left eye?
The device isn't working… or wait—my right eye, I can open it—so why can't I—
What's that sliding down my cheek?
Tears?
No… thicker than that.
Where did that man go?
He's on my left…
What's he holding…?
Is that… my—
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! MY EYE! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
: Late reactions are the best.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! My eye! My eye! Ha..ha..ha..ha!"
: The confusion, then it hits them… and the hard-to-breathe stage. Come on, let her stop…
I'm… losing consciousness…
Why…?
Oh, he hit me…
Death… truly is mercy from God…
Before Christina wakes up... let's tell you the reason why the buildings around Christina's house burned down to the ground...
Well, it was overloaded circuits..... and the houses shared something together, I don't know what was it..... but of course, the fire invaded a lot of places at the same time... The villagers were using water, which worsened and amplified the fire that spread and spread until it had nothing left to eat to grow.... and when it finally stopped, it was too late.....
Then answer this, you tired friends..... what will happen when your whole world collapses in front of you...
Exactly.... looking for a reason, or someone to blame.... when you look out and see there's only one building standing while everyone else's was on the ground, what will you think.....
Right. It's their fault. You wouldn't think they were too poor to even afford electricity. You wouldn't remember that you never saw a single light flicker from their windows. And you certainly wouldn't recall how that same house seemed haunted at night.
No… in your eyes, they were the reason.
And they deserved the blame.....
That's aside. Christiana wakes up and hears them: "they dares to burned your houses, we burned theirs to the ground... but that won't be enough to earse their sin... So they died with their house... And now we are having predicament... This young lady must atone for her family sin.
They seduced a young and wealthy man to marry their daughter as a challenge to overcome, a project to see if he could change someone's personality... They used his naivety to make him take the challenge... And thank God that was revealed to us today, otherwise..."
As she listened, Christiana's left eye pain seemed to stop for a moment — then her heart began to hurt more. She had a heart problem. Clinging to that tall wooden post, she started having a brutal attack: the pain was so fierce she begged them, "light this, to relieve me." But they postponed it, and the man smiled at her suffering.
She looked at James and saw him unmoved. Now she was certain — this was the truth. While her body twitched from side to side, she whispered, "death is indeed mercy God bestowed upon human."
These four cases — Idgar, Christiana, Maria, Mark — were laid out in detail on a file that had been tossed onto a desk after it was read.
A voice said, "I was just gone for one month and four people died for nothing, Sarah. Do you understand why I should be involved?"
"If death becomes the only mercy humans look for, we will never progress. Never."
"Will — blasphemy — how will we progress if the alternative is fear? At least with death you overcome fear. Can you say the same thing about fear?"
"Sarah, if I leave for good, this village will be worse..."
"Blasphemy — stop right there. Are you actually for real? You only have a file from the area you have authority over. Much worse has happened — did you forget the trial of Whistle and what he did?"
"You're right. At least by my going, they would have a fighting chance. Maybe they would wake from their dream."
"Dear Blasphemy, it won't matter if they fight or not... nothing will change whether you are here or there. But at least there you will not be blamed."
"Wouldn't that mean I'm running?"
"It won't. Don't just leave quietly — make them lose their minds so they can think again."
"To dream again."
"To breathe again."
"Now, will you come for sure with me, right Sarah?"
"Like I said — here or there, it won't make any difference."
"Then let's prepare for our last evil performance — after all iam blasphemy."