If we were to run away… will you come with me?
Or will you leave us like the rest of them?
"I've tried before you… You can't leave this place… If they catch you, they will torture you."
*Hi… my name is Hazel… because of my hazel eyes.
I'm 11, living in a corrupt kingdom called The Silent Kingdom.
I'm currently a slave for a rich businessman and… I'm not the only one.
"Hey Hazel, answer us. We're running away this evening when they send us out for chores. Will you come with us or not?"
These kids are slaves working for the same man with me.
I am the eldest one… Like them, before, I tried to escape this house… escape this kingdom and run off to the forest…
But I never could. I'm worried for them.
Because like them, before, I tried and got hurt badly…
Hazel: "In broad daylight? Seriously?
You know some of their men will be watching us from afar.
Guys, I'm telling you it's dangerous."
Kids: "They won't catch us… We will run in the crowded market until we lose them…"
Hazel: Her voice started to crack as if she's going to cry.
"What if they catch you… What if… What will I do then… I can't watch you get hurt."
Kids: "Well, we would rather die than stay here…
You should start questioning your comfort in your situation too."
Hazel: She clenched her fist and sighed.
"Fine, I'm coming with you."
That evening, they ran away in the crowded market as planned, and the man's men were running after them.
After running and running, the men caught up to them.
Hazel let the kids hide in random places… some under the tables, some inside shops, etc.,
while she stood firm, allowing the men to catch her.
They caught her tightly by the arms.
"We know it was you! You're the one who put them up to this… You're always making trouble… Aren't you tired? You have been doing this forever. Just accept your fate and stop running,"
they said angrily, and their voices reeked of evil.
"Now, where are the girls? If you tell us where they are, we won't hurt you."
She pointed somewhere to mislead them.
One of the men tightened his grip on her hand, hurting her.
"Don't you ever think of lying."
She was silent, nonchalant, as if she is used to this…
"I know very well what will happen if I lie… I insist, go there."
She kept pointing,
her eyes looking at theirs fiercely.
It felt as if, if they kept staring, they would lose consciousness.
"The shadows have attached to you…
Feeding on your greed and gluttony.
You know I can see them, do you not?" she said to trigger them.
📖 The shadows in this world are dark, foggy entities that attach to creatures and make them hear voices that make them vibrate lower.
Each shadow is different than the other.
For example:
Shadows of lust, gluttony, greed, envy, wrath, sloth, and pride.
The man's face turned red from anger.
"Lock her up… she's talking crazy again.
No food or water, got it?!" the man shouted.
The other men went in the direction she pointed them to.
In Hazel's head, she could only hope the kids could pull it off.
The man threw Hazel and locked her
up in an empty room back at the man's house.
They always locked her up in this room whenever she acted up or caused trouble…
The room had soft sunrays entering through the small window.
To her, this room wasn't torture but a safe space…
* Oh… Did I mention that I can hear music playing in my head — glitchy and surreal?
[Song reference: "Panic Room" by Au/Ra]
I can also see… illusions…
This room is filled with energy I have emitted
until it became a space where I can play with these illusions and dance with them to the music.
She spent the rest of the day in that room, immersing herself in her own world.