The Gifted Child

(Flashback - 9 years ago)

(Month of December - Part 2)

This was the third time that it happened.

The first one was when I was scolded by Daddy. And with outrage in mind, I stared at a rack of magazines and burned it. I was just 7 years old then. Daddy shouted at me and told me to stop. I was so shocked and frightened. Daddy soothed me and hugged me. I asked him what was that all about and he said it was my gift. He said that I should not get mad to avoid burning things like that. I didn't understand it. How could a gift burn like that?

The second one happened when I was 8 years old. A group of girls tried to bully me by throwing a tray of food at me. I was so mad that I stared at the one who did it and her clothes suddenly burst into flames. Everyone was so shocked and I too was so horrified. I forgot my dad's warning about the said gift.

The next day, Daddy talked to the school and when he went home, we packed our things then moved to a province and lived there. Daddy didn't send me to school again so Aunt Emily taught me at home instead. She just graduated from the college of education and I was her first and only student. After that, I promised them and to myself that I would not do it anymore. At all costs.

But I broke that promise.

It was already dark. The door suddenly opened. Aunt Emily went in with a lamp in her hand and rushed to my side. I looked up and saw fear in her eyes. She hugged me.

"We need to get out of here," she whispered and immediately grabbed our things and luggage. She urged me to help her and I did. For a minute, we were done packing our clothes.

We were about to get out of the house when the villagers came with torches and flashlights in their hands. We stood in shock outside our door.

"So, you are going to run away, huh?" It was the head of the volunteer teachers. Her name was Teacher Rona. She walked forward and faced the crowd.

"These two are not who you think they are. They are not sisters. That child is her niece." Teacher Rona announced to the villagers. Some gasped and whispered to each other. I saw fear and disgust on their faces.

"They are not supposed to be here. The girl is a dangerous being so we should not let them stay here... or even in other places as well. You have witnessed what had happened this afternoon to the three boys. You may not understand but it was all because of that child." She continued and looked at me. I shivered when I saw the coldness in her eyes.

"It is high time that we must do what is best for all the people and stop the possible danger at once. The government will do what should be done to them."

Suddenly, a group of men wearing black clothes appeared. They were the same people who chased us before we got into an accident with Daddy. They had guns in their hands. A woman in a white suit came out of them. She also had a gun.

"It would be best if you would come with us in peace." The woman in the white suit said and walked toward us.

Aunt Emily covered me.

"You have no evidence that she did it. She is just a child." Aunt Emily said with a quivering voice. I felt her cold hands on my shoulders.

"Then why are you running away?" Teacher Rona butted in.

Aunt Emily fell silent. The villagers kept on talking to each other. I couldn't hear what they were saying since I was kept protected at my auntie's back.

"Let's cut the chase, shall we? We both know what kind of child you have in there. I know your brother and his wife too well." The woman in a white suit said.

Aunt Emily's hands were shaking. She gripped my shoulders really hard that it was hurting me.

"I will not let your filthy hands get on my niece!" My aunt shouted.

The woman in a white suit approached us slowly. The men followed her.

We walked backward. Aunt Emily suddenly faced me. "Run!"

She pushed me so hard that I stumbled through the door. It happened so fast but I saw how the woman in white aimed her gun at my auntie. I didn't hear a sound but Aunt Emily fell on the floor unconsciously.

I ran inside the house and headed to the backdoor. I heard some footsteps ran after me. I used all my strength to run as fast as I could. It was so dark outside but I didn't mind. I just wanted to escape.

The cold wind harshly greeted my face and dried my tears. My heart was beating so fast that it might come out of my chest. I was already running out of breath but I kept going. I saw rays from their flashlights. They were still after me.

I stumbled because of rock but I immediately got back on my feet and ran again. I didn't have an idea where I was going. Plants and bushes were hitting my face, arms, and legs but I didn't mind the hurt it caused me. I had to run.

I turned to look at my back when suddenly I was crashed into a large tree. I bounced from it and fell on my back flat on the ground. I felt a terrible pain in my body. I whimpered but forced myself not to make a sound-- afraid that they might hear me. I crawled slowly and stretched my hands. I groped for the roots of the tree and with so much pain, I tried to lean on its trunk. I covered my mouth with my hand to stop myself from sobbing.

Aunt Emily lying unconsciously on the floor flashed in my mind. I wanted badly to run back at her but I followed her command to run away instead. She taught me to always obey everything she was saying so I could survive. She strictly raised me to listen to her every time... even now.

I heard some shouts nearby and rays of light. I hid in the tree. I felt it was really large that it could cover me enough from them.

"Be careful! I told you she is capable to kill you so be smart enough to shoot her quickly!" I heard a woman's voice said loudly. I knew it was the woman in a white suit even without seeing her.

I felt a sudden rage for what she did to Aunt Emily. Did she kill her? I felt a pain in my chest and tears started to fill my eyes. I hated her. I hated all of them.

I heard a faint sound close to me. I looked at my left side and a blinding light greeted my eyes.

"She's here!" a man shouted.

I tried to get up but I felt a sharp pain in my body and fell to the ground. I felt so weak. I heard more footsteps approached me. I looked up but was just blinded by their flashlights.

"Did you shoot her?" A woman's voice.

"Not yet." A man.

"She's already weak but we must not feel at ease. She's harmful." The woman again.

With all the strength that was left in me, I tried to focus my eyes on where the woman might be standing. But all I could see was darkness. Until I saw black boots and pants. I stared at it and concentrated.

The boots and the pants burst into flames. They all panicked. I saw how the burning legs rolled among the bushes. The flames eventually died down.

I felt a sudden pain pierced through my right arm. Something pricked on it. Then for seconds, it felt numb. I couldn't move my whole body. I felt so dizzy that I was fighting myself to stay conscious.

"You are truly a gifted child, huh?" I heard a woman whispered to me.

Someone lifted me and carried me. I was already half sleepy and saw some lights in a blur. I couldn't even hear their words clearly while they were talking.

But before darkness enveloped me, I saw the smiling faces of Daddy, Mommy, and Aunt Emily. They were calling my real name.

Hannah.

I felt so sad... and so sorry...

I was so sorry for failing them. For not keeping my promise.