Escape: Heaven’s Temple

BULLYING ANGEL

Everyone was amazed by how Angel stood in front of them and recitated the prayer. They did not expect that she can do something like that. Some of them were expecting that Angel would also be brave enough to tell them what she have said.

“Well done, Angel! Among the kids that recited here, you were the best,” Emery praised her. Some of the kids clapped their hands but Steph and her friends did not even bother. Steph also glared at Emery. “Why is she the best and not me? I recited all of the prayers of Heaven’s Temple. So why aren’t you praising me too? Do you have a favoritism? Is that the right thing to do as our leader?” she annoyingly said.

“Yes, you did recited all of the prayers of our church. But did I told you to recite all of those? I only said that recite the prayer that was thought to all of you yesterday. You didn’t follow my rules. It was a basic rule but you can’t even follow,” Emery said sarcastically to her. Steph got even more mad because of what Emery said.

“All of you did a great job reciting the prayer today. The next thing that you must learn is another prayer. Are you all ready to learn about the new prayer?” Sister Anasha interrupted their conversation.

Emery was surprised because the nuns did not even disobey Steph. Steph's actions and words are no longer right but the adults don't even bother to tell her. But Emery thought again that the nuns were just letting her go so that she could better show how she could handle her members. Especially since she is the leader so they are looking at whether she can get all her members to obey.

The nuns have already begun to teach the children the next prayer they need to memorize. Everyone was listening to Sister Chloe, except for Emery and Steph who already knew the prayers. While Angel is not listening and her sight is not on the nun who is teaching. What was she also thinking and it seemed like she had a playmate in her place.

“She’s really weird. What a crazy kid,” Steph whispered to herself. Kate looked at her because she heard what she said. She just ignored it and continued listening to the nun teaching in front of them. When the teaching was over, they ate lunch and then returned to the teaching. Today, the history of Heaven’s Temple is told to them.

“Heaven’s Temple was built because of a man. He was the one who discovered about this place. He was alone and had no companion in life. He decided to make it a church different from normal churches. He wanted to let people know that the God and church they worshiped were not true. He wanted to let everyone know that the idol they worshiped could do nothing and could not save them from the wicked. As time went on, there were people discovering about this church. Until they talk to the man who founded the Heaven’s Temple. They asked why there were no people in charge of it. And those ‘people’ are me and Sister Chloe. We were the first nuns here. While the nuns who was here followed us. We have come to realize this reality that we must worship the Lord and not whoever is untrue. We got members because we encouraged them to be on the right path,” Sister Anasha told them.

“As time goes on, Heaven’s Temple becomes more beautiful. There much has been improved in this area. We have also helped many people in need. Our Lord has also healed many and given them a second chance to live in this world. As a result, many people now believe in him and think that he is real. Other members of Heaven’s Temple have also seen the Lord in person,” Sister Chloe added.

“Can we meet him too in person? I want to talk to our Lord,” one of the children asked.

“The right time will come when you will see and get to know him in person. Today, you are still children so you must first follow us and not do things that our Lord will not like.”

“Only good children have the hope of meeting our Lord. So you have to be kind so that our Lord can choose you,” Sister Anasha told them.

"But isn't it only when a person dies that he sees the Lord?" Angel suddenly asked them. “You will only see the Lord when you are dead and out of this world. Do you want the good children to die so that the Lord can speak with them?” she added. Steph raised an eyebrow at Emery. She waits to see if Emery will scold Angel or not.

“Angel, you should not say such things about our Lord. He is the one who will give us hope in life,” Kate scolded Angel.

"It's not true what you said, Angel. That saying is only for other religions that worship fake statues,” Sister Anasha replied to her. Angel didn't say another word.

“Don’t you want too say something about your friend’s comment about the Lord?” Steph said while looking at Emery.

How can I scold her if I know that too? Mom told me that once someone dies, only then will they see the Lord in heaven. But what they say in this place is different than what I learned from my parents then.

"Next time, please refrain from talking like that about our Lord," Emery said.

“That’s it for today. You can waste the rest of your vacant time to play outside the Heaven’s Temple and wait for your parents to fetch you,” Sister Anasha announced.

The children were happy. The nuns left so that they could spend the rest of their time playing with each other. Steph immediately approached Emery. Earlier, she was annoyed and wanted to hurt Emery physically.

“Stop the existence of favoritism. You shouldn’t embarrass me in front of so many people. Especially since I haven't done anything wrong earlier. Don’t you think you’re being unfair to me earlier?” said by Steph.

“It's true that you didn't follow Emery's orders. Obviously, all she ordered us to do was to recite what was taught to us yesterday,” Kate replied.

Steph raised an eyebrow at Kate, “Why are you suddenly responding to our conversation? Are you the one I talked to?” she asked steadily. Steph's eyes went to Angel who was suddenly laughing. Even the attention of the other children had already gone to Angel.

“What are you laughing at? Are we even joking here right now?” Steph said, annoyingly.

“Why are you still wondering about her? That person's mind is probably not normal so she will suddenly laugh suddenly like that," replied by a male friend of Steph.

“She’s really crazy. She’s creeping me out. Kids like her shouldn’t be here. She doesn't belong here so she should just be at home.”

“I agree. Later on, she may even strike us suddenly because her thinking is not clear. Especially now, nothing is funny but she suddenly laughs. It is not clear that she will hurt us as well in the future.”

“Stop harassing Angel by your words! She’s not harming any of you!” Emery shouted. She could not hold her anger anymore. She felt bad for Angel because of what the other kids were talking about her illness.

Angel cried because she understood what the kids were saying about her. “I am not a bad person. I won’t hurt any one of you. Please don’t attack me just because of my illness,” Angel said while crying.

"You don't belong here so you better go back to your home and never come back here again!" Steph suddenly pushed Angel and she went down to the floor. Emery couldn’t hold her anger anymore. She immediately went in front of Steph and chocked her neck.

"Emery!"

“I told you before. No one can hurt Angel! I will punish you using my own hands!” Emery shouted in anger.

Everyone was so shocked on how Emery reacted after what Steph did to Angel. No one planned to stop Emery from what he was doing to Steph. “When you hurt Angel again in front of me, this is not the only thing you will cost from me. I am your leader and you should obey me. I am warning you and your friends not to harm Angel ever again. I am Emery Quinn.”