Escape: Heaven’s Temple

ASHAMED

“Congratulations, Emery! I didn’t know that you were this genius!” Sister Anasha praised her. Kate was also happy to know that her friend won the mathematics competition. Emery smiled slightly at the nun. She was a little embarrassed because other people at the venue were looking at them. They pay more attention to the nun who is with her. Especially since Sister Anasha was still wearing a nun's dress and hadn't even changed into a dress.

“May I have a word with you, Miss Quinn?” A young man approached them, so Sister Anasha immediately grabbed Emery and placed her behind her. “Why would you talk to her? She is not allowed to talk to anyone,” Sister Anasha said.

Emery felt embarrassed. She didn’t expect that’s what she would say to the man who approached them. Even Kate did not expect that Sister Anasha to be so strict to her friend. The man was also surprised by what the nun said and smiled slightly again. He also felt ashamed.

“My name is Clark and I am one of the journalists here. Since Miss Emery Quinn won the mathematics competition, I need to have some interview with there about how she prepared for this event. Am I still not allowed to talk to her, Sister?” the man asked her respectfully.

Sister Anasha frowned. “Are you sure that you’re a journalist? Can I come too?” the nun asked again. He scratched his head and just nodded to the nun.

"Let's go this way."

Clark took the lead on the walk and was followed by Emery, Sister Anasha and Kate. As they walk, more and more people look at them. Especially since the nun was still holding Emery's hand as if she didn't want to let her go.

They arrived at a room. There are two cameras set up in the front and moreover there are also seats in front of the camera. All interviews are held there whenever an event or competition ends there. Their school venue is a long distance from Hellviore High. So Sister Anasha also decided to go with Emery herself. The nun doesn't trust Kate and thinks she can't keep an eye on Emery. Especially since they went a long way from Heaven’s Temple.

"Miss Quinn, please sit here," Clark called her. Clark is already fixing the cameras he will use. Emery looked at the nun who still did not let go of her hand. But she was surprised again when the nun pulled her and they both sat in front of the camera.

“Excuse me, Sister. But can you please just wait in the side? Only Miss Emery needs to be seen on camera because this is her interview. I won't do anything bad to her so don't worry. Another one is that you will watch us, won't you?” Clark said to the nun.

Even though the nun didn't want to stay away from Emery, there was nothing she could do. "Behave yourself, okay?" she whispered to Emery. She stood up and approached Kate's seat on the side. Emery didn't even answer her because she felt so embarrassed in front of other people. Clark prepared the materials they would use for the interview that would take place.

“I’m sorry but can I see your questions for me? So that I could somehow think of an answer already. This it the first time that I will get interviewed, so I am kind of nervous,” Emery asked Clark.

“Oh, sure. I’m sorry I forgot to give you. Here are the questions. We will start after ten minutes. It’s not a live interview, so you don’t have to worry. This is just a documentary video. I can edit anything if you make a mistake,” Clark explained to her. Emery just nodded and then read the questions to her later.

She felt that the nun was just staring at her. She was uncomfortable until then watching her every move. She did not think that musk in such an interview would still be with the nun. As she gets older, she feels more and more that she is choking. Especially and obviously a nun was actually her companion because of the dress she was wearing.

She didn't even change into normal clothes like other parents. If she did that then the other people will think that she was my parent. But I can feel in other people's eyes that they are wondering why I have a nun with me here.

Emery cleared her thoughts. She just focused on thinking of what she would answer later on those questions. Ten minutes later and they were ready. One camera was pointed at Emery and another camera was pointed at Clark.

“We will start now. Please get ready,” Clark said. He turned to the camera and then began the interview.

“Good day, everyone. I am your great journalist, Clark! And now I am here with Miss Emery Quinn, a first year high school and the representative of Hellviore High. She was the one who won the first place in the mathematics competition that happened earlier. Now, we will ask her some questions. Here we go!”

Clark turned to face Emery who was now slightly smiling. She did not know how she should act. Especially since the nun's gaze had almost penetrated her soul. She feels like she’s getting angry because she’s talking to other people.

“Good day, Miss Emery Quinn. How are you feeling today after you won the mathematics competition for the first year high school?” Clark questioned her.

“Thank you for inviting me to have an interview with you, Mister Clark. I am feeling great today since this was the first time that I have joined a competition. Especially since this was also the first time that I went to school. I was just home-schooled when I was a kid. That’s why I’m overwhelmed and happy that I won today’s competition,” Emery answered.

Kate and Clark were amazed by Emery's nice answer. Clark didn't expect that if she spoke it would seem like she was even older than him. Clark is already a fourth year high school.

“That’s good to hear. I admire you for that. You were this confident even though you study on your home when you were a kid. Where do you live?”

Emery was surprised because none of the question that she read earlier that asked where he lived. She cannot say that her house is in Heaven’s Temple. Especially when that place is hidden.

“Don’t answer that question. You are not allowed to tell others where you live,” the nun interrupted the interview. As time went on, Clark began to feel annoyed for the nun. Just now she interrupted with an interview. Clark thought that it’s good and they weren’t live interviewed today.

“Please don’t interrupt on the interview with Miss Quinn, Sister. We are already filming, right now. She’s not a criminal to not answer my question. As I have said earlier, I won’t do anything bad to her,” Clark said again. His patience with the nun was about to run out.

Sister Anasha angrily stood up and approached them. “Don't continue this interview. You ask her things she shouldn’t answer. Come on now, Emery. We’re going home.”

The nun held Emery upright. Emery did nothing but follow the nun's wishes. She looked at Clark then apologize to him with a head signal. Clark just sighed then let them out of that room. Kate followed them as well. “What a weird nun,” Clark commented to himself.

Emery and Sister Anasha arrived quickly at Heaven’s Temple. While Kate was dropped off earlier at Hellviore High because her house was just nearby. Tomorrow, Emery needs to go back to their school. Only then did Sister Anasha let go of Emery's hand as she entered. They were greeted by other nuns.

“Congrats, Emery! We heard that you won the mathematics competition. All of us were so proud of you,” Sister Chloe told them immediately.

But Emery couldn’t feel happy because she won the competition. She decided to confronted Sister Anasha because she could no longer bear the humiliation she had inflicted earlier. She never thought she would do that in front of other people.

“Sister, I didn't like what you did to me earlier in front of other people. You don’t know how I feel. That was the first time I was going to have an interview but I lost that opportunity because of what you did earlier in front of Clark. You embarrassed me in front of other people. I know I can’t say where I live and what this place is. I also knew I couldn’t have any other friend than Kate. I’m not complaining about all of that. Especially and I also learned that you watch and monitor my every move. You can watch me but not that way. I don't know why you are banning me, but I think you are being unfair to me.”

Emery lost her temper and wept in front of the nuns. Everyone was surprised by what Emery said. She didn't expect Emery to react that way to what Sister Anasha had done.

“Emery, you don't have to be ashamed of what I did. I only want to maintain your safety when you are not here in Heaven’s Temple. Aren't you used to it yet? We have been taking care of you for a few years so you should know that this is how I really take care of you. Emery, I only want your goodness and nothing else.”

Emery shook her head in front of her. “No, you are choking me. I'm choking on your management. I feel like you are controlling my life, Sister. I follower all of the things that you commanded me. But you don't even let me be happy and enjoy now that I'm in high school. I hope you understand my point, Sister.”

Emery didn't speak anymore and just ran to her room and cried there. She could do nothing else because only the nuns would take care of her and keep her alive. Only in Heaven’s Temple can she live.