Escape: Heaven’s Temple

ANGEL, THE SPECIAL CHILD

“Just ignore them. It looks like almost all of them get along with each other. While some other children are indifferent and do not want to have any friends. As long as we are with Angel, they can’t harm her,” Kate said to Emery.

There are twenty-five kids that were brought in the Heaven’s Temple. Steph has six friends. While Angel and Kate were Emery’s friends. Then the rest of the kids are just silent and don’t want to be friends with one another.

“You’re right, Kate. Don’t worry, Angel. We, as your sisters, will not let anyone harm you. So don’t be afraid, okay? “ Emery reminded Angel. The kid nodded and smiled at her. “I am thankful to be here with you. I have been wanting to have friends ever since I was a child,” Angel emotionally said.

“You don’t have to be sad anymore because we are already here as your friends and sisters. We will be together everyday!” Kate excitedly said to her.

“Let’s have many bondings in the future. I think I chose the right person to be my friends,” Emery happily said to them too.

That day was over and they were just happy to talk with each other. Emery and Kate have a hard time talking to Angel sometimes, because she doesn't understand other words. "I think we should just use words that Angel can understand easily," Kate suggested.

Angel shook her head, “No, you don’t have to do that. I am fine. If I can’t understand something that you two were talking about, it’s okay for me. As long as I am with you guys,” she said.

“We will help you to learn new things, Angel. You can count on us,” Emery added.

The children's parents arrived and went home. Emery even noticed that Steph looked down on him. He could not understand why Steph suddenly became angry with him even though he had done nothing wrong to her. “I like your attitude earlier, Emery. You should really give them the impression that they can’t disobey or disrespect you. Because you are their leader,” Sister Anasha told her.

“I just said that because I didn’t like the way they treated the poor girl, Sister. It’s not Angel’s fault why she was born that way,” she answered. “That’s good that you showed them how to be a good leader. Keep it up. Don’t let anyone to get in your way and step on you. Do you understand me, Emery?”

The kid just nodded to the nun and they went to the dining area to eat. While they were eating, Emery thought about the old man again. She is still curious about him. She had heard her voice a few times but she still couldn’t see the look in person and she hadn’t met him yet. Emery looked at Sister Anasha beside her.

“Sister Anasha, may I ask you something? But I don’t know if I am allowed to ask you this question,” she said. She’s hesitating if she could ask about the old man or not. Sister Anasha stopped eating and looked at her. “What is it, Emery? Go on. You can ask me anything you’re curious about.”

She took a deep breath then asked. "Who was the old man that talked yesterday during your meeting with all the members of Heaven's Temple?" she asked.

“Oh, him? You will meet and see him in person soon when the right time comes. But now, you can’t know about him.”

“But, why? I mean, I already saw him in person and he talked to me. But I couldn’t see his face. I just saw his back before he disappeared from my sight the other day.”

Everyone was shocked after hearing what Emery had said. They did not expect what she said. “What? What do you mean that you already talked to him in person and you saw his back? Can you please elaborate how does that happened?” Sister Anasha said and looking so shocked.

“Well, I was looking at the Lord the other day and I asked something to myself. Then an old man suddenly answered by question. Later on, I saw him walking away from me and right before I could catch him, he disappeared from my sight,” Emery explained to them.

"If you really saw him, what was his clothes?" Sister Chloe asked her too. She couldn't understand why she was being asked now as if they didn't believe what Emery was telling them. She got more curious about who is the old man.

Why don’t they believe what I say? Who exactly is that old man? Can’t he be seen and recognized by other people in person?

“He is wearing a cloak similar to yours. That's why I didn't see the look of his head or even his hair. I only really saw behind him and nothing else. Also, his voice. I already heard it twice. The other day and yesterday at the meeting,” she answered again. She never said that she heard Sister Anasha talking to the old man.

"Are you sure that you only heard his voice twice?" Sister Anasha asked her again. She was also surprised because she thought Emery had overheard them talking to the old man. They also heard Emery speak that night before she went to the comfort room.

"Yes, Sister Anasha."

"Maybe He wants to let Emery know that He exists." Emery heard what the other nun said to Sister Anasha. She got more confused because of that. “What do you mean by that, Sister?”

“Don’t mind me, Emery. Go and finish your food now.”

“That old man is someone who is very important in Heaven’s Temple. If you ever talked to him again in person, you should respect him,” Sister Anasha said to her. Emery didn't speak anymore and just finished her meal.

The next day, the children returned to Heaven’s Temple. They need to recite today the prayer they learned yesterday. Once they forget what they have memorized they will be punished. Apart from Angel, they know she won't learn right away.

Each child recited one by one in front of Emery. Emery also recited all the prayers, so she knew what her fellow children would do wrong when she heard their recitation. As she listens, she is glad because there seem to be no punishing children today. Almost everyone remembered the first prayer taught to them yesterday. She was amazed at how good they were at memorizing. Even other words they do not pronounce properly.

“The last one is Steph.”

Steph came in front of Emery. She began to recite the first prayer taught to them. But to everyone's surprise, including the nuns, when Steph recited all the prayers that had not been taught to them. Emery also recited all those prayers. But she was just surprised because they hadn’t been taught to other kids yet.

“Why did you recite all the prayers? I said just recite the prayer that was taught to all of you yesterday,” Emery said. She looked so strict and she looked at Steph straight to the eyes. Steph did not look away from her and resisted those looks.

“Why not? What’s the problem if I recited all of the prayers of Heaven’s Temple? Aren’t you going to praise me for what I did? I think I am very good because I memorized all of the prayers in advanced,”Steph said.

The nuns think that she has a point. Also, they were amazed by the kid. Steph looked confident while reciting the prayers earlier.

“It’s good that you memorized all of the prayers in advance. But kindly obey my orders. If I said that you will recite the prayer that was thought to all of you yesterday, then you should just do what I have said. Next time, it’s better to follow my rules,” Emery said.

She’s just a child like me but she acts as if she’s more powerful than me! She has no rights to dictate what I should do and what I should not do!

Steph is so irritated in her mind right now. She wanted to hurt Emery physically, but she remained calm and just went back to her spot. Steph was the last one to recite the prayers but she noticed that Angel isn’t even recited yet.

“How about Angel? She should also recite like us. It would be unfair if she’s just here to play around and not learn,” Steph said. Angel understood what she said.

“I agree. Sister, you should also let Angel learn with us and not just enjoy her stay here. It’s kind of unfair for us,” a boy added.

The nuns looked at Emery for her decision. She was the leader so she should be the one who will decide whether to let Angel recite the prayer or not. They bet that Angel didn’t even memorized a thing to the prayer.

Emery doesn't agree with what other kids want here. She didn't want to embarrass Angel because she knew they would only laugh at her when she made a mistake. Emery was about to speak when Angel suddenly stood up and went to the front.

Everyone was amazed that he could pronounce each word correctly and recite the entire prayer that was taught to them yesterday. They never heard anything wrong and she was perfect. Not everyone expected Angel to memorize that prayer. They underestimated Angel so much that they were shocked.

“You should not underestimate someone like me. I could not even understand the words I spoke, but I memorized them. I always repeat things in my mind and that’s the way I memorized things,” Angel said to them.