Sin of Lust

CHAPTER 4

Sin of Lust by Swapie Achilles

CHAPTER IV

OCTOBER

A whole week has passed filled with laughter of joy that they didn’t notice the flow of time. They did savor every moment with Hannie, from the moment they wake up they are already by her side till the sun sets, but it still wasn’t enough.

And it’s finally time for Hannie to say goodbye, she’s standing there in front of them with a huge hopeful smile as she hold her luggage in front of her with both of her hand.

“I will miss you guys,” she said with sweetest smile she could ever muster.

“We will miss you too,” Melody and Micah smiled simultaneously as they hold their hands together.

“Don’t forget to write letters, okay?” Rod, one of her siblings said as he wipes the tears from his eyes.

“I will learn how to read and write okay, I will write letters, lots of them!” Blanche said, refraining herself from sobbing on Mary Jane’s uniform since she’s holding on it, “better read them, okay?”

Marben walks up to her and hand her a crown made of freshly picked flowers from their own small garden, “I made this for you,” he sobs.

Her smile turns crook the longer she holds her cries inside. But she fought not to cry because her brothers and sisters are all crybabies, when they hear even a single sniff they will start to cry.

She slightly bowed her head to Marben’s level for him to be able to put the flower crown on her.

“We will miss you too…” Caspire runs to her and gave her a tight hug.

But Hannie didn’t hugs him back and remain standing for she’s frozen on her ground, yet her hands are tightening on the language’s handle. Her fingers are turning white from how tight her hold is.

Blanche couldn’t contain her emotions and so, she let go of sister’s Mary Jane’s skirt and run towards her older sister giving her the tightest hug she could ever give as she holds Caspire on her other hand.

“Hannie… older sister Hannie…” she called her name over and over again because she knows she will miss calling her.

“Can you just not go?  Can you just stay with us forever?” Caspire sobs on her skirt as his tiny fist clenched on it, clinging intently signifying that he doesn’t really wanted her to go.

Silently begging for her not to go.

“I…” Hannie tried to say something to make them stop from crying but she can’t, she couldn’t muster a single word for her lips are trembling as they force to smile.

Her emotions poured and she broke in to tears, just like a cloud when it can’t handle the rain, “I want to… I want to take you away from here.”

“Everyone…” she mumbled cupping her quivering mouth, suppressing her own sobs and shut her eyes tight to stop her tears from falling yet few streaks have manage to escape.

Everyone runs towards her giving her a huge group hug that she can’t even ignore anymore, she dropped her luggage and kneeled to hug Caspire and Blanche from each of her arms.

Holding them tight as if she doesn’t want them to let go.

“Everyone, I will miss you…” she whispered with a sad smile on her lips.

“Don’t go, Hannie don’ t go.” They begged her not to leave.

“Don’t leave us Hannie.”

“We can be your family instead.”

“I will help you fold the clothes.”

“I’ll help you bath out sisters, Hannie don’t leave!”

Even those who are on the side watching the scene unfold can’t help but get teary eyes. From all the walls of this convent, the walls of common area have seen all the sincerest tears of love and goodbyes rather than the walls of the church.

Even though some of the nuns and ministers are getting emotional, Daleon is watching all this time but there’s no emotion visible on his face.

Sister Mary jane pats Hannie’s head, signaling her that it’s time to let go and leave, “They’re waiting for you.” She whispered.

But Hannie didn’t budge, she just remains hugging her siblings as tight as they hug her. Mary Jane can’t do anything about it but to let them have some time for themselves, for this is the last time they will be able to touch her.

“I knew it…” Hannie muttered, “I don’t want to go. I want to stay here forever.” She whispered so solemnly as she caresses the heads of her younger britehrsn and sister with a solemn look on her face.

“We do too! We want you here!” Blanche wailed, her tears and snots are mixing together.

Mary Jane saw Daleon was about to ring the handbell thus she can’t help but feel the string on her heart being tag, once the bell rang it means the time has come for them to sleep and it’s time for Hannie to finally leave.

Even the newly come sister wished that they wouldn’t leave each other, that they will grow together, but her mind says that it would be better for them to leave rather than to stay here and be with wolf in a skin of a sheep.

Daleon rang the bell and he pick up the luggage and said, “It’s time, Hannie.”

The kid can’t do anything but to obey the reverend. And she finally let go of her siblings and put on her hat to complete her attire but she didn’t, for her head was already occupied by the crown.

Thus, she leaves a heartwarming smile for them to remember.

“Yes, I’ll go.” She smiled and wipes the tears on her cheeks, “See you later…”

She waved at them, not wanting to say goodbye, because she doesn’t want to end it that way.

“Please, smile.” Mary jane told the kids, “let your sister take your smiles with her.”

And so, they did, they parted with sad hearts yet happy faces.

Daleon is walking towards the gate with Hannie’s luggage on his hand and a lamp on the other one, they decided to get her to travel at early morning for when the sun finally shines, she will be in a whole new world.

While Mary Jane is there to accompany them. They are closing to the gates when Hannie halted, completely stopping from her tracks.

“What is it, Hannie?” Mary jane asked her. “Is there any problem?”

Daleon stops from his tracks when heard them, and he looks from behind his shoulder with a slight irritated glare.

“I forgot something!” Hannie shouted and starts to dash back to the house.

“Hannie!” Mary Jane called out her name.

Daleon lowly growled, “Take her now, there’s someone waiting for her. We can’t be late.”

Mary jane nodded and immediately followed her, “Hannie, wait!”

The nun run after Hannie but what confuses her is she didn’t run to the house instead she runs towards at the back of the convent, their usual playground.

“Hannie what are you doing? Let’s go… your parents are waiting for you.” Mary jane heaves out as she manages to catch up to her, putting her hands on her knees as she takes her time to breath.

“Sister… before I leave.” Hannie said, her back is facing her, “there’s something I have to tell you.”

Her voice is flat yet, there’s emotion that she wants to get out from her heart.

Mary Jane stops and look at her back from confusion, “What are you taking about?”

Hannie clenches her little fists on her chest, “Please…” she mumbled.

“Hannie…” called her once again.

“Please!” she yelled, and suddenly turns around with tears on her cheeks, “save my brothers and sisters!”

“What…” Mary jane creased her eyebrows, “does she know?” she asked herself.

“Please, sister Mary Jane!” the child kneeled and in front of her, “please save them, there’s no one here can save them not even Luxuria!” she cried.

Mary jane runs to her and kneel as she puts her back, “What happened?”

“Daleon is… he…” she sobbed.

And the moment she got close, she notices a dark streak on her tiny wrist- a bruise. She was about to get her hand and look on it up-close but…

“What’s happening here?” a male stern voice interrupted them.

Both women felt the hair on their nape stood up when they heard the familiar voice.

“Let’s go… where are you even going, Hannie?” Daleon asked with nothing on his hand but a lamp, “your luggage is on your parent’s carriage, they are waiting for you but you haven’t returned yet so I came to search for you.”

They both look at each other with pure terror, but Mary Jane did her best to fake it and hide it. She helps the kid stood up even though her knees are buckling.

“Hannie said, she wanted to see their playground for the last time.” She mumbled dusting her skirt, trying her best not to look suspicious.

The child on the other hand, remains her head hanging low not wanting to see the man’s face. She holds Mary Jane’s hand and this hidden message didn’t go unnoticed by her.

“She’s scared…” she mentally noted.

“Is that true? Hannie?” Daleon ask the little one to confirm.

Hannie only nods without a word.

“Let’s go…” Mary Jane pulled the kids hand, “your parents are there.”

But Hannie pulled her hand away from her grasp.

Mary Jane was confused at first and Daleon is getting irritated by the emotional kid, but she remembers what she said about her sibling, maybe she doesn’t really want to go.

But she needs to go.

“Don’t worry, I will tell kids to write as many letters they can to send to you every day,” Mary Jane told her, making sure Daleon can hear her words for him not to get suspicious on why they are here.

“We don’t have much time, let’s go,” the reverend stated and starts to walk back to the gate.

The whole time they are walking, Hannie is holding the sister’s hand.

When they got nearer to the gate Daleon spoke, “There they are.”

Mary Jane and the kid look up ahead and they saw a woman and a man standing side by side outside a huge carriage as they wave their hands up.

“They are your new parents.” He stated coldly.

His tone might not be barefaced but the coldness is still noticeable.

“Good morning…” the man greeted them as they finally meet, “hi, Hannie.”

Hannie looks at Daleon and gave Mary Jane a side glance. The nun gave her a nod.

The kid returns the smile to them, “Good morning, mom, dad.”

The two can’t help but let out a huge smile on their faces as they heard her call them.

“Hi…” the woman started to wipe her tears with her handkerchief, “let’s go home, my daughter.”

For the last time, Hannie look at their figure form the window of the carriage.

“Let’s go.” Daleon stated and descried to walk ahead.

But then, he saw Mary not moving an inch from her spot as she keeps looking to the retreating figure of carriage. Daleon chose to walk away when he saw she’s not going anywhere.

However, Mary could only clutch the paper in her hand, that Hannie was able to slip while she’s holding her hand.

 “Sister Novelyn’s room. Behind a shelf, a loose plank of wood.”