Whispers in the Shadow

Innocence Remembered

There once was a small country that was unified under one major religious belief.  Over time, that belief split into two similar and peaceful sects that were ruled by one high council of priests.  Everything was calm and peaceful until that fateful day when the High Priest said something that was translated as radical.  Because he was the leader of the high council, he held great power.  This small country's religious sects decided to split away from each other, one following a new high council and the other remaining with the original and the High Priest.

The new high council had been so offended by what they had believed was a radical statement that they started hunting down the original high council members and murdering them, calling it a religious cleansing.  The High Priest and his family went into hiding with a few most trusted members of his sect.  There were mercenaries that were hired to do whatever they could to hurt the High Priest and force him to come out of hiding and be forced to atone for what he had said.

One day, a mercenary came across a small school yard that also housed a child care.  While trying to force the women in charge to talk about who the children belonged to, he started slaughtering them.  One by one the children were put to death by this man until the last child was held before the teacher with a saber at her throat.  The woman screamed mercy for the first time that day.  The mercenary then slaughtered all the teachers and the guardians.  He took a better look at this tiny little child.  She looked to be around 2, barely able to talk.  Her eyes sparkled and her hair was clean, they had found the High Priest's daughter.

When they returned to the camp, word was spread that this little one was not to be harmed in any way.  She was well cared for, kept clean, well fed, was given toys and little books to sound out words the way toddlers do.  What they didn't know is this little girl was born with a heart defect.  The High Priest desperately tried to speak with the mercenaries to tell them she needs her medication and once she is safe and healthy and back home, he will give himself over to atone for his words.  They never gave him the chance.

Over the next few days, this innocent child would grimace in pain and say Owwwwie and cry.  The women they had who were taking care of her would check her over, give her a bath and a new toy.  This happened two more times.  The fifth day, a large shell was accidentally detonated by the camp.   Her heart couldn't handle the shock and this sweet innocent soul became a Whispers.  She is so young, her Whispers doesn't understand what happened, it just feels freedom to seek out her father.

Her father had been mourning her daughter as if she were already dead, he had no further communication from the mercenaries and feared the worst, he gave up hope.  This is when he felt his daughter close to him.  He feels her holding on tightly to his pinky finger as when they'd go for a walk together, he can feel her warmth as she would cuddle with him to fall asleep after her mother had died.  He can hear her voice, when did she start to talk? "Papa, when will we be together again?"

This is when he knows she is truly lost to him forever.  While her Whispers continues to offer him comfort, he uses it for the confidence he needs to rally his supporters.  To speak out about how mercenaries had been hired to kidnap his 2 year old child, how she had a heart condition and how they didn't properly care for her.  How she is gone now, they murdered her, a sweet and innocent 2 year old child.  His supporters feel his mourning, hear the anger in his voice and they raid the area the mercenaries are in.  They find her burnt bones and the shallow grave they hastily buried her in.  They fight back and soon, the mercenaries are all brought to justice.

Under the wise ruling of this High Priest and the comfort he has from his Whispers, the country is again balanced by both religions.  There is peace one again and a new high council is formed, ruling over both sects equally and fairly.

Every night as he sleeps, he feels his child holding his pinky as she walks with him, her warmth comforts him as she cuddles next to him and he hears her sweet innocent voice telling him that she is proud to be his daughter and they will always be together.

Whispers cannot leave the Shadow, even the innocent ones but sometimes they can still be a comfort to those left behind.