Dedicated to my kambal who said,
"Naniniwala ako sa author na nagpropel ng 'Bakit?' sa top 2!"
Round 1 entry for Catharsis: Discovering the Writer Within
Under the category of FLEXIBILITY.
Written under two thousand words, following the assigned conditions:
Genre: Historical Fiction
Archetypes: -The Reluctant Villain (protagonist)
- The Vigilante (antagonist)
Theme: Forbidden Love
Keywords: Church, Test and Disease
Rank: 3rd place (90.00%)
February 1942
Run! Fast! Faster! You urged yourself as those weakened limbs threatened to snap under exertion. Flee! You must flee before the bow-legged men reach you! You don't want them touching you. You must flee, for they will kill you, but not before they satisfy their lust upon you. Talahib grasses higher than you scratched your face and arms, your feet screamed with agony as each broken twigs and rocks pierced your every step. Painful, yes, but you knew getting caught was more painful.
You must flee! You must hide! You looked left and right and there! A church. You ran over there swiftly despite the cuts at your feet, listening to the heavy footfalls that seemed to have ebbed. Maybe they have lost you. Maybe they won't be coming at you again. You stopped in front of what looked, in the moonlight, like a very old church. You opened the door and it creaked noisily. You immediately looked behind you to see if they're still following you. No more. Safe, you thought, as you finally stepped inside. Nobody was in there.
Such peace, I'm at a church, I'm safe, you thought again. You went to the candles to light them, and offered a prayer of thanks to God for keeping you safe. Never did you notice the state of abandon and neglect the church has because of your relief, so there you knelt down and closed your eyes for a prayer. You also didn't notice the three men hiding in different corners.
"What a very good girl, coming into our garrison by herself!" exclaimed a man to your left. You immediately left your praying and stood facing them.
"Good of her to go straight here, Captain!" said another at the door.
"Such great legs." said the last one to your right. You understood none of what they're saying. Of course, you don't. They're Japanese soldiers that invaded your dear little country, Philippines.
You knew what they want and if you don't flee this instant, they're going to come and get you. All three of them were advancing towards you, closing in on you. You tried to run but the man on your left managed to grab you and wrapped his arms around you. You kicked and screamed and twisted every which way but the man's hold was so strong, but you managed to kick the groin of the man in front of you.
"You bitch!" screamed the man you kicked as he held his groin, and then he went and slapped you hard. Stars appeared in your sight and a salty taste invaded your mouth. By no means, it's blood.
Help! Save me! God! Anyone! Help! You prayed as the three men took turns in slapping and punching you, until you found yourself on the floor with the man on the cross you always prayed to hanging above your head. You glued your sight to that man and prayed for a miracle, a help, as the men started to rip away your clothes from you and put their uncircumcised organs in the holes of your body. In one futile attempt, you tried to dislodge them, angering one of the men.
