The Disciples

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Riana was about to regroup with her brother who seemed to take longer than usual with the fight. Something about the woman Nash was fighting seemed off. A certain vibe she was giving out didn't really settle into Riana's core. She had faith that her little brother could finish her off...no penetration involved.

A bump was felt on her shoe, seeing it was Kurt. She smiled and picked up the bearded dragon to give him a nuzzle. Despite all of the shit in Mortal Kombat, Kurt seemed to be content. "Had a good time playing with Visenya?"

Her little pet pointed his snout upwards, a happy expression. While waiting for her brother, her mind was curious at the two new guests she saw earlier on before Reptile parted with her. She hoped he'll be alright, since he is the chosen one who brought all of them here in the first place. Sitting down with her pet in her arms, she petted him while pondering.

Should she be lucky he was the centre of attention?

She wondered if her family and their connections would treat her differently if she was born as the second child rather than the first. Small, they say, to the point almost chocking a newborn baby because she was too tiny and underweight. Not to mention, having very fair skin for a Malay is rare unless cosmetic is involved so the entire clan of her dad thought she was a ghost that was ripped out of a C-sectioned womb.

If only things would've gone smoothly...

...

10 Years Ago

"Nash!" ten-year old Riana called for her little brother. Eight years old and already her grandparents are throwing a lavish party at their home that happened to be so close to the mosque they prayed in. The architecture and design of that place of worship was divine to the holy and those that seek forgiveness.

To Riana, it was the opposite when night falls.

Riana's only safe place whenever their parents dropped them to stay with their relatives is near the jungle behind the suburban lifestyle of the people she knew. She yearned for the love her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins have showered over her little brother. She doesn't mind being ignored for most of the time, giving her some freedom to do what she wants.

Until that very day.

"No!" Riana protested as she tried to kick and wriggle her way out of her aunts and uncles' grasps. The more she tried, the tighter the grip. Followed behind them were her cousins chanting a few things that no younger cousins would say to their eldest:

"I hope they beat you like a dog!"

"Devil's child!"

"Pale ghost!"

"Kafir....Kafir...."

Riana was then tossed into the shed, a small one where all of her relatives crowded outside to see her like an animal in roadside zoos. Before she could cry for help, her mouth was tightened by a brace which acted like a muzzle. She could only hear the chants and cruel laughter of the family, feeling helpless her little brother or her parents aren't here to help because they never knew or like Nash, tried to stay out of it.

"You really are a mistake," her grandmother spat at her. "If Nash was born first before you, everything would've turned out right. My son....he disappointed me by not giving me a firstborn a boy and to top it all, I've never seen such an ugly baby all my life."

"If you were born second or not born at all, our family would better off!" her grandfather's crony voice. He cupped her cheeks forcefully to gaze at Riana's frightful face and the fact she was pissing herself.