It was an exhausting day. She replied to her sister's SMS then close the phone and close her eyes.
Someone handed her boxes of Buko pie on her lap. She opened her eyes to see Liam, pointing to check the gift.
She looked at the bribe, a total of 3 boxes and a small note on the top. It was placed beneath the knot of the straw strings on the top of the boxes.
'Meet me at central park at midnight this coming sunday,' It was found near the pedestrian which is the largest intersection in the city. She close the small piece of paper and took a deep sigh.
It was still 6 pm and they are still inside the tour bus of the company.
"Almost home," said by the guy who just return to his seat after the short stop. It was Jeremy.
"You purchase a lot of stuff," Hazel said with a wink, she is seated right across Debbie's seat. She saw Liam giving her the boxes. She is now shipling the two of them as a friendly support.
For Debbie it was a horrible idea bu she can't believe she cried that much on a shoulder of that guy.
'To think of it, it was ridiculous for some stranger to read me clearly,' she thought.
Is she starting to have feelings for him? She denied it to herself. The nerve of people lying to her or making a fool out of her. Is something unabareable to her pride. Especially someone who take her situation as a joke.
The cloud or smoke dominion, slowly showed itself mostly at night time. It clustered up at the corner of the city like walls guarding and waiting for something.
Some sort of signal from somewhere.
Debbie knows that the only way to have the answers is to stick with Liam though she never wanted to get to close to anyone who might be toxic.
'What is he up to?' She thought.
Everyone reach home safetly. Although, It took 4 hours more to get home because of an unexpected traffic.
The next day, she woke up seeing the pop up notification on her phone saying. 'Making fake scenarios in your head is a disorder'
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. Like there are any single person who is perfectly normal here in the first place. There are people who are much worst and living guilt free and you're saying that I'm one of the blemished? Thank you bro but no," she muttered.
Debbie shake off the idea and focus on her day. What welcome her when she entered was the council's prepared hearing about the previous issue. It was really an interrogation.
Debbie has a fall back and that is the same reason why she can't hold a higher position.
She cannot speak defending herself during an argument. Her mouth and brain shuts and that's how she was always devoured alive.
Although, that's how arguments always be, to win above the fallacy and to banish anyone who is on another's way.
At least she doesn't stutter anymore.
The spirits might be frightening and the living is traumatizing but above everything else who does she needs to fear?
The God above who can control everything however kept silent about her situation. Someone who can either create or destroy, and capable to throw her to hell.
When Debbie was selected to be in the position at the council, it was done silently inside her chambers and elected plainly on broad day light.
She was just casually telling her brothers and sisters about a dream she had after prayer, when that one official of the council gave the same information with the complete narrative.
Saying "Whoever have this dream as directed, will be held into the council as instructed".
Everyone was dumbfounded.
In the ceremony, a message was sent to her saying. 'I believe you can' and that's it. The message came from God and that's all she needed to carry on.
She does transcribing and inscription of all the documents clustering it into a chronological records.
Although modernity brings contemporary ways to published books and keep records but her role as a scribe is to collect all the records and accumulate them in a chronological registry.
She was elected to such position yet she believe she held the gift and a message for a higher calling. She was serving on the branch and not the main church where there is an existing group that does the exorcism. She wanted to go there. Believing that place is somehow meant fo her and those people is her people that can help her.
So she strive trying to prove herself and ended up falling into the title 'The decieved one'. Such ambitious girl who tries to climb a higher position.
Noone believed her however she did not leave.
Later on, the spiritual things she is testifying dimished maybe a form of blessing and a punishment. Blessing to keep her safe by God or a punishment because she dared to climb the ladder.
Noone believed her though. It came directly from their mouths. Every divine visions are just said to be deceptions. Her condition that she inquired are tossed aside by the system.
However she did not leave and she was not banished from the council rather she was forgiven. They can tame her but no one can remove anyone in their position and that is a general rule. All of them where elected not by people but by God.
The funny thing about the council is, you are your own kind of destruction that is being trained and flourished to be a perfect blade.
A stubborn child is golden. When the focus were corrected, no one can break it. The child will carried it up until death.
God is brilliant in making the best, though we are just merely humans with filthy wants.
The elected one cannot touch elected one. It's a rule. So, it's up to you how shrewd you are to use whatever you have to move.
'I believe you can' that phrase is the only thing she has.
Debbie closed her eyes, leaving at the back door. It is a satisfying day. Her task was done even though there is a fancy hearing and a lot of ulterior motives.
Maybe its because they cannot believe the girl who beat men had come and teach kindness to them? or the person who opposed them and they have done things yet she stays. Was it that irritating? It's just a den of lions devouring each other.
Any reaction and even offense just fed their opinion. Passive aggresive behaviour had been manipulating her in her younger years. Memories she hated.
Why is she staying then?
Maybe she kept clinging because of the prayers that helps her every time and the message she is holding on to keep her going.
'I believe you can'
'Can', Is a modal auxiliary verb. It is used to express ability, possibility, or permission.
'It is meant for an action, a challenge! It is something beyond writing, maybe it was linked to my situation right now!' She thought and always believed.
Indeed, it is for a noble purpose, this situation and the hope that keeps her going. It is not the fame, the position, the authority and the title that made her cling into this toxicity.
It is the desperation that she just wanted to be found, seen, heard and saved.
A voice suddenly make her pause. "You look beautiful back there" Liam was seated on the chair, waiting while holding his snacks.
"You mean when I looked pathetic and stup*d" she said. "Are you stalking me?" She asked. Showing no signs of shock like she is used to paranormal things.
He extended his hand offering her a soda to drink and a paper bag with snacks.
Instead of staying there for another minute, suffocating. She walk towards him accepting the invite. They took a walk while having a little chat.
"Why are you still here?" He asked. "Are you that addicted to toxicity?" Liam looked at her, asking. He is the other option she can choose.
"I don't know, maybe I am? Or I always know that this place is where I always belong" she said with perfect calmness.
"So do you mean, you are not gonna leave even there's a chance? Even there is another option for you? " Liam asked.
She looked ar him and smiled. "I'll die on my faith" she said "Don't be mistaken, my God is always been good. This faith is real. If my situation have convinced you that He is not. Then curse me. I know God is true. I know," she stated.
Liam chuckled, "I never question your faith yet you defended it to me. You are not telling that to me. You are fighting your doubts by persuading yourself." He said.
Debbie was silent. She wanted to cry again but tries everything to hold back.
"You are really our Deborah," he muttered.
Debbie was perplexed. "What?" She asked, asking him to repeat what he said but he headed on.
"I just want to remind you about our mystery research date later," he said as he bid her a 'see you later' good bye.