DOOM

My dad told me that when my mom was still alive, she used to tell me both untold stories or unusual ones and renowned tales about myths of death and cycles of life even when I was still in her womb.

She greatly influenced my beliefs which piqued the interest of my young curious mind to be fond of reading mysterious hidden tales and mythology.

It was bed time, the cold looming moon shines brightly up at the starry night sky when I decided to spend my long night reading rather than sleeping.

I got up from my bed, heading to our manor's library holding a white long scented candle placed on the gold glass flickering brightly against the dark and a book on the other side which I had finished just 2 days ago.

As I reached my destination, I still can't help but to be amazed and fascinated by the beauty of the interiors of our very own house which was owned and expanded by our ancestors and has been passed down from generation to generation.

I scrunched my nose with the familiar scent of the painted paved archaic walls where the big old portraits were hanged and displayed grandly and the greek doric columns which exhibits minimalistic beauty in simplicity.

Bibliosmia...

The wooden smell coming from the old books mixed with the faint aroma of coffee that surrounds this marvelous room entices me every time and bewitches me to be indulged and unravel the implicit bareness of each wonderfully crafted books up until it's tiniest details.

I returned the book I brought to it's rightful own place and picked a new one to read at the same shelf.

I traced my fingers to the dusty old letters engraved on the hardbound cover.

Mythology...

In general, others referred it as a study and interpretation of often sacred tales or fables of a culture known as myths...

Some basically defines it as the collection of such classical old tales and mythical cultural stories which deal with various aspects of the human condition...

May it be good or evil.

I paused reading as I heard an indistinct rustling sounds in the surroundings of this large dark room.

I roamed my big doe eyes across the dark surroundings yet I can not find anything odd or strange except for the disarrayed arrangement of books on the gigantic shelves.

I just shrugged and continued reading the page where I last off.

It further elaborated that some of such tales give a story behind the meaning of suffering, others may be a conceptual or theoretical various explanations of human origins such as how life was created and how earth was formed.

It expresses the beliefs and values about these subjects held by a certain culture from all around the world.

All in all, there are millions of myths existing from different races and from different countries that tell the stories of ancestors and the origin of humans and the world, the gods, and the supernatural beings.

I read to my heart's content until the drowsiness engulfed me.

...

I never got tired of my daily routine.

Waking up every seven o' clock, heading to my haven, the library, stealing sips on my dad's coffee and imitating his serious posture while reading.

You can say that amidst the silence filling up the whole room, this is one of the best father-daughter bonding moments I had with him.

Being a solo parent after my mom had passed away made him more workaholic than ever. I pursed my cherry lips as I reminisce how rare it is to have moments with him. We seldom talk that much, spending most of our time reading our favoured genre of interest.

I can only catch up with dad every morning, for an hour, if I wake up as early as seven. He will be at the library, reading on the couch and I assumed, maybe also waiting for me? I giggled which made him divert his eyes on me.

"What's funny, sweetheart? Mind to share it with your dad?" He beamed as he taps his lap motioning me to sit.

"Daddy, I missed you! You were always busy," I pouted.

"I'm so sorry my little Lily, you know dad needs to work for your future or else your mom will be angry at daddy. Do you want that?

"I will make it up to you next time, so don't sulk or be mad at me okay? Look, your mouth looks like Pinocchio's nose due to pouting," he gasped as he started to tickle me making me forget my loneliness.

"Okay daddy, is it a promise??" I asked while beaming my eyes.

"I promise," he replied with a genuine smile.

We played tag as I ran across the room enjoying every bit of moments with him not knowing that it would be my best and as well my last time with him.

One cold evening, I can't bring myself to sleep. I have read already three books yet to no avail.

Despite my young age, I'm a fast learner.

I can read well and write already, they say I was a gifted child blessed by the divinities with high level of intelligence even though it was misfortunate of me to lost my mother at such a young age.

I asked my nanny to make me some coffee, my heart was anxious and I don't know why. I miss dad already, I wish he was here to sing me some lullabies or read a story that will calm me to sleep.

I tossed and turned, switched positions on my bed yearning for tranquility but it seems got worse.

"Nanny? Where is my coffee?"

My nanny wearing a grim face did not respond, instead she hugged me and made me change my clothes as if we are going somewhere in a hurry.

I have a bad feeling about this, and all my unexplainable restlessness seems to make sense now.

My nanny instead of bringing me coffee brought me a dreadful news that I lost my father at that very night.

It was heartbreaking...

I could not even breathe.

When we reached the hospital, his body was already at the morgue.

Some of our relatives were there already, I could not even see even a slight grief on their face.

Instead, they even looked happy.

I squeezed my bloodshot eyes, trying to wake myself up from this awful nightmare.

When I saw my dad, I felt that my small body went into a complete breakdown.

I tried to wake him up, I tried to shake his shoulders but my nanny kept pulling me, hushing me.

My tears are nonstop dripping like waterfalls.

I... I still can't believe that he is gone now.

We were just playing earlier, we were so happy and now he is lying on a cold place and I was not able to bid him my goodbye.

I was not able to tell him how much I love him, how precious he is to me and how proud I am to be a daddy's girl.

"I-I love you so much daddy..."

I kissed his cheeks and hugged him tightly for the last time.

My insides were screaming while my relatives were celebrating.

I, Lily Emerson at the age of six became an orphan on my own home.

...

One month later...

I spent my whole day, reading and just being locked inside my spacious room, the only place that I am at ease in this huge suffocating house that I used to call my home.

Lying on my bed, I busied and entertained myself being engulfed in every word inked on the old delicate pages of the book.

As I flipped the next pages, my amusement intensified as I was amazed by the new knowledge I got from this old book.

Our body, they say, is just a borrowed vessel from the deities and was never ours to begin with and I truly agree with that theory.

It also further elaborated that each of us has our own version of life hourglass, the flowing sands which represents the remaining time left we have in this world before we return it back to them.

What makes it more interesting is that there are mythical creatures existing that makes the world of life and death stable.

One of the most popular are the grim reapers, in which they are also known as the angel of death or simply death.

Few people also calls them the "Grim of Death".

For thousands of years, various cultures have had different figures to represent death.

Some describes them usually as a creepy skeletal figure, who is often shrouded and covered in a dark, hooded robe and carrying a long scythe to "reap" human souls but others believed that they have similar body features to human beings and are extremely beautiful but deadly.

They exist to cut the soul's last ties to life and grants it a safe passage to the afterlife but some people are afraid of them, having misconceptions that they are evil spirits but actually they are neither evil nor good. They are just merely a force of nature and order.

Dying is a fundamental part of living and it is their job to claim the souls of the deceased so as to maintain the balance of nature.

My eyes fluttered in curiosity, "So are they also the ones who are responsible for killing the mortals who is due to die?"

"Lily, stop being lazy and help your cousin pick her dress! You did nothing all day but to lock yourself in your room!" My aunt suddenly barged into my room. "Is this what your father had taught you? You should be grateful that we took you in and-"

"You did not take me in, I already lived in here my whole life," I cut her off and rolled my eyes.

"What an ungrateful bitch for a young girl, are you?! You dare to talk back to your aunt who did nothing but to take care of you! Such an impudent brat, did Marcus failed to teach you some manners!?" she exclaimed as she dragged me outside my room to the nearest hallway.

"Pretending to care to be able to get your hands on my dad's assets that has been transferred on my name," I spat coldly.

My aunt was speechless, can't believe that a six year old girl will be able to understand what the lawyer has read on the last will of testament.

Well, she underestimated me. I have read tons of books in our library and I had an idea about it. She badly wanted to be my guardian to be able to control me for she thought I am nothing but a weak abandoned child.

"You're peculiar! A normal child does not act like that. Y-you are merely six, for heaven's sake. You don't know what you are talking about," she stuttered looking defensive.

"I do.. and yes you are correct, aunt. I am not like the other normal child on my age. I am well aware of my situation right now and I am aware of your hidden agenda," I replied with a calm tone, "I know you cannot hurt me physically because it will invalidate your right to adopt me. However, just let me tell you that you will never be able to touch even a single penny of my dad's money nor his assets over my dead body."

I ran to my room reminding myself that I need to be strong. I can do this, I want to grow up fast so that no one can take advantage of me. They are all after my dad's resources.

I can't forget their faces celebrating after the burial ceremony, a month ago.

Then, they were fighting who will get my custody.

My aunt, the greedy and most influential of them all, was able to get the temporary rights to have me under her care.

Her spoiled daughter, Patricia who is of the same age as me thinks that the people are meant to serve her was no good either.

It will take only a few months if there will be no problem to make her as my official guardian.

I sighed deeply with all the mishaps happening in my life.

My fate was already unlucky as it is. Could it get any worse?

On the twenty third of August, 2004; I became the queen of misfortunes.

My aunt won in the court and became my official guardian.

The manor was given under her care for I am still a minor.

Oh sweet heavens, my haven, the library was demolished and was changed into a play room for my cousin, Patricia.

I did not even have a voice to oppose for my aunt made up a story that the library was a bad influence to a child like me, that I deserve to be normal and to be free to play my heart out.

In which, I do not believe for she only wants to make a customized play room for her child. I was not even allowed to go there.

Good thing, I was able to save few of my favorite books before it was thrown out.

They held a grand party fronting it in celebration for my birthday today.

Fools, I know what they are plotting. It was for exposure of their family name. They want everyone to know that they will become one of the richest family soon in the upper class society after adopting the young heiress of Emerson. Hah! They wish.

A series of misfortunate events seems too overwhelming for a mere child like me that I do not even feel celebrating my own birthday.

The only thing that I was able to hold onto was that my father cleared out on his will that everything will be given to me on my eighteenth birthday so basically, no one will be able to touch his resources for as long as I have not yet reached the legal age, not without my permission.

"My darling, Lily! Where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere. Happy seventh birthday!" Aunt Hilda fakely gushed as she kissed my cheeks and hugged me in front of the visitors while I can't hide rolling my eyes in disgust of her two-facedness.

"My dear sister, happy birthday. Mom and I, bought a scarf for you. I hope you will like it," she faked a smile and extended her arms to give me the gift.

"As far as I can remember, I am an only child, Pat. So basically, I don't have a sister. Thanks anyway, for the gift," I sneered in reply.

Her fake smile faded to her chagrin and was replaced by a frown. Embarrassment was written all over her face.

I almost snickered upon seeing my aunt looking flushed and her face cannot be painted as I heard the susurrus sounds from the people that circulated the whole hall.

"Pardon me, but I need to excuse myself. Thank you for coming and enjoy the rest of your evening."

I smiled triumphantly as I walked out the scene.

What can I say? I'm no ordinary kid.

A few more visitors greeted me as I passed the corridors of the manor but I just smiled weakly. My fragile body was so tired, I just want to call it a day and rest.

It's been a tough day.

...

I woke up the next day, with Aunt Hilda's exasperating voice yelling at me.

"Wake up, you insolent child! How dare you embarrass us yesterday! You must be taught a lesson."

So much for a nice greeting to start my day.

I sat groggily as I rubbed my eyes to open. Seeing aunt with her hands akimbo and beside her was Patricia crossing her arms.

I just shrugged my shoulders, I chose not to waste my time on insignificant people. I have an important place to visit today, my mom's grave.

Today is her death anniversary and nanny will accompany me to the cemetery. I may not remember that much for she died when I was just an infant but I knew for sure that she loved me very much.

I took my fountain recorder pen from my drawer and slid it in my hidden pocket. I will play my recorded message to my mom. I wonder if she will be able to hear it on the other side?

I read a book saying that it was a more effective instrument to use for sending a message for the deceased than our own voice. So maybe it will work. There is no harm in trying.

She and dad were a lovely couple. We were almost a perfect family if she did not die in a plane crash. I kind of have a thought that maybe things would be different now if she was here.

"Be careful, my dear Lily. I wish I could accompany you but important meetings forbid me to. Nanny Wilsa, you better take care of her," aunt Hilda said with a fake concern.

"Yes, madam," nanny replied.

Can't people tell that Aunt Hilda was so overdramatic? Her acting was so poor, it gives me a cringey feeling as if she will be sending a mouse in a lion's den. I rolled my eyes with that thought.

Julian, my family's driver, greeted me as he opened the door. He is one of the trusted drivers of daddy and he has been working with us even before dad got married.

"Young miss, would you like to go first to the mall or we will be heading already to your mom?"

"To my mom, please," I said with a weak smile.

We were on our way home when suddenly the car broke down.

"I wonder what's wrong," Julian said with his forehead creased and his brows furrowed.

"Did something happen, Julian?" I kind of having a bad feeling about this. It couldn't be an ambush, isn't it?

"Don't worry, young miss. I will fix it right away," He said apologetically.

I saw a bunch of men heading towards us and they don't look friendly.

"Julian, wait-"