"Mother, Father...those mysterious men took Sofia away! They told me that they will bring her back after ten days and warned me not to flee!" Laura informed her parents.
Rosa erupted into a painful sob and covered her tear-stained face with her hands. "Husband, they're going to kill our child!" she said hysterically.
Laura looked at her father in confusion. "What is going on, Father? Who are these people? Why are they hurting you? And why are they talking about marrying me to their son? I don't understand!" she bombarded her father with questions. A painful headache pounded her head.
Simon looked at his daughter. "Child...go...hurry to the servants quarter and released the servants! They were imprisoned there by those intruders. Tell them to start cleaning the living room at once!" he ordered.
Laura obeyed and rushed towards the stairs, going to the servants' quarters. When she arrived there, she found the servants huddled together in the corner in a terrified state, their feet and hands were bound by a rope. After she finished releasing them, she ordered the servants to clean the mess in the living room. Then she went upstairs to continue interrogating her parents about those mysterious men.
When she went upstairs, she found her parents in the master's bedroom. Her mother was attending to her father's cut on his forehead. "Mother, let me do it!" she offered.
"Nah, it's okay. It's done already," Rosa replied.
Simon looked at Laura. "Daughter, go to your room and pack your things! You will leave tomorrow!" he ordered.
Laura's brows furrowed, she remembered the mysterious woman's words, warning her against doing something stupid. "No, father! I can't leave this house! They have taken my sister away. They will kill Sofia if they returned here and discovered that I fled," she protested.
"Child, don't be so stubborn! Your life is more important than your sister!" he pointed out.
"Father, how can you say that!?" Laura's eyes widened in disbelief. How can her father disregard her sister's life? Although Sofia is an adoptive child, she loved her sister dearly, as her flesh and blood. She looked at her mother. "Mom, please convince father!" she urged her.
Rosa released a deep sigh. "Laura, you know that I love you both as my daughters, but we are only thinking of your safety. Those black men in capes will return soon, and they will take you away. We can't allow that!" she said gravely. "As for your sister, we will find a way to save her..."
Laura released a deep sigh. Her heart was throbbing painfully for her sister. "Mother, Father...tell me what's going on! Who are these people? I can tell that they're not humans! They have supernatural powers! Why they're after me? Why they're hurting you, Father? Why? And why they mentioned a deal? What that deal has to do with me?" she asked her father the questions that have been bothering her mind ever since those mysterious people invaded their mansion.
Rosa and Simon looked at each other.
"I think it's about time that our daughter will know the truth about what happens twenty years ago," Rosa stated. "Husband, please tell her everything..."
Simon released a heavy sigh. The time has finally come to reveal the truth to his daughter. "Sit down, Laura. I'm going to tell you what transpired a long time ago when you're still a baby..."
Laura lowered herself on the chair. She faced her father apprehensively. "Please continue, Father," she said. She felt anxious about what she's going to discover regarding her past.
Simon cleared his throat and began his narration...
"Twenty years ago, we lived in a faraway village surrounded by rivers and mountains. Your mother and I were longing for a child. We've been married for a long time but never blessed with a child. We kept praying to God for a baby. One day, our waiting finally come to end. Your mother found out that she was pregnant. Our hearts were overflowing with happiness.
Months went by.
On the night you were born, a tragedy happened. After your mother successfully delivered you to this world, you never cried, and the person who assisted your mother on her delivery announced to us with sadness that you were born dead.
That person went home, and we were left with a dead baby to bury. We were so heartbroken and devastated that the only thing we can do is stare at you for hours with tears rolling down our faces. We are truly devastated that after waiting for so long... with excitement in our hearts, you were born dead. We didn't expect that our happiness was short-lived.
Your mother and I hugged you for the last time.
Finally, I have gathered enough strength to pick up the shovel and went to the backyard to start digging your grave. While I'm busy at work, your mother exited the house carrying you in her arms. Tears rolled down her face. I've finished digging your grave. With a heavy heart, we both kissed your cold cheeks for the last time.
I was about to put you in the ground wrapped in a clean linen when our neighbor, the old woman, approached us.
"Let me see the baby! Maybe there's still hope to bring her back to life!" said the old woman whom I fondly called 'Grandma.'
I handed your cold body to her. "Our baby is already dead! She's been dead for five hours," I told her miserably.
"There's another way! Don't give up so easily. I can bring you to a couple who can do miracles. We will travel on boat by the river. We will arrive at the couple's place in two hours," Grandma said.
Your mother and I looked at each other. We dare not hope, or else we will get disappointed again. "I don't think our baby can still come back to life," I finally said. A pain so great squeezed my heart after saying those words.
Grandma sighed. "Why are you so hopeless? You are going to bury her just the same, and let the worm feast on her young body. The result is still the same. What I'm trying to say here is - if there's a small chance that your child can be resurrected, aren't you willing to try it?" she asked. "If everything fails...go ahead...you can bury her in this grave. But before you do that, I suggest that you try the last option. There is nothing to lose..." she said, urging us convincingly.
Your mother looked at me with pleading eyes.
"Husband, let's try Grandma's suggestion! Please? There is nothing to lose anymore because we already lose her..." Rosa said earnestly. A glimmer of hope and desperation crept into her voice.
"Alright, I'll bring our baby to that couple. I'll prepare some money first," I said.
"No need to bring money. The couple doesn't accept money," Grandma declared.
"Okay," I murmured to myself and walked towards the house to pack some clothes for the baby.
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