INSIGNIAS: THE ABECEDARIANS

Silence stretched. Aria’s gaze didn’t falter as she stared at the two. Her grandmother raised her hand, silencing whoever tried to speak among the nine persons behind her. When her grandfather spoke again, he asked everyone to accompany the guests downstairs. No one said a word when he made her walked between him and her grandmother. The guests were standing, holding glasses of champagne while admiring the school of koi fish in the crystal clear water of the wide fountain. Some probably went into the high maze, which is difficult to navigate. It covers 600 square meters of land, a size of almost two basketball courts, designed and architected by Aria’s dad. Located in the center is a six foot odd looking black castle surrounded by water. For her, it seemed like something she saw in horror books. Her grandparents, however, didn’t know what inspired her dad to design it.

“Twenty minutes before fireworks,” she heard someone says. Aria sat and the rest of the family followed. She glanced at them but they avoided her gaze and conversed with one another. A few minutes later, a group of people exited the maze. The six individuals looked tired and disappointed.

“We can’t find the way so we retracted our steps to get out,” the man told the others who were waiting outside. That maze is too complicated. But she succeeded in finding the way. It happened when she was six years old and her dad gave her hints or rules how to get to the center. Since she already knew the way, she had forgotten the rules of what her dad called Chronicle mazes. He didn’t explain what they are but it seemed that there are mazes built with the same design or rules applied. As to where they were located, she had no idea.

When her grandfather announced that the firework show was starting, everyone looked up to the starry night sky. Flickering spots of lights erupted in heaven, forming different shapes in the heavens. When the show ended, her grandfather thanked the guests and one by one, they left. Today was her birthday but the celebration always ended up like a social event to flaunt who’s the most beautiful, most wealthy, and most popular in the society. She didn’t want to celebrate it but her birthday is also the anniversary of her grandparents’ company so she had no choice but to come.

She looked around and found her grandfather talking seriously with his lead bodyguard, Ivan. He had been with the family since she could remember. He was a tall and muscular man but has a charming smile and calm personality. The two seemed to be in a tensed conversation but what baffled her was it was Ivan who appeared to be angry while her grandfather looked anxious. She kept watching them until Ivan, who was still angry, hurriedly left. What was that about?

“We’ll talk,” his grandfather told her when all the guests has left. The family stood up and followed him towards the house.

Tense atmosphere covered the large family room when all twelve members of the family took their seats. Aria kept her head high but not looking at anyone. She knew that this day would come, when her grandparents took side between her and the others. She had mixed feelings about it, but she thought that it’s the best way in order for her to leave without regret.

“When he left, the foundation of this family also crumpled,” her grandfather began. He was talking about her dad, the eldest of the siblings and the heir to the company. “Everyone blamed her…then you.” Still, she didn’t look at him. Scoffs were heard.

“I understand, grandfather. What do you want me to do?” She turned to him with a fake smile but it fell when she noticed that his eyes looked weary and sad.

“Nothing. I don’t want you to do anything. The same with the rest of the family.” Her eyes widened when he glared at her aunts and uncles. “You are adults. Act like one.” She didn’t expect him to scold them.

“Did she tell you that?” her aunt cried. Aria looked at her lap, wanting to be anywhere than this house.

“No,” her grandmother replied softly.

“If you are talking about what you heard earlier, those were one-sided, mama.” Her uncle tried to catch her eyes but she avoided his glare.

“They weren’t. Living in regret, sadness, and anger…that’s enough.” Aria looked at her grandmother who never smile at her after her dad left them. “We need to go forward.”

“We are-“ her uncle began but stopped. Realization probably hit him.

“What do you want us to do? We can’t act like nothing happened.” Her aunt was shaking, her eyes full of unshed tears. For a moment, Aria pitted her dad’s only sister.

“No one here acts like nothing happened,” her grandfather said. “But he wouldn’t want us to continue treating his daughter like that.” For the first time she entered the room, her chest tightened and her eyes started to water. She coughed softly to push the feeling away. She was used to keeping her emotions and feelings inside, their family talk won’t make a difference to this.

“But…it’s hard, papa. It’s hard whenever I see her and when I remember that day.” Her aunt started to glare at her again. The others looked troubled. It’s too much for them. She knew that they won’t be able to live peacefully with Aria in her grandparents’ home.

She fisted her hands then took a deep breath before she spoke up.

“I will leave.” A collective gasp was heard in the room but Aria’s eyes never left her grandfather’s. He narrowed his eyes at her.

“What are you talking about?” His voice was louder and firmer. She fished a brown paper in the dress’ small pocket then gave it to him. He opened the folded paper, his eyes widened as he read what’s inside, while her grandmother shed a few tears.

“Dad is asking me to go on a quest.” Silence. “He said that…this will protect me and the family.”

“He won’t ask you to do that,” he said as he folded the paper.

“Yes. He won’t put you in danger,” her grandmother added. But she already made up her mind. She waited for the right time to speak with both of them but she didn’t intend to inform her other relatives.

“The letters were delivered three years ago but I’m waiting for my 18th birthday to tell you.” She eyed her aunt, uncle, and cousins, who were staring at her like she grew horns on her head. They should be relieved that I’m going.

“I won’t let you go. If it’s related to her, I’m sure that it’s dangerous,” he calmly said but his eyes were fierce. She sighed, clearly frustrated, but she knew that he’s going to press his wishes.

“Yes. It’s related to her but I’m still going.”

“Why, Lasiandra? We are trying to keep you safe here.” For the first time in her life, she heard his voice break and his eyes full of worry. He isolated himself for months after her dad died so she didn’t see him mourn. Her conviction was slowly breaking. She was ready to go a year ago but something was holding her back.

“I…I can’t let you go to her,” he added, anger surfaced in his eyes.

“I’m still going, grandfather. This will help us all – for me to know who I am and for you-“ She glanced at every family member, who had been silently watching her and her grandfather’s conversation. “-to move on with your lives.”

“But…you’re going to be all alone,” her grandmother reasoned out as tears kept running down her face. Do you know what’s it like to face everything alone even if you’re surrounded by your family? Your fears…your faults…your nightmares…

“I know. But for the first time in my life, I wanted to do something for myself, to follow myself and not others.” She directed this to everyone in the room. She knew that leaving home meant leaving everything she knows about herself but after reading all his letters to Aria and her mom, she knew that she found her purpose.

“Thank you for everything, grandfather and grandmother. You can keep that letter,” she added without looking at them. She didn’t want to see their sad faces. Without uttering a word, she stood up and left the room. It’s the right thing to do, right, Dad?

When she reached her room, she immediately took off her dress and heels. After changing into a shirt and a pair of pants, she grabbed the large bag under the bed and dropped it on the bed. She dived on her bed and lay there, covering her eyes with her forearm. Taking deep breaths to calm her down, she silently told herself not to cry. I’m tired of it. I’m tired of feeling weak and helpless. I’m tired of being told what to do, what to be.

After what felt like hours of lying there, she stood up to finish packing. She grabbed the remaining letters inside a locked drawer and placed them inside the bag. She had finished packing when shouting was heard outside her door. Her grandfather’s voice was one of them. What’s happening? The voices were getting louder so she went out of her room to look where the noise was coming from.

“This if for the best,” she heard someone said when she neared the family room. She placed her ears on the door.

“No. She’s protected here!” her grandfather shouted.

“They’re coming for her, Alexander. They will tear this place down if she’s here,” she heard another man said.

“We have guns-“

“Do you think those weapons are enough?” he interrupted her grandfather.

“I thought you’re going to protect her!” her grandfather shouted again. It won’t be good for his health.

“Ivan is gone, Alexander. The guardian is gone. ” Then silence. Ivan? Is he talking about her grandfather’s bodyguard? She remembered his tensed interaction with her grandfather earlier.

“He’s dead,” her grandfather stated in a low voice. Dead?!? Why?!? Someone must be after her grandfather.

“Since she wanted to leave, it won’t be hard to force her.” Aria’s eyes widened when she realized the truth. It was her who the enemies were looking for. Someone was after her and killed Ivan. Is it related to what her father wrote to her?

“But it’s more dangerous out there-“ She didn’t want to hear any more so she hurried back to her room. She grabbed the thickest coat she can find then threw it on while her heartbeat quickened. After tying her running shoes, she placed the heavy back pack on her back. She had to move or the people looking for her will hurt her family. After one last look at her room for 18 years, she turned to tiptoe towards the training room while her heart continued to drum in her chest. Despite the anger and hate she felt for the family because of how they treated her, she cared enough to spare them from whoever killed her dad.

Once inside, she faced the shelf of training swords. She stared at the katana sword as her fingers slightly brushed the shirasaya or wooden scabbard. With a loud sigh, she grabbed the sword then opened the sliding door to leave the house. The cold wind and starry night sky welcomed her outside. The garden was her personal place so she made sure that no guards round the area. She walked until she faced the high wall surrounding the property. Since opening the light will get the attention of the guards, she patted the wall until she felt the wood. She slid the material to the far left until she can fit through the path. Aria ducked through the four-feet opening, scratching her palms through the process. When she was safely on the other side, she grabbed the handle to close the secret path. She stood up and looked around. When she located the round rock, she pushed it towards the opening, grimacing due to the pain of the scratches on her palms. She was panting when the rock was secured on its position.

After regaining her energy, she grabbed her bag on the ground while looking above the wall, behind it stood the only home she knew. Without second thoughts, she turned and walked away. But for the first time after her dad died, she felt excited, alive, and stronger.

When she entered the bus, it was only then that she realized that she didn’t exactly know where to go. The letter written by an unknown friend of her dad said to head north but there was no exact location. She rode the bus going outside the city northward. She paid the fee and told the driver to drop her to his last destination. The people inside warily stared at the sword behind her but no one said anything when they caught Aria’s fierce eyes.

The bus had left the city and was travelling the road between forests when she glanced at her wristwatch. It was one hour before midnight, her eyes were closing, when she felt the bus slowly stopped. Her eyes fluttered opened and watched as the other passengers stirred. She looked in front and witnessed the long lines of buses and cars in a full stop. In front of the first vehicles were several men in black. The driver went outside and she saw him interact with a driver of a car. When he returned, he looked agitated.

“What’s happening?” one passenger asked.

“They’re looking for someone. Said they’re cops. Haven’t seen cops looking like thugs,” the driver replied. Aria suddenly paled. They’re here. She grabbed her bag then ran towards the exit, her heart beating loudly in her ears. She heard the driver asked where she’s going but she jumped out of the vehicle and ran towards the forest into the dark night and towards the great unknown. This is the last time I’m going to run away. Next time will be my revenge.