The Search for Freedom

The first person I saw when I woke up was Cain. Maybe he didn't leave last night. Everything was normal and it meant that he didn't cause any problems, like a curse, which was difficult to solve. He was lying there on the rough floor like a beggar with closed eyes, and seemed to be in a deep slumber. It never entered my mind that he could also feel tired, for he was already a spirit.

I sprang from my bed and barefoot walked towards the door. I knew, even though there were many things I needed to deal with, I also needed to go to school. Though there were too many questions in my mind, I didn't want to lose my future because of them. I knew my parents would be mad if I did not continue my studies without giving them a valid reason. I believed that finishing school was the only thing that I could do to exchange my parents' hard work and perspiration. The door was crying when I opened it. Cain was being aroused from a deep slumber. He stood up without saying a word and got out of my bedroom. I shut the door and walked towards the bathroom. I knew whatever Cain would do or say, nobody could see or hear him. I had been wondering if I had a third eye because I could see a spirit like him. I was even scared of ghosts before because I believed they looked scary. It didn't matter anymore. My beliefs had totally changed because it seemed that everything was possible in the world.

What I needed to do was to pretend I could not see him. Other people, including my father, might think I was mentally deranged, and he would transport and confine me to a mental hospital. That might become another problem to be given to me by the spirit named Cain.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"I want to take a bath. Don't you know that I'm going to school? I need to go there because my future lies in it," I replied.

"How can you say so?" He asked again.

I explained. "Because studying can make me smarter, and if I can graduate from high school soon, I would be able to get a good job that would allow me to become wealthy."

"But schooling isn't the only way to become clever and rich. There are many other ways to become clever, because they are based on your experience, not on what you have studied."

He had a point. Knowledge did not always depend on what someone had studied, but rather on their experience. Like magic, power, and curses. Teachers had not and would never discuss them in class, and someone would believe them only if he could experience or see them himself.

"Just stop talking to me because I need to take a bath now. If you also want to take a bath, then you should go to the river and swim there."

I seemed to be a fool because I knew that Cain was a bad spirit and the water could not wet him. It was so foolish because I was the only one who could see and hear what he was talking about. Though I wouldn't admit it, it was difficult for me to treat a spirit like him.

"Do you really need to go to school? How about the curse? Don't you know that it can control your body at anytime?"

"Anytime? I know nothing about the curse. It was you who put it on me-you know more about it, and you must also do something to remove it from me."

"Are you not worried about what might happen to you?"

"Of course not. I'm not worried about anything because you're here. I know you're powerful and that you can curse someone like me."

I enjoyed turning him mad so that he could realize the curse he cast on me could affect far too many aspects of my life. I didn't want to worry about it. I knew that if Cain could put that curse on me, he could also remove it from me. I was powerful enough to say that he could not; I would never believe every word that came from his deceitful lips. I would put all my burdens on his shoulders; I didn't care if he felt tired of them. He made everything he made, and he must be the one to fix it.

I entered the bathroom and slammed the door. Many things were messing with my mind. I didn't want to believe him, because I had a hunch that he wasn't telling the truth. He told me many things but didn't show any proof. Perhaps he needed something from me, for he wouldn't come just to offer his help. I learned from my mistake, and I didn't want to make the same mistake again. Especially if someone who'd forced me to make a mistake was the same as the one who told you to make a mistake before.

After I took a bath, when I opened the door, I saw that it was really a foolish demon who hadn't left. Perhaps he was listening to my sulking, but it didn't really matter. The most important thing was that I felt relieved that I wasn't the only one who would carry the burden he caused, but also him. He had fallen into his own trap. I wanted him to realize that I didn't need him, but it was him who needed something from me.

Despite everything, I believed that the curse was my most serious issue, and it had a significant impact on everything about me. I hate that thing. I also didn't want someone to follow me everywhere I went, because it seemed like he was putting me inside a cage and I could not move freely.

"Lil, do you have a plan to get rid of that curse?" Cain asked.

"What a-it came from you! So you should know what to do in order to get rid of it, right? So why are you asking me?" I replied.

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"You're right, but how can I remove that from you if it seems that you don't want me to? That's why I'm asking if you have a plan to get rid of it."

"Of course I want to be free from everything, but I don't know how. What I do know is that you know how I can get rid of it. That's why I'm telling you that you must remove it from me." "Do you mean you did not believe that I couldn't?"

"Maybe I don't care if you were telling the truth or not, because you're unpredictable. I only need one thing: your help to get rid of the curse, which also came from you!" I exclaimed.

"I had really made a mistake about how I knew you. You're only looking kind and respectful outside, but you're definitely not. You're so selfish that you only consider yourself!" He scolded. "Wow! You dare to say that, despite the fact that you were the one who was selfish from the start?" I interrogated

"Don't make me angry because you don't know what I can do."