“You see that door? Everyone in the village is always afraid of getting closer to the door, especially during spring," Amanda admitted through what she had heard, being a true indigene of the land of Aguna.
Visiting the village was just so great in the life of Tope, as she had not visited her village ever since she was born. Her parents always gave her some stories about how the village priest died mysteriously and where he was buried. She has acted so curiously and just wants to know everything. Her parents only knew what they were told by their parents and nothing more. No one was able to explain explicitly what had happened, as they were all afraid of the aftermath.
“Dad, you know it's getting to spring, and you had promised me before now that you would take me to the village to see my grandma”, Tope leaped out words to her dad.
“No, I never said that. Maybe you did not get me right” " her dad replied while they were on a journey to her school.
“Dad, I could remember vividly exactly what you said and the way you said it”, her dad knew what he said but then was thinking his child was still not grown yet to remember things in the past.
“Then quote me”, He said as he smiled at his smart daughter.
As the car hopped down the hill, there was a quiet moment. He looked at her daughter in amazement. She was trying to get a grip on all the words her dad had said to her when she was still a child. Now that she's 14, she was grown enough to understand and know everything she was told when she was still at the age of 4.
“Dad”, she voiced out silently as her dad listened.
“Yes, I'm listening”, he replied expecting her not to remember a word from the past. He was not ready to go to the village anytime soon.
“You had told me that when I clock 14, you will take me to the village to show me things I had not seen and also the shrine door that's always springing open during spring”, Tope's dad was shocked to hear that as he was not expecting her to remember those words.
“My daughter, you have grown up now and yes, I had said that to you, but was not expecting it now”, he stopped the car and packed along the roadside so close to her school.
“Yes, I will take you down when it's time for spring. I will fulfill my promise to you”, he said.
Three months later, it was spring, her dad packed their bags and asked Tope to get ready to leave for the village. She was so excited.
Tope, her mum, and dad drove straight to the village. “Dad, is this your village?”
“Yes, it's the village you had been longing to visit”, he replied.
They were welcomed by her Grandma. "That's my mum, your Grandma ", he said.
Tope was happy to be home. The next day, she took a stroll just to see what the village looked like along with her nephew, Amanda. They were warned not to get closer to the village shrine as this season is not a good take when it comes to that door.
They entered the village properly, and Amanda began to show her some old buildings as well as statues and tell her what they symbolized.
“And while is the door always flipping open every minute? Is there someone dragging it from behind?” she asked.
“No, it's always like that when it's spring," Amanda replied.
“Has anyone ever entered it before?” she was so inquisitive.
“No one has the mind of entering it, as we are all afraid of what's behind the door," Amanda replied keenly.
On the opposite side was a statue. She turned to the stature and asked, “And who is this man?”
"He was the village priest before he died. He was buried in the shrine, and after his burial, no one had ever stepped into the shrine. He has the power to enter it alone.
Amanda turned, but couldn't find Tope. She raised her head and saw her at the doorstep of the shrine. She shouted her name and began to cry profusely. “Please don't enter the shrine. You will not come back after entering it," she cried and yelled out.
Everyone was also surprised, as no one had the mind to go as far as Tope had gone. She stood at the doorpost and waited for 1 minute as the door sprung open. She entered it.
Amanda cried home to inform Tope's parents of what had happened. “Why would you allow her in?” She was questioned.
"Oh, she's my only daughter. I have lost my only daughter," Tope's mom cried, and her tears could fill up a bucket.
They ran to the shrine but were unable to draw closer to the door. Everyone gathered without idea of what to do. Her parents began arguments about the reasons they came to the village. “I told you we shouldn't come, but you adamantly refused," Tope's mom said while weeping and crying profusely.
“Ah, ah, ah. My only daughter is gone." Tope's dad was whaling seriously, just like a baby.
“She has gone for good, as no one would be able to save her nor would anyone draw closer to that door. It's a taboo," one of the villagers standing by said.
They all turned their backs, going out of the scene after waiting for several hours. Tope's dad refused to leave, but somehow he knew his daughter would come back safe. As he turned back, trying to give up, he saw someone coming out of the door as the door sprung upon him after a minute. “She's back alive!" he shouted as other villagers and Tope's mom turned back to see the truth. “My daughter is sound and safe," Tope's mom said as she ran to her. At some points, the villagers said she had been possessed and no one must touch her until she is fortified. “I'm not possessed. That door you refused to enter is the real spring of all times. You all need to enter and see those things you have been missing. It's blooming out there," she was so excited as she spoke out. Her dad and mom, as well as Amanda, rushed in and saw the real world springing forth, its tentacles on the flowers, and the glooming light emanating from the flowers. After observing for a few minutes, others rushed in and moved in one after the other person's minute.
Deep inside the door was a natural light glowing from the flowers. As everyone entered, the flowers opened their petals to embrace the villagers. The falling water and the calmness were truly showing the real spring. “This was a true spring surprise to us all," one of the villagers opened up. This place was used as a recreational center named after Tope, “The Tope's Discovery.”
Pretty decent story of a young girl, Tope, who made a surprising discovery after doing what the villagers were afraid of doing. I wonder if the spring scene they discovered behind the shrine's door prove any way advantageous to the villagers. I was thinking maybe Tope would become possessed by the spirit of the shrine and replace the dead chief priest.
Thanks for writing.
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STOPIt means Tope was the savior who opened the eyes of the villagers to see things they have been avoiding as light.