Page 40 - Combined Inter-section 3B & 3R Creative Writing publication 8-28-2021

Flash Fiction Series Combined Sections: ARW-3B & 3R - Draft Copy 8-29-2021 35

Retribution

By Masahiro Takahashi

Her daughter suddenly disappeared. At first, everyone supposed this

was kidnapping but there was no contact from anyone. Despite a thorough
investigation, no one can find her. She must be abducted by some pervert and

no longer lives. It’s what everyone thought except her mother. The mother
desperately searched for her missing daughter since she devotedly loved her.

Even after the other stopped searching and suggested that she also accept
what had happened, the mother continued the searching.

But due to the fact that her daughter is highly likely to be dead and
people around her start regarding her as troublesome, she gradually lost her

senses and began relying on occultism and spiritualism. She kept herself
indoors, stopped any social activity, even divorced her husband who ran out

of patience with her behavior. What she did every day was only to read books
about occultism, recite a charm written in these books, and imagine the day

she met her daughter.
One day, however, she actually summoned a demon. A demon who

grants one’s wishes.
“What is your wish? Ma’am?” a demon said.

The mother at first flinched but soon began praying.
“I have a daughter. Beloved daughter. I want to meet her! I want to

embrace her!” the mother said.
“I’ m sorry Ma’am. But it seems to me I cannot help you with this issue.

Your daughter has already died. Reviving the dead is beyond my ability. I am
terribly sorry.”

The mother gaped for a few minutes.
“If you cannot bring my daughter back. Please kill the murderer instead.

I cannot forgive anyone who took my daughter away from me.”

“Are you really sure? I do not recommend any kind of revenge. Ma’am”
“Kill the murderer!” She screamed. “Kill the one who killed my daughter.
Not in the usual way. Kill in the cruelest way you can imagine. As cruel as

possible!”