ALKISAH: Prayer for the World [1001 Indonesian Fantasy Stories]
STORY: The Burning Church & the End of the Flower of Reality

  Story By: Sun & Kevin E.S.P

Arin's favorite activity in the afternoon is to sit on a park bench while looking at the beautiful flowers and shade of trees. His heart became peaceful, rather than when he was surrounded by humans. Usually he was there long enough, until the sun almost set.

However, that afternoon his activities were disrupted. A group of children playing chases, then hit a line of flowers casually. Arin stood up to scold them. But his words didn't come out. And the children had already left the park.

Arin also nodded.

“Basic boys shucks..”

The young man approached the vandalized flowers, then squatted there. He placed his right palm on the ground and on the broken stem of the plant. Miraculously, the trunk slowly recovered as it was. The flowers that were stepped on bloomed again. That's the special talent Arin has, which he never told anyone.

“Waw... that's really cool!”

The young man looked over. He was shocked to death, not expecting anyone to notice him. A young girl dressed as a nurse stood nearby. The girl was carrying plastic groceries.

“A—anu—I can explain!” exclaiming Arin stammered.

The girl shook her head, “I saw everything. I was going after those kids for ruining the plant.”

“Dead me..” Arin bowed, not knowing what to do. He doesn't want to be considered weird. People with special abilities usually seem to be expected to be the center of conversation, visited by journalists, have haters—

“I won't tell anyone,” said the girl, stopping Arin's turmoil. “My name is Silvia.” He extended his hand.

“Arin,” replied the young man while answering the helping hand.

“You have amazing talent,” reset Silvia.

“Eh... Thank you,” replied Arin blushed in embarrassment.

“So... do you want to help me plant flowers in the church garden?”

“Eh?”

“The head nurse ordered me, but I don't think I have any gardening talent.”

“Tapi—”

Silvia holds both Arin's hands, both her eyes sparkle, “Please.”.

The young man could not refuse. Although he knows he is being used, but his instinct as a man is very passionate.

“Then tomorrow morning I'll go to church!” arin then ran away from Silvia.

At first Silvia was doubtful whether the young man would actually come. But the next morning he actually came. So they started working. Silvia who set the design and what kind of flowers need to be planted, while Arin who executes the plan.

After finishing, Silvia served tea and cake to Arin. The young man immediately ate his dishes voraciously.

“You hungry or doyan?” silvia asked who was watching the young man.

“Two,” replied Arin. But then he stopped. Something was stirring in his heart. “After this can I still mess around here?”

Silvia wrinkled her forehead, “For sure why can't it?”

“My task is done..”

Arin knows himself. Silvia is a sweet girl. Especially a nurse. If it wasn't for needing help, it would have been impossible for him to continue with Silvia.

“Of course, just come as you like! I'll make tea and cake!” answer Silvia.

Silvia nodded.

“Alright,” Arin was smiling happily.

Since then they have met often. Sometimes Arin comes to church pretending to be a congregation, sometimes Silvia stops by when she sees Arin in the park, and sometimes they arrange a meeting in a secret place. In the dense suburban forest, but Arin decorates it as comfortably as possible using his powers. Unbeknownst to anyone, they are loving. A forbidden love between an ordinary person and a servant of God.

On a peaceful afternoon, after an adventure through the forest, Arin and Silvia decided to rest in the deepest part of the forest, and lay down on the soft grass.

“Sil,” said Arin while holding Silvia's hand.

“Why?” Answer Silvia who still enjoys the bright sky.

“Is this true?” Fear was clearly heard in Arin's voice.

“Hah? How?”

“What we do... sometimes I worry.. we shouldn't have a relationship like this.”.

“Eh? Wh why? Because I'm a nurse?”

“Ya, of course lah.” Arin looked at the girl. He could see Silvia's eyes so clear.

Silvia hesitated for a moment before replying, “Yah... I never really wanted to be a nurse. My parents sent me there. So then... I can what? Sometimes our lives are like marionette dolls controlled by others. and God, of course.”.

Arin shakes hearing it. He never thought too much about God. But the idea of defying the creator kinda scared him. However, Arin also actually still wanted to reveal something else, but he undoes his intentions.

“Once in a while, I just want to do what I want. I want you, Arin.”

“But this is a real risk..”.

“Let me take the risk.” The girl brought her head closer to Arin's side, and looked at the young man's face. “Rather than living a thousand years as a sheep, I want to be a wolf one day only. Although finally killed shepherd.”

Then the girl brought her face closer to Arin. Their lips meet, they are fabled. It felt like the afternoon was going to last forever, so that they would not have to go home and try to hide that this story had ever happened.

The next day, Arin came to the church to bring fruits for the head nurse. He was afraid that the old woman was beginning to suspect him. Maybe he needs to be more diligent in worship so as not to be counted.

However, from a distance he saw a black smoke soaring high. His feelings soon turned unpleasant. He hastened his steps towards the church. People were gathering, as flames raged through the church building. Arin dropped his luggage and ran.

“Silvia!”

People immediately stopped the young man.

“Do not! Danger!”

“No! Release!”

But finally Arin is powerless. He knelt down. He said a fire suddenly struck in the middle of the service, muzzling everyone trapped inside—including Silvia.

“This is punishment? Is this the punishment of You?” isak Arin is not restrained. Her tears are raging. He finally stuck both of his palms on the ground, then exerted all his strength. Suddenly giant tendrils sticking out of the ground and wrapped around the church building, killing the blazing fire.

Everyone was shocked, and no one realized that it was Arin's doing. Or maybe some people realized it. Hence Arin felt a strange look directed towards him. But he doesn't care. Not for the moment.

However, residents were made even more surprised when they saw that there were many colorful flowers of various types that suddenly grew to cover the entire church.

Then a heavy rain fell, as if to end the punishment for the young man. Although ultimately still unable to return Silvia.

“No... this is impossible..“ Now Arin's tears had mixed with the rain that soaked his face.