June 9, 2022
Golden brown threads of noodles fried with garlic, sesame oil, onions and fresh shrimps give out a delightful aroma. I could imagine myself tasting the noodles as I paced out from the school’s entrance. After a day of hard work at school, I would normally reward myself with a satisfying meal – a plate of Singapore style fried noodles from the roadside stall opposite my school. Within a couple of minutes, I found myself sitting at the regular spot, twirling the noodles with my fork and bringing it to my mouth. The noodles were dry but soft and tangy with just a hint of shrimp, the taste that I had been longing for a long time. I was savouring every single bite, so engrossed in eating that I was oblivious to an out of control lorry that was hurtling down the slope towards me. In a split second, disappointment, disbelief and fear filled my mind as I lied on one side, sandwiched between the cold, soft earth and the hot, slick metal of the lorry. The weight of the vehicle pressed down on the lower half of my body with monster force. My body was numb. All I could feel was the lorry’s massive mass stamping my body further and further onto the ground. My lungs felt pinched shut and air would neither enter nor escape them. My mind was buzzing. What had just happened? In the distance, on that cursed slope, I vaguely saw two men frantically running in fear, their looks imprinted in my mind. I need air. I need to breathe.
Then, I suddenly felt alive. Free and lighter than ever. As my mind comprehended what had happened, I turned and looked. It was me. It was me on the ground, trapped beneath a lorry. There was a huge pool of blood on the road - strikingly bright red in colour. There was blood everywhere, on the crushed remains of the lorry, battered remains of me and everywhere. It was red all over. The sight was pathetic, gruesome and horrifying. Wait for a moment, did I just met myself? What am I now? A soul perhaps. People began surrounding the crash site. I cried for help but no one heard me. I waved at them but they just ignored. I seemed to have departed from the human world. Once more I stared at my human body. Motionless. Dead.
Then, I suddenly felt alive. Free and lighter than ever. As my mind comprehended what had happened, I turned and looked. It was me. It was me on the ground, trapped beneath a lorry. There was a huge pool of blood on the road - strikingly bright red in colour. There was blood everywhere, on the crushed remains of the lorry, battered remains of me and everywhere. It was red all over. The sight was pathetic, gruesome and horrifying. Wait for a moment, did I just met myself? What am I now? A soul perhaps. People began surrounding the crash site. I cried for help but no one heard me. I waved at them but they just ignored. I seemed to have departed from the human world. Once more I stared at my human body. Motionless. Dead.
My body was brought to the hospital for post mortem after it was pronounced dead and sent to my home. A sudden and tragic loss of an innocent life – a student who just started the first few weeks in school. My family was devastated. They wanted an answer. “The lorry was meddled by two men before it came rolling down the slope. There was no one in the lorry when it crashed. Investigations are being carried out,” that was what my family was told. During my funeral, I was there – observing. Tears filled within my parents’ eyes. Deep in their heart, no doubt I could sense sorrow, but also a strong feeling of revenge. The killer who had caused my dead was still out there, walking freely. My body was cleaned with a damp tower with some talcum powder applied to it. The undertakers dressed my body with the finest clothes. Yet, there was something peculiar that day. My body was dressed in red, strikingly bright red – the same colour when I was killed that day. This colour reminded me of a Chinese superstition, “some families of children who have been murdered are said to have dressed the deceased body in red, hoping that he or she will return to take revenge on the murderer. Similar to this in some respects is the belief of the spirits of those who have died wrongful deaths. They cannot rest, and roam the world of the living trying to have the wrongs perpetrated against them to be put right.” I have died a vengeful death. Justice was not served. The person who caused my death is still out there. My family wanted me to take revenge. I would not rest in peace. I must take revenge.
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In my finest striking red samfu, I wandered along the streets of Kuala Lumpur unnoticed, seeking for revenge, seeking for justice. Based on my eidetic memory, I recalled the look of the two men that was vividly imprinted in my mind. I went back to that slope every single day, waiting for them to appear. Days and days passed on as a lonely yet vengeful soul. Disappointment bestowed upon me yet by looking at the red clothing, I remembered the reason I was still in the human world. The colour strengthened my will to seek for justice, to never give up until the person who caused my death is caught.
That day finally arrived, I saw the two guys walking pass the same slope again. I immediately recognised them. There was not even a slight remorse on their looks. The time to take revenge had arrived. Looking once more at my red clothing, I gathered all the might I had and vigorously grabbed the two men by the collar. Not knowing what was grabbing and pulling them towards a dark, quiet alley, the two men attempted to shout for help. Yet, air failed to escape their lips. Gasping like a fish out of water, they dreamily yelled until someone would help. Surely, I would not let it happen. I invaded their thoughts and reminded them of the deadly scene that they had caused. Red pools of blood – my blood everywhere. The horrid accident caused by their act of meddling with a lorry that was not even theirs. An innocent life – my life taken for no reason. I haunted their minds with my vengeful look, in the bright red clothes that the undertaker had helped me wore on. My bloodshot eyes penetrating through theirs, generating as much fear as any human in this world could have borne. I revealed my fingers with nails that had not been cut for a long time – sharper than the claws of lions and would readily stab into the both of them. I would have done so if the two men had not kneeled at me to beg for forgiveness.
That day finally arrived, I saw the two guys walking pass the same slope again. I immediately recognised them. There was not even a slight remorse on their looks. The time to take revenge had arrived. Looking once more at my red clothing, I gathered all the might I had and vigorously grabbed the two men by the collar. Not knowing what was grabbing and pulling them towards a dark, quiet alley, the two men attempted to shout for help. Yet, air failed to escape their lips. Gasping like a fish out of water, they dreamily yelled until someone would help. Surely, I would not let it happen. I invaded their thoughts and reminded them of the deadly scene that they had caused. Red pools of blood – my blood everywhere. The horrid accident caused by their act of meddling with a lorry that was not even theirs. An innocent life – my life taken for no reason. I haunted their minds with my vengeful look, in the bright red clothes that the undertaker had helped me wore on. My bloodshot eyes penetrating through theirs, generating as much fear as any human in this world could have borne. I revealed my fingers with nails that had not been cut for a long time – sharper than the claws of lions and would readily stab into the both of them. I would have done so if the two men had not kneeled at me to beg for forgiveness.
They promised they will turn themselves in to the authorities. Making them admit their crimes had eased the authorities in their investigations. The mystery that baffled the public for months was solved. The duo had landed in jail. My revenge had been taken.
I headed back to my home to have a last look at my family. They were living fine, slowly adapting to the life without me. The photograph at the living room still remained the same – the unforgettable look of my human body wearing the red samfu specially bought for Chinese New Year. This tradition of wearing red clothes as a symbol of prosperity during festive events or celebrations still remained in many other families and the superstition of putting on the deceased with red clothing to take revenge still persisted. The believe of the underworld is still upheld in many Chinese families and the colour red plays a huge important role in the Chinese traditions as well as superstitions. Sadly, I would not be able to celebrate Chinese New Year with my family this year. There is no turning back. All I could do is anticipate life after death in the underworld.
I strolled to the cemetery and stood in front of my burial ground, scrutinising the words inscribed on my tombstone. I noticed that my family had also burnt a few other clothes for me and cash to be used in the underworld. I chose a yellow shirt, changed it with the red samfu and continued my journey to the underworld. I can now rest in peace.
I headed back to my home to have a last look at my family. They were living fine, slowly adapting to the life without me. The photograph at the living room still remained the same – the unforgettable look of my human body wearing the red samfu specially bought for Chinese New Year. This tradition of wearing red clothes as a symbol of prosperity during festive events or celebrations still remained in many other families and the superstition of putting on the deceased with red clothing to take revenge still persisted. The believe of the underworld is still upheld in many Chinese families and the colour red plays a huge important role in the Chinese traditions as well as superstitions. Sadly, I would not be able to celebrate Chinese New Year with my family this year. There is no turning back. All I could do is anticipate life after death in the underworld.
I strolled to the cemetery and stood in front of my burial ground, scrutinising the words inscribed on my tombstone. I noticed that my family had also burnt a few other clothes for me and cash to be used in the underworld. I chose a yellow shirt, changed it with the red samfu and continued my journey to the underworld. I can now rest in peace.
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