Hong Kong Young Writers Anthologies Fiction 3 2018 | Page 170

“Do you understand now?” She asks, revealing the truth that has been hidden for a long time.
“No, no …. How is this possible? This must be an illusion. No, no, no. Who are you?”
It said nothing. The Guanyin continued. “Debts must be repaid, and loans must be returned.” She turned to
the monster behind her, nodded grimly and disappeared.
Then it was only him and his doppelganger.
“Good night,” it whispered, and Tang Sanzang’s world went dark.
∼
They say that his flesh brings them immortality and that only true monsters are tempted by a gift from hell.
I am not a monster; no I am far from that. I am the victim. He is the wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Pain, torment, and evil dominate my memories. My life, my well-being meant nothing to them. The
perpetual winter of the court is not one that a faerie should grow up in, let alone a mortal that does not
rightfully belong there.
While the darkness shrouds me, everything in his life is bright. He grew up in a peaceful, knowledgeable
and kind environment where people are happy.
He is everything that I should have been. He stole the life that belongs to me. He ruined my life.
Nothing can satisfy the dark chasm in my heart. Not when I broke all the bones one by one of the
inconsiderate faerie for placing him in my cradle and bringing me to the living hell instead. Not when I
starved his parents who decided that they wanted to change their newborn for someone else’s, peeled their
skin off bit by bit and forced them to eat it. Not when I watched my real parent being buried alive for not
realizing that the child they raised what not their real child, but a monster wearing their child’s face.
With blessing from the Gods, I can finally take revenge on my changeling.
His flesh was delicious. I didn’t bother cooking him, not when vengeance is so close. No, this delicacy was
meant to be enjoyed fresh. I tasted the distress coming from his skin, nausea as I consumed his body. I kept
him conscious for this, his suffering and pain just another small pleasure for me, an entertaining performance
that marks the beginning of my eternal life.