The Salary of Death

Lily sat to read the diary of…...

she flipped through the first two pages. she usually does that; she begins reading the diary

13th April                                                                                    

Sunday.

My parents were strong and healthy. They were very kind. There was a clan of demons living around. They seemed to be very kind at first. They offered us supplies for cooking. In return, they took away some of our wealth. We cleaned and worked for them. They slowly started to show their true colors.

It was a bright morning that day and a daemon approached us with something sharp. He stared at us by and by. unhurriedly he walked towards my dad. He fondled my dad and After a bit, to our astonishment, he raised the sharp object and began to cut off a part of my dad's body. Dad begged the daemon to set him free but he showed no mercy. He then walked towards me and gazed at me for quite some time. Since I was too young, he picked up my savings.

He walked forward; we were a little relieved that it was over but we were wrong. He cut my big brother's arm off. Poor brother, he cried in pain but the daemon did not seem to even hear us. we weren't yet offended. we continued to work for them.

My clan is the tallest living creatures, so the daemons would often make us stand right under the sun and they would sit below us in shade. There was another clan living around. They weren't as terrifying as the daemons. I would call them a 'friendly clan.' They too were dominated by the daemons.

 I must admit that among the daemons were a few kind-hearted angels. They looked similar to the daemons but for us they were special. They offered us our essentials. They wouldn't take away anything from us, so we would often shower our wealth over them. They even helped my father and brother to recover. They behaved the same with the 'friendly clan'.

 One of them from the 'friendly clan' became a close friend of my mother. He would often play with me. He was very strong and too big. I would laughingly call him Mr. Giant. I wasn't really sure if he understood our language. One afternoon Mr. Giant came about. My mom offered him some of her savings. Sometime later, a few daemons arrived with the same sharp object that they used to hurt my dad. They had something long in their hand. They rolled it around Mr. Giant. He tried to kick them off but they were stubborn. A few of them started to stab Mr. Giant. He cried in pain. Tears rolled down my cheeks. The scene was awful. Mr. Giant fell hard on the floor. We couldn't do anything about it. They cut off many parts from Mr. Giant's body. I watched in fear as they carried away all the parts of Mr. Giant's body. We were devastated. Mr. Giant's kid approached us. I couldn't understand her language but I could feel her pain. It looked like she was searching for her late father. The angels arrived sometime later. They walked towards Mr. Giant's kid. They offered her some food. They tried their best to calm her down but in vain.

 It was soon dusk. The angels departed along with Mr. Giant's kid. The daemons are much cruller than they sound. In the next few weeks, we had to work more than we've ever imagined. Though. The daemons weren't worth it, the angels were. The 'friendly clan' weren't allowed freedom even after dusk. I would watch many of them walk around before dusk. But the rising sun tells us that they're no more. We prayed every day for the daemons to get back their senses. Their ancestors were kind. In fact, they belonged to the angel's clan. once, but not anymore. Day after day the cruelty of the daemons grew no bounds. The 'friendly clan' were completely exploited. most of them were killed. The members of the 'friendly clan' looked quite different from each other, although some looked similar. Each of them was tortured in some or another way. I would often notice that a particular group of similar-looking members of the 'friendly clan' was being killed so much that I could hardly see them as days passed. The next day, I was too exhausted by dawn. Our work had increased abundantly. We had to clean, a lot, for the daemons. My mom warned me that the daemons' life would be in danger if we stopped cleaning. I did not clearly understand how but, it doesn't matter.

 The sun started its journey from east to west. I couldn't sleep all night. We have shared our wealth with the daemons. They even cut away our body parts. Our work has increased tremendously but still, we work perfectly. Of course, I wouldn't expect gratitude from the daemons; but a part of me yearns for it. They need not have to show gratitude, but, at least if they could stop hurting us and the 'friendly clan'!

years passed by, the angels never changed, their kids were as kind as their parents. The daemons grew much wilder; soon, their kids took over. They were much more merciless. Most of the similar-looking members of the 'friendly clan' were destroyed. The daemons who ruled earlier and their ancestors weren't as bloodthirsty as the ones who are presently ruling. The successors seemed to have forgotten that they would die if their surroundings were not clean enough. We are the ones who clean and work for them. The entire daemons clan would go extinct if we're killed!

"They've lost their minds, the more you die, the greater is the threat to our life!" exhausted an angel as she walked towards us. The angels have helped us throughout our lifetime. My clan and the 'friendly clan' have a boundless amount of gratitude towards them. the angel walked towards me, patted me, and with eyes full of gratitude she acknowledged, "your clan is the most merciful of all the clans on earth. If our clan would have cleaned our surroundings by ourselves, for just six months, we would spend the savings of our entire lifetime, but, your clan does it for free. I don't know why most of my friends haven't realized it yet. But, thank you so much for your kindness!". I smiled. I haven't yet realized that my clan is doing such a great deed. The daemons and the angels actually belong to the same clan, but they act so differently. Strange!

As days passed, my clan was destroyed in huge numbers. Most of them from the 'friendly clan' survived on our savings. Our savings and wealth were the sources of food and shelter for them. Since we were killed in huge numbers, most of them from the 'friendly clan' died of hunger. one afternoon a group of daemons walked towards us. They were busy discussing something. They stepped forward and examined us for some time. Not again, I'm neither ready to die nor, I'm ready to lose a loved one. They did not have sharp objects. They randomly snatched away all of our savings. I was almost relieved. They wandered past me. They drew something on the floor, it was a straight line between me and my family. I didn't know why they drew it but it's okay, at least they did not harm us. 

 A few days later a huge group of daemons walked toward us. They had many sharp objects in their hands. I looked around and my clan was trembling in fear. A tear dropped from my eyes. It's time for another awful day. We did not stop cleaning. A daemon Walked towards my big brother and raised the sharp object. Just as he was about to hurt my brother an angel held his hand tight and pushed him hard. The daemon fell on the floor. many angels joined us. A fight broke out between the daemons and the angels. They began arguing. The angels tried their best to make the daemons understand the threat to their life if we're killed. The daemons wouldn't understand. A few daemons attacked the angels and forced them to flee.

 My brother was attacked. They first snatched away all of his savings and wealth. They quickly cut his hands off. my brother cried in pain. He pleaded with the daemons to set him free. A huge daemon ordered them to make it quick……...... MY BROTHER'S HEAD WAS CHOPPED OFF! I cried out loud. My parents were devastated. The angels returned; they were ferocious. They fought the daemons. The daemons were adamant. The fight continued for a long time, out of nowhere the daemons chopped my dad's head. I screamed in fear. That day changed my life. My mom's life wasn't spared. I cried all night, I cried for days and months. I wasn't able to do anything when my family was killed.

I feel tears rolling down my cheek. The sun has started to rise. I've started working. The daemons are constructing something around my home which means I've got a tremendous increase in work. The angels visit me every day to make sure I'm safe and sound. I work for the daemons all day long. Their entire clan, living and working, around me, would go extinct if I stop working for them. the daemons would often come and snatch away my savings. They've chopped my fingers twice. The angels helped me to recover. This morning I noticed many sick daemons. I realize that I'll have to work harder.

I've been working for almost a year now. The daemons haven't yet had the smallest bit of gratitude towards me. Yesterday I witnessed the death of 3 very dear members of the 'friendly clan'.

 I'm busy working. The daemons have begun their construction work. They're causing a lot of dust and pollution. I'm already tired but I wouldn't allow the daemons to feel unhealthy. I notice a few daemons pointing at me. Maybe they're interested in my savings but I don't mind. I've got the power to save the life of a clan and I'm not losing on it. Eh! They're walking towards me with the sharp object. Are they out of their minds?! They'll be dead if I'm killed! Ah!!! It hurts they're cutting my legs off. I haven't stopped cleaning. This is the last thing I could do for them. ouch! I fell hard on the floor but I'm still cleaning. My parents worked hard until their last breath and I'm keeping it up. I'm cleaning as fast as I can. The daemons trying to kill me are putting their lives in danger. They're hurting my neck. The object is moving in through my neck.

 I know, it's all do………………...

                                                            THE END"

Lilly closed the book hard. This was the worst book she has ever read. "A clan of daemons; A clan of angels; and a friendly clan! Huh! this book is trash. It's full of murders. how can someone watch the death of their family and remain quiet and faithful to the killers? Who would clean and work hard for psycho killers even when they are trying to hurt?! How can two clans be dominated by a 'superior clan'?!" she exhausted. 

As she stepped down to walk out, the book's first page was flipped open by the wind. She turned to look into the first two pages.

It read:

"This is a diary written through the eyes of a tree. 

Characters:

 Daemons - 'The daemons' is used to describe the humans who strongly believe that they're supreme and use their supremacy to their fullest. They're the ones who cut trees randomly for the sake of building their homes. They haven't yet realized the threat to our life if trees are destroyed. They kill animals and trade their skin and organs for money. They are the ones who don't have the smallest bit of courtesy towards other organisms.

Angels: Those who have gratitude towards trees, animals, and birds are specified as angels. They are the ones who water plants and offer food to animals and birds. They are those who have truly understood the role of other living organisms. They've realized that mother earth belongs not only to humans but, all the other organisms have equal rights on it.

Friendly clan: Animals 

Savings: Fruits

Mr. Giant: Elephant."

Lilly was awestrikken. she realized that trees watch the death of their family and remain quiet and faithful to the 'killers'. They work hard and clean for us Until their last breath. They don't stop cleaning the environment even when they're being chopped off. 'Humans' are the superior clan who dominate trees and animals. 

Lilly feels her hands trembling as a tear rolls down her cheeks. It's not only the soldiers and doctors but the trees and animals too who get their salary paid in the form of death. 

"It's their planet; as much as it is ours."