Quiet Death
Alec was doing his weekly jog. He knew the importance of keeping fit, especially when the stressful working environment in today’s world could do little to promote a healthy body.
An civil engineer, Alec was in his early thirties. He lived with his mother in Bukit Batok, near the Little Guilin, a once abandoned stone quarry that was converted to a picturesque park, with a deep quarry lake. After work every Wednesday, he would go to the park for an hour’s jog.
This rapidly became a routine affair.
Even in the Hungry Ghosts Festival month, he would maintain this schedule despite protests from his mother. However, something happened in the Hungry Ghosts Festival that changed things forever.
The festival had begun well into the first week, the air sweet with the incense as his neighbours paid their respects to the dead. As Alec went on his weekly run, he was panting more than usual.
‘It’s probably the haze.’ He thougth as he looked around him. The haze from the forest fires in Sumatra would affect Singapore around this time of the year every year, and it seemed especially bad this year.
Forcing his breathing to be regular, Alec was glad for the trees in the park. Still, the haze was choking him. After a while, he decided to take a short break at the quarry lake, just around the corner.
As he came to the place, he slowed his pace gradually, allowing himself to cool down while running in circles before coming to a full stop. As he did, he dropped onto the bench and gazed around him.
It was a tranquil place, and Alec loved to sit there and meditate while the stress of the work place melted away from him.
Alec looked around the place, and saw that there were no other joggers around. Usually, he would see other joggers taking a rest here, even at this hour of the night. Office professionals like him, they had to work long hours too. However, tonight was different. It took him a while to realise that it was the Hungry Ghosts Festival.
He closed his eyes for a while, listening to the cricker’s song in the night, and he was about to doze off when he heard something. Children’s laughter seemed to be coming from the quarry.
Opening his eyes, he saw young children swimming in the quarry. A sign stood besides the quarry, forbidding swimming in the waters, and Alec wondered how the parents of these children could let their children play here. But they looked so happy, splashing around in the waters under the moon.
An urge arose in him to go into the water, to join in the happy scene. The children made him want to feel young and carefree again.
He got up from his bench, and was about to take the first step when he remembered that his mother had told him to be home early. For a long while, he hesitated, but eventually, he turned to go. Alec was an obedient son. Behind him, the happy sound of children’s playing faded as he disappeared into the track.
All throughout the week, he could not get his mind off the thought of swimming in the quarry. His mind would wander off on its on in the middle of work to the scene at the quarry, thinking of how the cool luxuriant waters would feel against his skin.
“Mom, have anyone swam in the Little Guilin?” Alec asked his mother over dinner once.
“Yeah, many children used to go there and swim in the old days.”
“Really? I’m going swimming there this week.”
“No, Alec, swimming in the quarry is illegal nowadays.”
“Oh, why?”
“In recent years, quite a lot of children had drowned there. In the end, they had to stop people from swimming in there.”
His mother looked at him intensely. She knew her son well, and his curiousity in the quarry lake was something to worry about. She also knew her son to be obedient.
“Promise me that you will not swim in there.”
“Okay, mother.” Alec agreed reluctantly, after a long pause. And the issue was settled.
The next week, Alec came home abruptly after jogging. As he entered the house, he did not bother to greet his mother when he came in. He merely walked past her and headed straight for his room. Shortly after, he came out, with his swimming gear in his hands.
“Where are you going?” His mother was puzzled.
“Swimming,” his reply was curt.
“Where are you swimming?” She persisted, concerned about her son’s strange behaviour. She came into his path as he headed towards the door.
“At the quarry.” His tone was impatient.
Alec’s mother looked at her son intently. Somehow she could not bring herself to believe that Alec was defying her so openly. Alec was acting strange.
“Alec, hold on. Before you go, I want you to drink something.” She took his hand tightly, leading him to the sofa. “Please.”
He resisted at first, his eyes staring deadly into the space. After much coaxing, he sat down on the sofa. His mother, knowing that something was seriously wrong, went quickly to the altar, and lit some incense. She then took a small crystal cup filled with water, and walked towards Alec.
As she did, Alec flinched bak in his seat. He started to shout at his mother, nearly knocking the cup out of her hands. When some of its contents spilled onto Alec’s arm, he screamed as if burned by hot water.
This commotion soon drew the attention of his two brothers who were in their rooms. They were surprised to see their usually gentle and quiet brother raving like a madman. When Alec tried to hit his mother, they had to restrain him physically.
Alec’s mother looked shocked from her son’s violence. However, with the help of their brothers, they managed to force the blessed water through Alec’s lips.
Immediately after drinking the blessed water, he passed out.
“Mom? What time is it now?” Alec opened his eyes groggily.
“Shh… It’s alright now. I’ve called your office to tell them that you were sick.”
“What… What happened?” Alec seemed to have difficulty remembering.
“You were possessed last night, and you wanted to swim in the Little Guilin.”
“I did? Then what happened?”
“We stopped you.”
“How?”
“I gave you some blessed water.”
“How are you?” His brother had just came in, a newspaper in his hand.
“I’m fine, a little headache, that’s all.” Alec got up from his bed, and rubbed his head. He had absolutely no recollection of what had happened.
“You are very lucky. Someone drowned in the quarry last night.” His brother said solemnly as he showed Alec the newspaper article.