The Ritual

The river ran backwards on the day the Queen vanished. From morning until night. Nobody in our little village understood why. Frankly, nobody understood how a Queen could vanish. As in, disappear into thin air... She had many public appearances before her disappearance and was expected to have many more, especially with so many sporting events coming to the country.

People had so many questions: Is she dead? Was she sick? Is she kidnapped? Did she run away? Was the pressure too much for her to handle? However, it was reported that no notes were found and all her personal belongings was where she usually kept them. It was a known fact that she would never be seen without her wristwatch. But it was found on her dresser.

Being twenty years her senior, I remember her inheriting the throne. It was a bitter sweet occassion. She was only 28. A decade later, she was still unmarried and childless. She had a romance with a civilian fellow but had to break it off when she assumed her position of Queen.

The news channels were not reporting this phenomenon. This is the village where the Queen was born. There are so many unanswered questions: Could it be connected? Could the river running backward on the day she vanished be a sign? Is she trying to call for help? Is there a message there? Is she trying to tell us something? Is something trying to tell us something?

This river always had a mythical aspect attached to it. There were oral stories of sick people getting healed in it. There were stories of sightings of creatures that looked like scary giant half human eels. There was one man who had to sacrifice his first-born child because he did not want to live in poverty any more. Their generation is still living in the village and they own most of the businesses but they never smile or laugh or exhibit any form of joy. Every singly member of this family is forever solemn. It is rumored that it was an outcome of the agreement that man made with the river.

What if the Queen also made an agreement with the river and went back on her word... What if the river is unhappy with her and that's why it is running backward...

The Queens brother died when she was 22. He was 25. He was hit by a stray bullet. He was next in line to the throne. She was at University when the news broke. Her Sisterhood attended the funeral in hooded black robes. Nobody really knew what the Society stood for or believed in but it was certainly known to be associated with darkness. She was the head of the group, which consisted of twelve other women. These women were incredibly submissive to her. They all had a vial of liquid they poured on the earth as they departed the funeral.

The poor Queen had so much heartbreak in her young life. Her romance went south, her brother passed away, then four years later her mother died of cancer. She was in remission but unfortunately didn't make it. She struggled for six years fighting the disease. Finally the King died of heartache over losing his Queen. And now we are here, at this point. That is why is was a bitter sweet occasion when she assumed her position.

Things always look royal and posh from the outside looking in. But you never know what offering people have relinquished to aquire their status.

The river resumed it's natural flow the next day but, on the day of the Queen's disappearance for the past three years, the river would flow backwards. Tomorrow makes four years. Was three a special number?