“We found one of the boys!" "Who is the soldier?" "Chris Chen!” The Colonel jumped with joy and hugged me. The gesture touched a sore spot on my back, but I resisted showing my discomfort. “Anthony! It works!” “He’s doing the right thing!” Colonel continued as he looked at ASP Wong. “I did the right thing?” “You showed us the direction. You brought back that clue from the other dimension?” “Colonel. I indicated the area before I passed out?” “You don’t remember? ” The Colonel drew closer. My brain was void of memory before I passed out in the other dimension. The trauma from the encounter had damaged my sensory abilities. My internal defense mechanism may have buffered the shock but it will take time for a full recovery. I am still trying to remember her facial features. “Don’t worry Anthony. Tell us more when you’re ready.” The Colonel assured. “I hope that moment is sooner rathe

I met ASP Wong at the Singapore General Hospital, my tools of the trade with me. The block was just a stone’s throw from where I was hospitalized.  I found the block easily. I realized security was tight. I noticed the policemen at the lobby and on the eighth floor where his room was.  What are they guarding him from? The parents had just left, and I entered the room with ASP Wong and one policeman. Chris Chen was awake but was staring into space. From his awkward moves, I could tell something was amiss. I walked up to him and found his lips grey with his eyes devoid of life. I deduced that his life force had been damaged, a sign I always detected in victims who had encounters with spirits. ASP was right. He did not look normal. Afflicted should be the word, but he should recover fast. “Hi, Chris.” The boy did not respond to my greeting.  Instead, his eyes rolled over the room like he was looking for som

After the terrible loss of my parents, I was brought back home from Japan by my paternal grandfather and raised by a host of uncles and aunties – all siblings of my parents. Uncle Fred was my paternal relative, younger brother of my father. Near seventy, he still ran his mileage on his bike and maintained a deep interest in all things geomancy and artifacts. Though he had two girls of his own and I was the additional responsibility, he treated me like his son. In the early years, he would allow me to sleep with him and my aunt. He would take me to see my favorite movies and act as a parent on the school’s Meet-the-Parents day.          He may not have been the sun that I needed from my parents, but he provided an umbrella and raincoat on my rainy days during my growing years. He always remarked that I took after my mother – not just in my innate intelligence and mannerisms, but with the deep affinity I had with the supernatural

Chapter 7 After parting ways with Uncle Fred, I headed back to the office. As I drove, I was hit by a dose of sentimentalism. I thought about the childhood I spent with Uncle Fred. The days when he brought me on treks through the Central Catchment Area - MacRitchie Reservoir and Pulau Ubin. The photographs of our outings donned the walls of our homes.  Not to mention those secret beer outings where he taught me about the courtship of girls. I always wonder what would I be without his guidance and protection. I am an oddball, an unusual child with that glimpses of my gifts in my early years. My utterings of unusual sightings would freak a relative out. I may have ended up in an orphanage but did not. I felt, deep in my heart,  his love and care contributed to my growth. I nurtured my powers into a potent, and positive, force thanks to him. I was hauled from nostalgia when the handphone buzzed. It was the Colonel, who briefed me on th

“Your father’s generosity will always be well remembered by Singapore.” “You know, when I was a child, we spent a lot of time playing in those fields. There was something different about those forests. There were a lot of streams and plenty of animals. Unlike other forests in Singapore, you can actually see a lot of flowers.”     “I love flowers. My mother loves them.” I said. “People who love flowers are lovers of the finer things of life. They are lovers of life. Does your mother grow many flowers?” I nodded.  “I am sure she would if she were alive.” Dorothy Kwek was disconcerted. “Boy, I am truly sorry.” “Don’t be. It has been a long time. Anyway, it was a pleasure to hear you spent your childhood there.” She stared into space and reminisced, “I truly miss those forests.” “I can feel it. The trees and biodiversity.” Dorothy Kwek nodded. “It is a changed place now.” “Changed