Part 1The Sacred Book That Turned Them All Against Me

My mother gave birth to four children. I have three older sisters; I was the youngest, her only son. Everyone in the family treated me like a treasure, except for Mom. She doted on my sisters, but for me, I was treated like an enemy from childhood, singled out, even beaten with a riding crop.

I questioned my lineage, secretly taking a lock of Mom's hair for a paternity test. The results, however, clearly stated that I was her biological son.

Mom was deeply religious, always carrying a spiritual book with her. Strangely, whenever she beat me, if anyone tried to intervene, she would open that book and show them its contents. The book seemed to possess a sinister magic; whoever read it would instantly understand Mom, urging her to beat me mercilessly, encouraging her to kill me. First it was my loving Grandma, then my three sisters, and eventually, even Dad, who cherished me most, stopped protecting me.

I couldn’t bear it anymore. One night, I secretly read Mom's book. My eyes fixated on the words, tears silently streaming down my face. In that moment, I finally understood them.

It turned out, I truly didn't deserve to live…

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

Just for eating one extra bite of food, Mom made me kneel by the door, the leather belt whipping my back, again and again. My back was already a crisscross of old scars, and with each new lash, the wounds tore open afresh.

Grandma, who adored me most, tightly embraced Mom. "Eva, what's gotten into you?" she cried. "The boy just ate an extra bite. Is this really necessary?"

"Mom, get out of the way! I have to beat him thoroughly today!" Mom gasped, out of breath.

Grandma stood firm in front of me, her face resolute. "What kind of mother are you? Rowan is your own son!" she declared. "If you insist on hurting my grandson today, then you'll have to beat me too!"

Grandma’s defiance seemed to bring Mom back to her senses slightly. Mom pulled out the well-worn book she always carried, gasping for air. "Mom, since you insist, I'll tell you the secret I've kept all these years." With that, Mom beckoned Grandma to look at the book's contents.

Grandma’s body suddenly stiffened, a tremor running through her. When her eyes fell upon me again, her gaze had turned cold and ruthless. She even snatched the leather belt from Mom’s hand, lashing me violently a few times. Grandma’s blows were powerful, and I gasped in sharp pain. I looked at her, utterly bewildered, unable to fathom why Grandma, who had always favored me, had undergone such a drastic change of heart.

"Eva, hit him hard! It'd be best if you killed him today!" Grandma spat, handing the belt back to Mom, then trudged into the room, breathing heavily. My three sisters watched me with anguish, but Grandma blocked them, trapping them inside the room.

"Did you hear that?" Mom sneered. "Your grandmother herself wants me to kill you. Now, kneel properly!" After a harsh rebuke, Mom took a deep breath, and once again, the leather belt descended upon my back, blow after agonizing blow. The riding crop was made of thick leather; every strike opened a new crimson line on my skin. Blood streamed down my back. After years of relentless abuse, my body was already at its breaking point.

Finally, just like always, I passed out from the pain. Mom looked at my unconscious form, not with a flicker of tenderness, but with a wicked smile.

"Your existence is a mistake," she whispered. "As long as you live, you must endure this baptism!"