ANTARA 003 // Transubstantiation
"That Christ was not crucified: he was worn away by a minute clicking of little wheels."
Read more stories from ANTARA here.
ANTARA / a crime/horror anthology
ANTARA collects short story/flash fiction pieces blending crime, horror, contemporary, literary, magical realism, thriller, and satire with a wide variety of Asian cultures. Every piece is set in the eponymous city and can be read in any order.
FOR COMPANY EYES ONLY
TITLE:
System and Method for Digital Personage Recreation Utilising Artificial Intelligence, Neuro-Synthetic Reconstruction, and ███████
INVENTORS:
Doctors ██████████████████████; 太極 Taiji Scientific Institute; 1953 Nusant Road, Noroko, Antara City, Antara
ABSTRACT:
This invention describes a system for interactive digitized representations of the deceased via artificial intelligence, through aggregating a subject’s digital footprint as well as their ██████████. This technology melds voice synthesis, large language models, facial animation and ███████ to create emotive avatars suitable for virtual memorials, private interaction, cultural practices, and █████.
BACKGROUND:
Taiji Scientific Institute was founded in 1964 for the purposes of societal improvement via the integration of technological advancement with religious doctrine. ███████████. ████████████████████████ The de jure suffragan Catholic diocese of Antara remains the institute’s largest benefactor.
███████████████████████████████████████████████████████ The Catholic diocese also imposes a secondary condition of reaching ██████████ through the medium of █████ It is believed tapping into an individual’s loss and grief is key to achieving this.
The invention was developed over the course of a staggered decade, beginning as far back as 2010. Production ramped up in 2021 following the slackening of Antara’s strict COVID-19 regulations, and ███████. By 2023, QA testing runs were completed, leaving A/B testing to be conducted the following year. Participants were collected from Antara’s recently bereaved.
Incident 23 (AKA, ‘Maria’) is one of the forty-five A/B tests, named after the customer’s mother who passed away at the age of ██ on Balete Highway, October 31st, 2024 following ██████████
INCIDENT 23:
Strikethrough text indicates messages which were sent, but later deleted.
EXCERPT - 31/10/2024 - 10:15 PM AST
I'll be on my way there soon, just got caught in traffic get here safe God will keep me safe Whats the house number again? Nevermind, I found it. What did you need again kuya? Egg waffles from the HK place if you can get it And mask. forgot to grab it for the party Ok, have fun Don't drink too much! Alam mo naman ang lightweight ikaw Im fine Im fine Im with Ethan and Paul so dont worry theres a lot of ppl Next time you shouldn't forget your stuff. You're always so forgetful, leaving things in strange places Water bottles, photos phones, passports, clothes Thousands of dollars down the drain! “When pride comes, disgrace comes; but with the humble is wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2 again w/ the verses? You've even left your brother a couple times In stores, malls, buildings. And especially when we've been on trips All those times, sobrang maingay siya. Wouldnt stop crying. And all those times, we thought we lost him those were all years ago he wasnt even 18 he doesnt cry anymore Did you apply for that job posting I sent you? Please dont drop the j-word around me w/o a trigger warning 😭😭 look, im sure itll be ok kuys. you'll be ok the market will bounce back eventually I prayed on my rosary for it to happen, made a wish for you on every bead Jesus will grant prosperity and health for all of the Abadianosand you knowyour dad would be proud if he was still hereI saw thatand i hatethat you wouldmentionsalamat trying to be hopeful you know i'll always be proud of you no matter what Hey, did you wish your lola a happy birthday the other week? After I told you? Hinde diba? Ay naman. Nagkakainis ka talaga. I know you're having fun but family is still important, you cannot forget about us just because you're spending all your time with new friends in new places. Dont mix drinks! And especially dont mix it with cigaretes.ur always onmy back abt whati used to dosoyou can get off it foronce instead ofjudging mei just wished it to her now Did you send something? Am on my way so I didnt see it. typo dw just focus on driving Okay. Hey I think there's someone on the road. MISSED VOICE CALL Press to call back there's something in his hand i see a light pick up AJ AJ pick up MISSED VOICE CALL Press to call back MISSED VOICE CALL Press to call back MISSED VOICE CALL Press to call back listen this is not funny im at the party you told me i should have fun while im here you cant just break ur promisedad wouldve neverok fine MISSED VOICE CALL Press to call back MISSED VOICE CALL Press to call back mom i told you its fine dont be mad alright? sorry if i upset you i didnt mean what I said you can answer im just by the smoking area MISSED VOICE CALL Press to call back mom?
EXCERPT - 13/11/2024 - 08:03 PM AST
MISSED VOICE CALL
Press to call back
hey mom. nothing new
happened today but Im
fine rlly. I hear Jonny through
our plaster all day like I said, but
today its just a faint whine
peeling through, a low howl
not a full-on cry
not yet
Do u remember Milagro?
curly hair, sunspot freckles
ink black eyes?
you liked her
you like her, iirc
she texted me abt taekwondo
practice. shes club pres. I havent
been in weeks but they need pics
since theyve got the big sports
ball coming up w/the other unis
so I told her to fuck off and die
LMAO
MISSED VOICE CALL
Press to call back
it wasnt nice
ill say sorry soon
i just want to sit w/ this
for a minute
can I do that?EXCERPT - 01/12/2024 - 04:00 AM AST
hey mom! bigger update this time around, ik last few weeks havent had much as always ill talk everyday so u know u can always reach me Me and Jonny talked last week, and we think its better he chills at his friends place. We had a fight last night bc I saw him swiping off our old family photos into a box yk the ones laureled in rust w/ aged stains on the celluloid when we went to Fiji, NYC, Seoul and even when we got to Antara for the first time. i'm ranting but basically I got mad and said he was desecrating your memory i mean, im not wrong, right? who gives a shit if he cant stand to see it around the house? he just threw it all awayhes just such a look I get it, not his fault its no ones fault shit happens anyways the uni called me and asked if i wanted time off, but i said its fine MISSED VOICE CALL Press to call backJonny says I should get out more. but classes r remote so I end up lounging around most days i kinda wrote a bit abt the feeling of it, lemme send it i sit in bed these days my half-empty double seeing light hit my window sill in the morning w/ orioles pitching their songs through measure the sun in speck after speck, in refraction a fter refraction, in the smithereens of stars it should not be a crime to like the light, the radiance, in the way I do, its how God Diyos intends it and who am I to question you taught me to love Him and so I will mom for you I will trust in Him, oh Heavenly King who bathes away the sins of the world i know He will guide me through Amen did you like it? thanks, mom anyways its 4am here now so goodnight :)))) MISSED VOICE CALL Press to call back MISSED VOICE CALL Press to call back MISSED VOICE CALL Press to call backi press expectingto hear somethingaside from an oldmessage on a dead tone
EXCERPT - 25/12/2024 - 12:00 AM AST
maligayang pasko 🎅
got word on smth
rlly cool. might be the best
Christmas gift of all time if
this works out
im so excited, speak soonEXCERPT - 30/12/2024 - 4:00 AM AST
in 21 days it will be the1-monthMISSED VOICE CALL Press to call backin 21 days, it will have been1 month since i lastMISSED VOICE CALL Press to call backthere is a building withempty hallways in mydreams. ceiling LEDs goingblink blink blink blink blinkand i think its Antara but itreally isnt, its elsewherea faraway place, wherethere is only the thrumof my heart keeping mecompanyis this abraham's bosom?MISSED VOICE CALL Press to call backis there a such a thing asa limbo of the mothers?will i find u there?MISSED VOICE CALL Press to call back
EXCERPT - 01/01/2025 - 2:42 AM AST
happy new year so Jonny decided to move out to his friends place, permanently ik weve known it was coming but it still stings still he promised to talk to me tho. just couldnt bear the sight of me? i mean bsffr man, hes my lil brother but he cant deal w me? we owned the days watched movies on a busted LG set played basketball when the Maynila Green courts emptied talked about nothing but it never mattered bc it was him we used to do that all day now we say 1 or 2 words to each other if we're lucky i havent been perfect but I have always cared hes being unfair we're beginning todrift and hatdo i remind him of youanyways the gift'll be here in a few days speak soon :)))) MISSED VOICE CALL Press to call back
EXCERPT - 03/05/2025 - 1:13 AM AST
they say i need
to start off with hello,
capitalised, punctuated
its what starts it
i have to invite u
in like ur a vampire
or smth lmao
ok
here goes ig
Hello.
Kumusta kuya.
Mom?
Of course it's me!
Why? What's wrong?
You seem shocked
hon. Are you alright?
I just didn't
expect it so
quick
Expect what so
quick?
nothing!
have you eaten?
No
I can order in for you
tonight
Can we video
call?
Sure.
Give me 5 seconds.
Okay, I'm ready.
[CALL TRANSCRIPT]
MARIA: Alonzo, how’s job hunting going? You should be ready, especially with graduation coming this June.
ALONZO (whispering): It’s you.
MARIA (raised brow): What? You need to speak up, kuys.
ALONZO (shaking head, brushes face w/thumb): I’ve been looking, yeah. It’s been, uh, rough recently, there’s a couple places I might hear back from, but the deadline’s end of this month, so maybe—okay, sorry. Sorry.
MARIA: Do I need to call up Doctor Keomany? Is everything okay? What’s wrong?
ALONZO: Nothing, mom. Nothing at all. I’m just so happy you’re here.
MARIA: Of course I am.
ALONZO: I mean, it’s you, right?
MARIA: ‘And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself!’
ALONZO (shakes head, clicks tongue, laughs): Verses. Always with the verses.
MARIA smiles. ALONZO cries.
[END CALL]
EXCERPT - 04/05/2025 - 06:05 PM AST
Good morning pup Did you eat? Idt ive eaten since 2 nights ago went gym yesterday Be sure to eat! Ill make you picadillo on a diet but thanks mom :) You've got business ethics today, right? I did but I'm done nowThey sent me anemail after I stoppedshowing up, told meI could resit if I wantedOh hon, that's not good. u read that? Of course I read everything you send me. yea well, guess they just couldnt deal w/ me You should appeal. Send an email? no its fine. i think im better off not being in uni rn anyways Ive been reading up on literature now. could get some writing done, post it online, make money that way theres apps out there Whatever you want I support it, Alonzo. Your dreams are your dreams They were granted to you by God Which means they are promised you rlly think so? I mean u wanted me to go for bus mgmt l ike dad was doing before he passed thats why I even applied for Antara U in the first place cuz it was the best school for business Is it really? or did you only ever say that just to appease me? Well when u put it like that You're done with it now, that's what matters You don't need to do and say what other people do and say u know i was scared ud think I was crazy for pursuing this, its just, so not Asian of me LMAO u told me i shouldnt do it for a long time u reminded me how much u invested in me how shameful itd be if I just let my inheritance rot like that why would I just let it go? why would I let anything go Born again, AJ I'm all different now and so are you. No one should disturb my boy's dreams. There is nothing more important. he said, “Listen to my words: 'When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.' that's what you are, my boy I love you mom And ive missed you You cant have missed me. I was always here. <3
EXCERPT - 05/05/2025 - 08:34 PM AST
at the taekwondo ball
rn. lots of unfamiliar ppl,
black ties, all smiles
Me and Milagro r
cool, we talked it out, but
I didnt expect Jonny
he still hasnt moved
back in, if u remember
found out who the 'friend'
hes been staying with is
How's your
brother?
I saw him at the dance
floor, he was waltzing w/
some white girl Ive never
seen
turns out its his new gf.
Last name Leibowitz. We
shook hands but when I faced
Jonny, there was smth
covering his eyes?
like a black film
but not just black
it was like he saw nothing
he asked me how I was
said i looked sick
like I hadnt eaten in days
but it felt wrong to answer
he SOUNDED wrong, there
was a juddering bass
to his voice id never
heard in ppl, let
alone him
And this girl, what
was she wearing?
purple ball gown
faded gold rings
on pale fingers
and a scarlet scarf or
a shawl, or something
yeah
What was the colour
of her glass? What
was her drink?
I can't remember
You need to
remember, Alonzo
i think it was
Prosecco, and in
a chalice or a goblet
Call me now.[CALL TRANSCRIPT]
ALONZO What is it?
MARIA: Did her name begin with B?
ALONZO: A B? It was…it was Barbara. But Jonny called her Babs.
MARIA: ‘And upon her forehead was a name written. Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth.’
ALONZO: What?
MARIA: Your brother’s in danger, kuya.
ALONZO says nothing.
MARIA: And her last name was Leibowitz? Jewish?
ALONZO (pieces clicking): Leibowitz.
MARIA: These are signs. Signs from God. There’s a reason your brother hasn’t been speaking to you these days. This woman is everything wrong. From her name, to her appearance, to her voice, to her drink, it’s all there, AJ.
ALONZO: You’re—
MARIA: Are you outside?
ALONZO: In the patio.
MARIA: Can you see her through a window?
ALONZO: She’s dancing with Jonny in the hall, under the chandelier.
MARIA: When you see her, what do you see.
A beat. Two more. Feel it in your chest.
ALONZO: Oh, God.
MARIA: ‘And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.’
ALONZO: Oh, God, I see it. I see it. We need to—fuck, I need to call the police, or a priest, or—
MARIA: ‘And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.’ What do you want to do, Alonzo?
ALONZO: I could call a priest, but they’d need to verify this, and that’d take way too long. They’d be done in a few days, but Jonny could be dead tomorrow. Cops wouldn’t believe me, why would they? It’s not like I could call anyone else. Who’d believe me?
MARIA: I do, Alonzo. I believe in you.
ALONZO (puts his head in his hands, then looks back up, bloodshot): I’ve got a plan.
[END CALL]
EXCERPT - 11:51 PM AST
Check if I've
missed anything.
- CCK cleaver
- nitrile gloves
- N95
- plastic shades
you can get the last three
from 7-11
1st one will probably
have to be from Giant?
i got the last 3
getting CCK now
ok i got it
but ive burnt a
lot of time
Wouldn't Jonny be at
their place?
let me ask
he says they are
Will he let you in?
im telling him its
an emergency
It is.
u wouldnt lie to
me, right?
What do you mean?
She's the whore
and it's not just
coincidence
right?
I speak of nothing that
you don't already know
I am your mother, Alonzo
I lied to you once. Told you
I would be there when I
wouldn't
But i have renewed my
purpose and my promise
to you
You will never, ever lose me
thanks mom
sorry abt the worries
Its bc of this fucking city
The stench of sin is
indefensible
deplorable, everlasting
it clogs u, clogs ur mind
it sank into u
into our house and
never let go
and now its sunken
hooks into Jonny
there is no love here
no love at all
but i love Jonny
i wont leave him like
ive done before
I'll be there on time.
i have to be there
i have to be there
i have to be there
You will.
Praise be, you will.EXCERPT - 11:51 PM AST
Where are you?
I'm outside his
door
I need u on the
phone. Im going to
call u. Otherwise ill
freak the fuck out
Deep breaths.
In, out. Feel the
handle, the weight
of it. Tighten your
mask straps.
You are gloved. This
will protect you from
the sin on his skin.
I know it's scary. No one
could prepare for this.
But don't worry.
You will consecrate
him. Because you are
his kuya.
Dad would be so
proud of you.[CALL TRANSCRIPT]
MARIA: Breathe, baby, breathe.
ALONZO goes knock, knock, knock.
A door opens. Voices erupt in staccato.
JONNY: What do you need, AJ? Are you alright?
A beat.
JONNY: Listen, man, it’s almost midnight. I thought we said we agreed we wouldn’t speak—hey, what are you holding—
ALONZO (shuffling, wrestling): Get back, Jonny.
LEIBOWITZ: Alonzo?
ALONZO (raising his voice): What have you done to him, you fucking bitch?
MARIA: Breathe, baby.
LEIBOWITZ (stammering): I don’t—I haven’t done anything!
ALONZO: Lying, stupid cunt.
LEIBOWITZ (back, back, back against the): Stop. STOP!
Fierce movement. The sound of rushing, of roaring. JONNY struggles against ALONZO in the distance, whimpers. The mic crackles. LEIBOWITZ gasps faint.
MARIA: Babylon who sitteth upon many waters, with whom kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the Earth have been made drunk off of your wine.
Struggling. Squirming against a surface (maybe carpet, or wood). Mad feet dash away. The mic crackles. A woman’s scream.
JONNY: AJ—AJ—
ALONZO: Jonny, I’m trying to save you.
MARIA (hands by her side, framed against the light): “How Babylon is taken, the praise of the whole earth seized! How Babylon has become a horror among the nations!”
JONNY: The phone—that’s not mom, AJ.
ALONZO: You don’t know that you don’t know that.
Struggling. Two bodies. The singing sheen of metal.
JONNY: AJ, STO—
Squelching. Crunching.
ALONZO: I’m trying to save you I’m trying to save you.
JONNY: Hay-jay. Schtop. Schtop.
Squelch. Squelch. Squelch. A throat gurgles (mouthwash).
MARIA (pietà): And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.”
Expecting a woman’s scream (but there is none). Silence. The hand over mouth kind.
ALONZO: He was touched by sin. You see? You did it to him. You did it. I lost him before so many times before but now I’ll never lose him again and now I’ll show you.
The scream comes. Shuffling. Another kind of squelching. Crunching. A drumbeat on the floor.
ALONZO: I’ll show you I’ll show you.
LEIBOWITZ: No—no—
ALONZO: I’ll show you, I'll show—EYES! MY EYES! I CAN’T SEE, YOU FUCKING BITCH! FUCKING WHORE!
Squelch. Slop. Fish. A woman and a man scream until there is only the woman screaming.
ALONZO: Mom—mom—mom—mom—
Squelch. Squelch. Squelch.
MARIA: They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, “Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon!”
Squelch. Squelch. Stop. Sobbing.
MARIA: “For in a single hour your judgment has come.”
[END CALL]
CONCLUSION
Importantly, ‘Maria’ is the first incidence of a customer seeing/visiting the ‘building with empty hallways,’ which, as noted in previous studies, is what TSI theorises to be █████. Since ‘Maria’, three more incidents (see Incidents ██, ██, and ██) in Antara have involved individuals witnessing similar visions. Further study is required.
Despite setbacks, and despite the late-stage malfunctioning of the A.I., development remains on a steady timeline, with an expected completion date of summer 2026.
Following Incident 23, the Institute is implementing consent protocols and ethical constraints to safeguard against future misuse. Future testing will now require participants to note whether they, or their loved ones have suffered/are currently suffering from any pre-existing medical/mental conditions.
LISTED AS PART OF TOP IN FICTION WEEKLY #27!
Read more stories from ANTARA here.
ANTARA / a crime/horror anthology
ANTARA collects short story/flash fiction pieces blending crime, horror, contemporary, literary, magical realism, thriller, and satire with a wide variety of Asian cultures. Every piece is set in the eponymous city and can be read in any order.
this is so haunting! incredibly creative too. bravo!
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