Novels2Search

Chapter 38

Outside, the rain falls lightly, pouring down on the old mansion. The rain falls on the glass window, creating a soothing sound, a lullaby. Rain lights rest on Lily’s long hair, embracing her short sleep. The fresh scent of the rain fills the room. Her hand held the boy’s pale hand so tight that she was scared he would disappear the moment she woke up. Now that he has passed through the dangerous period, the boy she shielded slept peacefully. The shadow of the raindrops lies on his skin. Cracking the door open, Sheritre peaked in. She sighed in relief as she saw the two were still safe and sound. "Lily," she said, patting Lily’s shoulder. From her narrow nap, the sleepy eyes wake up, and the long hair falls. “Sheritre?" she whispers, trying not to wake the boy beside her. Realizing she has fallen asleep, her face is blushing from embarrassment. The work lately has just piled up, leaving her no room to catch her breath. And she has to be here in case Reid needs her. “Get some rest, Lily. Leave him to me.” Sheritre gives an assuring smile just to get back a light head shake from Lily. Knowing her will, Sheritre has no choice but to compromise.

Then, something else caught Sheritre’s attention. From the hanging coat near his bed, in a pocket is a piece of jewelry glistering as if it were crystal. Slowly approaching the source of light, Sheritre found herself handling a silver necklace with a Hyacinth symbol. Yet there is something strange about the necklace that has left Sheritre uneasy. Oddly familiar... “Half of the symbol is missing,” the girl says, examining the decorated piece diligently. Still…, the rough texture of stone. She realizes something, the one that she wears all the time indeed has identical patterns, and how she can never complete its shape. Sheritre raises her hand, revealing a silver ring with a stone decoration on top. Curiosity set in, encouraging her to take out the ring. With the newfound necklace and the silver ring, she had thought of putting it back together. What would happen if she merged the two? The question weighed down on her head. It took a while for Sheritre to muster the courage to drag her hands, completing the two. Together, they formed the full-flower hyacinth, as if the two were destined to be. Before the seer could even respond, light bloomed before her, with numerous colors starting to envelop her.

Submerged in the realm of the unknown, the girl opens her eyes for what feels like ages, witnessing multiple scenes. Despite the amount that has somehow overwhelmed her mind, she could see a couple of images from her past, and recent memories, though, the mysterious power from the stone has something in store for her. Instead, a force is pushing her forward, through space and time, with enormous speed. How disturbing the journey was. Thankfully, her feet once again reached solid ground…. Deep down, something felt wrong. Beholding Sheritre’s eyes are still the same room, but now painted with the deadly color of fire. Reid is no longer on the patient's bed, but it is completely turned into ashes. Surrounding her is Hellfire, devouring every last bit of the room. Not only is her vision the one witnessing all of this, but also her skin, burning up from the intense heat. Cracks and pieces collapsing are the last things she hears before everything becomes sensory overload. At this very moment, Sheritre felt she could not withstand it any longer if she continued to stand on the burning floor, yet she tried to look for more. Across the room are incinerated corpses that are unable to recognize. It is too disturbing. The Pandora's box has opened, and nothing good will come out of it. But will she let the last object escape? Hope? Is this gift the higher being has endowed actually a curse? A punishment from God? Surrendering or resisting is her option. And it’s time to choose.

At the moment when all hopes are lost, she will forever endure the endless cycle of hell's blaze. A hand jolts her awake, “Sheritre, are you alright!” Lily concernedly asks as she sees the girl fall to the ground, gasping for air. Sweats soaking her braised hair. Her silver eyes are wide open in terror. Is that... the future? Though the illusion has disappeared, the burning smell still lingers in her nose and the deaths ironically tell her this is not a dream. A wave of headache comes, suffering her mind with utter pain. Lily quickly stood up, wanting to give her some medicine, but stopped with the light grip. Holding her head, Sheritre struggles, “There wa- a fire, you ha-ve to be care-ful.” A fire? “Stay where you are, I will bring you something." Lily stormed out of the room quickly.

Amber, reaching the main hall, frantically ran to her for help. Fears painted on her face, blood splashed from her face down to her white apron, “Lily, the-they killed William, the-they are coming.” Lily falls in astonishment. Are we under attack? From the windows, she could see a glimpse of soldiers on their horses coming to this mansion. With swords and guns, they will eradicate this place. “What should we do, Lil?" Amber sobbed in tears. There is only one way. “Amber, I need you to be brave and protect everyone for me." Her hand held the trembling shoulder, “Can I count on you?” The little face is soaked in tears, yet the moment Lily’s brave eyes set on her, she knew she had to do something... Despite the warmth of her friend’s blood still warm on her cheek. She can tell Lily is afraid just the same from her shaking hands, yet the love and the urge to protect everyone have overcome that mundane fear. Nodding, Amber stop the tears. “Then I need you to tell Cecil and Luke the situation.", “Told them to hide Theodore, he must not know about this.” Amber quickly ran away as told, leaving behind Lily, alone in the hall.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Spending a few years in the military has taught her some lessons, and one of them is calmness. Ringing the emergency bell at the nurse’s room, and soon lines of nurses stood before her, confusion painted on their faces. She doesn’t want all of this to happen, but time is running out. “We are under attack from an unknown enemy." The moment she stops, the nurse shuffles in fear. Some fall to the ground in tears, and some fall in confusion. “I love this place, and I love every one of you. For that love, I won’t stay still and watch them destroy this home of mine. Those who love this home just like I did, I call for your bravery to be on my side and, together, protect our home!” She yelled. For a second, even the tiniest shred of fear fades away without a trace. Just like her, they called for a battle cry. Freedom…Peace…No, they don’t understand those ideals. At this very moment, they have only one thing to protect… Their home.

Soon, armed with knives and swords, they prepared for combat. Lined up before the mansion’s gate, were nurses and wounded soldiers. The cold breeze of the rain brings along the breath of death, blowing their hair. Standing in the leading position, lies the figure of a girl. Her long hair danced in the wind. She is the general, leading her army. Before her, are the lines of black soldiers and horses, the horsemen of the apocalypse. Before them, she was nothing but fragile dust, easily looked down on. She might be weak, but that same weakness has caused her to lose her dearest sister. But that mistake won’t happen twice. This time… she will protect them all, even if she has to sacrifice. This time she sang a lullaby, kissed her innocent self to sleep. This is the real Lily, an emotionless killing machine. Her sharp knife pointed at the enemy fiercely, targeting death. “Charge,” Lily shouts in complete determination. All at once, the soldiers and nurses ignite their bullets. Rains of bullets falling down, sing the sound of the battlefield. One after one, Death hungrily takes away their enemies' lives, cruelly taking some of their allies along the way. The mansion’s gate was painted in the crimson red of blood.

Using her speed, her knife sliced through the lines of enemies, opening a blood path. In contrast to her excellent fragility, blocking attacks has been one of Lily’s major drawbacks. And this time, an enemy blew a deadly punch at her while she was busy killing as many as possible. An attack that had sent her to stumble all the way back, hitting the nearby wall. Lily seems fallen… but not today. The once-thought-weak body, built tougher than they could imagine. With an undefeatable mind, Lily slowly got up, standing tall and proud. Regardless of a trail of crimson painted from her scratched lips, a devilish grin was drawn on her tainted face. The crimson blood rouged her lips, a dazzling shade. Hell's flame burns through all. Hands, aching to slice enemies’ throats. Muscles, desiring to move. Killing, killing them all with these hands.

If killing is a sin, then it will be her pleasure to drag them all down to the judgment of Hell with her.

Cutting deep into the enemies, bullets shattered her body. The rain poured down, torturing every wound in utter pain. But none of that matters. The pain only enhances her more. The knife isn't fast enough to catch her speed as the blade dents under her attacks. She grabbed a gun to the ground and attacked with full power. With a knife in one hand and a gun in the other, she is The Death. Never had they expected an unknown nurse would be able to give such an astonishing performance. Her hands, her dress were drenched in enemies’ blood.

Another soul arrived from the edge of the forest, elegantly stepping down from the horse decorated with gold. Lightly lowering his glasses, an amusing voice echoed. “Oh? What do we have here.”, “A princess trying to play the hero?” Lily was surprised to see those emerald eyes looking down at her. She laughs ironically, realizing all the mystery, all the things happening. So that’s the truth, they were playing along all along. In his black fur cape, a deadly feeling embraced him. Indeed, he is dangerous, dominant, and cold-hearted, but she won’t back down.

“You want to cross this gate?" The gun was pointed at Arioch. “Step over my dead body.”

The man replies with a satisfied smile, two guns pointing at each other. The wind and the dreary rain sing a song of triumph. The gun screams in agony, tearing the air. A hot splash of blood splattered, sousing the white daisy embracing a brilliant red… All of a sudden, she couldn’t hear anything. The sight of the man was blurry in the wind. All she could see left was his victorious smile. The iron scent fills her mouth, fills her eyes, and fills her silent heart. Turning around to his room, where she could dimly see his ethereal figure, crying. He is screaming something, despite Luke holding him back. Then she sees Cecil, her dear friend, her little sister. The blood fell like a fountain, draining from the painful wound, with all the most honest feelings. Lily let out the most beautiful smile, a gift to the two she loved the most. Please... Live, she whispers to them. Behind her, there were not even living souls, they were all gone, to the embrace of God, to rest for eternity.

Leaning on the iron gate till her very last moment. Smiling tenderly one last time, she falls to the cold ground. The warmth slowly left her body. All she could see was the tall sky and the peaceful clouds, despite the cold rain piercing her soul. For a glance, she sees Eva, smiling, waiting for her. Taking her hand, the last teardrop was finally shed from her eyes.

Eva… I’m home…