Novels2Search

Chapter 40

Behind them, the flames brutally consumed the whole mansion in a sea of fire. “You bastard!" Luke yelled at the sight of Arioch laughing out loud. What should they do? Shattered bodies run out of breath. Though they have reduced the enemies to half, they are still outnumbered. What could they do? Cecil gently held Luke’s hand, the other one holding Reid. It’s alright, she said, with an assuring smile. That’s right, as long as Theodore and the rest are safe… Weapons in their hands, they are ready to strike one last time.

"Stop!" A voice echoed behind them. The familiar, gentle voice they have heard countless times, “Take me and leave them alone.” In those hands lies a knife. “If you break the agreement, I will commit suicide, and you will never be able to know the secrets." sternly he demands. The moment they were under attack, the moment he met Arioch, he realized the answer to all the mysteries, to all the doubts he had had since the beginning. The truth was always there, it just… he was too cowardly to face it. Because of that man…Alderic. This war... all of this is pointless. From the ashes came the figure of him. Determinedly, his steps are the navy eyes calmly, just like the ocean before the storm. “No, Theodore!”, Cecil yelled, but none of that was able to touch him. "Please." He had enough… Enough of this…

Arioch let out a satisfied smile. “My apologies, but the King has ordered me to kill.”

With a hit in the back of Theodore’s neck, the Doctor now falls into unconsciousness. Arioch lets out a hysterical laugh, knowing he got what he wanted in the end. Mission completed. Putting the victim on the remaining space on the saddle, Arioch rides his black horse to leave the battlefront, namely - the mansion, for the place where only God could save. The fallen Capital.

“Theodore!”, they screamed, helplessly watching the one they tried to protect be captured. The remains, not keen on giving a chance to chase after them, immediately attacked the trio, eager to take their lives. The exhausting and hopeless battle goes on. Their weapons were dripping blood, their steps moving on their own. Killing and killing are all that’s left in mind. Until they heard a call for help from the burning mansion. A young boy's voice... “Leave that to me," she shouted. Quickly, she runs into the burning flame. Ignore the yelling of the man behind her.

Crossing the burned gate is the signature sight of Hell. The hallways... The staircases… To the rooms, she worked in countless times. They all bathed in the inferno. Yet most of them have burned to dust, collapsed under such heat. Until she reached the source. The bitter smoke lingered in her nose, draining away all the air left. If they can’t escape, it is just a matter of time before they are buried in the flame ocean. How in the world could a boy survive in this place till now? She is unable to answer this enormous question. Surprisingly, when Cecil got to the source, a boy was exceedingly clever at using the bathtub filled with water to protect himself. “Come, it’s time to get out of here!” Holding his trembling hand, they run for their lives. The floors and ceilings were falling apart under the extreme heat, breaking under their steps. Not only are the structures failing, but explosions are also coming from all directions. They blast the windows, sending countless fragments all over, eventually piercing through Cecil’s face. It is surely painful, yet nothing matters. The only mission now is to escape

Finally, the way out is within their sight. Just a few steps away, they will escape here... a few steps away from him. Her feet, and her body was aching from pain, yet her strong will still tenaciously controlled the shattered body to move on its own. Almost there... Crack… From nowhere, the bookshelf fell on the boy, stoning his little body. Holding his hands, she used all her might to pull him out. In the end, her strength is nothing compared to the heavy bookshelf. The boy burst into tears at her helplessness. No, she couldn’t give up on him. When things couldn’t be worse, the floor under him breaks into pieces, revealing a burning fire hole underneath. Screaming in fear, he tried to hold on to Cecil. The energy she has left is not enough to drag him up. “Don’t let go," she screamed. The terrifying heat just consumed it all, swallowing everything. The mansion can’t stand any longer, falling apart. The floor under her starts to crumble. In just a few minutes, both of them will be fed into those flames. No… Not like this... The smoke, the tears blur her vision…

Just before they are falling down, a powerful force pushes her and the boy up from the broken floor. Holding both of them is none other than the strong arms of Luke, he runs.

With all his might

With piercing speed, he goes

Through the flames to save her in her hour of need. The outside is near, she can feel it. Just a little bit longer, and they can be united. But then a huge blowing sound tore the air. An inhuman force pushed her and the boy to the firm ground. All of a sudden she couldn’t hear anything…

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Then, in the end,

What’s left?

There he was. In the embrace of the furious flame, lay the man she loved the most.

Submerged in the sea of flame

Skin and flesh, incinerated

The image of Cecil

The first memory he cherished

The final one he saw

He did not feel pain. Instead is emptiness devouring the remnants

What if one day, I can’t be with you? He once asked her that on a warm, sunny day. Laying lazily in his arms, she smiles, her hand caressing his loving chestnut eyes, I can’t live a day without you… At last, she couldn't imagine a day, let alone a second, without him... Dazzlingly, sorrowfully, he let her go, letting the flame burn in utter pain. Even though behind him is the screaming fire, even though what awaits him at the end is loneliness, he still smiles warmly... The same smile she sees the first day they meet. Slowly, cruelly, he disappears into the flame. In agony, she screamed, lost, she cried.

To meet the people from the mansion

To meet her, the love of his life

He couldn’t ask more, yet nothing more he would ask

Cecil couldn’t remember what happened next. All that’s left in her mind is him, Luke. The rain poured down in grief, soaking the girl. The home she cherished is now nothing but ashes. No, there is still hope... He was still alive… Waiting for her. Piles of debris-covered Luke, lengthening the distance between him and Cecil.

“No matter how the wheels of fate turn. No matter what awaits us ahead on this road. There will always be an invisible connection, to our souls forever be united. This symbol here is what I have sworn to you and only you. To protect, to cherish, and to hope for a future, with you by my side.”

Those words. Haunting the fractured heart of the girl. The light of hope is already fading. For once last time, it will be reignited. The hands have endured the burning sensation, trying to find the body they love, the warmth at the very least. It keeps searching and searching endlessly. Painful waves from her burning hands. For she finally understands what Lily had felt that day. Indeed a merciless creature - Fate.

Please… Please…

There he was, the love of her life. Covers in burns and wounds, yet he still shines brighter than anything. “Luke,” she could not cry anymore. Everything that had happened till now, had already squeezed the last drops of pearls. Taking his face in her hands like she had done countless times, she begged for a miracle. Please…don’t leave me behind. The rain coldly fell with her whimpering. “Cecil”, a fragile sound, so soft, like a flickering candle in the wind. Holding his hand to her cheeks, she sobbed, “I’m here, by your side.” The chestnut eyes of him tried their best to capture her in his blurred vision. He wants to wipe away those tears, to hold her in his arms…yet no matter what he tries… he can never do those simple things again. He wants to call her name, to say so many things… but words can’t get out of his burning throat. At this very moment, he feels no pain or fear. Only the warmth of her love remains. Ethereally, he can see images of them walking under the sun. Hands in hand, a lovely child she holds. A tear rolled down his cheek.

Summoning the strength left, he smiled. For the first and last time, he said, “I love you.” The hand on her cheeks loosens.

Farewell, my rose…

“No, please...,” holding him in her arms, she cries,” Please… Please don’t leave me.” No matter how much she cried, no matter how long she prayed, those chestnut eyes would never look at her lovingly again. Trying to hold on to the last bit of his warmth, she cries her heart out. I love you... I love you so much. But he couldn’t hear her again. Gently, he left this world peacefully in her embrace. Running out of tears, what’s left is her soft sobbing. “You have promised me... to forever be by my side."

…There will always be an invisible connection, to our souls forever be united…

I love you... Even Death can’t separate us…

Opening her sorrowful eyes, she sees the sight of Reid holding Lily in loneliness. Rain pouring down, faded his figure. There were no tears... Or could be he couldn’t shed another drop. Quietly, he kisses her forehead and parts her away. Just within a day, she has lost three people she cherished the most…What’s more, could this world take her?

The rain fell like tears, saying the final farewell.