CHAPTER 55: FRAMED.

Arya

I tighten my grip on his wrist, whispering a silent prayer to whatever god would listen.

In my mind, I keep whispering ’Xian Xi, don’t die.’

Gloomy faces surround me. I must look like a love-struck woman to them - torn by the agony of losing my beloved.

Well, that is far from the case. I don’t know why I want him to live so much, and I don’t bother so search my tangled emotions for an answer.

But one thing is clear to me, it’s not love - at least not the kind they are thinking. Maybe, it’s because he is the first friend I’ve had. Maybe... because he shares a similar background with me.

We have a lot in common, even if he won’t admit it.

I return my mind to the present.

His lashes begin to flutter.

I watch closely, my heart tightening in my chest.

His eyes slowly open to reveal blue depths.

For a full minute, he stares at the ceiling. Then, he blinks and turns his head.

His gaze rests on mine. His eyes look a bit confused, but the confusion fades quickly.

He glances down at my hand on his wrist and I remove my hand awkwardly.

I inch back to give him some space, while avoiding his gaze.

"I heard your voice". He whispers in a cracked voice.

His skin still looks very pale.

I look at him timidly. The indrawn breaths from the people around remind me that we’re not alone.

I hope he won’t mention our ugly exchange of words. The last thing I need is for everyone to know that I am the one who destroyed the Imperial army.

I hadn’t spoken with my lips, I realize. How had he heard me? Is it because of the mind-link we had somehow created?

He struggles into a sitting position. Kross and Choi rush to help him up.

His gaze scans the entire room, showing his gratitude in ways that words cannot express.

Then, he rests his gaze on me.

"Thank you". He says loud enough for everyone to hear.

I lower my head and instinctively hide my poisoned hand behind my back.

I would have to cover my hand up with gloves.

Even though the ’thank you’ is meant for everyone in the room, it still feels very special to me.

Fargo slaps his back in a friendly gesture.

"Welcome back to the living, you bottle snatcher. I’m going to drink to your survival!" He says and rises up from where he had been seated.

Kross ruffles Xian Xi’s hair affectionately and earns a glare.

Everyone takes turns to talk to him and I fade into the background.

It’s time for me to leave. I’ve done my part - and I feel very satisfied.

I slip out of the room unnoticed.

I walk down the dark hallway leading to their lounge.

I had passed through a wall somewhere in this room. I hadn’t been paying attention, because I had been too busy trying to stop my forced movements.

I try walking into the wall at the back of the room. I bump my head roughly against the concrete of the wall.

That is not what I expected.

I rub my sore forehead and look around the room.

This should be the one, I’m fairly certain.

Has it been closed or was it just a manipulation by Fang?

Maybe, I’m not supposed to hesitate. A little speed might do the trick.

I put some distance between myself and the wall, in readiness to run.

I take a deep breath and count to three. I sprint toward the wall, waiting for the magic to happen.

I slam into the wall and fall flat on my back.

"Ouch". Someone says.

I only groan in pain. This must be very embarrassing, bumping into a wall like a madwoman.

Footsteps approach. I can feel the vibration seeping from the floor into my skin.

A pair of blue eyes stare down at me.

I immediately shield my black arm.

Did he follow me?

He offers me a hand. I take it with my good hand, grunting as he pulls me to a sitting position.

I rub at the stinging spot at the back of my head.

"What were you trying to do?" He asks, his eyes twinkling with mirth.

I can hear the laughter in his voice.

Even being so close to death has not changed his infuriating sense of humour.

"None of your business". I say, trying to sound levelled, but it comes out defensive and rude.

He is unfazed.

"I noticed you left".

"I had to return back to my vault."

He averts his eyes timidly and runs his hand through his hair.

His hair is pure white now, without a strand of black.

"I may have said a few things..."

I know exactly what he wants to say. Apologizing doesn’t come easy to any of us - I respect his effort.

"It’s okay. All is forgiven".

He holds out a hand to silence me.

"I crossed a line. It doesn’t mean I don’t blame you for everything that has befallen us, it just means that I judged you too harshly".

The phrase ’blame you for everything that has befallen us’ ruins his attempt at an apology.

Anger begins to stir, milking me of my ability to remain calm.

"Thank you for saving my life. I owe you mine".

I almost stop breathing. Does he know? Did they tell him? My angers fades as terror replaces it.

He smiles when he sees my confused and alarmed expression.

"I know you’re not used to such praise. But, I have to ask, how were you able to remove the poison from my body?"

I roam through my mind for a suitable answer.

"Fargo knows a lot about poisons. He was the one who performed the feat".

I realize that I not only threw him off my back, I directed him to Fargo.

He nods.

"I’ll find out from him when he’s sober. I’ll let him drink himself to stupor just this once - he deserves it."

With that, he turns and leaves. I watch him walk away, feeling empty.

I don’t know what exactly I had expected him to say, but he hadn’t said it.

But at least, he had said what mattered. His words had promised acceptance - which is all I really want.

I rise to my feet and examine the walls.

My forehead is still sore, but I’m still willing to try.

I walk to the wall surrounded by cushions.

My hand sinks through it as I touch it.

Finally!

I take a breath and walk through it.

After passing through a brief dark tunnel, I emerge at the other end - the cafeteria.

I breathe in the air. It smells different. Like blood.

I walk down the middle aisle distractedly, barely aware of my surroundings.

As I pass through the centre, drops of a thick liquid start falling on me.

I ignore it at first, but it drops again.

I stop and look upward.

The liquid feels slick between my fingers.

To my horror, I see a body hanging above me.

The slick liquid drops on my face as I look up.

Blood.

I take a step backward.

My mind is racing faster than I can breath.

The person was just killed a while ago, hence the dripping blood.

I see the blonde locks hanging from the person’s head.

The clothes... everything about the person is familiar.

Arigana?

I shake my head in disbelief.

There is only one person who would do something so vile, and wicked - Fang.

I fight the strong urge to puke. Arigana’s intestines are wrapped around her neck.

I gulp. There is a hole in her chest and a larger one in her stomach.

Her head is hanging idly to the side, framed by beautiful locks of long hair.

I can’t see her soul. It must be long gone.

My hand rises to my mouth slowly. There is no way I would be able to unsee such an image.

Is this who she meant when she said that someone would die tonight?

But, why Arigana?

She has nothing to do with me. The only relationship between us is the one that happened on the battlefield when she transmigrated me. She had had mercy on me - something I was completely undeserving of.

Not her. It shouldn’t have been her.

All blood has since drained from my face. This is what I meant when I said that my entire existence is a nightmare.

Her lifeless eyes show hints of anger, instead of mortification.

I have to find a way to bring her body down. I can’t let anyone else see this horrible sight.

I climb the fixed-in metal table and reached for the rope.

As soon as I touch the rope, I get repelled back.

I slam into one of the tables with a loud thud before I roll onto the floor.

I grunt as pain spirals through my spine.

How could she do this? She won’t even let me bring Arigana down.

Does she want everybody to see this? I thought it was just for my eyes - to torment me.

This is more than punishment. She wants to ruin me.

I remain unmoving on the floor, burning with anger that I’ll never unleash.

After a while, I get up and return to my vault.

I’m not surprised when I find the door locked.

"System, why is my door locked?"

There is a brief interval before a blue interface appears.

[System lock down has been initiated]

This is not good.

I return to the cafeteria and settle down on one of the seats farthest away from Arigana.

I fold my hands over the table and rest my head on it.

Exhaustion weighs on me, transporting me to a world with more heart-wrenching nightmares.

I am startled from my sleep by the sound of approaching people.

Somehow, I managed to sleep, though I don’t know how long I was out.

The lights are back on, blinding me with its intensity.

Arigana is still hanging in the center of the room. The floor beneath her is covered with blood. Nearby seats and tables are stained where her blood splattered against them.

The sight is even more ghastly than I remember it.

Gasps and cries erupt from the sea of people flooding into the cafeteria.

All motion ceases when they see me seated there.

Everyone turns accusatory eyes on me.

Wait, do they think I did this?