CHAPTER 41: SOBS IN ALLEY

The streets of Necron City were abuzz with activity, neon lights illuminated the roads, cars and other vehicles zipped past, and children could be seen walking around with their parents and families, sweet, bright smiles adorning their faces. Hanna, seeing that, showed a bitter smile as she walked on the pathway with a dejected look on her face.

’I was the same as them before.’

She had dark circles under her eyes and looked weak, as if she hadn’t slept for days. Her steps were weak, displaying the storm of emotions brewing inside her. Hanna was walking on the streets of Necron city, trying to somehow free herself from the harrowing curse she had got from that day.

’What crimes am I being punished for?’

Hanna was so deep in her thoughts that she didn’t notice when she had involuntarily stepped into a silent alley. The alley was eerily still, devoid of any human activity. It was dimly illuminated by the broken, flickering street lights. Three figures, seemingly males, followed behind her, their intentions unclear but not right in any way.

’Do I have to continue living knowing that I may ruin the very people I like?’

Hanna continued to walk until she reached the end of the alley. She finally noticed her surroundings and heaved a sigh as she turned to leave.

’I should go back...’ She thought.

As she turned, her eyes fell on the three men following her; their eyes burned with unhidden lust. Seeing that, a look of utter disgust formed on Hanna as she spoke.

"Leave," she said, her tone full of contempt.

Hearing that, the three figures turned to look at each other and began to laugh.

"Hahaha!"

Hanna, however, didn’t care as she began walking past them. One of the three then moved towards her and grabbed her hand as he began to speak.

"Oi, where do you think you are going?" He said with an annoyed and domineering tone.

Hanna froze, then turned to face the man gripping her hand.

She spoke once again,

"Let go of my hand," Hanna said, her tone calm.

However, the man didn’t care as he just chuckled at her.

Hanna lowered her head as complicated thoughts ran wild in her mind. The man, thinking that as an act of submission, moved his other hand towards her.

"I didn’t want to do this," Hanna said with a voice full of remorse.

"Huh?" the man holding her tilted his head in confusion.

His confusion then turned into shock as Hanna’s pupils began to glow bright green.

The man broke his hold as he hurriedly stepped backwards.

"W-what’s going on?" He questioned as he fell on his butt and pointed towards Hanna.

The other two were no better as they stepped back and had expressions of surprise and worry etched on their faces.

Hanna looked at them as tears fell from her eyes as she spoke.

"Why?" Her voice trembled with guilt. The question, however, was not for the three figures before her.

The three men hurriedly turned around as they tried to run away, but it was already too late.

Vines slithered from the ground below and took hold of their legs, holding them in their place.

Their faces had an expression of horror and fear plastered on them. They turned and looked at Hanna as they pleaded for their lives.

"P-please let me-"

"F-free me ple-"

"I-I’ll never do anything like th-"

However, their words were stopped by the vines, which grabbed hold of their mouths. The vines moved and coiled around their body like serpents. After a few moments, the vines exploded into spores of vibrant colours. The spores drifted into the men’s bodies.

Their body shook and flowers of different colours, shapes and sizes began to grow on their bodies, their bodies trembling in agony, but no sound left their mouths because they no longer could speak. They looked at Hanna with eyes full of blood tears. Their faces displayed both the fear and anger they held for the woman standing before them.

Soon, their bodies turned into husks of flowers until a gust of wind scattered their remains like petals..

Hanna, still crying, lowered her head and looked at her hands as she cried out in a weak voice.

"Why... Why me?" Hanna questioned as she fell on her knees.

Tears fell from her eyes, her body trembling. No matter what she did, she would never forget the sin she had committed, even if it was not of her own will.

Finally, a cry left her lips as she broke down.

"Why... uwah..."

The alley was soon filled by the cries of a person who fell victim to her blessing or curse, always condemning the heavens for making her the abomination she was.

After crying for a whole hour, she slowly stood up and cleared her eyes with the sleeves of her long black hoodie. She heaved a low sigh and began to walk out of the alley with slow steps. Her face and body mirrored how she was a few hours ago, dejected and weak.

Soon, she left the alley and stepped on the illuminated streets of the Necron City, her eyes trembled as the bright lights of the city fell on her face. Hanna looked up and there she was, a poster of one of the biggest corporations within the Necron city, no, within the Azure continent.

"Anna..." Hanna said in a weak voice as she looked at the poster of the Starborne Emporium.

"I miss you..."

She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths as she finally made the decision she had been delaying out of fear that maybe she couldn’t turn back.

"I have to find someone..."

"Someone who knows what I am or what I have become," she said with clenched fists as she turned and began to leave for her apartment. A place which was her heaven before, but now felt no different than hell itself.