CHAPTER 72: THE FATEFUL NIGHT

White and Anna walked through the white marble hallways of the medical ward of the Starborne Emporium. Their steps echoed throughout the hallways as they made their way towards the room Hanna was staying in.

They walked toward the elevator and stepped inside it. White pressed the button leading to the floor with all of the guest rooms. The elevator shook as it started to ascend.

Moments later, the elevator stopped with a chime as its door parted open. Anna and White stepped out of the elevator and walked towards the room at the very end of the floor.

White stopped and stood beside the door. Anna nodded at him and knocked at the door.

*Knock* *Knock*

They stood silent for a few moments, after which a powerless voice came from the inside.

"Come in."

Anna frowned upon hearing Hanna’s powerless voice, but she still opened the door to enter.

She was about to enter, but she stopped and looked at White as she spoke.

"White... you stay outside."

"As you say, Miss Anieal," White replied with a nod and stopped at the door and turned back.

Anna gave him a small smile and closed the door.

Anna turned and looked at Hanna, who sat on the bed with a grim look on her face. Her innocent and friendly aura was completely replaced by gloom. Anna walked in front of her and called out.

"Hanna."

Hanna slowly lifted her head and looked at Anna with a frown on her face.

"Anna... I couldn’t do anything... again..." Hanna replied with a remorseful expression.

Anna shook her head and sat beside her.

"You don’t have to worry about Elise, I’ll make sure to get her healed." Anna declared with a confident tone.

For the first the, Hanna’s eyes felt alive as she turned towards Anna and asked with a tone filled with hope.

"Elise... Can she be healed?"

"I don’t know... but I’m going to try everything I can instead of giving up." Anna shook her head at first and declared once again.

"I see..." Hanna said, her voice was merely a whisper.

"And I need your help for that," Anna stated and placed her arms around Hanna with a smile.

Hanna, too, gave a slight smile as she spoke with a shake of her head and replied in a grim tone.

"I don’t think I can do it... I can’t save anyone."

"Hanna... look at me," Anna said as she forced her to look at her.

"If we want to heal Elise, we have to do this."

"Tell me, Hanna... why do you run away from being a Midnighter?" Anna questioned as she stared into her eyes.

Hanna stared back as complicated thoughts ran wild in her mind.

Soon, she heaved a sigh and spoke.

"It happened after I woke up from the accident."

***

Hanna lay on the bed as her eyes started to tremble. A few moments later, she opened them and began to sit up with a puzzled look on her face.

"You are finally awake." Damien, who sat in a chair nearby, spoke with a smile.

Hanna looked at him in puzzlement and asked.

"What happened?"

"You both had an accident, a car crash. I made sure to look after you." Damien spoke slowly as he made sure that she understood him.

"Thanks." Hanna thanked Damien with a smile and asked.

"What about Anna?"

"Her injuries were worse. So, she will need more time to heal."

"I see..."

"It’s night already. Do you wish to stay here for longer, or do you wish to go home?" Damien questioned as he stood up from the chair.

Hanna thought about it for a few moments and finally decided.

"I want to go home."

"Alright. I’ll get the ride ready for you." Damien said and left the room.

Moments later, Hanna stood in front of a tall apartment building. She walked inside and reached the elevator. She stepped inside and pressed the button for her apartment’s floor. The elevator vibrated as it began to ascend.

Moments later, the elevator stopped with a chime. Hanna stepped out of the elevator and began walking towards her apartment.

She was about to reach her apartment, but was stopped in her tracks when her eyes fell on a short black haired man with a fit build standing at the door, his arms wrapped around the waist of a yellow-haired girl as they shared a deep kiss.

Hanna froze as she looked at her boyfriend kissing another woman while caressing her.

"M-matthew..." she called out to him, her voice shaky. She felt the urge to puke when she looked at them, but she controlled herself.

Matthew broke the kiss and looked at Hanna. There was no change in his expression. He turned towards the yellow-haired girl, who was looking at Hanna with a frown on her face.

"Kaede... you should go, I have to talk with her."

Kaede turned towards Matthew and began to leave after a nod.

Hanna looked at Kaede’s departing figure, but she was too shaken to say anything.

She turned towards Matthew as she questioned in a shaky voice.

"W-what’s going on here?"

"It’s just as you saw, I no longer need you, Hanna," Matthew replied without any change in his expression.

"What?" Hanna exclaimed with sorrow and walked towards him.

"F-five years... we have been together for five damn years and you no longer need me?" Hanna asked as tears welled up in her eyes, her body shaking from the pain she felt.

"You were never my type, Hanna. I was with you for money." Matthew, however, didn’t care and continued with his words.

"It’s better that you found out. Let’s end this for good." Matthew said as he began to walk inside.

"Haha...Haha..." Hanna began to chuckle, her voice full of grief from betrayal.

She lowered her head and questioned in a cold tone.

"You think you can throw me whenever you want, don’t you?"

Matthew stopped in his tracks and turned back with a cold expression.

"I never loved you, Hanna."

Hearing that, something broke inside her, something she never wished to unleash. Something she would curse herself for.

Hanna lifted her head and looked at Matthew.

Matthew’s face went pale as he saw her crying the tears of blood.

Her eyes glowed green, and vines began to coil around his body.

"W-What’s going on-" Matthew questioned, his expression full of horror as he tried to free himself.

They slithered and entered his skin and exploded in a gas of spores. His body began to tremble as it turned into grass, flowers, and other foliage. His face twisted in agony, but he couldn’t scream. As the vines took away his voice.

It continued for a few moments until Hanna’s eyes turned dim again. She looked at the husk of foliage in front of her and walked towards it.

"M-matthew..." she called out as she stretched her hand to touch him. The husk burst into spores.

Hanna had an expression of horror as she screamed.

"MATTHEW!!"

Her head spun as she stumbled before her vision went dark.

—————

Goals:

100 collections = 2 extra Chapters

50 PS(Power Stone) = 1 extra Chapter

10 Reviews = 1 extra Chapter

—————