―𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐍'𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃, but who's to say there are no exceptions? Behind the scenes of crime and justice, a group of people deals with society and the consequences of th...
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BEATRICE FELT NOTHING AT FIRST, ONLY STARING RIGHT AHEAD INTO THE ABYSS OF DARKNESS.
Under the blanket of silence, unsure on whether or not to like the unusual feeling, she proceeded to stay put— not like she could move even a finger or a toe in the first place. Countless questions should have run through her mind like an endless stream of water, yet she was not concerned about the current state she was in, it was rather peaceful. She could stay like it forever.
But of course, not all things lasted long.
Faint as it could be, there were voices that disrupted the serenity of the surrounding darkness. No matter the greatness of her curiosity, there was nothing to can be done, her body deemed to be insensibly frozen. What followed next confused her to an extent, as that primitively there was nothing, and the second, a raging coldness that washed over like an angry wave in a terrible sea.
Beatrice did not like the chilly feeling, but seconds ago, her body was numb, and now it had reacted to this new and sudden intrusion of such a harsh sensation, her figure quivered slightly at this. Then as quick as it appeared, it vanished, instantly replaced by the feeling of temperature rising around her. It had not risen to some degree in comparison to how the fires of hell were, but it was hot, enough to let sweat form clouded beads all over her skin.
It was an uncomfortable feeling, she grew desperate, wanting to get rid of it and urged herself to finally budge.
It started with a finger, flickering reluctantly as it tested its waters. As she slowly regained control over her hand, clenching and re-opening it, her heavy eyes leisurely fluttered open only to be met with a blurred sight of orange and yellow hues that danced gleefully. She heard those familiar voices again, though they were much clearer than before, ringing just about by her ears.
"Let's go. It's all coming down."
She felt movement, and it was at that moment she had realized her position. Her body weight had leaned over on top of another, one of her arms slouching around this person's shoulder and the other hanging, there were hands underneath her thighs that held on securely, as to make sure she wouldn't fall.
In other simple words, Beatrice was being carried on someone's back.
But now, with a recovered sight, she was able to see through her half-lidded eyes of the gruesome fire that carefreely cackled and continued to spread, the distinguishable smell of its smoke had reached her nose without delay. Although she was able to move her fingers, the girl felt too exhausted to move her body, it was as if a heavy load was placed over her. And with the way the person walked, she felt like an infant being rocked back to its slumber. Despite the tempting offer, she mustered up all of her will to stay awake and blinked her eyes a couple of times
"Louis?"
She heard a voice from behind her, calling out to someone questioningly. The one who was carrying her made no sign to stop in their tracks, continuing to move forward. But then there was a low, feeble mewl. A pained sound that had escaped and was heard.
"Louis—!" that same voice repeated the name, concern and panic lacing the tone distinctively, and only in that instant that her carrier had paused and turned around. A wooden plank was heard tumbling and landing on the floor, with hurried and swift footsteps that came after towards the said person. "What are you doing?!"
Her carrier, Albert, trailed after the other person, and only then that Beatrice caught sight of this 'Louis'. He was a mere young boy, blessed with blonde hair and dressed in an indigo-colored robe. The person that crouched next to him was a blonde-headed like him, clothed in a red robe, back facing her. Though she may not have seen the troubled expression that painted his face, she was able to understand his worries. Louis had a burnt, ghastly-looking graze on his face, it was already bloodied and she can only deduce from the wooden plank near him that he did this to himself.
"It's better to do this to approach the perfect outcome you want," Louis drawled out, wincing at the bitter stinging on the side of his cheek, a soon to be permanent mark etched on his skin for all of his life. "Adults won't doubt the word of children, who are not only burnt out of their home but injured, as well. I won't let them doubt us."
He raised his head, peering up to them with firmness in his eyes as he continued, "Moreover, this is my recompense to the two― no, to the three of you, who saved me from my illness. As well as proof of my resolve that the four of us will go on living together."
An instant cruel jab on her head had Beatrice emit a pained whimper, the arm that slung around her carrier's shoulder tightened its hold on him. It was faint, yet Albert heard her, his head instantly snapping in her direction. The other two seemed to have noticed as well, their expressions suddenly brimmed with both surprise and relief at the sight of their sister awake.
Louis was the first to speak up, eyes brightening yet almost watering, his wound now forgotten. "B-Bea! Are you okay—?"
"Where am I?" demanded the tired female, raising her head only to bring it back down as the headache never ceased. "Er... what happened here?" she puzzlingly questioned.
The pair of blonde-headed siblings rose from their former crouched positions, now walking towards her and crowding like attention-seeking puppies. Unbeknownst to her, an incident had occurred just a week prior, resulting in a week of coma that deeply worried those who were close to her. Louis had taken her hanging hand into his small one, squeezing it, while his older brother stood right beside him, letting out a sigh of relief before his lips shifted into a soft smile.
"Don't let your little head worry about it, Sister. It'll be all over soon," the older blonde-headed reassured, with the younger nodding briskly at his words.
"Sister? I'm sorry..." the girl exhaustedly murmured, eyelids slowly closing, only to open halfway. The three brothers, yes, including her carrier, stared at her worriedly and quizzingly, unsure of what to answer as they saw no reason for her to utter out an apology. "But... do I know you, gentlemen?"
Eyes widened, bewilderment dawning over, and nothing other than the silent cackles of the fire around them. A sudden dread roped them down as her words were processed inside their heads, but despite so, they could only repeat them over and over again like a broken music box. Beatrice had taken notice of the change of their expressions and wondered if she truly ever knew them from somewhere. Though what her first concern should presently be was the question of why she and these people were in the middle of a property that was currently and gradually burning down.
But before she could even receive a reply, her entire sight simply fell and was covered once again by darkness.
