Ashes of Fire (#1)

Epilogue

Judith moves closer to me, examining like I am a statue in one of the museums. I don’t want to neither approach nor attack for I know it is dangerous to do so. But my eyes are already glistening as soon as Gemini’s eyes lock into mine and I can see him slowly fading. But then, I see Alex, I love Alex like my own brother and now he’s here with Joseph whose life is also in my hands. I don’t see any sign of Ruby or Josh on the other hand.

            Judith pin me on the other bed and metal cuffs automatically wrap my hands on my sides so that I can’t make any rebellious moves. I don’t even try to do anything actually. I won’t run without Alex, Gemini and Joseph anyways. Even if I run alone, it will feels like I sail without a map. It will surely feel wrong and I will be lost wherever I go, even if I ever found shelter. Alex and Joseph are now currently tied on the beds nearby. All I can do is just to stare at them blankly and hopelessly waiting for one of them screaming my name in rage. But none come out from their mouths. A pang of guilt rushes through my veins and slowly crushes my heart of their loyal acts.

            “Essie,” Judith’s voice wakes my boiling anger that has been sleeping minutes ago. My eyes are now wide open, glaring at Judith; the devil without horns. “Did you know that Gemini knew?”

            I stay silent, hoping that Judith’s voice will somewhat illuminates with the thoughts in my head. Well, I miserably failed.

            “Did you ever think why Gemini simply kissed you out of the blue minutes ago?” She smiles. Oh, it is far beyond the word sincere if you’re wondering. “Because he knew that all of this would happen. He knew exactly that his memories of you will be erased, just so I wouldn’t hurt you,” she adds.

            “I DON’T CARE JUDITH! SO DO SHUT UP!” I shout while spraying my saliva all over her face. I hate the fact that she knows that I do care about Gemini. I hate it.

            She chuckles, “you should’ve called me your Mom, Essie.”

            “No.” Tears stream down my face, of anger or sadness, that’s what I don’t know. “You are anything but my Mom, Judith. You are filth.”

            “Young lady, I should’ve taught you well about manners,” she says coldly.

            With that, her men inject Joseph and Alex something that makes them fade just like Gemini. Their eyes change like they simply do not know me.

            “NO!” I plead. My voice cracks. I scream my lungs out. Silence.

            I stop crying in frustration. I believe I am half crazy now; my sanity has probably gone on an endless abyss.

            “One last touch, I will inject Holy Warriors’ blood to you,” Judith smiles again. Disgusting.

            “I thought Gemini is a Holy Warrior. He injected me his blood back then,” I weakly explain.

            “He is, of course,” she nods, “however, my magic do the trick. Technically, he did inject a Black Warrior’s blood.”

            I sigh. “One last ques—”

            “I’m sorry, time’s up.”

            The syringe pierces right into my bare skin. I cringe; it doesn’t hurt at all actually. But I’m talking about the syringe. The red liquid swim into my veins and it hurts like it just ate my brains out. I groan in agony, but I can’t even hear it anymore. I can barely see Judith.

            The thing is I’m not worried at all about myself. Because I know I can absorb the blood, that’s why Judith injected the blood. She doesn’t want me dead. In fact, she wants me alive to be her puppet, but not with Gemini, Joseph and Alex.

            I took my very last glance at them.

            Everything goes black.