Episode 22: Goodbye

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A few weeks had gone by since the two lived together in the big mansion. Life was no different from when they were in the cottage; it was just a bigger space that they shared. Gary was constantly outside as always, doing whatever he was doing. Leaf was in the mansion constantly, researching about the place and the curse. She would occasionally peer outside the window to see the magical rose when she was studying or cleaning.

It was an unexpected surprise. The magical rose in the glass one day started to grow until the glass cannot handle the plant inside anymore. Leaf can only have it planted outside next to the mansion. The flower seemed to grow at a fast pace. One day, it was just two flowers; the next day, it was four flowers. Both Gary and Leaf just shook it off as it is a magical flower. After a few days of observing it, they concluded that the flower does no damage to them. So they just let it be.

Leaf looked outside the window like she usually would. The roses have already grown large vines climbing on the side of the mansion. Many roses also bloomed and glowed softly under the sun. If Leaf hadn't figured out that the roses are mostly harmless, she would have been scared at how fast the roses grow and the fact that they are extending their thorny vines up the mansion as if they were trying to invade.

Leaf took out the mirror and peered into it, watching Gary through the glass as he was holding a bow and arrow. During the few weeks, she figured out that the mirror showed the current events of the person they deepest desire. As long as she really wants to see it, the mirror will glow. However, no matter how hard she tried, Leaf was never able to have the mirror show where her mother was. She just used the mirror to keep track of Gary's activities and the outside world.

After staring into the mirror for a while, Leaf sighed and placed it down on the table before she walked to the large board in her room that she made with all the research she could find regarding the curse. Her eyes stared at the many connections she drew. There was no definitive answer to the cure of the curse.

While Leaf was staring into the board, the first floor door suddenly flew open, scaring Leaf. She quickly rushed out from the bedroom and down the stairs, where she saw Gary frantically rush in and close the door behind him.

"Did something happen, Gary?" Leaf asked, eyeing the man. If she remembered correctly, everything was fine a while ago in the mirror. What happened in such a short period of time that caused Gary to rush back?

Gary took a few deep breaths to catch up and then he looked up at Leaf, who was talking towards him. "We have to go. Now," Gary breathed urgently as he rushed past Leaf to go to the second floor.

Leaf held out her hand to stop Gary and turned him around to look at her. "What the heck happened, Gary?" she asked, pronouncing every word.

Gary brushed his hand through his hair in frustration. "There is no time to explain! We need to leave this place now!" Gary repeated.

"You think I didn't hear you the first time? I need to know why and the details," Leaf rolled her eyes and crossed her arms in front of her.

Gary looked into the young woman's eyes. "Why is she so difficult?" he thought to himself.

"You better tell me what in the world is happening because I am not going anywhere," Leaf declared. She glanced out the window unconsciously as she heard noises that shouldn't belong there in the first place.

Gary, too, looked out at a distance and then glanced at Leaf. As if he had made a decision already, he reached over to pick her up before dashing to the second floor bedroom, where he began frantically packing her things.

Leaf, who was sitting down on the bed, was in shock for a few seconds before she rushed after Gary, wondering what the heck was happening.

"Gary? What's wrong?" Leaf asked, following Gary, who was running around everywhere.

Gary didn't say anything as he packed up a small basket and put Leaf's cloak on her. He tightened the cloak in front of her and helped her put up her hood. He handed over her basket, which included her mirror and her books, as well as some food and weapons after checking to make sure that everything was in there. Once he was done, he picked up Leaf again to another place on the first floor, this time in front of the secret passageway that both of them assigned as their escape route.

Of course, Leaf didn't just let Gary do whatever he wanted without a fight. She was confused as to what was happening and what was the urgency of the situation.

Gary opened the door and pushed Leaf in. Leaf turned to look at Gary with unexplainable eyes as if she was waiting for an explanation. Gary bent down to look Leaf in the eye.

"I need you to get as far away from here as possible, okay, Leaf?" Gary said quietly He was holding Leaf in her arms as if he was worried that she would forget his every word. "The hunters are coming, and you need to get out of here. Stay with Ash and the rest for a while. I will come right after."

"What do you think I am? Five? Are you insulting my intelligence? If I didn't read whatever you had left, are you going to treat me as if I didn't know anything?" Leaf exploded. She still remembered the paper that she found in Gary's pockets while cleaning one day. It was the classified mission papers from the missionary place to hunt down the beast living in the forest, alive or dead.

She had been waiting for Gary to tell her first, but in this situation, it seemed that Gary would not tell the truth.

"So you know already," Gary whispered. He looked away for a while, but then looked back at Leaf. "Then, I guess my speech in my mind will not be of use."

"This is not the time right now," Leaf exclaimed while breathing heavily. "I am not going alone. You are coming with me. Do you want me to have a panic attack like that last time you went missing?"

"This is more serious. They will not stop until they find me. You need to go first, and then I will follow," Gary assured.

"And I will just do as you said like an idiot. Are you kidding me, Gary?" Leaf argued.

Gary sighed under Leaf's glaring eyes. He stood back up and ran his hand through his hair again in frustration. He stared into Leaf's eyes for a moment and quickly swooped down and kissed her gently on the lips.

"You will do as I said, like an idiot," Gary whispered into her ears as he held her into his arms. "I wish we had more time together. If this is our last time meeting each other, then I don't regret meeting you. If this is not our last time, wait for me. I will find you."

With that, Gary upheld Leaf, gave her one more kiss, and closed the door in front of the stunned Leaf in the dark passageway.

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When this author first start writing this book, I say there will be no romance. Now, we have Leaf and Gary share their first and second kiss...

I hope you like this chapter! It is close to the ending now... like two more chapters and then the epilogue. Please vote, comment, and share! I will see you soon!

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