On the Petals of a Flower, I found something that does not belong to me

38

For those 'thank you' times we always hold back.

 After some time, we managed to drive the monsters out of the village. To be precise, they managed. I had not achieved anything.

 As soon as Nie Mingjue announced that we were safe, the disciples erupted in cries of relief and joy. I smiled too. The Sect leaders approached me. They looked like shit. Not that I was better.

 "Charlie," said Nie Mingjue. I looked at him. I wondered if I would be fired. I squeezed my hand on the handle of the knife. What if...

 "Thank you for today. You may not realize it, but maybe your power helped us deal with the monsters. They looked slower than when I had seen them before."

 I sighed and loosened my grip. I shook my head. They didn't want to kill me. I was starting to get paranoid. And to not trust anyone. Except for my friend Des and Wen Ning.

 "I don't think I did anything. I didn't do anything actually. They looked the same to me as before. And I would like to apologize. With me close you cannot use your powers and you get hurt. Lives are also lost."

 I looked up. Someone was missing from the crowd.

 "Where is Jin Guangyao?" I did.

 "He went to find the disciples in the fog. We are going to help him now," Xichen replied.

 "I will go" I said and turned. I didn't want to leave it all on them. At least I wanted to do something. To tell the experiences of my 'battle' to my friend.

 The Sect leaders wanted to stop me, but it was too late. I was already was walking towards fog. The fog this time was not so dense. So I was able to find Jin Guangyao right away, sitting in a corner with his knees on his chin. There were no monsters anywhere.

 I sighed and went and sat next to him, defying the pain. He jolted a little. He was probably lost in his thoughts.

 "What are you doing here?" he said. Without a smile.

 "What are you doing here? You sit like a kid who has been bullied. What happened?"

 He looked straight ahead. "I could not find the disciples. There were not even monsters. No blood, no traces. It is as if they disappeared."

 "Did they disappear?"

 "Yes," he replied. "The residents are all gathered at the entrance of the village, but no disciple is there. I could not save anyone in the end. Now everyone will blame me. My Brothers... what will I tell them? Brother will hate me more than he already has."

 I looked at him. His clothes were soiled with dirt, but not with blood.

 "Look. I hope you tell me the truth. If I learn that you are involved in anything, I will open your bloody throat with my hands. Fuck the knife. But the truth is that I believe in you. You have no reason to lie, do you?"

 He sniffed. His eyes shone.

 "Thank you."

 I got up. I reached out my hand. "Come on, let's go back. The fog is not so dense now. I will talk to them too. You have nothing to fear."

 Jin Guangyao hesitantly reached out his hand and then grabbed mine. I helped him get up with difficulty.

 "Thank you, Charlie. Thanks."

 I smiled. I should be thanking you, I thought to myself. I may have been through a lot, but you all treated me well. Thanks.

***