From Showdow To Light

flames of fear

Five years had passed since the fateful events. Lily stood in the graveyard, accompanied by two curious children, Kai and Ivy.

"Why do we come here, Mummy?" Ivy asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"We're here to visit your father's and Kai's parents' graves, to pay our respects," Lily replied, her voice soft.

As they walked through the cemetery, Lily stopped at Alexander's grave, then Victor's. Finally, they arrived at Nadia's resting place. Kai's gaze lingered on the headstone before he turned to Lily, tugging on her dress.

"Mummy, what kind of woman was my mother?" he asked, his eyes filled with wonder.

Lily's smile was tinged with sadness. "Your mother was kind and strong, always ready to protect those she loved." She paused, stroking Kai's hair. "Even stronger than me, sweetie."

Ivy looked up at her mother. "Much stronger than you, Mummy?"

Lily nodded, her eyes locked on Nadia's grave. "Yes, much kinder and stronger than me."

A silent promise echoed in Lily's mind: I will keep my promise to protect Kai and Ivy.

"Let's go back," Lily said, her voice gentle, as she guided the children toward the cemetery gate.

The memory of her promise to Nadia on her deathbed remained etched in her mind: to safeguard Kai and ensure his well-being

As they approached the cemetery gate, a group of masked men suddenly emerged from the shadows, surrounding them. Lily instinctively pulled Kai and Ivy closer.

"Surrender and come with us," one of the masked men growled.

Lily's eyes locked onto the men, her mind racing with protective instincts. "Ivy, Kai, stay close to each other," she whispered, her voice firm.

But Kai surprised her by taking charge. "Mummy, handle them," he said, his small voice steady. "Stay close to Ivy and protect her, okay?"

With a fierce determination, Lily charged at the masked men. She swiftly removed her hairpin, ready to defend her children. Just as she was about to strike, a voice halted her.

"Lily, don't move!"

She spun around to face Boris, his gun trained on Kai's trembling head. Ivy clung to Kai's hand, both children crying in terror.

"Boris, you monster!" Lily spat, panic washing over her. "Let them go!"

Boris's smile twisted. "Do you love your nephew and daughter too much? If you want them alive, do as I say."

"Kneel down," Boris ordered, his voice cold.

Lily hesitated, but the masked men closed in, forcing her to comply. One of them tied her hands behind her back, and she was dragged to a waiting van. Kai and Ivy were pulled along beside her, their small bodies trembling with fear.

"Mummy, I'm scared," Ivy whispered, clinging to Lily's side.

"Just stay close, okay?" Lily forced a reassuring smile, trying to hide her own terror.

The van sped away, eventually stopping in front of a dilapidated warehouse. Boris yanked Lily out, dragging her inside while his men took Kai and Ivy elsewhere.

Lily was thrown into a dimly lit room, bound to a chair. Boris loomed over her, his eyes blazing with malice.

"Don't even think of it .," Lily spat, defiant.

Boris's face twisted in a snarl. "You used to love me before. What happened?" He grasped her chin, his grip brutal.

Lily struggled against his hold. "You know exactly what happened."

Boris's lips crushed against hers in a rough kiss. Lily responded by sinking her teeth into his lip.

He recoiled, wincing in pain. "You bitch!"

Boris's eyes flashed with anger. "You needed to be taught a lesson."

He turned to his men. "Bring the oil and blowtorch."

Lily's heart racing, she sneered, "You think this can make me scared?"

Boris chuckled. "Oh, these aren't for you .

His words sent a chill down Lily's spine as she realized the true extent of his cruelty.

Lily's face turned ashen as Boris ordered his men to bring in the children. "You monster! Don't drag them into this!" she yelled, desperation creeping into her voice.

But Boris remained unmoved. The men returned with Ivy clinging to Kai, their eyes wide with terror. They were led to a corner, away from Lily.

"Please, leave them alone. They're innocent," Lily begged, her voice cracking.

Boris sneered, pouring oil onto the children's heads. Ivy and Kai whimpered, their small bodies trembling with fear as they clung to each other.

"They may be innocent, but they're crucial to my plan to dismantle the Hiwatari Empire," Boris said, his voice devoid of empathy.

Lily's pleas grew more frantic. "Stop! I'm begging you! Don't do this!"

But Boris continued, pouring more oil onto the children's heads. "You should have thought of betraying me five years ago," he taunted.

Lily's screams echoed through the warehouse, her mind racing with horror as she watched her children's lives hang in the balance.

"Please, stop! I'll do anything!" Lily cried, desperation etched on her face.

Boris halted, his gaze locking onto hers. "Anything?" he repeated, his voice dripping with malice.

He poured oil onto Lily's head, the cold liquid sending shivers down her spine.

"Yes, just spare their lives," Lily begged, her voice trembling.

Boris's smirk twisted. "See, you  know exactly what I want. And that is kill Voltaire." He untie her and handed her a gun.

Lily's eyes widened as Boris moved toward the door. "After his death, everything will fall into place, just as our plan intended five years ago. The Hiwatari Empire Will be mine."

Lily's grip on the gun tightened. She raised it, aiming at Boris.

"But you won't get away with this," she said, her voice firm.

She pulled the trigger.

Click.

The gun was empty.

Boris's laughter echoed through the warehouse. "You should have checked first."

Lily's face contorted in rage.

"I'm not foolish enough to underestimate you," Boris sneered, turning back to Lily.

He snatched the blowtorch from his henchman and ignited it, casting a fiery glow on Lily's terrified face.

"You should have remained loyal," Boris spat, tossing the flaming torch at Lily.

Her body erupted in flames, her agonized screams echoing through the warehouse.

"I'm the one who raised you, who made you what you are today," Boris taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "I know all your tricks."

Ivy attempted to rush toward Lily, but Kai held her back, their small bodies trembling with horror.

"Mummy!" they wailed in unison.

Lily, engulfed in flames, summoned her last ounce of strength to crawl away from the children, desperate to protect them from the oil-soaked fate that awaited them.

Finally, the flames subsided, revealing Lily's charred, lifeless body.

Boris turned to Kai and Ivy, his eyes gleaming with malevolence.

"Now it's your turn," he said, advancing toward them.

Kai and Ivy clung to each other, their tears streaming down their faces as they sobbed uncontrollably.