Golden Melody (Editing)

Chapter 128

Chapter 128- The Gravekeepers

Zatariel took her hand. His grip was gentle, grounding, but beneath the warmth, Miexha felt a hesitation.

Like he was guiding her somewhere sacred.

They stood before a narrow wooden door, plain and crooked on its hinges. It looked more like a broom closet than a threshold to anything important.

She gave him a confused glance.
"This is the main door?"

Zatariel gave a faint smile.
"Don't judge a door by its size."

He opened it.

Sunlight spilled in-soft, golden. Not artificial. Not filtered by glass. Real.

Outside wasn't a city. Not ruins. Not even the cold, futuristic world she was bracing for.

It was a forest.

Lush grass swayed under a lazy breeze. Wildflowers bloomed freely in pinks, blues, and whites, lining a foot-worn path. Birds chirped in distant harmony. The wind smelled like pine and old rain.

She blinked.
"...Do we live in the countryside now?"

Zatariel gave a long, dramatic sigh.
"Yeah. After those alien bastards left Earth, I thought, 'Why not become a farmer?'"

Miexha snorted but didn't press. His hand held hers tighter.

They walked.

The path curved, opened into a clearing-a wide field bathed in warm light.

Her heart dropped.

She knew this place.

It was just like the dream-the one with the bunnies. But there were no rabbits now.

Only graves.

Dozens of them. Simple, quiet markers, swallowed by tall grass and time.

Zatariel didn't speak as she stepped forward.

A glint caught her eye.

A rusted necklace, delicate, silver, with a blue crystal. Her breath hitched.

She stepped closer.
Jayson.

Miexha's knees buckled. Her chest twisted, sharp and suffocating.

"Jayson..."

Memories surged-his teenage voice scolding her for reading R18+ novels. The way he lectured her about gratitude-kisses. His clingy sweetness in his 30s. That stupid, gentle smile. How he always kissed her forehead. The time they spent in Red City Villa-

She blinked, horrified.

No. Stop thinking about it.
Stop thinking about the night they slept together.

This is a grave. Not a thirst trap!

Zatariel cleared his throat, shooting her a dramatic side-eye.
"...You good?"

"I'm mourning," she snapped, wiping her face.

"Uh-huh. With a blush and a hormonal flashback."

She threw a leaf at him.

Beside Jayson's grave was another.

Asha.

Her smile wavered, lips trembling.
"She was the brightest person I knew," she whispered.
"She told me I'd be famous someday... even offered to be my manager..."

Zatariel knelt, brushing the engraved name.
"Yeah, she's really amazing. She made it to the top, like she always wanted."

Miexha nodded.