3 Ways

The Last Story II

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Namjoo knew that Luhan's heart ached for those he had to leave behind. He was sad and maybe wanted to cry, but he couldn't because she was there. And she was being a burden. She was the fault for this. She couldn't help, but feel that she'd brought this fate on him. And because of her, Luhan had been forced to sacrifice everything. Guilt crushed her so heavily.

Her sorry eyes slipped down to the hand tightly holding hers and wondered why he'd chosen her. He could have been spared this fate if he had never minded her on the street that day. She was so sorry toward him, but she didn't know what to do.

"This way," the servant led them toward a small inn and told them to stay outside while he went in to pay for a room.

Her eyes darted down the road they'd come from. While the others were being tortured to death, they were well and alive. It seemed...so unfair. Namjoo then recalled the kind servant who'd asked her if she wanted to eat and felt like crying for her death. Such nice people had met such death...and it was all because of her. Why...had everyone died for her?

Namjoo's body jerked back when Luhan tugged at her hand.

"Don't look back," he warned. "Don't you dare think of going back there."

Tears perked her eyes and she wondered again why he was so determined to protect her when she couldn't provide anything, but her useless feelings in return.

"I'm sorry," her voice cracked, "because of me..."

"Don't talk to me," his eyes hardened, "if that's all you have to say."

And he turned away to watch out for his servant, who later walked out and gestured for them to head toward the back.

After opening the door to a room for them he said, "I'll stand out here to keep watch for anyone suspicious."

When the door closed after them Namjoo stared at the old bed, the saggy pillow, and the thin blanket neatly folded at the end of the bed just in front of them. Luhan had lived in such a nice home, but she'd brought him to such a despicable place. She should be ashamed of herself.

She felt Luhan pull her forward, but she wouldn't budge from where she stood.

"Namjoo," he called.

"Why...are we here?" a tear fell down her face so pitifully.

From when she'd been ridden of her home after her parents were killed she'd ventured the streets as a young girl, stole after setting fire to shops, and hurting others for her own good. She had always been pitiful and now she'd caused the downfall of Luhan's good life.

"If you'd never met me, you wouldn't have to be here in such a place," Namjoo sobbed. "I'm so sorry, Luhan, for bringing you here. You should have never met me."

He watched her cry for a few seconds before putting a hand on her head and pulled her over. Her face landed against the soft cloth that made up his clothes as he patted her back.

"Have I ever told you that I never regretted a single moment after meeting you?" he asked. "Yes, I'm sad we had to leave the others behind, but there's not anything we could have done about it. We had no control over what happened. Lets not cry and just live well, so that their deaths won't be meaningless. Everything will be ok."

His voice was so calming and his words eased some of the pain out of her heart. Exhausted from the shock and the run she slipped into sleep for a few hours before waking up in the dead of the night. For a second she didn't know where they were and she felt cold sweat slip down her back before eventually sitting up. In front of her she saw a thick cloud of fire and a crowd of men carrying their gardening hoes and rakes. They were coming after her because she'd killed the prince and they weren't going to stop until she was dead.