My Life was a Game

Chapter 26

On the way to the attic, one had to pass through a door leading to the attic. April usually hung out alone in the attic and called the maid when necessary. That day, she went to the attic with her normal routine. However, everything was already set to plan. The door to the attic was waterproof as the raining water could wet the floor below and a step lower than the entire floor room. It could contain a strong smell from espacing to either side of the room as well but April didn't want to take any chance and locked the door from inside. Next, she burned the candle inside the room and sat it near the curtain. It didn't take long for the fire to catch on it and she quickly went to the spacious balcony. Then, closed the double glass doors behind and pretended to sleep.

***

The scene would burn in his memory forever. April was backing away from the glass door and had her back on the rail. It was as frightening for her. If Onyx didn't call for the firefighter, she could risk to harm herself as well. The room was blazed with fire and the smoke got thicker by minute. She started to cough and shouted for help. The screams sent chills to his bones. He was rooted to his feet, watching the woman he wished to marry struggling for her life. That scene reminded him of the past he almost forgot. The plea of a girl at the tender age of 11.

That girl cried so hard with pain and humiliation. She kept on pleading for mercy with her sore throat. It was the same scene that triggered his inner demon. Even now, she still screamed for help but it wasn't as exciting as it used to. Her horrifying scream could be the last thing he remembered. He rushed into the house but stopped by his subordinates. He retaliated so much but his build was nothing against two muscled men. They had called the firefighter and an ambulance to the villa a while ago. He struggled so much that the man had to knock him out of cold.

The firefighter came soon after, followed by an ambulance. April covered her nose with a wet towel while facing the blazing flame in front of her. She sat on the warm granite floor and held her knees to her chest. The waiting felt so long. The double glass doors cracked under the strong heat. She struggled to open her eyes and the heat started to touch her skin more and more. Her eyes squinted and observed the burning scene inside the room but she wasn't aware of the scene behind her. The fireman extended the tower ladder but her ears couldn't hear the calling behind her, she was glued on the floor. The heat and the thick smoke weaken her body.

The firefighter had a hard time to secure her but she was saved. April lost her consciousness as she thought her plan had failed but as she had hoped, the rescue team was more than just two of them.

The fire fiercely shrouded the five storeys building but the firemen didn't have time to control the fire. The ambulance staff was treating April on the scene, they couldn't move out of the villa anyway. Gunshots were exchanged between two different parties. But the two main figures were unconscious in the middle of the storm. The shooting slowed down and the sound of the gun lessened through the air. There were piles of bodies laying on the ground, some unconscious and some lost their beating hearts. One noticeable figure approached the ambulance with his quick movement.

April slowly opened her eyes. Her mind was still hazy but she could see the people attending her condition. She weakly raised her body and surprised the medical worker. They were in a state of shock but acted calm as they could and immediately lay her back down. Worried if she would attract the attention of other people around the place. April was a bit confused but then, realized she was laying on the grass floor. A couple of medical beds was laid on its side below the ambulance front door like a fortress against something from the other side.

"What happened?"

The medical worker seemed a lot more frightened than usual. Their faces were pale, tears around their eyes and trembling. Turning to her other side, there was a group of men with firemen uniforms. Everyone tried their best to lie flat to the grass floor with their hands covered their head. Something didn't feel right. She could hear a few gun shots from a distance. This wasn't a right situation at all. One of the medical worker whispered to her,

"W-we are attacked by an unknown group. They suddenly came and shot randomly."

"April!", her name was whispered loudly by a man with a mask. He knelt and reached his hands to hold her. She knew this man even with his face covered in half and reached to his hands.

"You're safe now. We could go home now, April."

"Al...", tears streamed down her cheeks as they embraced each other. She was never been so glad to hear his voice again, few days felt like forever in this place. Alabaster tried to hold his tears but it fell anyway. He gathered his composure and commanded the group to follow his footsteps to get out of there. When the group moved from their shelter, the pile of unconscious bodies were either tied together or clumped in one place by the other group. Alabaster covered April's view from the scene. He didn't want her to see the blood. She already expected some blood to spill but the reality of the gruesome scene made her stomach twisted. The death surrounding the place would be something that would haunt the innocent spectators for life.

The house was still burning behind them but the old majestic building had been replaced with a burned ugly scar. She glanced one last time towards the house and noticed a figure in front of the door. He had his back facing her but she knew well the identity of the man.

"Onyx!"

Alabaster turned his head with the gun in his hand pointed at the standing figure and hid her behind him. His subordinates finally noticed the presence of the man and turned their head toward him, they had been busy finding the man within the pile of bodies but failed. The man stayed ignorant with the stares of the crowd as he stood close to the burning house. He had a gun in his hand.

His head raised to see the scene before him; a burning house that had lost its pride and honour. The burning house looked like hell. The fire completely engulfed the building and burned it into a useless pile of black coal. He built the house with hope she would stay with him in here. It was his illusion. Illusion of their future together. Something that he pulled out from thin air.

How dare a scum like him dare to hope such a thing? The way she screamed was painful and full of suffering. She was begging for the mercy of his hands but his mind was distorted with ugly obsession. He didn't notice his hands had tortured the girl he thought he loved. It wasn't love at all. It never was. It was something ugly, something came from his demon, the demon he covered with the innocent word. Guilt wasn't enough to describe his feelings. He felt suffocated, drowned like the fire choked the building out of its life. Suddenly, his name was called by the voice of a woman he knew well.

He glanced to his side but didn't move his feet and saw her peeked behind the man. Something felt like it squeezed his heart so tightly, it felt badly hurt. He held his chest with a gun in his hand. Several guns were raised against him but he ignored them. He pulled his dark souless eyes away from her and went back to his previous position.

"I'm sorry. I was stupid... To even think of it. I should've never... Gone near you, April. I'm sorry."

The words he spoke of, froze the crowd. He apologized. Something that she never thought would come through his mouth. That man who had been heavily influenced by the magic suddenly changed just like that. As much as the magic intensified his anger and madness, it magnified his guilt the same way. April thought he probably could get better if she got rid of this magic. But before she said something, Onyx pointed the gun on his head and said his last words.

"I hope you find your happiness far away from me... Goodbye, princess."

The gunshot rang loudly across the villa. His body flopped lifelessly on the ground. The burning wood fell from its structure and landed roughly on top of his body, burning him in the process.

April only heard the bang when Alabaster pulled her into his chest. She froze on her feet. Something just happened but she was sure he pointed the gun to his own head. Alabaster looked at her with his sunset irises and said,

"He tried to shoot you but we shot him first."

Her expression was neither angry or sad. It just didn't feel right. She was sure he pointed the gun to himself. Alabaster didn't wait for her response. He held her close as they got inside the car and got away from the place. They left the burning villa behind.