Meanwhile, Zariel shopped for groceries in the store. Picking whatever she needed and placing them in the cart. Her eyes caught a woman shopping too, and her brows creased. She hadn't seen her face yet, but why does she feels like she knows this woman? Zariel moved closer to get a better view. She stole glances at her, but the woman kept her whole face out of view. She brought out a sunglass from her bag and wore it, trying to conceal her face. Why did she do that?
Zariel could hear the pounding of the woman's heart from here. She was scared or nervous. Why? Not able to hold Zariel's gazes anymore, she took her cart to the counter, and Zariel followed. The woman paid for what she bought and left in a hurry. Zariel didn't even pay for her groceries anymore. She just followed the woman outside. The woman looked really suspicious. Zariel didn't want to believe what her head and heart told her. It can't be. The woman got into her car and drove away immediately. Zariel stopped a taxi, and she climbed into it.
"Follow that car" she told the man and he obeyed. They drove for about thirty minutes before the woman's car came to a halt, and the taxi stopped a few metres away. The woman got down, and Zariel followed.
She walked hastily, and when she reached closer, her heart knocked. Her lips trembled, tears brewed in her eyes. How is this true? It can't be. The woman was about to walk into her house, not realising Zariel was behind her, when...
"Yi Seo..." she heard her name and she froze. Her eyes grew wide, realising she followed her all the way here. "Yi Seo.... Is that you?" Zariel asked, her voice seeming to break.
Gulping hardly, she turned around and their eyes met. Zariel gasped, staggering backwards as her legs couldn't hold her from the shock. Her lips trembled more and she covered her mouth.
"How?" she couldn't understand. Someone tell her how? "You died. How are you here?"
"It's true I died. But I came back" Yi Seo spoke and Zariel shook her head in disbelief.
"You came back? You're alive, Yi Seo...?" Ah...she can't believe it. It's so unreal. It must be a dream and she would wake up soon. She pinched herself hard and when she felt the pain, she gasped. It's not a dream. Ryan's mother...is alive.
*...*...*..*...*
Again, she was alone. Her body drenched with cold sweat and blood still seeped from her neck. She was like a walking corpse trying to find the tiniest pinch of hope. Her body was numb, but she kept walking with nowhere in mind to go. Where should she go? Where is safe? In the arms she thought was safe, she almost died. Where else is safe?
"Ah... you're still here" his voice came "You're not ready to die yet"
"I'm not" her voice was barely heard.
"Trying to find hope, huh... You won't find it" he told her "You saw the real him. He doesn't care about you. He didn't even recognise you, which means you're not that special to him. Did you see for yourself?"
"I did" she answered.
"Now that you see, just come... I'll take you to a place where it's safe"
She stopped in her tracks and looked at the dark grey sky "Where else is safe?" she asked.
"That light" he told her, and she looked ahead. There was place shining brighter than this red and dark abyss. Was it really safe there?
"It is" he answered her thought. "When you go there, you'll be free from all these demons and humans who pretend to love you when they'll only leave you in the end. It would hurt you, so you have a chance now to change the future"
"Going to that light.... doesn't that mean I'll die?"
"Of course. But everyone has four lives. This is your first which you're supposed to leave and go to the other. You don't belong in this life"
"What awaits me there?"
"Happiness. With everyone by your side, having no plans of leaving you in the end. You'd be loved and cherished, unlike here. Come... let me show you" he told her. Arianna's legs moved. One step, and another. And then she stopped.
"Why should I listen to you?"
"I'm the only one who cares about you now. I want your happiness too"
"I.. I don't want to go. I want to go back, to all I love"
"They don't want you back. Your death would mean nothing to them. You're nothing to them"
"I want to go back. Ryan needs me" she said, remembering the pain he went through. He didn't mean to, right?
"He needs you? Haha... don't make me laugh. It's not you he needs. He needs his bride to end his pain. And let me tell you, you're not the one. You can never be"
"Even if I'm not the one to end his pain, I want to be there for him. I want to love him. He's the only one I want to be with. He's the only one whom I can feel safe with. I'm not leaving"
"Human... you're pathetic. A demon and a human being together....it doesn't work. You'd would either die by his hand, or by the other demons. I'm giving you a chance now to have another life. Don't step on it!"
"I don't want it! I don't!" she turned back and began to run, her eyes glistened with tears. She wasn't going to die. She won't leave those she loves behind. No, she won't.
Suddenly, demons appeared metres away from her and she halted in her tracks. They were horrifying. Having dark, longer talons and fangs that protruded out of their mouths. A few had short horns that grew out of their heads and wings. Others were scarred with veins, just like Ryan. It was just that these ones were more scarred. Their eyes were the deepest shade of red, and they growled at her. Her heart, her whole body, shuddered with utter fear.
"You anger me too much, human. I'm doing this for you. It's better to die now than die by his hands later. You would be hurt, badly"
"Are you going to chase me to my death?!" she yelled.
"I'm chasing you to a better life. If you go back, they'll come for you. To kill you. And your lover won't be exception"
"Liar.! I don't believe anything you say!" it wasn't even a second she said that, that the demons began to chase her. Her heart pounded in her chest as she ran as fast as her legs could carry. They appeared from everywhere, chasing her to nowhere but the light. To her death. She ran, looking backwards to see how farther they are from her, but they were not too far. Sooner, they would catch her and probably rip her apart.
Arianna fell, bruised her knee, but she still rose up and continued running. Not to the light, but darkness. It was the exact opposite. Because the darkness was her own light. Where she came from. She wouldn't be fooled by a blinding light said to be where she is safe.
A demon grabbed her arm, his talons dug into her hand and she screamed in pain. Blood strolled out. She struggled and eventually tore herself from his hold, but another grabbed her. They drew her on the hard floor, pain burning her flesh. She cried in agony as they wounded her body. Her vision went blurry, she could hardly see. All she wanted was to be safe.
Someone save her from this torture.