Raven first headed to her chamber. She could hear the breathing rhythm of the sleeping girls.She quietly stepped on the floor in light steps as she headed to her mattress avoiding to wake anyone. Liza's mattress was beside hers. Raven glanced at her, and realized that she was shivering. The shivering was obviously not because of the coldness. Raven could tell it was instead because of a nightmare. Carefully, she took Liza's hand in hers for comfort. Liza immediately held on to it tight.
"Don't leave me." She murmured in her sleep, tears flowing freely from her eyes. Raven used her free hand to wipe away her tears and then gently patted her head.
" This kid." She whispered.
People in the pavilion were all from different background. All not good in one way or another. Some were found by Madam Wang either in streets or other unpleasant places, while others found Madam Wang themselves. Liza was among those who found Madam Wang. Once more Raven felt the urge to know what kind of life Liza lived before coming to the pavilion.
Later that night, she headed to the wisteria tree spot. Under that tree, she puffed out the smoke and started her grasping smoke practice. It wasn't long after, that she started coughing violently.
"Lucky me!" she sarcastically exclaimed as she extinguished the cigarette. A deep sigh escaped her mouth as she lay on her back, and blankly stared into the sky. She subconsciously held the cross on a silver chain around her neck. It was originally tucked in her clothes. The warm sensation of the cross was passed to her thumb as she rubbed it. Slowly, she closed her eyes.
" Just like deep scars,
Memories are hard to erase.
Let the bygones be the bygones_
The moon here now was there then
How can I possibly forget."
She stopped singing with a cough and sat upright, tucking the cross back to its place. She lay down for a moment and started counting stars hoping she could somehow get to sleep. She failed and decided to sit upright.She didn't expect to see Will slouching towards her.
"What are you doing here?" Raven asked.
Will sat beside her, "I was just taking a walk."
"Just admit that Jaden kicked you out of the room."
"Yeah."
"Great. He probably wants you to enjoy the outside air." Raven said with sarcastic smile.
"You were never wrong." Was the reply.
"I am never wrong." Raven corrected.
Will nodded at the sentence and then pulled out a wine gourd from who knows where. Raven smiled hysterically at the bottle. She dramatically shook her head and wiped fake tears on her face.
"I really could marry you just now."
"I would rather marry a stone." Will replied with a smile. That answer didn't make Raven's smile disappear. It only deepened it. He removed the cork from the gourd. The sweet strong aroma filled the air. They dramatically inhaled the air.
"Drinking behind my back?" A voice sounded behind them. Will quickly hid the wine gourd behind his back.
Jaden sat opposite them, smiling at them without showing his teeth.
"Ugh, you really were born in the harvesting season." Will showed the gourd at him.
"Let's," Jaden took the bottle from his hand. "Drink. Hahahaha."
Jaden put the gourd to his lips and gave an unsatisfied look.
"What's wrong?" Raven asked.
"Here." He handed the gourd back to Will. "Tastes like water."
Raven and Will glanced at each other and then at the gourd. Will took a sip. The wine was strong with a sweet yet bitter taste. How can anyone call this precious treasure water?
"You need a doctor." Will handed the gourd to Raven.
"You alcoholic!" Raven called Jaden.
"What?" Jaden asked in a lazy tone.
"How many times do you sneak out?" Will was curious.
"Who sneaks out? I just walk out when I feel like it."
"Respected friend, why go out alone?" Raven asked.
"Why can't I?"
"It is dangerous for you. An old hag walking alone in the street, what if you are eaten by a certain dangerous monster?" Will seriously joked. Raven approvingly nodded.
"Idiots."
Raven and Will laughed it off and exchanged the gourd between themselves. An envelope was suddenly placed in front of them. They exchanged glances, before suspiciously looking at Jaden who had placed the envelope there. Will nudged at Raven gesturing at her to pick up the envelope. She just gave him a 'why me?' look. Jaden suddenly lost patience. He extended his hand to pick it up, but Raven suddenly slapped it away and took the envelope.
"Fools." Jaden rubbed the slapped spot.
"I believe there is a destructive weapon in there." Will teased as he pulled himself near Raven, looking in the envelope.
"Peanuts." Raven dug her hands in the envelope and pulled out a handful of peanuts.
"These are probably poisoned." Raven added examining the peanuts in her hand.
Without hesitation, Will took a few and tossed them into his mouth. A grin spread across his face.
"Have some." He encouraged Raven. Raven eyed him suspiciously, then took a few for herself. She chewed.
Paused.
Her expression immediatelly became bitter.
She glared at Jaden as she spat them out. Will immediately did the same and rinsed his mouth with wine.
Jaden only gave a self-satisfied smile, completely unbothered.
" This idiot..."
Jaden quickly ran away. Raven and Will ran after him.
" I swear I will feed you soil!" Will shouted at him.
" I will make a wine out of you." Raven added.
" As you please."