Today is my birthday

Chapter 4

I am torn between thanking him or giving this back. I just realized yhat it's already 12:00 am and yes!

Today is my birthday and he remembers it!

A smile formed into my lips.

We're not that close but it seems like he really cares for me.

"Go. Run for your life, baby."

That's the last words I only heard from him because I saw myself escaping from their mens.

"Please use this. Accept it." I lend his gun which he gave to me the last time that he tried to protect me.

At first, he was hesitant to keep it but I forced him to. So he heaved a heavy sigh as he accepted it.

For the last time, I hugged him.

I was reluctant to leave him but it was necessary. At first, I was hesitant but he decided to pushed me.

My heart hurt and before I ran, I heard a shot of deafening sound of gunshot inside the abandoned house.

I stopped where I was standing and looked back to where I had left him last.

One

Two

Three ...

I freezed. My heart pounded and I can hear my rapid breathing.

It was as if cold water had been poured on me after what I had heard. My hands and lips are trembling. Even my body is shaking and I felt my knees wobbled.

I covered my mouth in shock.

Realization hits me after I imagined what happened inside. Pain and anger slowly drifted into my chest after hearing those loud thud.

My eyes flooded with tears and a long sob escaped from my mouth.

'No, he's not dead.'

I sobbed which made my chest get heavier.

'He's not dead.'

'He is not!'

I shook violently and almost fell to my knees when I broke the run because I stepped on a sharp rock.

My hands are shaking because of the mixed emotions until it balled into fist thinking that he was shot repeatedly.

That night, the only and the last thing I felt is regret.

I watched how the blood flowed down my leg. I firmly bit my lower lip as I felt a sting.

Standing in the middle of dark and gloomy road— staring above. I cried in awe and I shut my eyes.

The moon and stars are shining brightly and as the cold wind air blows off. .

I regret leaving him there. I regret want happened. I regret everything.

Because this time I am here hiding.

I am hiding while watching those mens how they started to burn the old abandoned house.

"Amadeus ..."

My voice was completely shattered by the sob that came out of my mouth.

I watched on how they spilled a bottle of gasses and how the fire spread immediately on every corner where he is.

I watched on how the flames burned deep red and amber, almost livid purple and larges of intensed fire spread vigorously that enraged me.

I watched how the hot fire engulfed that place and how he burned inside.

And all I did is to resist. I forced myself not to go near them.

I cried silently and I let myself ate by excruciating pain. I mourned.

A few minutes passed but the fire only got louder and louder.

"Why are you just watching him, Ethelred? You're weak," I sobbed blaming myself and closed my eyes tightly.

I closed my eyes and as I felt my tears streaming down my cheeks, I opened my eyes.

I watched how the sky started to turn into a grayish one. I watched how little by little and one by one the water dripped from the sky.

The corners of my eyes warmed up again and I felt the rain.

And I promised to myself that I'll find whoever did this.

"They'll regret everything what they did. I am sure of that. I'll make them pay."

"They'll pay for what they did to you," I sobbed between pain and anger.

And without even knowing it, a gun is now pointed at me that came from nowhere.

Before I lost my sanity, I heard the man's last words that made me stilled.

"Farewell, Archimedes." he whispered as I heard him pulled the trigger.

And with that, a loud and deafening sound of a gunshot covers the whole place.

Zaschia

Those gunshots. Those screams of people. Those who are wearing a black suits.

"Ethelred ..." I heard a familiar voice called my name.

I looked at it quickly and the wrinkle on my forehead slowly disappeared when I realized who it was.

My jaw instantly dropped as I saw a man who's now urging me to escape that brought a pang into my chest.

"Amadeus?"

It didn't even registered into my mind that it was him. It was really him!

"I-Is that ... Amadeus!" I gasped as I saw him burning in pain because of con flagrant fire.

"What are you waiting for ?! I said go! Now! Leave me!" his angry voice thundered.

"What are you—"

I didn't continue what I said when the door closed immediately before I could go inside.

My breath accelerated as I immediately pulled the door but it's lock.

What's happening?!

"Amadeus, why— open it!"

I slammed the door quickly and forcefully but it remained closed until a fire spread.

I immediately stepped back because of shock and I can feel those tears that are now streaming down my face.

"Ethelred."

I sobbed backwards and shook quickly when I felt something hard from behind me that caused me to turn around quickly.

"Farewell, Archimedes."

My eyes widened when the pointed gun met me and before I could dodge it fired a loud shot.

"Ethelred!"

My eyelids opened immediately when I felt something shaking in both my shoulders so I quickly sat down.

Chasing my own breath, my chest pounded because of what I've seen.

My heart was beating fast until I felt its gradual pain.

It's been two years since we encountered what happened that night but those vivid memories swept back into my mind like a whirlwind.

My past keeps on haunting me and always make me feel guilty. I didn't save him.

It's been two years but until now I still carry that pain that caused fear and anger in my chest.

It's been two years but it seems like only yesterday.

"What is happening to you?"

I only realized when I heard the voice of our butler.

I looked up at him and saw how his eyes narrowed as he watched me.

"W-Nothing," I replied sparingly and his forehead furrowed even more.

"There ... Are you going to do something?" I asked softly and averted my eyes and turned my back on him to avoid his sarcastic look.

I cleared my throat so I can change the topic.

I began to fold the blanket I had used and scraped the bed I was lying on.

I admit, this kind of bed made me uncomfortable. I wasn’t used to hard beds in the first few days I arrived here.

All my life, I was used to living a luxurious life. Lying on a soft bed, having your own and comfortable room, eating delicious food, and so on.

But now, it's different. Everything turns upside down after what tragedy happened and I don't think I can still go back from where I am.

I am lost and everyone knows that I am already dead. They never mourned and as of now, I still have no news of Amadeus.

So in time I got used to this kind of life.

And now I know that the first time I came here, our butler noticed something strange that was strange to me, but he never asked.

He just let me think mentally but I also knew he was waiting for an answer.

She sighed. "The son of the owner of this mansion is coming so I want you to get ready."

I stopped rolling and adjusting the pillow when I heard that reason to get my attention.

Slowly, my brows furrowed. Gradually the center deepened on my forehead and I looked back at him.

"Did I think it was Monday, mom?" I asked crookedly and he shook his head and watched my reaction, which surprised me.

"It's early. You came out even before eight o'clock. It was later that night," he said seriously and looked down at my chest before turning his back on me.

When the door closed, I took a deep breath. I went straight to the cabinet and when I opened it, the mirror on the side opened up to me.

I faced the full-sized mirror and I stared at my own reflection. None of my own touched my hand on my chest and all that happened came back to me.

‘Nay Minerva has been good to me. As I went here in San Herrera, she's the one who offered me a work and I immediately agreed.

At first I lived in his house but I decided to look for a job and he offered me here.

It was only five months before I started but they treated me kindly.

I had nowhere else to go and I only had a necklace and a ring when I woke up.

It feels like I am stuck on a depths of nightmare where the fear and nostalgia are already present.

When I looked at my reflection my gaze slowly dropped to my neck.

I unconsciously stared at it as my hand drifted on a ring pendant of the heirloom necklace.

I touched and played it using my fingers as my eyes laid on it. I saw the diamond ring and I realized something that made my heart ached.

I immediately let go of the handle on the necklace and backed away from the mirror.

I choose to hide here in San Herrera by myself. Amadeus is already dead but I don't know why am still holding on.

I don't know why I am still wearing this, the fact that he can't save and find me anymore.

Maybe ... Maybe this is only my way of thinking him?

I know we were the last together. But it still hurts to think that he is gone.

I'm the only one who doesn't believe.

It's all over the news that the heir of El 'Rousseau is nowhere to be found.

Nowhere to be found.

The El 'Rousseau claimed he was missing but did not say he was dead.

I tightly closed my eyes and quickly closed the closet after I changed clothes.

I ponytailed my hair and as I went out, I walked along the hallway.

When I got out I caught up with my other colleagues who were busy cleaning but it was only here that their voices could be heard immediately.

As I walked and passed by the living room, I even saw the big and crystalline chandelier.

All windows are open and those fancy curtains were tied in both sidewards that made my forehead creased.

When I passed Landon he immediately smiled at me while my forehead remained furrowed.

"Good morning, Ethelred," he greeted. "Where are you going?"

"Good morning too. Just outside. I plan to help. I heard today that Sir Lucian's son has arrived," I explained and he nodded.

"What's up?" I asked as I looked out the window.

I saw those fancy tables. They were all set and covered by a black table cloth and designated chairs and a gold and black motif.

"Ah, now it's because Sir's son is coming. There will be social gatherings. Everything related to their businesses is invited."

I watched others I didn’t know manage outside. They were obviously busy raising an eyebrow at me.

That makes him special, huh? Anyway, I heard he hasn't visited here in a long time.

Sir Lucian and his wife really made way for their son to get there.

They even invited some of their apprentice and other elite people in terms of business world just to make sure that he'll attend.

"Uh, what are you doing here? You know Sir Lucian?" I asked as I turned my gaze to him

TO BE CONTINUED.....