Feeling the comforting warmth within her fade away, Ting sat up. Her eyes were wide open. Her clenched fists gripped the blankets around her. She looked around, analyzing her room as she tried to steady her heartbeat.

  She sighed.

  Everything seemed fine, even though she still had the feeling she was forgetting something.

  — Noah..? — she called, but the darkness didn't answer.

  Wasn't I hit by the elder's attack? She examined her body as she slid to the edge of the bed, realizing there were no injuries or scars. Could that have been an illusion too? Was there another barrier in the cave?

  Ting stood up and walked to the door. Her body didn't ache, not even her bitten shoulder, which now showed no sign at all.

  Or did Noah do something...? Did he save me again?

  The door felt colder than usual and uncomfortable to touch. When she pushed it, there was no sound, but the structure itself and even her body seemed to resist moving forward.

  It was not the tree she found.

  — A-Aunt Ling...? — Blood dripped from her palms and stained her clothes.

  It was such a familiar scene. The tears came before she even noticed. The blood slowly stopped flowing. And with gentle touches, that smile still tried to comfort her.

  — It's alright, Ting'er... It's all- I just need to rest...a little...

  And again, she was unable to help her.

  — So weak... — The oppressive voice reached her, making her body freeze. Her tears stopped mid-air. — How does it feel to be so pathetic and useless?

  The last thing she could see were glowing red eyes at the edge of the bed, staring at her.

  Ting woke up once again, her breathing heavy and irregular. Her chest refused to beat as it should, writhing in pain and agony.

  She looked at the door, desperate, and didn't leave. Maybe the room was a safe place where she wouldn't be tormented. Yes, maybe.

  I-I'm dreaming. Yes, I—

  Maybe...

  The blood reached her once again.

  She witnessed so many deaths repeat themselves. Ling was no longer alive, but still, it hurt. It made her question the reality she found herself in.

  Maybe this was also...

  She didn't know anymore. Certainty didn't exist for anything in her mind now, except for the exhaustion. She was far too tired to try anything. She knew that, from above, eyes were watching her and the ending couldn't be changed. Ling would die again and again, always in her arms.

  Please, I can't take it anymore. I... Bringing her hands up to her neck, she gave up. Please... let me be...

  And after darkness blinked once more, she awoke to it again.

  She curled up, trembling and in tears. She no longer remembered how long she had been crying. How many times had she seen that scene repeat? She couldn't say. But she knew it was about to happen again. In the distance, footsteps approached the room where she was. Once again, the killer was coming for her.

  Knock! Knock! Knock!

  The change made her hesitate. Maybe, just maybe, she was free from the hell that haunted her? Maybe — Noah...? — but how could she be sure without risking seeing that scene happen again? She didn't want to.

  Please...

  She didn't believe she could take any more.

  The door opened with a strange noise she barely noticed. What truly mattered to her was the constant approach — Please, stop. I can't take this anymore... — she whispered, refusing to check the truth hidden by the darkness — Just leave me alone, please...!

  The footsteps stopped, hesitating, making her strange. However, that was not as surprising as the words she heard next — Ting... are you feeling anything? Are the wounds still hurting?

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  The voice was the same, but the tone was completely different. There was emotion in every word. Should she believe it? Was she finally awake? She hoped so. No, she didn't want to be wrong. She scratched her arms with her nails and, in response, felt the trembling palm holding her. Was she being stopped from hurting herself? If so, now there could only be one person around her who would react like that.

  — Why—?

  Yes, those eyes that, deep down, she found beautiful, could not deceive her. They were real. He was definitely there. She was awake. Be it the heartbeat, the coldness of his body or his rigidity, all of it only confirmed her certainty. Especially the restrained attempts to comfort her with caresses. She already knew where those came from at this point.

  — Are you alright? — she nodded, but didn't let go — Are you in pain anywhere?

  She shook her head.

  Noah swallowed hard, holding her by the shoulders. His hands trembled while he tried to appear firm.

  — Can you step back for a moment now?

  Hesitating, Ting squeezed him tightly. She held on and stood still. Little by little, she loosened her embrace. She stepped back. But she grabbed one of his hands. She still needed something to help her believe this was real, that she was home. That she would not be abandoned again. Her eyes shone with new tears forming.

  — I- — His throat closed. For an instant, Noah remembered how he always found it easy to apologize — I'm sorry... — he murmured, forcing the words out.

  For him, "sorry" was never a word that carried much weight. It was just part of the act, something he said as if reciting a script. But there, in front of her, his hands lacked their usual steadiness. His throat felt dry and scratchy with every word that passed.

  — Because of me, you — his voice faltered, then he took a breath. He held it, — I shouldn't have let you get hurt. If you want to- No..., I think you should hate me for this...

  Ting watched him silently. Noah didn't want to look her in the eyes out of shame, but what he was saying wasn't important to her. She didn't see it the same way.

  — Thank you... — she said, giving a teary smile. She put his hand to her face, knowing it would make him look at her. — Thank you for not letting me die. For saving me even when I insisted on putting myself in danger. How could I hate you for that?

  Taking her hand, Noah caressed the scar — ...I hate myself... — he said, kissing her— and I don't want this to happen again.

  — Why..? — she blurted out. Even though she knew she wasn't well. She wasn't ready. And this definitely wasn't the right time, Ting still needed an answer. — Why do you care so much about me? — She'd rather know, even if the answer wasn't a pleasant one.

  Noah looked into her eyes, thoughtful. — I don't know. — There could be no more honest answer in his mind. — When I saw you for the first time, I just... knew. I was sure I should stay always by your side. That this is the only way I can be truly happy.

  She opened her mouth, but said nothing. That went far beyond what she had ever imagined. Not even her jokes about love at first sight had gone that far.

  Those didn't feel like words of affection. She could feel the weight in them. And she wasn't sure if Noah realized it or not.

  The way she saw him and how she had planned to use him now seemed so wrong. Thinking she was using and dismissing something like this, she couldn't get rid of the bitter taste that brought her. Ting never thought she would feel anything like this. And she knew she couldn't, not after just one encounter.

  This sounds more like a declaration of devotion...

  So maybe they weren't real in the end, and that was what she feared. If Noah didn't love her that way, in his eyes, what made her any different from the other people he simply ignored?

  Can he see this? And if not... should I say something?

  — Noah, you- — her voice faltered. Holding his hand, she continued — Have you ever thought that... maybe these feelings aren't real...? You said you were brought to this world, that something strange is happening around you, so — she stopped as cold fingers touched a scar on her belly.

  — All the time, — he admitted. — Ever since I first felt it, I've been questioning it. But I don't care.

  — No? You don't care about being deceived or used?

  — Not if it's by you. — Ting held her breath as her heart suddenly pounded. — But do you know why I say this? Because I have a choice, Ting. Even if these feelings were planted in me by someone else, I can choose to be with you or not. I'm not forced to.

  Clenching her teeth tightly, she looked away. — But that also means what you feel for me isn't real, but manipulated by something.

  — No, to me it's real. It is because I chose to accept it. And also — Noah touched her face, hoping she would look at him. But even so, he couldn't — I don't think I could ever feel even a part of this any other way.

  — For me?

  He shook his head. — For anyone else... I know you went through tough times growing up, and with me it was no different. In fact, most of the time, it was the same. — The smile that appeared on his lips was cold and painful. Ting felt the contrast to his gentle touches on her face. — I wasn't taught to love, it was denied to me from the beginning. I didn't have time for friends, as my life was all books. Want to know why I hate sweets? Because there were times when I couldn't sleep. Not because I didn't want to, but because I wasn't allowed. On those days, sweets were used to keep me awake with their energy boosts, just like coffee, tea, and later, energy drinks.

  Taking him by the hand, Ting led Noah to the bed. She had made him open up, but now she wasn't sure if that was the right decision. She didn't know if, like her, he wasn't ready to talk about it. The tremors coming to her from him told her he wasn't.

  She laid him down, then hugged him. His face was at her chest, and she didn't mind. She hadn't even noticed. — I didn’t come here searching for power or something grand, Ting. I just want to reach the top because I know if I don’t, I’ll never be truly free. — Ting stroked his hair while listening closely. — I came here because I wanted to change, to be something different from what I was made to be. But... it’s really hard... I couldn't just start caring about others just because I'm living a new life, seeing new places, and meeting people I’d never have connected with before. I'm certain that if I stayed alone, I’d never leave the place I was in.

  Ting felt him move, and then looked in his direction. Their eyes met. — That’s why I believe that out of everything that's happened or might happen to me in this world, meeting you will always be the greatest and best of them all.