THE WRONG PERSON
ZARYA'S POV
"Possibly the bastard slept with random women again." Caspian crossed his thighs. He was settling on the swivel chair and moving it back and forth.
"Perhaps." Bram talked back.
They were talking about Trace Hendrix. They had no idea that their friend was in my belly. My wolf from eaten him and that felt so satisfying. That would be going to happen to Caspian when I had the chance.
"Zarya, did you see the bastard Trace?" Bram asked me.
"Nope, Sir." I moved my head from left to right.
"Poor bastard. Probably, he is heartbroken because of the death of his favorite girlfriend." Caspian chuckled as if the death of a person was just a joke to him.
I gritted my teeth as I was typing something on the monitor. I held the mouse tightly when I heard Bram talk. "He's devastated last time. Take women doubled. Maybe he really loves Amari Ledes."
I bit my lips. If he really loved her. Why did he kill her? Nope. The monster could not love, they had no hearts.
"Zarya?"
"Yes, Sir?" I gazed up my look to Bram.
"You can go home early and visit the funeral of your best friend." Bram was acting worried to me again. I thought he cared about his sister's friend? Why did he seem not to care about her at all?
"I appreciate it, Sir."
My look settled on Bram. Did he seem not affected? I was thinking he was protecting
me because I am his sister's best friend but to Amari? Does he try to save her with his monster friend? I guessed not. If he did, Amari should be alive until now.
*****
"Aren't you going near?" Colden asked me.
We were far from Amari's burial. I was gazing at the people. They were all wearing white shirts. Her mother and father were crying with their heart out. I should not hear as this scene weakened my body. I needed to take all the courage to stand bravely. To look at them with my eyes clear, without tears. The last time I talked to her, she was so happy, telling me about Trace Hendrix. She loved him so much, but why did he kill her? Why!
"If you were in my position…" I never looked at Colden, my eyes were just straight. "What would you want to remember?" I paused, moving my head up in the sky. "Her smiling face or her dead body slowly covered with soil?"
"I better choose her smiling face. It can maybe hurt me, but at least she looks beautiful in my last memory." Colden stretched his lips while he raised his two fingers. Gesturing a peace sign. "Peace. I should've asked."
"No harm caused, King Ice. It's just…" I touched my chest, massaging it slowly as I was prohibiting my tears to come down. "The pain is suffocating my chest. My loved ones died, they were slowly dying and leaving me alone. It…" My gentle massage in my chest turned into a tight hold. "It hurts… so much."
"Can I massage it for you?"
In the middle of my grief, I chuckled. "You wanna lay next to my best friend?"
Colden gave me a big smile. He touched my cheek, leaned my head on his shoulder, and kissed my forehead. "I am always here for you. No matter how difficult it is. This is not because of your father's last will, but because… you're my favorite person… Seeing you like this makes me furiously mad and in pain."
"Hmm. But can't still kill a person?" I chuckled, but that was the saddest chuckle I had ever done.
"Don't pretend you are not hurt. The degree of suffering will be felt even more." He caressed my hair, up and down.
In the past days, Colden was the only person I could lean on. He was so nice. Everything that I was looking for in a guy. A handsome feature, gentleman, careful when touching me, saying sorry when he did wrong, even if he does not do wrong. Maybe I could work it out for him. For us.
"I'm sorry, Zarya. I need to go back to the Elemental Kingdom. Father needs me."
"When?" My head leaning on his shoulder moved up to glimpse at him.
"Tonight." He blew a loud sigh. "I can call one of my brothers to一"
"No, I'm great. Don't waste their time for me. I can manage myself."
"You are sad and broken. There should be a person who'll look after you."
"You're so thoughtful." I wrapped my hands on his shoulder. "No worries. I swear I'm good. I just need a rest."
"Sure?" His eyes were full of worriedness.
"Yeah."
I watched the people in the burial slowly walking away. The only person left was her mother and father.
"Let's go." Amari's father was gently pulling her wife. Instead of going with him, she sat on the grass instead and hugged it.
"No! The daughter should bury her parents in the ground, not the parents who see her daughter covered with soil! Am I a bad mother to her! Am I!" Her sob never lessen. It became louder.
I could see my parents to them. My father, mother, and my brother. I knew that pain, the suffering, the sorrow… even if you slept at night or breathe well, or you walked in the paradise, we could not change the fact that they died and they would never be next to us no matter how we wished for. We could not touch them, speak to them, kiss and hug them. We could not bring back the past. I wished that I do things I wanted with them every single moment, so I had no regret.
I slowly walked to them. That was the time, I down my knee and joined Amari's mother to cry.
"Zarya?" Her mother knew me because after school we went to their house. Sometimes, overnight, sleep there. "I thought you died?"
"I hope I died, therefore I am with my family now." I held Mrs. Ledes' hand. "I have nothing, but you…" I gazed at Mr. Ledes. "You have him. You still have one to be treasured."
She stopped sobbing. She settled her eyes on her husband. Mr. Ledes was full of tears, too, but he managed to be strong for her wife.
I removed my hand from her. "Please be safe always. Take care of each other because that's what Amari wants." My voice was cracked. "I assured you… she already got the justice to what happened to her." I hugged her so tight and whispered. "He died in the most torture way. Painful than what Amari suffered." She was shocked when she gazed at my eyes. I gave her a small smile. "He suffered until no piece was left of him. He is totally extinct in this world."
She cupped my cheek. "I don't know what are you talking about, but your words soothe me. Thank you, Zarya."
I nodded my head before I left her. I did what should I be supposed to do. I was about to be gone in her vision when she called me. "Zarya!"
I looked back at her. "Do you know Trace Hendrix?" I shut my mouth. She placed a paper in my hand. "I saw this to Amari's things. Maybe you can do something about this?"
I did not speak up. I just moved my head in an upright direction. I opened the piece of paper.
Is this a letter?
To my beloved Amari Ledes,
Hello, Sweetie!
I can't speak up. You do not belong to my world. Your heart is pure and gentle. Your smile makes me stay, nevertheless, I am not the man you know. I am a man full of darkness. I can't be as gentle. I hope you understand why am I saying farewell.
I truly love you. I love you to the moon, stars, and planets, and go back to the earth. I will forever love you and if this is the only way to keep you safe I will grab it.
Please don't go to my place anymore. Stay away from me. Stay where you are and do not involve yourself with me anymore.
Yours faithfully,
Trace Hendrix
I almost collapsed when I read the message.
No way! I killed the wrong person.