Casket of Lights

Chapter 9 : Old Flame

Rossé Lilybeth's POV

“They say your mind followed by your body revels the depth of your well-being. Acting on a life and death situation your reckless move will tell if someone means to you.”

Loud noises of the children along with their wails echoed the area. It was as if my chest tightened and felt heavy as if a big rock had prevented all the air to passed through of my lungs.

It was as if I was on a slow-motion sensor when I gazed at Redhair who bolted upright to catch Mr. Kim. “Target’s on the move.”

“What’s wrong with you?” The coppery scent of blood lingered through the air. I took a step back as I almost stumbled into my place. 

“Call an ambulance!” I yelled as I ran towards Clinfort’s body. “Why did you take that bullet?” I shut my eyes closed momentarily. Hey! Just look at me, keep your eyes open,” I gently slapped his cheeks. All I could see was he was slowly blinking with his eyes.

“Ambulance are on their way,” Stan voice echoed into my ears.

I was not afraid of ambulances, but I was terrified of the site of seeing a person fighting for his life. “Clinfort – ” I kept searching for his pulse’s points. I instantly placed my middle and index finger on his wrists as I felt relieved as he was still breathing. “ – Hold on.”

Minutes after, I could hear the sirens from the ambulance, loud, prolonged sound which justified danger. The sound of the patrol cars and the siren of the ambulance hung on the surroundings.  I saw the nurses and the aids swiftly went through the right side of the deceased Kizumi as another team went to Clinfort.

Redhair’s face hardened. “We did the right thing.”

“But it cost me everything, Redwood.”

He patted my back as we walked at the nearest bench. “I never understood that.”

The windy morning welcomed our existence as the sun had just risen, hues of orange and pink was painted in the sky while still raining snow.

“What should we do?” I heard Redhair spoke at the other line.

Stan with his high-pitched voice uttered, “Abort ya’ mission. Be careful.”

“Copy that,” I answered, shutting my eyes.

“Alright, ya’ let’s make it quick.” I heard Stan uttered at the other line. “We need to move on to plan B after everything settled.”

“Roger that,” Redhair said, pacing back and forth, line appeared between his brows.

Moment of silence when I heard Stan spoke once again, giving another instruction to his crew. “Delta, move and start tracking.” He paused for a while and said, “Rosse, I’m almost there.”

I scrunched my face after I heard a long static feedback. When will this stop? My eardrums were pleading to make the noise stop. 

I looked heavenward, watching the snow as it gently fell from my face. “It was my fault,” I whispered.

He chuckled. “Yeah, I think so too.” He paused for a while, recomposing himself. “With your badass thinkin’, you almost get us killed.”

“Sure thing, thanked me later if we got killed both.” I laughed.

I felt like time begun to freeze as it slowly begun to lose tract its meaning. It felt like I am at a passage of time where everything went so fast, and the only thing that I could see was a bright color passing.

“Stan!” I glanced at his back and saw a white C8 corvette car. Stan walked along with the soft breeze making his towering hair sway back and forth. I looked away as I fought the urge to laugh.

“Perhaps, y’all just take a lil’ rest.” Stan walked to us, with his left hand, crossing his middle and index finger as both of his thumb and pinky finger was also raised. “Let the seniors handle this for a while.”

I smiled at him, copying what he did. “Thought you forgot about it,” I blurted.

“Why would I forget what I taught ya’?”  

“Memory gap?” Stan looked at me like I did something wrong. I glanced at Redhair for back up he looked away and laughed at us.

Minutes had passed when we decided to take a rest and refreshed ourselves. I could still hear loud sirens at the site and all the people at the orphanage went back to their own business.

I climbed at Redhair’s car and asked,  “Where are we going?”

It was as if he turned off his hearing voice that he did not respond to my question, instead he swiftly drove the car away from the area. It was at most twenty blocks down the street tucked between a little park and a deserted area when Redhair spoke once again.

“Don’t tell, Stan, I bring you here,” he said, scratching his nose.

My brows creased as I puffed out my chest. “Why?”

Fear crossed his face. “He will surely get mad.” He jerked away before letting a sigh.

After crossing the small passage like tunnel, Redhair stopped the car at a minimalist exterior designed  building. My eyes landed at the simple palettes and designs that were coupled with clean, crisp angles, and lines. The absence of ornament, removing the extraneous objects made me froze for a while. It looks refreshing and luxurious at my sight.

Redhair stopped for a while before he asked, “How’s your stomach?”

“Been stinging,” I blew a sigh before I massaged my tummy.

For a while, I watched him look at me like he was scanning through out my bones, hoping that he could decrypt my memory.

“Sure you don’t want to examine that?” His eyes beamed with concern.

I shrugged my shoulders and replied, “Yeah. I’m okay.”

We walked past the security as they greeted Redhair with a smile. As we walked towards the stairs, the neutrals with primary colors and bold color contrasts, made my mouth dropped.

After turning right, we saw staffs who were practicing shooting. Up into the next room, it was consistent. Their designs were fresh, elegant and have a sense of simplicity with subtle. It was as if I was inside of a museum and not a headquarters. All the tables and the offices were geometric patterned.

“Two hits left target and two hits right target with primary weapon switching to  secondary weapon,  one hit each the reactive target,” Redhair narrated. “You have seen me reload the gun with just a hand, right?” He paused for a while, locking his gaze at me.

“Yeah, like a while ago,” I said, nodding while shifting my attention at their range of shooting.

He walked at the nearest table and picked up an MP - 443 Granch pistol and kneeled.“Step forward, pinch empty gun in the back of your knee, grab mag with leftover hand and reload. Rack parallel to sole. You get me?”

I crossed my arms, levelling up into my chest and let a soft laugh. “Maybe, we can take a time learning that.”

He patted my head. “Alright, let’s do a basic one.” He chuckled, giving me his gun that he had picked. “Reassemble main parts, load, and do five shots.”

My smile faded. “What if I missed?” My hands were shaking as I took the gun.

“You have to try first, take risks,” he said, while grabbing a headphone.

I took a sharp breath and said, “Easy for you to say.”

“Believe me, I’ve done that before.” He pinched the bridge of his nose as he guided my stance, facing at the shooting range. “You can’t learn if you haven’t tried yet,” he said before placing a headphone at my ears.

After several tries of me not hitting the bull’s eye, he stood up and walked at the next door. The modern interior designs with monochrome palettes flashed into my eyes, with hints of blue primary color. It was not cold but rather I could feel warm and comforting feeling without being too loud or bold. This is one perfect masterpiece.

He reached his pants and extended his hand with his black card. “Let’s take a break.” He sat at the nearest white sofa before he continued. “I know your exhausted.”

I coughed at his stupidity.  “Then, why did you bring me here?” I asked, furrowing my brows at him.

Redhair looked away, ears turning red. “I don’t know where to bring you.”

I accepted his card and walked at the nearest vending machine full of chips and chocolates.

“Coffee or soft drinks?” I looked at him, but his face frowned as a response.

“Water may do,” he replied.  

After picking up a can of soft drink and the water, I sat beside him. I watched him opened his bag and grabbed a bar of chocolate as his face beamed with light. The corner of my lips turned up, “Chocolates for a break?” I asked, smiling big and wide. “Where’s mine?” I added.

“Not my chocolates, grab something at my bag,” he said,

I squinted my eyes at him and yelled, “You’re so mean!” I rolled my eyes as I snatched his bag from his lap.

His eyes lit up, brows moving up and down. “I’m a mode,” he said before taking a bite. But as if on cue, his face suddenly turned sour.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, brows drew together.

Tears instantly formed in his eyes. “I bit my tongue.”

“Suits you right.” My loud laughs filled the four corners of the room that some staffs rushed towards us.

Was it me or his eyes were pleasingly beautiful? They said, if one stares long enough, the colors might blur and become distorted, blending at the ends, revealing their own meaning. But I could say, it was not for all.

“What would you choose?” I blurted out as my eyes averted to the fluorescent clock that hanged near the mirrored window. “Being a fighter or a lover?” I could hear the soft sound of a plastic being folded and kept. I gazed at him, waiting for his answer.

“If I would fight for my lover, then I will become a fighter.” He nodded, gazing at the transparent mirror, as the sun was showing its beauty as it rises. “If there is a need to fight, then I had to,” he said.

Out of curiosity, my eyebrows waggled and asked, “Have you fallen in love before?”

“Not yet.” His voice hardened but his eyes flashed a mourn.

I took a sharp breath. “You’re in love with boys?” I chuckled. “I mean there’s nothing wrong with it.”

“No. It’s not what I meant.” He closed his eyes shut as the corner of his lips smiled. “I have met this girl when I was still young.” As he opened his eyes, his gaze locked at mine. “She told me to be happy for myself. When I had to choose my happiness, I had to let her go. Foolish, isn’t it?” he said.

“Letting go may be your best option…if you really want to achieve happiness,” I answered.

At the same way, it was as if an angel passed by, making our environment so quiet that only the howling and the soft noises lingered through the air.

He gave a brief little smile, eyes twinkling, shifting as if the swirl of jet black were changing direction. “So, I had to question myself, that the person is either going to be the one I marry or the reason why I never dated again,” Redhair continued. His eyes beamed with burn. “I had to admit, I become attracted to another person.” He paused for a while, taking a soft sigh before continuing,” But she cheated on me.”

I nodded, eyes shifting towards the busy staffs walking back and forth. “Did you give her another shot?”

His smile slipped from his mouth and said, “Giving someone a second chance is like giving them another bullet because they have missed the first one.” He looked heavenward. “And sometimes, the person you would take bullet for ends up being the person behind the gun.”

I gnashed my teeth as I swirled the can. “Perhaps, she saw something from another person that you’re lacking that’s why she chose to give you up,” I uttered.

Pain was evident in his voice. “Why would she have needed someone when I almost gave up my everything?” He let a sly laugh. “If you could see it from my point of view, you would understand why.”

I glanced at the mirror and saw that awe crossed my face. “I never expected that from you,” I said, heart racing miles a minute.

“Let’s have a bet,” he uttered that made me held my gaze at him.  

I laughed. “You sure about that?”

“I’ll give you everything that you’ll want,” he said. He pinched the bridge of his nose and added, “But you have to defeat me first.”

My brows knitted. “And why do I have to do that?” I crossed my arms up to my chest.

“I want you to become stronger.” His voice became softer than usual and continued, “from any fights or flights,” he mumbled.

The concern on his eyes made my heart increase its beat. “It’s a deal then,” I uttered.

Redhair drew nearer. “Of course, call.” The corner of his lips formed into a smile. “Then we will conceal that.”

I have the sudden urge to close my eyes. But I jumped at my seat, making me open my eyes, when he poked my head using both his middle and index finger.

I felt a sudden heat going at my face. “What was that for?” I asked, furrowing my brows.

I sat there; jaw dropped. My mind turned empty, blank, and as if on a new slate. His action washed over me like I was on a cold tide to the point that I could not fathom them.

“Our little deal,” Redhair chuckled as he stood from his seat. “Let’s go, Stan’s might be worried sick about you,” he said, walking ahead of me while his left hand was on his pocket.

“I think, I’ll take the stairs.” I looked down as I walked at the different direction.

“Why? C’mon, Ocean.”

I heard Redwood said before grabbing my wrist.

“Redwood!” I screamed. Tears started to dwell up from my eyes. The black colored elevator at the middle door sent shivers to my spine.

It was blur. All I could see was plain black even though I could see faint bright fluorescent. “Get me out of here! I am scared! Please, I can’t breathe.” I closed my eyes momentarily, trying to catch my breath at the confined space. “I –  I am having a panic attack.”  “Please, get me off here!”

I was caught off guard when Redhair instantly grabbed me by my wrists as my head landed on his chest.

It was as if I was glued at my spot when a flashback flashed into my mind.

“No, please, Sister! Please don’t do this!” I shoved my bruises away from her position, hoping that she would never hit me. “Haver mercy! I don’t wanna stay there!” I screamed while she was pushing me to enter a cold cemented cellar.

“Enough!” Sister Aurora screamed that echoed at the long dark passageway.

Sister Aurora landed her hands at my fresh wound that made me yelled at my place. Tears ran down my face as my left hand was hugging my stomach. “I am hungry, sister. It was other kids’ fault, it wasn’t mine.” My voice broke, pleading. “Please!”

“You have broken all the rules and now you are blaming them!” She screamed, pinching my old wound at my arm. “Where are your manners?” She paused for a while, forcefully pushed me inside, making me fall at the cold concrete. “We raise children with respect and integrity!”

I ran towards the door as she quickly locked with the piece of metal in her pocket. “Please don’t leave me here!” I peeped at the round hole.

“I’ll release you early in the morning,” she uttered before turning her back at the door.  

I could still hear her footsteps until it faded every seconds. “I can’t breathe!” I yelled, hoping someone could save me. “Sister! Please unlock this.” I rubbed my open wound as it kept bleeding. “Francine!” “Peter!” I tried to call their names, but no one dared to listen. “Anyone! I’ll do every chore, just please don’t leave me here!” I cried.  

“Yelling won’t help you,” a voice said that made me jumped into my place.

 “What are you doing here?” I rubbed my eyes as I gaze at the small silhouette of a boy. “Who are you?” I repeated.

He cleared his voice first before answering. “Red –.”

“Red – ?” I cut him off. When the rays of the moon hit him, I studied his face. His hair was red as a pine wood. That is right! It suits his name. The corner of his lips turned up as it reached his right scar. “ – like your hair?” I continued.

“Nice to meet you.” He stretched out his hand in front of me and smiled. “Ocean.”

My brows furrowed, easing the pain from my wounds. “Ocean? I have my name!” I yelled, biting my lower lip, fighting the urge to punch him.

“I know.” He chuckled as he looked at my eyes. “But your eyes were like the ocean…blue and bright.”

Instead of replying, I gazed at the old cellar. Cobwebs were still hanging at the corners of the room and the cold breeze were blowing at the opened window. 

“Cool! Now we’re friends,” he blurted out.

My gaze shifted at him once again. “Who told you that I am already your friend?”

“Myself.” He stood with his chin held high as his teeth were showing.

The small window blew the air. There was a small rectangular box in this seemed to be a cellar, so I instantly scanned the surroundings to find a little support. The corner of my lips turned up as I saw the moon hanged brightly at the horizon like a sun’s flaming touch as the wind howled together with the sound of crickets.

“What are you doing here?” I asked. The bitter breeze embraced my face that caused my ghostly breath to float within the air. A gust of wind swept past the nearby trees, creating a sound much like a surf as the leaves ruffled. I felt relieved for a moment.

“I missed cleaning my room for a day,” he said.

“They’re the real definition of evil,” I replied.

We remained quiet as we both looked at the crescent moon. As I glanced at him, he looked at me straight in my eyes and let a soft sigh. “Yeah, like 4D.” He gritted his teeth while the corner of his lips turned up.

I instantly hid my discolored skin on my legs as he glanced at it. I shifted my position to hide the wound on my knees as it beamed red.

“Do you want a chocolate?” He instantly reached for his pockets and gave a bar of chocolate.  

“How about you?” I was about to utter another word when I heard his growling stomach that both of us laugh. “Your little dragon inside your tummy’s been churning too. Half-half?”

He patted my head and said, “Half-half.”

“What are you doing here?” I instantly cleaned my hands, rubbing at my shirt. “I mean, this orphanage. Would you mind telling me why?” I asked before accepting the bar of chocolate.

“Probably same as your reason.” He looked at my wound and started tearing the hem of his shirt.

My eyes landed at him as he tied the piece of cloth to my wounded arm. “But why?” I mumbled thanks before I continued. “You have a choice whether to stay or not,” I said, giving him half of the chocolate.

He took a bit of his chocolate before answering, “I’d chose to stay because of my colleagues.” He paused, leaning at the concrete wall. “I only seek happiness for them,” he said, flashing his genuine smile.

I stretched out my legs as I kept gazing at the rays of the moon as it entered the room. “If you want to make the people around you happy, you must find your own happiness first.” I took a deep breath before I continued. “It was not because you are selfish.”

“It wasn’t easy. It wasn’t that hard either,” he said finishing the last bite of his chocolate. “But you see, I have my ways to save myself.” Not that long, he started humming.  

I nodded, listening at his point. “Try to think about your happiness when things become so unclear and fuzzy,” I continued.

He clasped his hands at his back and replied, “I know.”

“But you can’t save a two-drowning person at the same time,” I uttered, smiling. My eyes widened as a cloud passed by the moon, hiding its rays. As if on cue, Red extended his arms as I felt my head landed on his chest.  

The sound of the elevator click made me back to my senses. I could not remember his voice and face anymore.  

Among the pieces of my memory left inside my head, I was still thinking about the correlation. Why does the world seem so small? Or was fate throwing random sketches into the air, trying to make me recall my old memories. Or perhaps, my angels were giving me a significance or a meaning?

A line appeared between my brows when I glanced at Redhair who was smiling as his beads of sweat ran down to his cheeks. I blinked. I saw a little scar in his right cheek. Red.