Misery of Artemisia

Chapter 6: Life After Death

SOMETIMES, I'd rather choose to be quiet than to share the important information that I have. I know to myself that it's not my responsibility and I believe as well that they have a right not to care about my life. So why do I need to be so kind?

Hours passed, there's nothing changed, we're still here inside this shop to find the thing that I need. But on the other hand, my naughty brother keeps asking me why I still don't tell him the truth about the ink.

"Asshole! We have a deal, isn't it? So, whether you like it or not, we need first to find the ink that I am looking for. I will never give up until that ink isn't holding my hands yet." I disclosed before we walk once again.

In reality, I really do not have a plan to tell him about it. But the contact running in our blood is leading on my mind right now. I guess there's nothing wrong if I would tell him regarding that situation. On the other side, I still do not know the whole story about how my stepfather did it. And the last thing that totally ruining my mind is how he says that his relationship with my mother is a curse?!

"Hi! I noticed that both of you are revolving around our shop for so long. If it's just fine, what are looking for? Maybe I could help as a worker here." A lady who has a gold necklace with a bit of diamond spoke.

I saw nothing bad if we will ask for help. Maybe this is the time for us to discover the location of my stepfather's ink blood.

"The ink blood," I took a deep breath. "Could you help us to find that ink? But first, I wanna ask if you have an idea about it? Perhaps it's not the place where we could find that important thing."

Instead, we get a reply from her, she hastily pulled us bound to the corner of the bookshelves first without any consent came from us.

The hell?! What's wrong with us?

"What's your intention, huh? Would you kill us now?! Oh my god, hel-" He did not finish what he was going to say when the woman immediately covered my brother's mouth.

"Could you both please calm down your nerves?! I almost perplexed at what did you react. Just, please?" she begged amid our confusion.

Because of what she had been said, I suddenly felt calm.

"It's your fault, my dear. You pull us without our permission and then who will not be surprised by that?" my brother certainly said.

I almost produce a laugh by what my brother did. You're really bright, man.

"Let me explain first, okay? So, I did this rude thing with a purpose. Believe it or not, I know both of you. Because even me, I also got an invitation card from the Kingdom of Ashes. And, I have an ability now to know who are those people who got it as well mine."

After she spoke those words in front of us, I felt like my soul departed from my body.

I put my two hands in my chest then I looked at her face.

"You also got it?!" Rendev surprisingly asked.

The woman beside us just shows a nod.

My eyes also grew bigger than expected. I wanna run from her due to shocked, but of course, I wouldn't do that. It's a show of disrespect though.

"Okay. I'll calm down my nerves, go ahead. Explain what you want our ears to hear." I uttered, still taking out a sigh countless times.

"I'm glad to hear that," she took out a sigh as well. "The thing that possibly came from your stepfather isn't here. It's on his grave actually. There you could find it. It's now secretly placed on the edge of its tombstone. It was here after he was dying but it's eventually relocated on his grave. And he did it by himself, he made a way." She explained while we're looking at her serious grey eyes.

I didn't know why we're encountering this kind of happenings. It was all started when the invitation card came into our lives. And honestly, I never really thought of this.

The invitation card that I got is still here inside my sling bag. I don't know but whenever I left it inside my house, I totally feel uncomfortable. As if it has a huge part in my life.

My brother and I cannot believe that after the time that we spend in this shop, the thing that we will get is not a good one. But, on the other side, I suddenly think about what does Princess Brina told us. I never guess that the Princess will still be made a mistake. Perhaps it's just normal, I am just making myself stupid.

"Before we believe in you, give us first proof that you also got an invitation card from the Kingdom of Ashes. Or else, that will remain in our mind like a rub." I shrugged, my eyebrows met.

We stared at each other while the woman in front of us is giving the card that I asked for.

So, she really is?

And because of that, it makes my hands tremble and palsy. I blink countless times due to what currently seeing.

"Oh my god! My drowsy feelings were now gone because of that thingy. Is that really real? How comes that you--" I cut him.

"Let's just give her gratitude that she deserves. We do not have enough time to make some gossip. Instead, we should do immediate action now. As in now," I breathe while rubbing my hands. "Hmm, anyway, miss?"

She fixed her messed hair. "I am Melissa Brielle, oh, sorry, I forgot to tell," she grinned. "By the way, I was really felt glad that I met both of you, especially that you also got an invitation card. I am hoping to see you guys on the said Kingdom. I know that we will see together in that place soon. See you in life after death." After she tell those words, she kept walking away in our direction.

Honestly speaking, we left confused and with no idea placed in our head since Melissa stated it. Our mind gets more dazed especially on the last thing that she has been said. That we would see once again in life after death?

What she wants us to realize then?

So that the mess won’t make us die, I decided to immediately go to the cemetery where my stepfather buried. It is located on the Brookwood Cemetery in the United Kingdom. As far as I know, it is also known as the London Necropolis wherein it is also the largest cemetery in the UK.

“Do you know what’s the exact location where your stepfather buried? F*ck off! I’m tired of finding that thing. Can we please get some hiatus? Just a moment, please? Feel some pity for me, my sister Art.” He begged like a pathetic child. His eyes are blinking, trying to catch my attention.

For the reason that I easy to feel ruth, especially that he’s my brother, that’s why I’ve no choice just to grant his wants. What an asshole!

Before we landed on the said cemetery, we first went to Costa Coffee to refresh ourselves. Of course, I am the one who threatened him with a cup of coffee.

"This is the best coffee that I've ever tasted! You're truly a great sister to me," he acted with a twist of cry. As if he really cries on it? F*ck you, brother.

We spend there for almost two hours to the point that we almost forget to go to the cemetery. Actually, we talk a lot of gossip scenarios in our past life. He talked with me like we get together since he was born, likewise on me. At that moment, I start to realize how complicated his life is when I am still not on his journey. As a matter of fact, his life before is tougher than the life I have with my mom. In the first place, I do not believe in his thoughts. But as seconds pass by, I gradually understand how terrible his life is while he’s still living within himself.

He lives independently starting when my dad passed away. And by that time, he’s just 8 years living above the world. He’s still an innocent child that trying to live without any idea how the life he has will move. But if I am with him at that time, I will undoubtedly help show how I really care about his existence. That’s how I wanted to show my love for my brother.

At some point, I even tried to imagine myself to put his situation on mine. I know it’s impossible because it’s past scenery. But I just tried for me to know how life hard is to live without any parents or guardians beside to care for you. Nevertheless, I also felt down when the sad memories I had with my mom are slowly coming into my mind.

Despite the fact that I still love her as my mother, still, I felt more traumatized more than the love that I should show her. Could she blame me to feel that way? Sorry mom, but, you better fix yourself first before I treat you the way child’s need.

“How’s your relationship with your mom?” he questioned while we’re currently walking to find the way to the Brookwood Cemetery.

I gave him a sigh. “To be honest, I don’t want to talk about that. Because what will I expect? There would be nothing changed, we’re still not in a good relationship. And she’s the one who made a mess between us. She never treats me as her child, she also even told me back then that she has a plan to abort me.” The tears in my eyes begin to come out. “My own mother never treat me the way the real mother does. So, now, tell me, am I a nasty kind of daughter? Did I treat her the wrong way? Is it my fault to live with a witch mom?!” I tried to calm down and not to voice out those kinds of statements. But in the end, I do not control my feelings. I let those come out due to the extreme guilt that I was feeling.

“I sincerely apologize, Artemisia. I should never be asked about that again, I will. Just please, be the strong Artemisia that I know. And besides, I believed that you can be a better woman despite the challenges that you’ve been encountered. Look at me. Even though I cannot say that I am fully a strong man, but still I can prove that I am not the man that people judge before. I stand out. I made the new version of me, I made myself stronger, Art. Hopefully, you can do it as well as I did. I know that you can. Just prove it, not because of me as your brother, but because of yourself,” he pointed to the chest of mine. “I can’t wait to see the new and stronger version of my sister, Artemisia.” While I am staring at his sincere eyes, I can’t control my tears to let out. By that, he gives me a tight hug that makes me calm a little bit.

I wanna close this topic. But whenever I remember what he had been advised, I start to realize how grateful and lucky I am to have him.

“Thanks for bringing me up to the positive side of my life. I am really glad to have a smart, kind, and lovable brother. You deserved to love back. You gave me a reason to live despite the anxiety that I am currently suffering from.” I showed him a wide smile reaching my ear.

A while ago, we collect all the information on how could we go to the place that we need to bound. We asked numerous people just to have enough knowledge about it. By this time, we are now ready to find the ink blood of my stepfather. I am ready to know the truth behind it. And lastly, I am now confidently ready to know more about real-world fantasy.