Misery of Artemisia

Chapter 3: Tomorrow

WHILE I am walking in Disco Street, the princess I saw last night cannot expunge in my mind. I'm still thinking about her thoughts and how she gets inside and outside of the card.

"One decade, ten years to think about it. Am I ready to get inside of immortal world?" I questioned myself while turning around my head. If I wasn't wrong, this street is the place where I met my only friend, he is Stephen. Unfortunately, I do not come across him again for the reason that he died due to her severe illness.

"Hmm, is that you Art?" A familiar young man asked me when I reached the cafeteria.

"My order is just-"

"Artemisia! Is that you?!" He gladly asked once again.

How did he know my name? I'm here to order some drinks and not to meet new people.

"A-ah, sorry?"

"Hey! It's me, Rendev, your half-brother. Aren't you aware of it?" She steps closer. "Excuse me, sir, give me some while to talk with this lady," he asked his boss for permission.

Am I too special for him to do it? Nah, I'm just a customer here. Nothing more. Nothing less.

"W-what are you saying, huh?" I wonder asked.

In just a flip of seconds, he undeniably grabs my both hands for an unknown reason. By that, I feel upset about what he did. I quickly let out my hands away from him then I faced him while my anger burns like a fire.

"You're offensive! You don't have a right to touch or hold in any parts of my body. Because at first, I do not even know you. My purpose is just to buy something here at this cafeteria, and I didn't expect that I will encounter a rude employee like you!" I shouted against him. At this time, my introvert personality is gradually changed into the spirit of brave.

People around this shop was looking at us intentionally. That is why I also felt some embarrassment.

"Calm down, okay? I won't hurt my sister, my half-sister rather." He whispered. "Hmm, I apologize for what happened. Don't worry guys, everything is fine, even us," he deals with a lot of customers.

Minutes passed, when the vicinity is seeming blameless, he starts to talk with me again. But at this moment, his expression is now seriously looking at me.

"I am the only child of my mom and dad. My daddy's surname is the same as yours. Before he dies, he told me first about you. He talked to me seriously as I am doing right now. He left a baby and a teenage picture of you, and that is the reason why I get easily familiarize with you, Artemisia. I'm your dad's second family, and we apologize if it seems like we broke up your family's situation. Pardon us," he solemnly expressed.

I swiftly gulped after I received those words. At this point, I do not know the reason why my tears are slowly falling apart. I couldn't say that it's about their relationship with my dad, instead, it is about my dad's state. Every piece of information he said was all clear.

I feel like I gulped all the words I said previously cause of the guilt. My perspective suddenly changed. He also shows me some evidence that will prove the death of my dad.

"I sincerely apologize, Rendev. I am not just aware of what you gonna tell. I thought you will just fool me,"

"Really? Oh, no. Does it seem like you encountered hardships regarding it? Don't worry, Art, I will protect and love you wholeheartedly. Even though we don't come from the same parents, still I will do my responsibilities as your younger brother. Hmm, by the way, I am just 15, but I chose this path because I live by myself. Yea, I live independently," he added.

I raised my brows as I heard those statements. Honestly, I never thought that I have a sibling in my dad's side. Most especially that I will face his son unintentionally.

"I don't know how would I start to believe those. For the reason that I felt shocked by what you have been said. I just came here to the UK to start a new daily life. I really never thought that meeting my half-brother is included in my trip." I uttered, I breathe deeply.

He walks nearby then he hugs me tightly for the first time. I do not feel any doubt to contradict his sides. All we feel now is love came from our dad and the love made by us.

"Finally, I met now my older sister," he sighs. "Starting this day, I won't live alone, because I am now with you. After 5 years of living independently and finding you across the globe, I could now live happier until you are here beside me. Thanks for trusting me, Artemisia. Though we don't treat good earlier, haha! Still, I could say that... it's totally worth it," he uttered.

After his work duty, I told him to stay in my room temporarily so that we could spend our spare time together. Also, we buy some foods that are popular in this country.

"Do you want anything else? Pick whatever you want, I will pay for it, don't worry," I offered him while I am still wearing my smile.

Having a sibling is one of my greatest wishes when I was a kid. But then, my family broke up which is why my wish that day has no lustre to see. Fortunately, destiny doesn't fail me this time. It is the one who moves on our life.

"I don't need to buy worthless pieces of stuff, Art. Because having you as my sibling is the greatest thing that fate gives to me. Nothing more, nothing less,"

"Where did you got that quotation?" I quickly asked him.

He holds my hand. "Of course, from our dad! He said it to me trouble times when he is still living." He was gladly aforesaid.

I cannot do anything just to keep on laughing with my brother. Whenever I see his smile, my lips automatically stretched as if our joyfulness will never end.

When the night comes, I told him what I usually do so that he could also learn from me even in just a little way.

"Yea, I l also love reading books most especially the fantasy genre. How 'bout you?" He asked me after I show him my favourite book.

My eyes grew bigger when I heard those words coming from his mouth.

"Really?! What if I ask you about it? I mean..."

He giggled. "Yea, what is it then?"

"Do you believe that fantasy really exists in real life? Their supernatural powers and strength as well. Have you ever think about a kingdom where all people's wants will become true? And also rebirth where immortal people have a chance to alive again? What do you think?" I didn't hesitate to ask him about it.

His eyebrows met and he gulped at the same time.

"I know that you aren't making fun of me, isn't it? So, I will answer you accurately. I honestly believe at those creatures such as fairies, gods and goddess. And their different kingdom as well? Yea, definitely. But the thing that cleans out my mind is just about... rebirth? What do you mean, Art? Living again with another body?" He uttered one after another.

I let out a deep sigh before I'll answer his questions. Directly looking at his eyes makes me feel tense. Right now, I will answer him without hesitation.

"Yea, but, would you believe me if I'll tell you that... the Kingdom of Ashes sent me an invitation card?" I took my breath away. "The princess of that kingdom talked to me last night then she told me that I am one of the lucky women who have a chance to go there. My point is just... I do not know if I would reject it or I will wait for the right time for me to reach that place. The invitation message says that I only have one decade to think about it, then if I reach out the limit, their offer would be like ashes coming away from me. Hmm, yea I know that you're thinking prudently as well, but still, I won't reprehensible your thoughts against mine." I stated then I looked yet again at the invitation card placed at the sofa.

He's staring at the ceiling perhaps because of what I have been said. Would he believe me straightforwardly?

"I tried not to believe you but, my nerves from that topic cannot take away from me. Because believe me or not, I also received that kind of invitation card. That's why when I directly heard it from you, my beliefs can't escape and evade what I rely on." He answered that makes my body's fur arise.

My body almost trembled for the reason that I start to know that he also received that kind of card. The beat of my heart gets at a rate of knots.

He slowly got out his invitation card which made me even edgier.

"W-wait, are these things really happening to us?!" I thunderstruck shouted.

After he was released his card, a blank sheet gets released too. It flies inside this room then we follow it with our eyes.

"Where does that comes from? Is that included in your card? I'm just wondering because I don't have one like that," I asked him.

"Honestly, I don't have any idea where does it come from. It just suddenly appears when I grab this invitation card," he shows his card. "But I am just wondering why there's no message or even colour in it. I definitely don't know, Artemisia," he spoke while staring at my eyes confusedly.

I produced an intense breath due to what we are currently seeing. At this moment, the blank sheet of paper is currently here at our front. We're just looking at it confoundedly, hoping that something would appear in it.

And in just a flip of seconds, slow handwriting seems came from the air formed words in this paper.

Someone who has been received the invitation card will die tomorrow.

A terrifying message written in this white paper seems to indicate and give warning to me/us. Its font colour looks as if it came from the blood of a human. I strained myself not to feel startled so that my brother would not feel afraid as well. I forced myself to calm and look at him as if there's nothing happened too.

"Don't worry, it's just a warning for us to take care of ourselves. We will not die," I boldly whispered despite the fact that I felt tremulous.