Pain from the Past

Quan once committed a crime.

Quan was only seven years old at the time. One night, Quan woke up to hear a noise downstairs. Quan thought they were her parents, but she was surprised because her mother suddenly sounded screaming like someone who was scared. Her parents had never fought before, so little Quan found it strange.

Quan, who was curious, finally walked out of the room, which she had left it dark so as not to be caught. Quan closed the door carefully, then quietly peeked through the grille of the stairs.

Little Quan then gave a soft breath. At that time she saw there were five people in black robes in the living room. They were holding some kind of dark pointed object. They surrounded her mother who was sitting terrified on a sofa. Quan wanted to help, but she was too scared. Her heart wondered where her father and two brothers were. The little girl bit her lip, holding back sobs and the urge to call for anyone to immediately help her mother.

Staring at the gang of black clothes one by one, Quan's mother then said in a trembling yet clear voice. “Nobody named Zanxer here. Please, go away! You got misinformation!”

A deep voice chuckled. “Is that so, Mrs. Eva Durbysch? I'm sure you understand what I mean by this Zanxer.”

Quan couldn't see who was talking, because their faces were all covered with masks. However, her mother suddenly turned her gaze to someone who was right in front of her.

“You!” spat out Mrs. Eva, her tone between shock and anger.

The man with the deep voice laughed sarcastically. “Yes, me. I'm sorry I have to do this, Eva. What can we do about it? After all, this is my job.”

The man came forward and approached the poor woman suddenly. The man's hand gripped Mrs. Eva's jaw. Quan put on hold the call “Mama!” which is already on the tip of the tongue. Instead, she bit her inner cheek a little more than she wanted.

“Say it right now,” growled the man. “Where are you hiding Zanxer?”

“I—ugh—don't—know!” Mrs. Eva answered breathless.

“Very well,” said the man with a deep voice. The man released his grip with one rough jolt and retreated back. However, after that everything happened so fast.

Another man beside the sofa slashed the sharp object he was carrying into Mrs. Eva's right hand. Quan gasped and so did the injured person. The black bloody wound looked deep and painful, but Mrs. Eva tried to endure it. The white skin of the woman grew pale.

“If you say that again, you will die,” the man with the deep voice sneered. “Besides, I know you're lying. One of my Argas made the mistake of saying that a Daga would be tasked with taking Zanxer to the hideout. We killed that Daga, not knowing that it was you who was actually assigned. Is that right, Eva the Right Hand of Suuvoc?”

Mrs. Eva's breathing grew more irregular. The look in her eyes was even more terrified than before. “H-How did you—?” Mrs. Eva said haltingly between the pain creeping up her arms. “H-how could you—?”

“It is you then,” said the man without hesitation. “It's no surprise. Our guesses are almost always right. You know, right? Lor's foresight and everything.”

Mrs. Eva snorted, her forehead covered in cold sweat from the pain. “You? From the Lor Organization? I will never believe!” the woman shook her head violently and cried out loud, “For whatever reason, I won't tell you where it is! I'd rather die than give Zanxer to you!”

The man with the deep voice sighed. “It's up to you, Eva,” he said softly.

A person who was standing beside the man suddenly thrust his weapon as fast as lightning. The conical weapon stuck right into Mrs. Eva's heart. The woman gasped loudly.

No, Quan thought frantically.

“MAMA!”

Quan unconsciously stood up and ran down the stairs as fast as she could. The assassins below looked so shocked they didn't even do anything.

“Mama!”

Quan called out frantically to her mother, sobs rushing out of her throat.

“I'm not your mom, you idiot!”

The scream stopped Quan at once on the last step. At that time, Quan didn't quite understand what she meant.

Mrs. Eva tried to speak with difficulty. “I love you, Quan, but I am not your mother. Go, or you will have to come with them. That is the only option at this time. Whichever path you choose, promise me to stay alive.”

Her mother's words felt like an absurd threat to Quan. Mrs. Eva gurgled once, then suddenly fell silent, did not even move an inch. Her eyes were open pitifully. The grim black blood stained Quan's father's beloved white sofa.

“Mama ...,” sobbed little Quan sadly.

Quan stared at the assassins in front of her. Their eyes and masks were both white with a sickening blue tinge. Quan hated them.

A man with a deep voice gives orders to his gang, “Catch her.”

Quan didn't want to go with them at all. She did her mother's first suggestion.

The girl runs away.

Quan fled through the door at the back of the stairs and continued running without looking back. Her tears were irrepressible. She was so scared, but also angry. Her chest felt full and sore. She didn't know who to get angry with. To the gang, to her mother, to the world, to whom? Once, Quan turned her head and saw that her house was brightly lit.

The gang has set fire to her beloved house.

Quan looked back at the front and kept running until it felt like a long way away; only to find it is futile.

The girl stopped short of breath, felt very intimidated and just realized that she was already in the middle of the forest, not in the city crowd. The sound of rustling and broken branches trampling startled Quan. One by one, they emerged from the shadows of darkness. Quan didn't know what to do.

She was afraid and now surrounded.