Chapter 35Five seconds before he did that, I knew he was going to do that, so my avoidance was faster than everyone thought."Verulia!" Marcus shouted.I thought of nothing else but to get the beryl. But before I could reach it, the ground I was running on cracked.It was Zandrus!I jumped over the big rocks to enter the cave where the beryl was. When I turned to my right, Zandrus was already there, lifting a part of the land towards me."Oh sh*t! Sh*t! Sh*t!" I screamed as I got up, and it fell on my seat.But before it finally hit me, it broke into the air. I turned my back, and there was Marcus! He used the bow and arrow of an echelon to crash Zandrus' attack on me.I mouthed, "Thanks."I then followed Zandrus into the cave. He looked around, and that's when I was once again given hope of winning this quest. He can't see clearly inside the semi-dark cave; only I can."Good. You are really good; you know how to play games well." Said Zandrus and applauded."I don't play games, Prin
Chapter 36Both Marcus and I are sitting under a thick tree, gasping for breath due to tiredness. We're both exhausted and barely catching our breath. It seems like we're the only ones breathing away the dust, but none of us has the will to let go of the last breath we want to take. We're both panting and sucking air for our lives, and our presences strongly bonded together are enough to strengthen the will to fight until we survive.Marcus and I are going to survive in this game. We are going back to District 1 to see Laura. She's waiting for us, for Marcus. I can't let Laura down. If Marcus promised to bring me home alive, I also promise to bring him home alive. We will return to Laura. As long as we have air to breathe, we will not give up.As the seconds and minutes passed, I noticed that Marcus was constantly gasping for air, as if he were struggling to breathe. He's suffering more than I do. He's panting harder than I am. He's asking for another breath. It seems like a prayer, a
Chapter 37He cut it off and smiled."I'm sorry, Verulia; that won't happen again. I promised your grandmother that I would do that for you every day. I'll take care of you; I won't leave you. B-but it seems I can't keep that; I'll just watch you grow up while happily forming a family." He said as the pain appeared on his face.I panicked."D*mn, stop this, Marcus! Don't tease me like this; what are you doing? STOP THIS! Please, please, stop this!" Begging, I hugged him tightly and shook him."I'm begging you, yeah? Don't do this. Have mercy on my agonizing heart, please..." I begged."Promise me, promise you'll get out of here alive." He said and fondled my face gently. "I want you to hear it; you can go home. You can get out of here alive." He said tearfully.My heart completely broke under the weight of my feelings. Why is it like this?"Marcus...""Please, promise me."I nodded and hugged him, "Yes, Marcus, we will get home here alive. We will get home!" I cried.This is difficult
Chapter 38The time was ticking too fast. And my time with Marcus was very short. Even when we were young, until we grew up, our time was really short. I couldn't think clearly about this moment; the energetic Marcus I knew was closing his eyes while being lifeless. But, like I promised him, I will get out of here alive. I'm going home to the first district, but I don't know what to do with my dear friend.Am I going to leave him? Will I have someone to fall back on when I ask the echelons for help?A sad part of our story was that we never had the chance to laugh together. I never had the chance to love him back the way he loved me, because right now at this moment I think my heart is already owned by someone, and I know that we'll never work out.I have so many "what ifs," but I ended up running away from the spring. The sound of Zandrus' group is what scares me. I don't know if I'm just paranoid, but they're getting closer to us, to me. That's why I hid Marcus in a pit and left him
Chapter 39 I could hear the fast beating of my heart as well as my strong and slow breathing. I opened my eyes, but I can't move. I watched the dark surroundings. I knew it was evening already; the stars are shining in the sky, and the moonlight is dazzling. It was supposed to be beautiful scenery, but it wasn't.My body was tied to a big tree while I was sitting. And the curious face of the guard who threatened me in the labyrinth appeared in front of me. He was building a fire, and it looked like he noticed that I was awake because he turned to me and grinned."What the f*ck is a f*cking guard doing in here?" I insulted him and curled my lips. "A traitor perhaps?" I added. He looked like he was insulted by what I said; he clenched his fist and his jaw moved in anger.He is a traitor. He had a plan—a dark and evil plan."Shut up," he said, and he stood in front of me."I can't even move; you even tied me up; are you that scared of me?" I said and grinned.I saw him smirking, and he
Chapter 40I am very tired. I'm always running. Death has come after me several times, but he has not succeeded. Did he pick me up? I'm suffering, I'm aching, and I'm tired. My body spontaneously fell to the ground due to weakness and fatigue. I'm always running away—why am I the enemy's target when I'm just jumping around?I'm slowly realizing my purpose. I can't just join the quest without a plan. Is it to reveal the danger in the Euphrates? Is my purpose only to help the poor? I was even more confused because I knew the dangers that would occur on the Euphrates. Just like stealing the throne, I need to warn Zavan about this thing.About Maximus. I'm too far away. I don't know where I am, I don't know where Marcus is, and even more so, I don't know where Zavan and the echelons are. because I don't even know where I am. I am very tired. My body begs to rest, but my mind refuses. I try to get up and continue walking away again, but I can't. I blacked out.I freaked out and blacked out
Chapter 41I was found, but someone lost her power. What I need most now is not available. Nathalia is still healing to finally get her power back; she used it too much on the echelons and herself. There was nothing left for me, or at least for Marcus. I felt weak again. I covered my mouth and backed away. What would happen to my Marcus? I have to go back to Marcus and bring him to the palace; maybe the echelons will help me, right?"Can you explain what you're saying? I'm confused. Why do you have to revive your friend? Is she dead or what? Is she here And why is she here?" Corinthians asked, confused.I'm a total mess. Can I say that I am a thief, and the friend I am talking about is a fellow thief? And he is a he, not a she."I have to go back to him," I said, and I started walking back to where Marcus was, even though I wasn't sure where that was."Precious, wait," said Zavan, stopping me, but I persisted. I thought that Nathalia could help me; now that I know that she can't, I wi
Chapter 42The search isn't just a simple search; it was a challenge that has so many lessons in it. And I have learned many things. I became braver; I lost friends; but I made new friends. I will face another new challenges in life, and hopefully this time I won't lose anyone or anything. Because I can no longer bear the hardship, pain, and suffering."Precious!" I was even called by an unexpected person. He even taught me how beautiful my name is and that I should be proud of it."Beryl..." That voice. I will never get tired of hearing that voice run through my head over and over again."Baby, I'm going to kiss you if you don't really wake up."My brow furrowed; I thought my brain was just whispering all that. But why does it seem like someone is really calling me?"Beryl, you're not really going to wake up? I'm ready to kiss you anyway."I suddenly opened my eyes and got up in shock because Zavan's face was exposed in front of me. It made me look down on him as he stared at me; he