Rihan Daniel (6): The Curse of Death

The 42nd floor underground of Samsara's headquarters seemed to be sealed with layers of sealing spells. The stench was so strong that it even wafted to 41st floor. I arrived at Samsara three days after receiving the words from the messenger and headed straight towards 42nd floor.

The facial expression of the researcher groups and guards on the 42nd floor immediately turned relieved when they saw me approaching. "The cursed from subject number 4-42-1 was out of control." The head of the researchers reported.

"All of sudden? What's going on?" I, who was much calmer by then, asked in my usual flat tone.

"After finished the usual routine in lab, her condition is rather stable. But somehow at night her power goes amok and unable be controlled. We… We afraid to get in, so better to seal away the entire floor." He replied in sweat.

"What about the camera footage?" I asked again.

"The camera was tampered the day before the incident." The guard answered.

I winced. "By the substitute guard?" I asked and was immediately agreed by the them.

I can already guess the outline of the incident. Although I still harbored in anger, I tried to contain this emotion. I folded the sleeve of my white shirt up to my elbow while walking to the door that connected to the passage of the private prison room where Alvi was.

"Don't do anything reckless until I get out." I tore the sealing spell on the door and a fainted hysterical shriek sounded from few young researchers. I ignored them and walked in.

The stench from rotten flesh was much more intense in here and oxygen seemed to be a scarcity. I couldn't help but take off my mask and cover my nose as I walked deeper. The door that connected to the prison room where I used to sit guarding Alvi while enjoying hot chocolate with her seemed to be tightly closed.

I tried to open it normally. But I failed. Looks like the door is locked from the inside and stupidly I didn't bring a spare key. For a moment I'm hesitant between go out and get the spare key or just break in. After take in consideration, I finally took the second option. Break the door and get in!

The door opened in one BAM! sound. I was quite surprised to see the dimly room like in a horror movie. The lights did come on, but they seemed to be blocked by some kind of dark veil.

I was walking slowly approached the prison cell when I found someone's body. His body was badly decomposed and was the source of these rotten smells. I stepped over the corpse and stared into another shadow in a corner of the prison cell.

"Veena..." I called out in a low voice tried not to scare the shadowy figure.

The shadow flinched before then pressed herself closer to the wall. "Lucie, don't… don't come any closer. I—I can kill you." Alvi said in tremble and hoarsely.

I ignored Alvi's warn and chose to sit next to her. "Look, I'm right here and very fine." I'm trying to convince. But Alvi still refuses to be approached by me. She shifted away in horror.

"That time… when he came and forced you, were you afraid?" I asked and tried to melting the tense.

Alvi nodded and let out a low "mnn" sound.

"I killed because of afraid too," I continued. "We're just trying to protect ourselves."

"But I've killed another innocent person." Alvi's confessed her sin.

"If you don't kill him, then you will be killed. That's simple logic. Nothing is wrong." I convinced.

"I better just die. After all no one will care or being hurt by my death." Alvi replied shortly and those words made me very angry.

I stood up and in an instant the nullified power exploded violently throughout the entire room. The dark veil vanished without a trace and the room returned to its original state. The smell of rotten flesh also disappeared.

I dragged the body of the poor substitute guard near the kitchen. After that, I inflicted more severe injuries on the near-skeleton-figure before finally ruffling things around as if there had been a accident in the kitchen. I did it all in silence.

Alvi quickly realized her mistake. "Lucie..." She called out to me while trying to get me to talk.

"There's nothing I can say for a person who wish to die." I said with a very cold intonation and kept my back to her. I always use this same intonation when speaking to the Samsara. But this is the first time I use it on Alvi.

Alvi tried so hard to walk out and reach me but she fell right on the door of the prison cell. I still ignored her and kept busy adjusting the position of the corpse to make the scene look more natural. Purely an terrible unexpected accident.

"Tell me, what should I do?" Alvi's voice sounded desperate and was followed by low sobs.

I stopped my activity and answered with my back. "I've already told you. Stay alive, even if it's very hard for you."

After everything was done—though less than perfect—I walked towards the exit. That's when Alvi suddenly hugged me from behind. I startled for a bit and turned around with a surprised.

"Do not go…" Alvi begged as she buried her face into me.

At that time I really didn't know how to react. I froze like a statue.

"If I don't give up, will you continue to be my side? Not going to leave me like this?" Alvi asked earnestly. Both her eyes looked through me with hope.

I let go of Alvi's arm from my waist before turn to look at her. Half of her face is turning into skull. Likewise with her whole left hand. The to be said as cursed power seems a totally different power from Deadly Black Flame and like a double edged weapon.

"Don't ever say the words 'want to die' in front of me, or I'll really get mad." I said without letting go of her hands. My heart softened. I personally also don't want to leave her just because of a momentary anger.

I finally smiled at Alvi while gently stroking her hair before went down to the cheek. "One day you will definitely get out of this place… I promise," I whispered very softly yet assuring.

Alvi nodded in believe.

"This is nullified stone. Good for restoring your appearance. The research group must not find you at state like this. They seems in blind about your other deadly power." I handed over a small, deep orange stone and walked into the prison.

Also, The trace must be completely removed before the research team realizes that Alvi has another power; The cursed as they said to be the side effect of Deadly Black Flame was actually something far more terrifying.

I cleaned up the stains left inside the prison cell as Alvi sat down recovering little by little. I'm very grateful having nullified as my power that can neutralize many things. In just a matter of minutes the initial location of death was cleared as if nothing had ever happened at there.

"What are you doing?" Alvi asked in curious.

"Cleaning up. Samsara only knows you have the power of the Deadly Black Flame. They don't know that you have other powers." I replied.

"Another power?" Alvi herself is not even aware that she has two kind of powers.

"Should be called as corrosive. I've read about it when I still in…" I suddenly fell silent. How could I mention the great castle library of Tanah Agra in front of Alvi.

"It's a kind of power that can decompose living being with just a slightest touch. And for inanimate objects, it will cause erosion," I explained briefly.

"If Samsara finds out you have even more lethal powers, they will definitely carry out more severe experiments on you," I continued as a warning.

"Then, why are you doing all of this?" She asked again not quite understand with all my act.

My movements suddenly stopped. I didn't answer right away but thought for a while. "Lady doesn't happy when things don't go according to her plan. I just want to please her." I answered like a low-level soldier hoping for a status and a place in Lady's heart.

Alvi tilted her head and asked again. "For example?"

"She wants you to be okay. She also wanted the Deadly Black Flame. I just being obedient and didn't want to add any hassle against her wish," I replied.

Alvi grumbled between understanding and not.

"Can you burn this things with you flame?" I pointed at the corpse of the substitute guard that I had positioned in such a way.

Alvi nodded.

In a second, the body of the guard was enveloped in black flame that was not too smoldering. But at least it was enough to show that he died after a quarrel with the Deadly Black Flame, not a corrosive.

After a few days, the case was officially closed and considered as a minor accident. But no one knew that the incident had been manipulated.