A Run For Life

Nina Williams. The name itself sent a shudder down Ryu's body. Like he felt the presence of a ghost everytime he stood near it. It was April 14th, the day of her death. He kept a few plucked out lavender flowers on top of the stone. He took a deep breath and looked at his hand. He blinked and the next second his hands were dripping with blood…  Nina's blood. 

It wasn't real, Ryu thought as he shut his eyes again. He had gotten used to this by now. At first he used to scream and claw his hands in horror because he thought the blood will never go. That it was an eternal stain. But later he later realised that it was a deeply engraved hallucination which he couldn't get rid of no matter what. 

"Nina… " He uttered the name coldly. 

"I won't stop till the day you can rest in peace. " He glared into the distance as he pulled up his mask. That was the day he will never forget. The day he lost his little cousin sister as he was screaming madly in a pool of blood. Since she died very young, her grave was specially established on the closest hill near City B called the Xiaoling hill which was filled with lavender gardens. Lavender was Nina's favourite as far as Ryu recalled. 

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Lyra had other plans for the day before she could meet up with Devin for their dinner at night. A last minute booking for a romantic movie went terribly wrong for her as she realised that all the tickets had already been sold out. So she decided to go for Black Widow with her secret lover. It was already 7 at night when she got a call from her boyfriend. 

"Hello." The voice from the other side muttered. 

"Hey babe! I know what you're about to say! That you'll come pick me up but no! Listen to me. I have to get away from these brats before I reach there but don't worry about it. I'll be there in 30 minutes." Lyra had to get through the bodyguards first to go there. Her father had ensured strict security for her ever since an accident some years back. But for today, only Zeke was in charge since the rest of them were dismissed by Lyra saying it was Ryu's order. The idiots believed her but Zeke was adamant on staying. 

"Ok dear. " The man on the other line cut the call. It seemed he wasn't interested enough. But Lyra wanted to somehow get him under her fingertips because he was a very important thread for her to climb the film industry. Sure it was just that but Lyra couldn't deny she felt something for him. 

She slowly slipped through the hall in her long, flowing dress, hoping that she wouldn't catch Zeke's eyes. He was usually in the downstairs room, looking through his phone. 

"Big sister! " A voice suddenly called out, irritating her. She froze in her steps and turned around to face Zeke. He looked at her stupified, seeing her all glamourous. 

"Where are you going big sister? I can drop you off. " Zeke suggested. A leech. That was what Lyra thought when she heard that. Her father had forced a suffocating life on her. Zeke would probably go to his grave if he wouldn't let her go by herself. 

"Zeke. I'm a grown woman who has her driving licence. I can leave as I wish. So stop asking me like everytime. It's getting repetitive. " She squinted her eyes in anger but it seemed more like a cute pout to Zeke. He smiled getting closer. 

"It's Mr. Aldric Sheng's order. I can't disobey him. " Zeke said politely but it only infuriated Lyra. 

"Oh my god Zeke! Don't you have a life to live? Get a girl, go out, date or something. You don't have to waste your youth here! Me neither! " Lyra protested but this time Zeke was serious. As Lyra went ahead to the door, he blocked it with his dead serious eyes staring at her. 

"Move." Lyra's face turned cold. 

"No." Zeke glared back. The nerve, Lyra thought. 

"Fine then. " She pulled out something from her glittery bag and the next second, Zeke was facing her with cold sweat on his forehead. He was being held at knife point. 

"Don't take me for a little girl Zeke. Out of my way. " She harshly pushed the younger man to a side and walked out as if nothing happened. 2 hours nearly for the movie to get finished and after that, she could have a calm conversation with Devin at the resort, just as said. Zeke's gut feeling said something bad was about to take place tonight. 

She was at the nearest Enchanted Isle movie theatre sharp at 7:30. She ran seeing her lover outside. His usually cold face lightened up seeing Lyra as he opened his hands out for a loving hug. Behind them a woman had also just gotten there at the same time. 

How good it must feel to be held like that. I wish they stay happy… Darah thought as she gazed at the couple. The lady was particularly beautiful to Darah's eyes. She looked just like an actress. But then when the couple broke out of the hug and entered inside, Darah looked at herself, all alone on a movie night. She pulled her pastel pink jacket from sliding off of her lean shoulders. May and Anny were busy with their boyfriends. Her sister couldn't travel since she was sick the day before. Darah was feeling overwhelmingly negative sitting at home alone for too long which was exactly why she decided to come here. 

The movie began in a few minutes and Darah noticed that the pretty woman was seated just a little distance away from her. She couldn't help gazing at how cute the two looked together but once the movie started, her eyes were all on the screen. Both the ladies enjoyed watching the movie very much and it was visible on their faces. Lyra particularly because she wanted to be a competent actress. After the movie was over and Darah felt completely lonely again, she lingered around a bit before the rest of them got off. She saw how the lady in the glimmering dress was anxiously waving off her boyfriend and rushing outside. It seemed that she had something important to do. Darah was walking towards the parking lot which was a little further away from the theatre. Suddenly her phone rang…  Since she couldn't hear properly among the rush of people, she went to a corner to talk to her. All her sister was asking about was her whereabouts for over 30 minutes. After she cut the call, she realised that she had walked all the way towards the main street and that she had to go back towards the parking lot inside. But on her way she felt an odd presence behind her. 

"Hey baby. Are you alone? " Darah kept walking as if she heard nothing. There were almost no people nearby and not even security. The place looked deserted to be honest. She was texting her sister of the situation. Suddenly she bumped into a man. Before she could mutter help, the man had held her wrist. 

"Come with me little doll. " She heard the other man laugh from behind. Darah knew she was in trouble when she sensed that the men smelled of liquor. She didn't know what struck her but out of defense she slapped  the man holding her harshly in anger and ran in the opposite direction of the lot. Only god could save her now…