After The Night

"What do you think of this Lotus? " 

"It's beautiful… " 

"I doubt that…  beautiful is a word I'd use to describe you. " 

Silence. Black, cold, emotionless eyes. That was what she was seeing. How could someone say something so sweet and then look like they gave out a death sentence? The eyes of a ghost it was. It was like death himself. Her whole body was freezing. She couldn't let go of the flower. No matter how many times she tried to move her hands the Lotus stuck to her fingers like it's life depended on it. 

"Why? Did you not like what I said? " He was inching closer. Closer and closer till the tip of his nose was tracing over her neck. 

"If you don't, then return the flower to me. " 

She tried, but her hands weren't moving. Tears trickled down her cheek but she still couldn't let go of the flower. 

"You aren't returning it… It means you're tied down to me. "

 His cold voice whispered, giving her a tingling sensation down her neck. She felt something grab her hand. She knew it was him since it hurt very bad. He wasn't letting go no matter what.

"I choose to be tied down to you." A feminine voice muttered out of the blue...

"Let go!" 

"Darah!"

Everything was black and white for a second. Darah didn't realise what was happening at the moment. Everything she saw was sucked into a blurry spiral of images. She looked at her wrists and realised no one was holding her. It was merely a dream. No, not a dream but a nightmare. 

"Darah. Look at me dear." 

Dear? Was this someone she knew? Now that she blinked, she realised that she was staring into those same black orbs that were calling for help that night. Now it was bright and clear. Everything in the room was shining, especially the expensive vases that were put out on fashionable display over the nearby table. 

"Yes?" Darah muttered in confusion with a nervous look, not knowing what to say. The lady was absolutely glad by the look on her face. It seemed as if she had witnessed a miracle. 

"Oh my God! You're Ok!!" The lady happily held her soft hand within her's and kept it to her face. Darah was indeed a beautiful looking young woman even though her face had light scars left by those men. She looked almost the same age as Ryu, she thought.

"I know you're wondering who I am and why you're here. But that's nothing to worry about. The most important thing for me right now is that you're safe and sound." 

Darah was dumbstruck. She had literal strangers caring deeply about her? Now isn't that a big deal. She internally blushed being showered with such care from this beautiful woman. She had thick bangs falling over her huge eyes and bright red lips to go along with it.

"By the way, my name is Lyra. And about Yesterday, I am so sorry that you had to be a part of that huge mess. I sincerely apologize for dragging you into it."

Huge mess!? It was murder! How could she say that as if it was no big deal with a small smile on her lips?

"Y-Yeah… I just felt like it wouldn't be right to leave you alone when I saw that." Darah said softly, still feeling a lingering pain on her arm. 

"I know you might be already feeling overwhelmed by this, sudden care from my part as a stranger. But trust me, what you did yesterday night… was quite impressive.  I mean, I've never seen a girl stand up to men like those for that long." Lyra was literally fangirling over her for quite a long time and a certain someone was already watching her from outside with a hood over his head. 

Darah was certainly glad seeing her look so happy and refreshed compared to the previous night. But it seemed something was hiding behind that smile of Lyra… It was right when she thought about it that Lyra's aura changed suddenly to a serious one. 

"Darah… I have a request for you on my part." Her face was dead serious. Darah nodded to her.

"I don't want yesterday's news to go out. Ever. Do you understand me, Darah Chen?" 

Darah didn't know what to feel. It sounded more like a threat rather than a request. And the fact that she spelled out her full name already? It sounded suspicious. She was silent for a whole entire minute until a tall figure walked into the room. 

"Take rest Darah. I have a quick meeting to be at. Here's  my number, call me if you require anything." Lyra handed to her a card and got up from her seat to leave. Phew… I hope I pulled out a great villain act right there. Lyra smiled to herself and flicked her hair proudly.  Darah was cute to be honest, all scared and confused. She looked at the window in anxiety because she wasn't prepared to look at the person who had stepped in when Lyra left. 

"There's nothing to see…" The voice muttered. Darah did see a bird outside but decided to keep silent and turn to the direction of the voice. The man pulled down his hood as he closed the door. Her heart thumped at his action but froze as he turned around to face her. 

What? David Zhao!? Here!?