Cottage

Flashback

"What-what happened?"

"You nearly beat him until death."

Ray's lip shivers after Rose's blood enter his throat.

"Bring him to the cottage!"

End flashback

Dragon and his comrades bring Ray out of the practice room. Outside, there's a jeep waiting for them. This makes Rose flinch and stop running immediately.

"Where are you taking us?"

"Trust me, Young Lady. I'll never do something against the rule."

They hope on the jeep and the driver quickly drives the jeep out of the foyer along the road until they reach a huge field.

Rose stared at Dragon with a confused face.

"Why you bring us here?"

"You'll know it later, come on bring him over."

They take a few steps walking until they saw huge trees and thick bushes. Rose stop and stare at the trees. Something comes up in her mind.

'I feel familiar about this place.'

When Rose goes through the bushes, she felt a slight pain in her head. Her vision is spinning. Her surrounding is getting blur and dark. Unfamiliar memories rush in her mind. For a few moments, all she could see was darkness.

*****

There's a dusty dark room. Two adults clinging to each other, comforting themselves.

"Honey, are you sure about this? You're not only sacrificing yourself but your children as well."

"I'm sorry darl, but we have no choice."

Just then, they heard door slams that caught their attention. The man quickly shields his wife and kids behind him, waiting for any danger that could come in any second.

A man in a black hoodie appears, looking at them. He, then pounce towards them with a sharp knife in his hand.

"DADDYYYYY!!!!"

*****

"AARRGGHH!!"

Rose jolted up from her sleep screaming hysterically.

Dragon, who is still examining Ray's condition shocked to hear Rose's scream.

"My Lady, what's wrong?"

"I'm just having a bad dream. Someone is trying to kill us."

"Calm down, you're safe here."

Rose let out a sigh. She carefully moves towards the bedside.

"Here, drink this. It's peppermint water. It will calm you down."

Rose take the cup and sip the water. She felt calm and all of her thoughts about the dream melts away.

"Dragon, where are we? How's Ray?"

"Look out the window, feel something familiar?"

Rose flip the curtains and saw a bed of blue roses.

"Oh, we're at my chamber. So, there's a secret passageway to my chamber among the trees and thick bushes?"

"Exactly, and that area is fully secure by my comrades. Your brother is fine. He just had bruises on his face and one of his rib bones are cracked."

Rose jumped from the bed and grabbed Dragon's collar.

"You're saying that's fine?!"

"Yes, My Lady it's just a small crack. It will heal in just a few days."

"That better be true, Dragon. Or else, you'll know what happens."

"You have my word, My Lady." He gulps with fear.

Rose look around. She notices that she is sitting on the corner which attracts Ray and her attention on their first visit. A bed by the grill window. The grilled window.

"Dragon, I was attracted to this corner during our first visit here."

"I thought you won't ask, My Lady."

Rose keep her mouth shut. Silence filled the atmosphere. She stares at the bathtub. How can a bathtub being placed here? In the corner of the living room.

"What's with the bathtub?"

Dragon stared at the bathtub with a sad face. His hands are trembling. He then cups his face and squats on the floor. Slowly, a soft cry can be heard in the living room.

"What's with the face, Dragon? What happen?"

"I'll love to share what's all behind this corner meaning."

He stops find courage in him and slowly continues.

"I really do but I just can't. It brings a lot of dark memories."

Rose stands up filling a cup with peppermint water. She hands it to Dragon.

"Tell me when you're ready. I really need to know. It maybe relates to my past memories."

"It is, My lady! It is! The secret passageway!"

"No wonder I almost fainted because of regaining memories."

Dragon keeps silent. He clenches his fist and breaks the cup. He then bows down on Rose's feet. Rose shock to see his actions. She immediately stands up.

"Heads up!"

Dragon remains silent and still in his position, bowing down on Rose's feet. He doesn't dare to lift up his head. He doesn't deserve that!

"Heads up, Dragon! Don't make me force you to lift your head."

"I'm sorry, My Lady! I don't mean to break the rules!!"

*****

Dragon was a young teenager. Living with a happy family was a dream. Yes, he had once. Once...

I was having a nice stroll by the lakeside. Relaxing after receiving a piece of huge news. Well, huge enough. My father was defeated in gambling yet I know if he came home the first person he will approach is me. My mother didn't work. I work for the sake of living for my mother and my father, literally.

I open the door and hear noises of people quarrel in the living room. I knew who is it. I hope I was mentally prepared for this. As soon I walked in, I saw two figures screaming at each other. Father literally yelled on my mother's face asking for money. Mother hardly deny that she had money.

To my surprise father slaps mother on her face making her fell down on her feet. Anger starts to fill me up. I couldn't watch someone hurt my mother. Not even my father. I turned around and saw bottles of soju on the dining table. I grabbed it and clenched my fist.

I pounced towards my father without a warning and hit hard his head with a bottle of soju.

"AAARRGGHH!!!"

He was shocked and his body hit the grill window. The soju bottle broke into pieces. I couldn't think of anything. What I had wished was I want him to vanish from this world. Please!!! Please leave me and my mother to live in peace in this world!!!

I grabbed the broken pieces of the bottle and stab him in the stomach. Blood flushed out like a river. Saw the blood flow through my hands, I realize what I had done. I release the broken pieces in shock. Did I- Did I just killed him?

Being afraid I left the house running out leave everything behind. Until I bumped into someone. I lift my head and saw a man with a black coat.

"We saw what you did young boy, come with us. If you stay you'll be in big trouble."

"You-You are?"

"Call me Lee."

*****

I was lying on the bed. I saw a flower in the vase by the nightstand. I hate this feeling. The feeling of being childish and mature at the same time. I hate to act like an adult. Making decisions and all.

I stand up and took the flower. It had six petals. I caress the petals and placed them on the floor. Looking at those petals, I remembered my friends. Being a teenager that soon will become an adult really sucks me. They began to leave me as I'm not one of them anymore. I've joined an organization that even I don't know what kind of organization it is.

I've been in this white room, white bed and even white floor. There will be a time that I will be called to do my training. Physical training. I hate it!! Surrounded by muscle men really scare the hell out of me.

"You gonna be the leader and we call you Dragon."

I saw Lee and a woman at the corner of the practice court. He caressed the woman's cheeks and hugged her. Two toddlers were hugging his feet as if they won't let it go.

It made me remind of my father. I HATE HIM!!! I'M FUCKING HATE HIM!!!

I grabbed a sword by the wall and approached them. Someone slammed the door causing four of them noticed me with the sword. I had no other choice and attacked them.

"DADDY!!!!"

*****

I've been grounded because I'm trying to attack the boss of the Lee family. I hate myself! I hate of I can't get rid of my past. WHY?! WHY?!

I just sank myself in the bathtub. The water almost reaches my forehead. How I hope I have someone who can encourage me to go through this tough life. I wish I would just die. Forget everything that has been troubling me.

I just let myself drown in the bathtub. Mother, I miss you. I miss you so bad. How are you now? Please forgive me. I can't protect you. But, I gave you more problems. Please forgive your unfilial son. Just let me leave you so you won't be in trouble anymore.

"Daddy!! He's in the bathtub!!!"

I could feel two strong hands lift me from the bathtub. I couldn't open my eyes. My chest felt so tight. I'm out of breath.

"Dragon, why are you doing this? I forgive you dragon, I forgive you."

To be continued...