The Things You Dislike (1)

It all just happened in a past lifetime. Once when Vivian was just around eight years old. On earth, she was orphaned, she didn't experience having a normal family. The old lady, who was the head of the orphanage, told her that some people in the church near them brought her to this place. They heard a baby crying under one of the chairs in the church, and the people found her there.

The people who found her concluded that she was abandoned by her own parents. But since they didn't have the luxury to take care of her, they brought her to the orphanage right away. Since they know that they don't have the ability to take all the responsibilities to give her the basic needs. Either way, the old lady told Vivian that she must be grateful for it after all because they didn't kill her.

Compared to the stories that were read in the novels or depicted in any dramas, the orphanage where Vivian was raised has a good environment. It helps her to grow with proper values and dignity. Despite having no parents, the old lady and the kids around there became a family to her that she was greatly joyed to have.

But her most closed ones were the children she shared room with. There were six kids in total, and their beds were in double decks. Four girls and two boys. Hmmm… Vivian was close with everyone in the orphanage, but one could say that these five kids were the ones she was very close to. She was friendly with others and made sure that everyone got comfortable with her.

They played, teased and learned to do chores and study together. Telling each other dreams and sometimes, they would contest to each other who had the worst abandonment before they were brought to the orphanage. Their relationship to each other becomes much stronger and intimate as if they were of the same blood.

Nonetheless, because of them Vivian never felt alone. Because of the orphanage, Vivian felt happy despite not having or not knowing what happened to her biological family. Sometimes family does not come from the bloodline but also with someone who can see the depth of you and still accept you no matter what. And that is the true definition of family to Vivian.

However, this happiness was soon taken away from her. At the time when she was eight years old. Seven crazy bastards whose faces were covered with black bonnets and had guns, out of all the places they could choose to take hostage from trying to run away from the police. The orphanage was an unlucky place that they were able to get.

***

Vivian sighed as for the second time she was regressed to the spot she was just killed. She didn't know what got to her, but seeing the two prisoners were controlled to kill each other even if they didn't want to, only brought more unpleasant memories. Unpleasant memories that she never wanted to recall anymore. She try herself to control her emotions by not letting it bring clouds inside of her head.

'Now I experienced death by being stabbed. And two daggers at that. Am I becoming a crazy masochist?' Vivian looked above, but it seemed despite stopping things like that, it was not enough. To satisfy the elemental beast that was watching this scene to finally put an end to the trial soon.

Though Vivian didn't expect it that it would really be that easy since it was also a contract that put her soul as a collateral once she passed this.

Like the same time she regressed earlier, there were changes in the scenarios already. The daggers were already on the ground. While the two prisoners were on the floor catching their breaths. The control of the duke to them was already released for some reason.

A reason that was not definitely Vivian's doing. Since r at this moment, the duke couldn't see her.

"Father! Please! I can't let you kill each other! It's-it's just too cruel!" Vivian towards Isaiah who was now in front of her. Much to her surprise. She didn't know how he got there, and probably who was also the one who undid the duke's control.

"Are you defying me, Isaiah?"

"That-" Isaiah hesitated. "I don't mean to defy you, father. But please don't hurt

anyone again." Isaiah raised both his arms as if he was shielding everyone behind him. " Look at them, they didn't do anything bad at all and they just want to live a peaceful life. Just let them do their own thing, father. Being a leader doesn't mean taking advantage of everyone but for me it means being the one who can use that power to create the way for others."

"Do you know what you are saying? You're a noble blood Isaiah. And the two dolls behind you are livestocks." A menacing grin escaped the duke's lips. "You have drunk a lot of blood from the very dolls you are trying to protect behind you, and you still act this way."

"When will you know where you stand Isaiah!" The duke bellowed. In a snap of his fingers, a strong force flung Isaiah in the air.

Clank!

Boogsh!

Isaiah hit the metal bars of the cage and he coughed out some blood. However, the duke was not yet over. Two glowing artifacts, a golden ring flew out from his pocket. And with the same blood magic, he made Isaiah wear it.

"I don't have a son who cares for dolls." The duke said. "Whether you die here or not, I would not care anymore. I will not see you as my son either when you still have attachment with this livestock and I want you to mark those words Isaiah."

"You two!" The two prisoners flinched when the duke called them once again. "If both of you have the head of this disgrace, you will be free and I will give you wealth where you can live for the rest of your lives with luxury and ease. I made him wear a holy artifact and that disgrace was now nothing more than an ant."

The duke turned around.

Clank! The cage was locked. "I will return at dawn."

And in an instant, the duke disappeared from everyone's view. With the duke gone, Vivian finally spoke as she stood right in front of the injured Isaiah.

"This time around, you choose to fight even if it is fruitless, young master." A grin formed in her lips.

"You should leave this place as well." Isaiah said between his breaths.