Faded Petals

Correct

Livio opened his eyes. A familiar scent tickled his nose, stirring a sense of déjà vu. The ceiling above him.....he had seen it before. His eyes widened.

He saw their images on that ceiling. His friends.

Livio sat up abruptly.

"No, no….... Where are you guys? Come out. Nitin….. Sebastian….. Nicolas…... Elena…... Playing tricks as usual, I see," he called out, forcing a shaky laugh. "I may not be as emotionally strong as you guys, but I will never fear something that never happened."

He cupped his hands around his mouth, shouting louder.

"Damn it! Listen….... Listen to me!"

Livio stumbled to his feet, making his way toward the door.

"I see…... You really are weak. What a poor fellow. I think I gave you too much of a burden."

A voice.

A voice that made his skin crawl.

Goosebumps prickled his arms. A deep, gut-wrenching dread spread through his body. He knew that voice. He despised it from the bottom of his heart. There was no room for forgiveness.

"Hah…... Hahaha…..." Livio clutched his head, laughing like a madman. "So, this is a fucking dream. I knew it. I knew it."

"Oh my," the voice chuckled. "This is no dream."

A figure emerged from the darkness.

"I only came to check on you," she said, stepping closer. "After all, who else will complete the mission?"

The mirror in the room caught her reflection.

Rebecca.

Livio flinched. His body stiffened as his breath hitched. He instinctively crawled backward.

"Don't come near me...… Don't." His voice shook. "No...… I will fucking kill you. Stay back!"

He grabbed a pillow and threw it at her with all his strength.

Rebecca only smiled.

"Don't be scared," she cooed. "I came to comfort you. No need to worry."

She sat gracefully in front of him, her posture relaxed, as if she were soothing a frightened child.

"Here, come." She patted her lap gently. "Just rest your head. I'll comfort you."

Livio's body trembled. His breathing turned ragged.

His instincts screamed at him to run, to fight, to do anything but trust her.

Yet, like a lost child, he found himself crawling toward her.

Rebecca's smile deepened.

"Good boy," she murmured, reaching out her arms. "Come here."

Livio's gaze flickered between her face and her lap. His fingers twitched.

Then...

He lunged.

His hands wrapped around her throat, squeezing with everything he had.

"You bitch! Die...… Die...… Die!" He snarled, tightening his grip.

Rebecca's eyes widened, but before she could react, another voice broke through the chaos.

"What are you doing?! Let her go! Is this who you really are?"

Livio's breath hitched.

His mother's voice.

His hands trembled.

"Mom….... Mom...…" His voice cracked as he turned, his vision blurring. "Mom!"

Tears streamed down his face as he flung himself into her arms, sobbing into her dress.

"Snap out of it," she urged, shaking him gently. "Come on, Livio. You're stronger than this. What are you afraid of? Is there anything left to lose?"

A voice echoed through the room.

The world around him trembled.

Then.....shatter.

Like glass breaking apart, reality crumbled into darkness.

Silence.

Nothingness.

No light, no sound.

Just him.

He saw himself. Three versions of himself, reaching out, trying desperately to hold on to one another as they stepped toward a distant light.

Oliver gently patted Athena's head as she clutched her neck. Nearby, Livio held onto Ethan, his grip tight.

Livio's breath hitched.

"Wait….... does that mean—?"

His eyes darted around.

His hands trembled.

"No...… No, it's just a nightmare." His voice cracked. "There's no way.....…"

He let out a broken laugh—soft at first, then louder. And louder.

"How long are you going to cope?"

Ethan's voice cut through his hysteria like a blade.

"Is this it, Livio? Don't forget your reason. Don't forget why you're here. What is crying going to do? What is running away from the truth going to do?"

Livio froze.

Ethan grabbed him by the collar, forcing him to look into his eyes.

"People got sacrificed. Their dreams remain unfulfilled. Who are you running away from? Is it your enemy? Or is it your own weakness?" Ethan's voice grew harsher. "Answer me. Answer me!"

Livio's breath came in ragged gasps.

"Either die like a warrior...once, in battle....or die like a coward, again and again, just like this. Which will it be? You've lost so much…... but don't forget, you still have something to protect."

Ethan's grip tightened.

"What do you want? To keep running away? To watch more of your loved ones die? To cry every time, hoping someone else will save them for you?"

Ethan's eyes burned with fury.

"No one will."

Livio's body stiffened.

"All people do is watch," Ethan continued. "They treat life like entertainment. They watch others struggle, try, fail—because deep down, they know they can't achieve anything themselves. So they cope, convincing themselves that everyone else is just like them. That every struggler is bound to fail. That comforts them. 'We are all the same,' they say."

Ethan scoffed.

"But those who rule....the ones who truly live.....are different. They try. They sacrifice. They fall harder. And they rise higher."

Ethan shook him violently.

"No.... I will not die," Livio whispered.

His fists clenched.

"I will achieve my goal. No more dying. I've already died enough."

His mind flooded with memories. His mother. His father. His friends. The people who stood by him.

His vision blurred.

"Haa…... Haa…..."

His face was dry. The last tear had evaporated, burned away by the raging force within him.

"Snap out of it!" Ethan yelled, shaking him harder.

But Livio was unresponsive.

"Let's go."

Oliver turned, carrying Athena away from the room.

"No!" Athena thrashed in his grip. "I want to stay by his side! Please....."

"Ethan will handle him," Oliver assured, trying to restrain her gently. "Just wait. Livio will be fine after some rest."

"No, let go!" Athena kicked him hard, sending him stumbling.

Then—

She ran.

Straight toward Livio's room.

Oliver clicked his tongue.

"You idiot."

In a blink, he vanished.

Before Athena could react, she felt a sharp jab at her neck.

Her body went limp.

"I'm sorry," Oliver muttered as he caught her in his arms. "But right now, you're just an obstacle."

He lifted her effortlessly, cradling her like a butterfly, and carried her toward the bakery.

"Stop this! I said, snap out of it!"

Ethan's fist crashed into Livio's face.

Silence.

Livio stopped laughing.

His hair fell over his eyes, hiding his expression.

Outside, the wind picked up.

The air grew thick. Heavy.

A soft breeze swept through the room, making Livio's hair flutter.

Then—lightning flashed.

For a split second, the world was bathed in white.

And when it faded, Livio's eyes gleamed.

Sharp. Cold. Unforgiving.

Like the edge of a blade.