Prologue

I boarded the plane to Germany.

After all these years, the final trial was going to be held. My family was finally going to get justice after being brutally murdered by the ones they trusted the most.

A hollow ache settled in my heart.

And then I saw her, after months. She sat in the aisle seat, still and delicate like a porcelain doll.

We used to be childhood friends yet the only time we ever saw each other now was in the courtroom. So many words I wanted to say, perhaps she did too but could never voice them.

"..Hey Zei"

She turned slowly, her golden hazel eyes meeting mine.

"It's been a while hasn't it?" I asked, a faint smile painted on my face.

"..It has," She replied quietly.

"Mind if I sit down?"

"Make yourself comfortable"

I took the seat beside her. Silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken regrets, sharper than any blade.

"You still wear the locket I gave you?" I asked, glancing at the silver pendant around her neck.

"It holds the only photo of Lena and me together after all" She replied softly, her fingers brushing over it with a distant look.

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice solemn. 

I looked at her, unsure of what to say— unsure if I even had the right to say anything.

"...I'm tired, Zei" The words spilled out, torn somewhere deep.

"Every day feels like hell, relieving the same nightmare over and over again"

"If only things could go back to how they used to be."

"But it just seems like a distant dream now doesn't it" She said softly.

"Yeah" My smile turned bitter "It does'

"...Rayne" She uttered, her hand reaching out for mine . After a long pause of silence she asked, her voice fragile "...Do you still despise me?"

I could feel her hands trembling slightly, it was true that I resented her in the past. I distanced myself from her after Seiren, my little brother died and when I found out the truth about my parents death.

Afterall it was her family who had orchestrated the murder of my parents in return for money from them. As if that was not enough they killed Seiren too.

They took everything from me. However, none of that was Zei's fault, to them she was nothing but a nuisance born from an affair her father had.

Just like me she also lost everything after Lena, her older sister died. The only person who loved her, showed her affection and acknowledged her for everything she did. She was left truly alone just like me.

I had stopped resenting her a long time ago, however the fear and guilt held me back from trying to make things right. Maybe she wanted the same or maybe not, I have no way of knowing.

"I stopped hating you a long time ago Zei," I managed to say at last, words that had been buried for a long time "What happened was never your fault, you didn't deserve any of it" I continued "So don't blame yourself for the past"

She offered a bitter trembling smile.

"You can lean on me" I whispered "You've carried the burden long enough"

Just then the alarms went off, followed by a voice crackling over the intercom. My heart dropped

"What is happening?" She asked, panicking.

Then—

BOOM!!

The engines of the plane exploded, tearing through the silence with a thunderous roar . A violent Tremor ran through the entire plane.

My breath caught in my throat as the lights flickered.

That was the last thing I remembered.

I awoke to flames.

Scorching flames roared on all sides. The air burned with the stench of death and smoke.

Distant cries of people, pleading for help echoed through the air.

My right leg was gone. Zei's right hand was mangled beyond recognition.

"So.. this was their plan " I rasped , blood bubbling in my throat "Once I'm dead, they will take everything"

I turned my head slightly, catching a glimpse of her face. Raven black hair tangled in ash and blood, her face was covered in bruises. Yet when her eyes met mine, she smiled. Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth.

"So this is how it ends" I murmured, coughing as blood surged up my throat.

Her fingers tightened around mine. Neither of us spoke for a while, just held on as screams of pain, fear and death surrounded us.

"Rayne.." Her voice was fragile "...I'm sorry. For everything"

Tears streamed down her face, and warm droplets fell onto my face. I managed a faint smile .

"It's okay" I whispered "I don't resent you,"

"...I know," she replied quietly.

I lay there silently, holding her hand. The only person I ever truly cared for.

She used to ask me in the past, about what I would desire if I were reborn again.

I never had an answer

But somehow lying here beside her on my last breath, I couldn't help but reflect on it.

If given a chance….

I'd wish for a quiet life. A peaceful one.

Together with her, perhaps.

As the blazing flames engulfed our bodies, I closed my eyes and embraced death

I died

At last, it was all over.