- The End -

Life never picked favorites.

I heard a loud stomping sound.

“—Agh!!”

Yes.
Because life is fair.

I hear a laughter.

“KYAHAHAHAHA!! SCUMS LIKE YOU SHOULD BE BURNING IN HELL!!!”

Life is always fair.
As for proof, history already gives us many examples---

I hear another stomping sound.

It wouldn’t stop.

It wouldn’t stop.

It keeps resounding in my head.
No... I guess it’s not only my head.
It keeps resounding in my body.

“Please stop it—!”

—For an example, those who born with misfortune would always find a chance to turns their life back, and those who lived a joyous life from the start without any hardship, would only fall a painful end.

I hear a girl screamed beside me.

No.
No, please hide.
Please go away.

“…What? A little brat like you try to teach us manners?”

The man that supposed to be stepping me stopped.
But rather for the better, the situation changes from bad to worse.

“Eeeek——!!”

He swings his arm and punch the little girl with all of his might.

She fell to the ground.
Writhing in pain.

I couldn’t see it.

My visions are blurry.

I don’t know.
I don’t understand.

Even if I try to, the numb sensation that I got wouldn’t go away.

But I know from the sound of it.

“Aaa—AAa——Aakh!”

The girl language become inaudible. She could only lay on the ground. Enduring the immense pain she felt on her face.

I hear it again.

That mad laughter.
The only laughter that I couldn’t understand.
Laughter supposed to be warm, right?

Then why?
Why?
Why I could only feel malice inside?

No.

There is no time to think.
I have to stand.

…Why?
Why should I stand?
Laying on the ground would be the best  and precise solution for this problem.

And if I could make my own escape...

No, that’s wrong.

Why should I cower in fear when I can choose the courage to stand?

If I don’t hold my feet on my ground now, everything would be in vain.

No.
It’s even worst than that.
All of the great memories.

All of the bright past.

They would become naught but pain.
They would only become nails that stab the heart every times it beats.

I can’t allow that. 

“Hurgh——! Agh—!”

I push the ground with my hand.
Right after that, my left hand were struck mercilessly  by pain.
If I let this continue, I couldn't move my hand. At All.

But still…

A hand is only a little cost for what I have.

I tried to push harder.

“——Geh! —kuh!”

I'm clenching my teeth.

I need to suppress this pain.
I must not let my voice out.
While those people got distracted by her, I must stand.

—I’m standing on my knees.

“A—aah ——aaaah—”

Tears are swelling up in her eyes.
But none of them dropped down to the ground beneath.
The girl is holding back her tears.

Because she knew, if she cried, then it would be same as giving those bastards the flag of victory.

— I’m standing on my feet.

She knew if she cries, then it would also be a sign that she gave up on the boy he trusted.

“Cih—!”

Grabbing her head, That man in the red shirt pulls her hair up.

I hear her scream.
I hear her scream.
I hear her scream.
I step my foot forward.

Yes.

This is life.

With my remaining right hand, I take the knife that was impaled within the person beside me. The person I used to call father.

I hear her scream.
I hear her scream.
I hear her pain.
I hear pain.

Pain.
Pain.
Pain, pain.

Pain, pain, pain, pain, pain, pain, pain, pain, pain, pain, pain, pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain pain.

—I step onward.

It was only a few meters away.
But it felt so long.
My knees about to give in,
The scream wouldn’t stop echoing.

——I step further forward.

My whole body is shaking.

My whole consciousness is fading.

But my feet still walk straight forward.

“What’s with that face little brat? Or you need more education to respect older people than you?!”

I held the knife firmly in my hand.

“-—No! —Please —Stop!! —Why would you do this!!”

Hearing that statement, the man laughs as loud as he can, and so the other two.

“Don’t you understand?! Things like you wouldn’t even needed in the society! You’re just garbage that could be disposed whenever the time fit!”

He laughed even louder.

— I stepped even farther.

“Oh right, but I guess some of your organ would be a fine bargain. Since you don’t have anything valuable except that right?!”

“N—No!”

“And all of that precious organ would be wasted on a garbage for you. It’s better to give it to someone who actually need it don’t you think?!”

“No! —-Akgh!"

At that instant, that man grab her throat tightly.
Slowly raising her to the air while locking her throat.

Her toes didn’t touch the ground anymore.

“Akh—-! Akh ———-Kh!”

Saliva start pouring from her mouth.

The face that has the beautiful color of the glowing moon, starting to change into pale dark blue.

———I step even farther.

Her feet desperately try to touch the ground.

“Well sorry kid, reality is often… disappointing.” Say that man with a smile.

No.

That is not a smile.
A twisted thing like that shouldn’t be called a smile.
It’s almost looked like the mouth of a snake.
With both corner of his mouth almost touched his eyes.
It was disgusting.

But, if I stabbed him her, wouldn’t be the same?
Wouldn’t it be only in vain?
Even if I could kill the one who choke her now, wouldn’t the other two just killed us both?

Of course they will
How could they lose against two eight years old children?
Plus, one of those children suffered enough injuries until he couldn’t use his other hand,
While the other side is just a girl that have been choked to death.

—Ah right, this is life.

This is reality.
No matter which way I choose, we’ll die.
The only difference that’s going to occur is only a matter of who dies first and how.

Within the time of desperation, I tried to think of the best possible solution that could be made.

I was desperate.
It was hopeless.

The firm steps that I take start to feel shaky.
The hand that took the knife as my resolution, starts to tremble.

I shouldn’t waver.
I shouldn’t waver.

If my own self is wavering, isn’t that betraying the girl that believed in me with all of her heart?

Right.

“At least…”

That was the time. 

The time when my heart truly yearns for something. The time when I actually pray with all of my might. The time that I truly hope of something. The only time I hoped with all of my despair, the only time I pray with all my faith.

Please don’t take more thing than this.

If there are thing that should be taken, then take me.

“At least—!”

I step forward with all my might.

I grit my teeth until the point it felt like it would break. Even within such close distance, I start running with all my might. I clutch the knife in my right hand tightly. It will pierce his heart. I hope it will pierce his heart. I swear…

It will pierce his heart.

As if hearing my prayer, the cruel world that contains lies and harsh reality start slowing down. The world that was moving in seconds, keep slowing down until the point that a few seconds felt like a whole minute. Within that world, a sound resounding within head.

====== Tell me, child… ======

I kept running with ragged breath. I gripped my knife tightly and fix my gaze to the only one thing that I want to crush. That one thing that I want to erase its existence if that is possible. the only one thing that maybe could set my desire ablaze with grudge.

At least… if we would die anyway, then…

===== What is it? Your wish… ====

If I am destined to die today…

If she is destined to die today…

Then at least…

Let me kill that bastard with my own hand.

I don’t care about the other two bastard around him. If I could erase them myself, then I would certainly do it on my own. But in this situation, I can’t be picky.

==== Then... ====

==== I shall grant your desire ====

At that instant, I felt a spark in my heart.
It was hot, it was warm.
I felt thirsty. I felt my throat burning.
It felt so cold, yet my whole body are flowed by sweat.
It felt like my body was burned to ash at that instant. 

But, that’s impossible.
There is no way my body would burn because of fire.
Because…

My body is made of flame.
How could a fire get burned?

“HAAAAAA---!!”

I scream as loud as I can, mustering the strength that left in the body.

I run.

My left chest set ablaze. Fire coming out from the heart. Every blood that being pumped in and out from there, is now a part of this flame. The flame that burst my chest envelope my feet and fuse with it.

It looked like a burning charcoal.

The pain I felt is gone. My movement was faster than before. The blood rushing to my brain set ablaze the flame inside my head.

My perception of the world changed. I could see the countless line of fire from the monster in front of me. It’s their vital and blind points.

“What the---?!”

Taking a few steps back, he only got his eyes fixated on me.

“Shit---!”

While lifting the girl up with his hand on her throat, he uses his other hands to anticipate the strike that I would give.

==== Now child, fulfill your destiny! ====

“GAAAAAAH!”

Before I got right in front of him, I stopped my step and jumped.

I jumped. Almost twice of his height. As I jumped, I targeted his head for this one strike.

“NOT THAT FAST YOU LITTLE BRAT!!”

Before he could throw his punch on me, I swung my right hand. 
The dusty dirt that I throw picked right before I jumped.

it's looked like that he also surprised by the boy.

— It's not... the knife ?
"—Gah!!"

The dusty dirt that I take right after I throw that knife into the air, blurred his vision.

the man frantically wipes his eyes with his left hand while the other hand still gripping the neck of the girl.  
While from behind the boy, a knife could be seen rotating.

Don't tell me ——

One of his henchman actually understood the boy strategy.

I grab the knife that falling from my back by spinning my self in the air. 
And fix my gaze to his heart.

"Crap—! Watch out Boss !!"

One of the man tried to run while his hand trying to reach out the man who doesn't know the fate that awaits him. 

But I am faster.

"HAAAAAAAAAAH!!"

I roar. 
I roar so hard as a symbol of my hope.
As a symbol of the blaze that burn my body to nothing but ash and dust.
As a symbol of my hope that the knife that I hold, would pierce through the heart of the man in front of me. 

Cracks are formed in my right hand, just like the same with my feet. My grip became so tight that it crack the knife holder for a bit.
And the speed of my right arm raises up.

The hand that I swung become a trail of fire.
Like a comet that strikes down to the ground.

"—KUH?!"

It pierce through.

"BOSS!!"

My  Knife went through his heart precisely. The man that has lost his heart start to fall. The girl he choked was also released in the air.

I quickly grab the girl tightly while keeping my momentum on the air. 

"YOU DAMNED BOY!!"
"BIG BOSS!"

Now those two attention goes straight to me.
This is it.
This is the end of my line. 
Once my back lands to the ground, it will be over. 
Both for her and me.

The girl who still coughing out of breath in my embrace, also tighten her grip on me.

...She still believed in me.
She believed that we will come out of here alive.
She hope that we will come out of here alive.

Within those critical time The World open it's mouth once again.

 — Step back, little child. Let me do the rest —

At that instant I use my feet to kick the man with the red clothes as hard as I can.
As a result we flung back away until our backs crashed with the wall. 

Shocked by the sudden turn of events they go straight to us who lay on the ground.
Embracing each other tightly to protect ourselves from their attacks.

And so, they ran. They chase their prey that laying down in the grown. just like the hyenas.

"YOU LITTLE——"
"COME BACK HERE YOU——"

But before they could actually run and finish their sentence, a loud crash could be heard behind them. 

Suddenly a bus came out of nowhere, crashing to the dark and narrow alley where I lived for years.

Their bodies, also with the person they called boss got crushed down to the ground. 

It's looked like that their blood were splat all of the places.
Even with my eyes closed I know it, since something wet and hot just splat onto my face.

This is blood.
I'm certain of it.

I could only hold her tight while closing my eyes out of fear.
I don't' know about her, but i could know that she also do the same. 
Her hand that clinging to my neck is shaking heavily.

Yes. We've accepted our fate together. 
If we couldn't be together when we're alive, then...

At least, we would be together when we die.

When the both of us already accept our fate, we've thought that we were gone.

But, there is no drastic change whatsoever. 
I didn't felt any pain.
I didn't felt any touch or crash either.

I could only hear the loud crashing sound after I closed my eyes tightly.

Slowly, I open my eyes. After seeing the glimpse of it, my eyes open wider. 
The bus that came out no where, miraculously stop in only ten centimeters ahead us.

In a sense, we're saved. 

But didn't I say that life is fair?
That life never picks favor between any creature they know?
That's why they will keep their fairness.
They will keep doing it until  there is no creature left could stand above the earth.
They will keep repeating it until the the wheel we know as the world stop rotating itself. 

I hear the ticking sound of clock. 
The more I hear it, the louder it gets. 
It's almost like Time is warning me.

My body wouldn't move.
No matter how much energy I put inside it, it would vanish in an instant.
It's almost like...

Oh...

I see.
 
Of course it would be like this. 
I knew it's going to be like this.
Just like a blazing candle. 

The brighter blaze it makes, the shorter it gets.
And once it done, the candle will also gone.    

When I'm drowning inside my mind, I sensed something tighten around my waist.
I tried to look forward. 
But the blurry vision and hazy mind didn't allowed it. 

It became tighter as seconds pass. 
It felt like it was desperate. 

Desperate to find something to cling into.
Desperate to find something to hold into.
Desperate to find something to give into.

I could sense it.
I could feel it.
Her tiny hands.
Her petite body.
Her silky hair.

Then, I heard someone calling my name. 
Or to be precise, I believed that someone is calling my name.

It was so obvious that it came from the girl in front of me. 
It was so obvious that it came from the girl that embracing me.
She is so close.
So close that I could sense her gasping breath.
So close that I could feel her beating heart.
So close that we could sense each other warmness from our bodies.

But, why did it felt so far? 

Is it because my time is almost over?
Is it because her time is almost over?
Is it because we know that there will be a gap that would never close after this point?
Is it because we know that we would get lost and never met again if we go inside the fog called 'Death'?

"— It's cold."
She hold me tighter. Frantically searching for warmth.

I could feel her trembling hands enveloping my neck.
I could feel her shaking body.

"Hey— what's wrong?"

It's looked like she realized it. 

———God.
You're there right? 
If you are really there, then could you please fulfill my wish?
My mother said that God is really merciful, so...
Granting a little wish like this wouldn't be a problem for you, right?

She place her right ear right in front of my chest.

"...No—"

God didn't reply. 
But strangely enough, I felt that I'm being watched.
I felt that God is actually there, listening my every words with care.

But, is it really God?
Why should I believe in something that I couldn't fathom in the first place?
Why should I cling to something that I couldn't see?

But strangely, I felt a sense of easiness brimming within my dying breath.

Right. 
There is no harm in praying.

If God didn't answer my prayer, then it's alright.
I'm going to die anyway, so everything would end when I close my eyes.

But if God do exist, I could get my deepest wish come true.
That's why.
There is no harm in believing.
Since I wouldn't loss anything, guess I'll try.

Then...
I wish...

"—No. No No No No No No No No No No No No No! Please!" 
She push her head deeper to my chest. 
But I guess, she couldn't find what she's looking for.

I wish I could embrace her one more time.

I prayed.

I wished.

I waited.

But nothing happened.
All that I felt is the struggle of the little girl in front of me.
All that I felt is nothing but immense pain that keeping my consciousness awake within this hazy mind.

Ah, I guess... It's over now.

I really want to touch her silky hair again. 
I really want to touch her little face again.
I really want to smile with her again.
I really want to talk with her again.

I really want to live with her again.

So, I close my eyes and buried down all of those wishful hope inside the deepest part of my mind.  

======= Little one, God is not that powerless you know? =======

===== So, only one wish wouldn't be enough to see God’s greatness don't you agree? =====

At that instant, the warm that left my body, is forming back within my body. 
The blood that became ash is flaming again brightly. 
The body that wouldn't obey my command before now bend to every order that I wished for.

Once again my veins are flowed by the red flame of life. 
But this time, rather than a bright blaze, only a dim light could be seen.

Yes.
That's right. 
The flame that I wanted is not a flame to burn other to ashes.
The flame that I wanted is not a flame to burn set the life other ablaze. 

The fire that I wanted, is a flame that gave warmness as it touch.
The fire that I wanted, is a flame that would always burn brightly inside her heart.
A fire that would gave her a warm protection from the harsh cold life.

At last. 
Now, I can...

"—Eh?"

She must be confused now.
But even do she didn't let her grip of him go.

"—Kai.. are you okay? I-I couldn't hear your heartbeat— So I —I "
"It's okay."

A slight sound of sizzling fire could be heard.
I put all of the strength in my body solely to my right hand.
My veins burn brightly.
It burn so bright that people could see red lines lin my hand. 

And so, I pat her head.
I pat her head for one last time. 

"——It's— It's warm—!"

In response of my action, The hand that was locked on embracing me all the time, is now unlocked.
With her smooth right hand, she drag my hand that has been stroking her hair slowly to her cheek. 

"—It really is warm!"

Watching her like this from up close, I couldn't help but smile.
I don't think that the smile that i give is the brightness one though.
The pain is still there even if it's not that much like before.

" I'm glad—! I'm glad——!"

She touch my hand countless time.
It's like she wanted to grasped my hand, bet she also didn't want me to stop caressing her face.

I could see tears welling up on her eyes.
I could see it clearly.
It's not hazy anymore.
It's like I've regain everything that I lost.
It felt like...

God answered all of my prayer.

I've touched her silky hair again.
I've touched her little face again.
I've smiled with her again.
I've talked with her again.

Yes. That's right.
So mother didn't lie to me after all.
God is really generous with his blessings.

Then, when I was thinking about all the miracles that happened just now, the voice rang in my head.

==== Little One ====

Right.
That's right.
It was a miracle.
One that has lost every privilege of it's own body by 'Death' would have no way to attain it back.
That's why.
Even though this one is enough to be called as a miracle, it's nothing more but to delay the inevitable.

I know. I know it.

====Little One... Are you really serious... about your last wish? ====

I wiped her teary eyes with my thumb while also caressing her small cheek.

"Hey, we're saved you know? So smile. Tears really doesn't suit your beautiful face you know."

I could see her eyes slightly tremble.
I could see that she's holding it.
Hehe, you're really strong you know that?

The dim light that burn within my body is getting dimmer and dimmer.

And of course, the girl that was holding my hand all the time noticed it.

"Kai? Why did your hands turn cold out of sudden?"
"Say... Lina, if we have the chance to be together again... Would you take it?"

The heat has left my limbs completely.
The vision that was clear as a crystal, now have turned hazy.
My hand that caressing her lightly stop and fell to the ground.
But before it actually touched it, She grasped it tightly and put it back right on her cheek.

"——Of course! Of course!— That's why—!"

You heard it.
The voice that always resounding in my head has become silent.
But, I could feel it.
He's here.

Before the girl complete her sentence, a strange thing happened.

"Wait... What is this?"

her voice were filled with confusion.

Right beneath her, a lights started to float like bubbles.
An unknown warmness wrapped around her body.
It was scary.
 But strangely, she didn't felt a little bit of uneasiness inside her heart. 

"Wait....No—! wait!"

Enveloped by the warm light, her body start to fade.

"Don't worry... Lina. You... will be... alright."
"Wait— No! Not like this!"
"I'm fine... I'm just tired. So... could you let me rest?"
"No! What's the point if you're not here with me!? Please no!"

It's heavy.
Seconds passed and my eyelid only felt heavier.

"No! No! No! Please! Kai!"

Half of her body has been consumed by light.
I guess, that voice didn't lie to me after all.

A small curved line were born on my face.

Haha, I guess, sleeping peacefully like this, is nice once in a while. 

The girl kept screaming with all of her tear and voice. But no matter what she did, the boy didn't open his eyes anymore.

"Kai! Kai! Kai!"

She shouted. She screamed. But he couldn't hear her anymore. 

"Kai... Kai..."

Now all that left in her, is only tear and desperation.
Within the warm light, she could only sobs while reciting the name of the person she loved again and again.

Now her body, tears, and soul already fully absorbed by the light.

The little girl that was embracing the boy just now, has gone into oblivion.
Nobody remember her anymore.
Nobody know her anymore.
And all that left in that place, is only the corpse of a lonely boy. 

With a face of a child that see good dreams within his sleep.