Losing hope, suddenly I heard the sound of my father's screams, running and pushing the man who was trying to kill me until they moved back.

Father managed to thwart my death, but in return… He was strangled and held up against the wall by the other guy.

“Don’t you ever mess with me, old man!”

That instant without me being able to think normally, father was stabbed right in the middle of the chest, where there was the sound of his own blood boiling and smoke coming out from the gap between the sword and father’s frail flesh.

Mother screamed as pitifully as she could, asking why they had to kill my father. Why do they have to go that far? But they don't even bother to answer.

“I really wanted the young one, though… But whatever. I’ve got two souls already… Now it’s your turn.” He said that as they change positions…

One looks at me expressionlessly, while the other… Who is currently preparing his sword, actually acts like he is scared…

Could… Could I still have a chance?

After this body is able to move, I retreat as they walk closer and even closer... Until I found my own back had touched the wall of the building, I begged him to stop.

“Don’t…” I tried to test his resolve.

Maybe the other guy really doesn't have feelings, but this one might just... Get rejection in his own heart… His heart is hurting itself.

Yet someone came to interfere…

And again… But not my father, this is my mother instead.

She crawled, came to hug me on the floor. Asking for mercy, crying as how her voice is getting smaller, a sign of sadness. “He’s my only one… Please don’t take him away! Not him! Just don’t kill him…”

I can only be silent while starting to tear up, after I call her. “Mom...” I said.

Why’d you come?

Even my heart hurts more already, than him who will soon kill us both...

“I've started to smell the gas getting thicker, buddy... Fast! We've come this far. You need strength from them, so just steal it! Do it even if you have to sacrifice your humanity!”

His partner yelled at him. Where then this man comes on his knees, whispering as his sword moves straight back in a stance. “I’m so sorry…”

The tip of the sword came piercing straight through my mother's back and my stomach slightly to the side. Then I squeezed my mother's shoulder to endure this flesh-burning pain.

“You stupid! You missed his vitals!”

Being scolded by the other, the man who stabbed me and my mother then burst into tears while shaking violently. “I can’t! It’s too hard! I’m sorry… I’m so sorry!”

He can’t complete his sentence as to how an explosion is coming right from the kitchen. Blown us all away, fire spreads everywhere.

I'm starting to get more helpless...

My head’s dizzy, blood is pooling more and more. I think it’s finally the time…

Before I lost consciousness, I briefly watched how the two guys ran frantically to avoid the flames… Leaving me here alone, waiting for what will kill me first. bleed out or burn alive.

I've forced myself to stay awake…

I might still be able to save mom, I think. But every tens of seconds I realize that I myself have lost consciousness several times, resisting and failing to stay awake.

Dragging myself, here and there looking for her…

One time I woke up, I felt something like clothes wrapped around the wound in my stomach… Then I came back unconscious.

Second time, I felt someone was dragging me somewhere with it’s own bloodstains along the way… Then I came back unconscious.

For the last time I forced my eyes to open up, I saw my mom stagger away from me into the fire… She is trying to sit next to someone's dead body. Holding my father’s hand until the burning roof collapsed covering everything I could see.

My soul had given up at that time…

I’m done trying…

~~~~~