"Harry."

I opened my eyes. The blue sky greeted me instead of the red one I can still picture in my head. Niall's face changed from concerned to relief.

Sooth and the scent of burnt flesh is heavy in the air. The whole already cool and dry but the souls were still lingering. Angered and saddened by their sudden death. Sudden realization settled in and I stood up straight, ignoring Niall's protests. Scanning the whole place, the only thing that greeted me was sand, tall cactuses and the scorching sun blaring its heat down on us. The remaining men came up to me and bid farewell silently.

I watch as they retreated and disappear into view. "Horan, where are we?" I questioned. The sudden change of surroundings was off putting. The fire that turned the whole town into hell vanished and the place was desolated. As if there was no town in the first place. But what remained was the smell. The only remainder of what took place and soon it would disappear.

"After you blacked out, the whole place collapsed and was swallowed whole by the ground. It was all quick, really. It's like the whole place was erased and replaced by this dessert."

My eyes widen slightly and gave Niall a look. "You mean..."

"The curse has been lifted." Niall smiled. His voice still hinted his surprise and happiness. My lips parted and I looked down at my hand, clutching the knife on the other. I bit my tongue back as I sliced it on my palm. Blood flowed out and stained the sand. My eyes widen as red fluid trickled down instead of the usual black. Can it be? Is this real?

"I'm... human?"

"And, there's more." I glanced up to see Niall's grim face. Frowning hard, I followed Niall's gaze that averted from me to a tent sitting a few feet from us. There were wounded men and women inside that were all smiling despite their injuries. I guess they, too, are glad that they have returned to their normal selves. But that wasn't what bothered Niall.

"She's inside."

Despite my drained body, I staggered to the tents. Not bothering to acknowledge Niall's solemn face. Why is he making that face?

A path was cleared for me to pass. I ignored their stares as I approached the buzzling tent. Pulling back the covers, my eyes traveled from the injured people being taken care of. They were covered with bandages, some were even lying down in pain.

"Harry." I raised an eyebrow and turn slightly to see Zayn walking towards me. "What is it?"

"I'm looking for Lucinda. Niall told me she's here, but as you can see, I can't find her in this crowd."

This time, it was Zayn who grew solemn. I had to laugh. "Seriously, you and Horan look so depressed. Didn't we win?"

Zayn swallowed visibly. "I'll take you to her." With that, he walked off. My mood suddenly turn sour, but I followed him. We both stepped in another tent, this time, it was quiet.

My eyes went wide as I stared at the lifeless bodies lying on the ground. Some bodies were covered in blood and others were covered by bandages. Obviously, their body was incinerated. But to the far left, there was one that was covered sooth. I approached it, my feet taking its time. Once I got closer, I knelt and examined what was left of the body.

There was no hair left behind. The face disappeared and was close to becoming dust.

"This is what we got from the body."

Zayn handed over a plastic that contained some things. When I scanned through the belongings, I gasped in shock. Sitting inside the plastic bag was the picture of Mertil, almost burnt. Some of the belongs even bears her name, especially the burn shirt and pants. The only person whom I know took this picture, owns these clothes crossed my mind and I found it unable to bear.

"It's Lucinda." Zayn gazed down at the body and I felt my anger rise. Anger and sorrow.

"No! That's not true!" I screamed, stood up and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt. "She's not dead!" I snarled.

"I'm sorry Styles." Zayn mumbled. I let him go and stared down at the lifeless body. I clenched my fists.

"Styles, you're bleeding." Zayn pointed out the wound on my palm profusely bleeding. Blood trickling down unto the ground. I didn't care about the pain as anger consumed me because of my failure. "I'll go ask someone to attend to your wounds."

When Zayn left, I let out a tear slip down my cheek.

"Lucinda... I'm sorry."

The blood stopped trickling and the pain left. I looked down on my palm and stared at the bloody wound.

It disappeared.