Chapter 126: Cruel Silence
Liang Jian Amal galloped his horse through the field outside the capitol, letting the wind whip wildly across his face. He gripped the mane of the animal in his fists as he gritted his teeth.
Zawbiae threw his head proudly enjoying the freedom after having been cooped up for so long. Every time the horses hooves hit the dirt the healing wound in his calf would throb, but it was a welcome distraction.
'Why would she say that?'
The severely creased and worn letter sat in his pocket, where he had kept it. The words were almost etched into his mind at this point, yet he kept reading it, looking for something different than what was there.
Yet the words didn't change nor did they start make sense to him. After everything was cleared up he intended to clarify the matter, but for now he couldn't. His Jid needed his help greatly.
The last two weeks had been consumed with sorting the mess left behind by his father and uncles.
Over a thousand men had to be buried from their side, as such most of Muzdahir, including the palace, was in a state of mourning.
To the south of Muzdahir a large area of woodlands was cleared to make room for the mass graves that had to be dug, leaving a hole in the land, as well as the city, with all the missing lives.
After they had won, half the forces stayed to take care of the bodies of the deceased, while the other half had raced to their home to ensure its safety.
Liang Jian Amal, as well as Erol, were among those who rushed home. Even though his leg had long gone numb, Liang JianAmal had felt himself driven on relentlessly, needing to know that his home was safe.
The day was drawing to a close by the time the few hundred men had returned to their home. Even though the city looked untouched, it was eerily quiet throughout the entirety. The buildings cast long shadows across the streets as he ran between them, dread building.
In his haste Liang JianAmal had slowly started to leave most of the others behind, as some stopped to check on their homes and families as well.
As he came up the rise he saw the exquisitely planted courtyard was in shambles, torn through, trampled, and utterly defiled. Fearing the worst, Liang JianAmal had tried to rush in through the front entrance only to meet resistance.
He had thrown himself at it repeatedly until Erol and a few of the other men caught up to him. With their help they were able to break down the door. Spilling into the doorway, the men saw that they had been blocked by a bunch of furniture, that now lay strewn on the floor.
"Chang! Jid!" Silence had reigned through the halls that looked to have been ransacked. Pieces of broken furniture as well as pottery lay haphazardly on the ground as he hurried through, looking for any sign of life.
His heart in his throat Liang JianAmal had rushed to their room first and checked thoroughly, but thoroughly enough as he completely overlooked the envelope sitting on the bed. Hurriedly leaving the room Liang JianAmal searched every room along the way to his Jid's chambers, looking for any sign of them.
Right inside the antechamber lay a well-dressed corpse of a man, a pool of blood surrounding him like the petals of a flower.
"Jid?" He had called out worriedly venturing further to find the older man and several of the maids surrounding an ashen Jari Maan al-Hassan. Yet there was no sign of Hao Jin Ying, Li Hua or Chang.
His Jid seemed to have aged significantly over the course of the day since he had left, worrying him. Erol arrived shortly after him exclaiming he couldn't find anybody anywhere except for corpses until he saw the group gathered. With his help they carried the barely alive man to the medical building in the hopes that it was untouched.
"Jid where is she?" As they had carried Jari Maan al-Hassan Liang JianAmal had questioned the older man.
With a wearied face Hakim al-Hassan only told him bitterly "Liang Ju-Long."
They were barely able to rescue Jari Maan al-Hassan, due to the fact he had lost a significant amount of blood from torn stitching and already exhausted body. At the news he would live, the elder man wept, grateful he would not be burying two sons on the same day.
Hakim al-Hassan tried to have him stay and get checked out as well, mentioning his bloodied face, leg, and dust encrusted figure. Liang JianAmal had refused, everything else could hardly matter to to him at that moment, whatever else could wait.
He had immediately left for his chambers, to grab his stuff and take off after his father. It was then he noticed the envelope sitting on the bed.
After reading he slumped to the bed all his energy instantly gone. 'I don't love you.. Don't seek me out.. We are not something that was meant to last..'
'No, I can't accept that, this has to be because of my father.. He must have done something to her or threatened her..
'I will find out the truth, until then please wait for me, Chang, I will come.'
Chapter 127: Cruel Silence (II)
November quickly became December before Chang knew it.
As time passed, it felt like she was stuck in an hourglass, watching as the last of the sand was pouring over her head, slowly smothering her.
Everyday she went through the motions of living, wearing a mask through the day until she reached the night, then she would cry in her pillow quietly until she slept.
Though sleep always only came in small bursts. Nightmares featuring Liang Ju-Long and her kidnappers plagued her constantly. Nightmares involving Jian, cold and unmoving, a forgotten body in a field of bodies. Things she had thought she had overcome rose back over her, as if sensing the weakness inside her. Only now there was no Jian to comfort her, to hold her through the night. There was no longer the strong pair of arms that held her securely or the steady heartbeat that lulled her gently. Slowly she learned to cope, taking her sleep in the small bits she could, clutching a pillow to her chest.
Li Hua was sitting behind her, in her cushioned electric wheelchair, watching as Chang decorated their Christmas tree, a sad look in her eyes.
It had always been their tradition to style it up together, and hang the bright cheery lights as a family, but now there was only Chang to do it. Li Hua could only spectate now, and Hénri was gone.
The silence as she worked felt a little stifling, at one time the house had been a place of warm joy, filled with the sounds of laughter and music. Now it was cold and silent most of the time.
Chang was unaware of this, trying to lose herself in the monotonous task and bring a little Christmas joy to their house for her mom's last one. She pulled out every box that her father had labeled, decorating every inch of the house and especially adorning the tree.
"Xiao, Xie, will you put on a song please." Li Hua was unable to bear the silence any more, and asked for some music. She was glad Chang could still understand her words as it had sounded more like "Hao Hie, whill yhew pud ahn sohng puhlee" with her deteriorating speech.
"Of course mom, do you want some Christmas music from the radio or one of the records?" Chang got down from the ladder, and turned with a radiant smile on her face.
"Will you put on one of the records please, some Al Green, he was always one of your father's favorites."
Chang's smile faltered for only a moment before it came back in full force. "Of course, give me a moment."
Chang rifled through the alphabetical collection of records her father had collected and grabbed the first with the desired name. There were several baskets, as her father had loved music and to dance.
Every Friday night Chang from as young as she could remember she could remember her father and mother putting on records and dancing together. Late into the night, the two would dance, holding each other close as her father would whisper in her mother's ear. When she was a little girl she had dreamed about finding a man like that. One who would hold her close, tightly yet gently, and dance through the night with her.
As Chang walked back in she vaguely heard the song that came on.
"Call me.
"Oh.
"Call me.
"Oh what a beautiful time
"We had together.
"Now it's getting late and we must
"Leave each other.
"Just remember that time we had.. "
Chang stumbled as the words hit her, and fell down to her knees. Li Hua came into the room hearing the commotion to see Chang kneeling there, her eyes wide as her tears fell like large pearls from her eyes. Like the tears words began to tumble from Chang's mouth.
"Even though he was always so busy, and we didn't really know each other at first, he always made time for me. I told him once about how you and dad used to dance through the night. The next night he set up some music and danced with me, even though I'm not really good.
"I stepped on his toes tons of times, but he didn't care, he still danced with me and held me close.
"I've been trying to tell myself I don't miss him but I really do. Everday. I can't stop."
"You don't have to, this is normal, just don't lose hope Xiao Xie."
"I'm trying mom, I'm trying. It's just so hard, I'll try harder though." Chang wiped the tears away with the back of her hand trying to banish her moment of weakness. She tried to put a smile on her face as she turned back to look at her mom.
Lihua had a strange look on her face, almost kind of vacant as her mouth opened and closed soundlessly. Chang instantly knew something was horribly wrong and called the paramedics. As they waited Chang held her warm hands and tried to get a response from her. But there was nothing.
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