Lyn turned her head slowly as her eyes search where the cough had come from. She had thought that somehow it was coming from Luca but when she heard it again, she immediately knew who was coughing. She stood up weakly moving towards Andy who was struggling to find some air.
' Andy!!! Andy are you okay? She asked tears showed from her eyes. '
' Ohho! Where..... Where is everyone. Is everything fine? Andy asked getting up from the ground. '
' What happened?'
' I really have no idea. Maybe Alex can tell you. '
' Alex?????
' Mmhh!!! Where is he?
' There, still unconscious if l may say so.'
' Unconscious? Why? What the.... Shit! Hey old man! Old man wake up. Are you already dead? He quickly asked shaking Mr Tan's body who immediately opened his eyes but weakly. '
' Don't tell me am in heaven? Where are the angels then?
' Old man grow. We do not have time for your nonsense. What happened here? ' Lyn furiously shouted staring at the helpless man.'
' And what did l do? You want to blame me for everything. '
' Shut up. Stand up and go help Alex. I don't know if he's okay. ' she blurted standing walking towards Alex who was still not showing any sign of waking up. '
' Ghosh! What really happened here? Wait, Luca!!! Luca's dead, right. He's dead with Linet, Mmhh? No, not so fast. ' Andy asked remembering that he was supposed to cry. He had thought that he was imagining but when Luca's face came inside his head, he knew that this isn't his own illusions. It was real. '
' You mean you didn't knew? Lyn sadly asked soothing his back. '
' No. I thought that l was dreaming when the sword smashed him. He died protecting Linet but the cruel Witch, didn't gave him another chance when another sword came from nowhere, this time slashing Linet into pieces. I wanted to help but l froze and died from inside. I thought that maybe it was fear caging me but..... But when l..... When.... '
' When what idiot. You're not a stammerer, say it whatever you want to say.' Lyn snapped somehow angrily. '
' And What's wrong with you? Can't you wait l mourn their deaths. You finished your part now it's mine. Don't cut me again. ' he warned going back to where he had stopped from crying. This time his voice came out loudly waking Alex as soon as his voice echoed inside their ears.'
' What the fuck Linet. Can't you shut your big mouth? I'll tell Mom if you continue blubbering, l swear.' He said surprising them even Andy who was crying stopped for a short time staring at him then he continued again. '
' Ahhhhh!!!!!! Luca!!!! You left me!!!! Why, why junior. You didn't even celebrate your birthday. And your crash Linet, you didn't even kissed her. Why? Why?' he cried this time making Alex to snapped back from reality.'
' Uhh! Stop exaggerating moron. Look now what you've done. '
' Old man shup up. If you can't cry then let me. Where were you when they were being killed? Mmh!
' Shut up kid. You too where the hell were you? You didn't even let your breath out at the time she was attacking yet you're here talking nonsense. Do you have some sense, boy. '
' Yes old man. Better let me cry in peace after then we can talk again.' he said going back to tears again.'
' Whaaat!!!! Are you okay in your head kid.'
' Old man, am okay. Just leave me cry for real now. If not l might never cry for the rest of my life.'
' Go to hell stupid kid. Are you sure you're crying? Mr Tan asked confusingly staring at him.'
' Do l look like am joking? Am trying my best not to but l can't. Am so hurt broken especially......
' Shut the heck up. Am tired hearing your childish act. You two don't start blaming at each other. It's no one's fault okay, l know it hurts so just bare with it like am doing even though l feel like bursting into fresh tears. So act like nothing's has happened. Even if you cry, they won't come back to life. It's done.' Lyn mumbled caressing Alex's back smoothly.'
' Mr Tan? Alex softly called after his nerve has calmed down a little. '
' Mmhh!'
' There's something you're not telling us? Who is Alah for sure. How can she be able to spurt out fire? You see that tree, she burned it. For sure. I don't know if it was because of anger or what. But she's hell. ' Alex explained showing them the burned tree angrily. It came to them that they hadn't noticed the tree until he spoke about it.
' To be sure, l don't really know. Maybe there's so many things we're yet to find out from her. But what am sure of... '
' I know. She told me she'll be back. No one knows what she's upto this time despite her knowing now what kind of person l am. It seems that she wants to make her own allies just for revenge.' Alex added cutting Mr Tan. '
' Where are the sharp arrows that we made the night before yesterday? ' he added his tense gaze fixed at Mr Tan.
' I hid them. They are right there. Let me go and fetch them.' Andy spoke running to where the arrows were hidden.
' Alex!!!!!! You need to see this? He shouted as they walk to where he was stunned standing.'
' What? Anything big? He replied running towards where he was standing.'
Ooh jeez! Lyn cried as Alex covers her inside his chest. She couldn't bare to stare at it twice.
' It sucks. I feel like l wanna puke. What the hell is this? But it look likes a woman's body, right? Mr Tan asked trying to puke in a nearby bush but halted when his eyes caught a shiny blueish thing in a small bush right from where he was bending.
' Guys, l got this? He called his hands getting hold on it but out of nowhere, a very powerful force threw him away as he lands on a nearby tree which made everybody to turn to where he was.'
' Uhhisshh! Is this how am gonna die!!! No, shit! He roared trying to stand. ' What the hell was that? '
' It is what Luca had swallowed? But how did it ended here? Andy said creasing his brows confusingly.'
' Maybe the witch forgot about it after killing them. ' Lyn suggested.
' No. Luca didn't swallow it. He knew that's what Alah was looking for, so by using his tricks, he pretended that he swallowed it just to save everyone. But, it reaching here, l don't know how?' Alex said trying to touch it but somehow being terrified. When his hands touched it, the shiny part just shuttered and then turned back to normal by having a close look at it.
' Guys you know what? This is my mom's body? Andy broke the silence again staring at the disgusting lifeless body thrown near the river bank as Alex slides the diamond shaped thing inside his pocket.
' Mom!!! How possible is it? Is this how she'll be doing with other people's bodies?'
' Somehow! You see this bangle here, l bought for her on the day of her 9th anniversary. Though l thought that she won't wear it, but one thing l was sure of, she can't deny it. I wonder why that woman had to dumb her body in this way. Even though her face isn't that clear, but the bangle is what am sure of. She's really my sweet mom. ' he cried kneeling near her. Her body seemed that somebody has been cutting her with a machine especially the face.
' It's fine dude, this time is between her and l. Am going to look for her and finish this damned thing. It is now or never. ' Alex said taking the arrows walking away.'
' Alex, wait. We need to make sure we attacked her unknowingly. ' Lyn suggested running after him but Alex didn't pay off his attention to her words.'
' Lyn, it's now or never. ' Andy added then him too walked passed her as the old man does the same. '
' Am old, so if l die, l won't regret it. I'll die as a warrior. It's now or never. ' he said leaving her getting stunned from where she was standing.'
' Yeah! Sure. Now or never. '