“My aunt is dead, Your Majesty…”

“What? How…”

“He shot her, the day he dragged me out of my own home.”

Kai shook his thoughts away as he recalled when Shixun said in the throne room after the King ordered his guards to take Shin and his associates away. Only four of them were left in the room and the first thing the King did was to apologise profusely to his goddaughter.

But Kai couldn’t read the expression on Shixun’s face; she was too tired perhaps. However, the only thing he could be sure of – was that this girl, had so much anger in her heart. Not towards the King nor anyone else, but when Shin was dragged away; Kai witnessed the fiery gaze her hazel orbs as she watched him being taken away.

But what he couldn’t understand, was the lone tear that slid down her cheek.

“How did it get to this?”

The King started off, trailing his eyes from her face all the way to the rest of the wounds. But he didn’t let her start, asking for the wheelchair once it was in sight before personally escorting her to the guestroom.

And only then, did the real conversation happen. She didn’t cry, nor did she show any sadness. Both he and Baekhyun were there; right behind the King. Both listening to what happened the day she was captured.

.

.

.

.

.

Kai sighed inwardly, “Why didn’t you stay, Shixun-ah…”

~”~

“Baek…hyun…”

Kai called out, trying his best to see through the smog. He took a cloth and covered his nose with it. The pungent smell of the mixed chemicals filled his nostrils just enough to make his head hurt and pound as he searched for his friends.

Baekhyun was sitting and leaning against the wall with his eyes closed; but there were no injuries, making Kai shake him a little to wake him up.

“Baek! Baek!” He continuously called to him, jerking him awake and grabbing him back and forth by his shoulder. “Can you get up?”

Kai was scared when all Baekhyun did was stare at him blankly. After all, the 12-year-old barely registered what had happened in the King’s private lab.

“Shixun… Shixun!” Baekhyun gasped, eyes widening when he remembered that he came together with Shixun to meet their parents.

“Shixun-ah!” Kai bellowed for her friend, pulling Baekhyun up with him as they dived deeper into the smoke.

Halfway into the room, they heard soft cries and sobbing – turning to their right just in time to see that Shixun was there; with her lifeless father and Baekhyun’s–

“Mom!”

—

Kai’s head started ringing.

He couldn’t remember anything that happened afterwards. And a sad smirk spread across his face; all three of them lost a part of their memory that night.

Only difference was, they didn’t forget the same thing nor moment.

“Kai, you alight?”

Baekhyun’s voice was laced with concern and worry, but Kai simply brushed it off ruffling his hair. “I’m fine. It’s just, we may need to tighten