The Final Chaos
The Black Phoenix
*banner by princesscc01
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He seemed to think for a while but then, he gave me a small nod, put on a shirt and jeans all in one go then disappeared. I sat there, on the edge of the bed, trying to listen to anything unusual. I don’t like this, I don’t like this at all. I really have a bad feeling about this. I chewed on my lower lip and looked around the room. A pop then sounded. I looked up and saw Jiyong. I stood up. “Aww,” I winced.
“Are you alright?” he asked, holding my arm.
“I feel sore,” I said, almost in a whiney voice. I saw the expression on his face changed. From being worried and angry, it changed to a suppressed grin.
“Oh,” he said with a straight face. Awkward silence then embraced us.
“Sore but satisfied,” I then mumbled, making him laugh. I smiled. I really missed that sound. I was about to say something when I noticed something flashed in his eyes. I stilled. “Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”
He looked away. He then went to the built-in cabinet and pulled out two items – a boxer and a loose long sleeved polo shirt. “Get dressed,” he said, handing me the two items. Well, he did ruin my clothes, didn’t he? He also picked up my bra and threw it to my direction. I pursed my lips and decided to put on some clothes first before pursuing my case.
“Strap my bra, please.”
He didn’t say anything and just complied. I then slipped on the loose shirt and his boxers on. He suddenly stooped low and was about to carry me when I stopped him.
“What’s wrong?”
“I already told the others to –”
“Jiyong, I’m not really that weak anymore.”
He looked up, his eyes flashing angrily at me. “Do really want to know what’s wrong? Well, the whole forest outside had been wiped off and there are at least thousands of shadows staying a few thousand miles from us, surrounding this place! You don’t even have any idea how surprised I am to know that the population of shadows had gone up this high and I didn’t even sense their presence!”
“Well. . . I think you were a bit distracted. . .” I mumbled softly, trying to lighten the atmosphere. “I mean, I was pretty loud while, you know. . .”
He then buried his face in his hands. “Oh, Dara! What am I going to do with you?”
“Love me again. . .” I blurted out of nowhere. He opened his mouth but then, he got distracted with the sound of voices coming from the outside. Without saying anything, he just scooped me up then transported. I just clung to him and let him be. Maybe because I was scared to hear what he’s going to say.
We reappeared in what seemed to be one of the rooms in this small place. The others were already there. “Open it,” I heard him say.
Seungri then leaned down and pulled out the carpet. I saw a plain floor but then, Seungri caressed his hand over the smooth floor, making me frown. I tried to look over his shoulder but I can’t get past through it even if I was already craning my neck. To my surprise, there was a rumbling sound then a set of stairs then started descending.
“The basement had been built previously by healers to prevent shadows from transporting in and out,” Jiyong told me. “You should be safe down there.”
My head turned to him sharply. “What do you mean by that?” I asked, my voice increasing in pitch. “I’m coming with you!”
“No, you aren’t.”
“But how did they find us?” Bom asked, cutting me off the privilege to retaliate back.
“I intend to find that out,” Jiyong answered.
“Well, maybe there's a spy here among us,” Seungri said.
“It’s not the right time for jokes, Seungri,” Youngbae sternly said.
“I’m just trying to be a participant,” he said.
“So what’s basically the plan?” TOP asked as we started descending the stairs. I looked down, my cheeks blushing. I haven’t talked to him yet and I feel so guilty right now.
“Well, basically, all of the girls will be staying down here and all of the guys will be going out there.”
“You’re joking!” me, Bom, CL and Sohee all exclaimed.
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Jiyong asked.
“You can’t really expect me to stay here when my husband and my friends are in danger, can you?” Bom said.
“I agree,” CL said.
“Yes, I can’t let Seungri go without me as well,” Sohee said.
I wanted to protest as well but I couldn’t find my voice.
“You don’t really have that much of a choice, do you?” Seungri said.
“I won’t allow it as well,” I said.
Jiyong looked down at me. “Do you really want us to argue about this right now?” he asked. “Dara, this isn’t just about me or Youngbae or Bom or anyone else. Think for just a second, what would happen if they would capture you? it’s not only the shadow world that will be affected, but also the world of the normal people.”
“He’s right, Bom,” Youngbae said. “Let’s face it, you girls are normal human beings and you won’t stand a chance against a shadow that can use their powers on you. You’ll only end up being used to get us or Dara or the phoenix.”
I felt heavy. This would not happen if I wasn’t who I am. I wonder if Han Eul and my mother are aware of the recent events.
Jiyong then put me down on a couch as we are now in a large circular room that looked like much of a chamber of a queen from old times. Without saying or looking at me, he went to Seungri and started talking to him while Sohee just clung to Seungri’s arms. Bom looked like arguing with Youngbae in one corner. My eyes landed on CL and I somehow felt bad for her. I was about to go talk to her when TOP approached me. He gave me a small smile.
“Just thought of saying hello,” he said. “This might be the last time I may be able to say that to you or even see you.”
“Don’t talk like that!” I said, standing up. Oh God, I don’t like this. My heart thundered painfully in my chest. He’s been with me when I was all alone. He’s been very patient and God knows how much I wanted to repay him back, how much I wanted to repay his feelings. I do care about him, and I do love him. But. . . Jiyong. . . he’s just. . . he’s just the one for me.
I reached out for TOP’s face, tears started stinging my eyes. No matter how hard I deny it, what he’s saying is actually quite true. Reality check, how can four teenagers fight thousands of full grown and well-experienced shadows? Jiyong might have the chance of survival but as for the others, I’m not really sure and it pains me to think of it. It was actually quite funny how I was talking about this with Jiyong just a few hours back and now, it’s actually happening.
“We still need to talk, so you have to come back, okay?” I said, my voice cracking.
“I don’t want to make a promise that I couldn’t keep,” he replied.
And I just threw myself in his arms, hugging him tightly. Tears flowed endlessly from my eyes but I refrained from making any sounds. It would only make it harder for both of us. We were in that state when we heard a loud bang followed by the place being shaken.
“I guess that’s our cue,” Seungri said.
I met Jiyong’s eyes while I was in TOP’s arms. His jaw tightened and he just looked away, saying, “Let’s go.”
I then somehow understood what I saw in his eyes so I let go of TOP and chased after him. Jiyong was already up in the stairs when I reached him. I grabbed his arm and pulled him back, making him face me. Without saying anything, I cupped his face and tiptoed to reach his lips. I kissed him as hard as I can and as passionately as I can.
“I love you,” I panted, breaking the kiss. “I love you. . . I love you. . . I love you. . . and I’ll wait for you, okay? I’ll wait for you no matter what.”
He stared at me in silence. Then, he pushed me against the wall and roughly claimed my lips. I don’t what it meant. It could mean different things but I let it slipped my mind. Right now, Jiyong’s kissing me, I can feel his presence surrounding me, his scent, his warmth, his very essence.
Prematurely, he broke the kiss and looked away, his jaw tightening and his eyes closed. Then, he breathed out heavily and let me go without saying anything. He just walked away and I was rooted on my spot for some reason, just watching his back.
I don’t like this feeling at all. And even before I knew, the secret passageway was closed and I was left with the rest of the girls.
- - -
AUTHOR’S POV
“Whoa!” Seungri exclaimed. “What the hell happened here?”
“They wiped out the entire forest!” Youngbae exclaimed.
Jiyong and TOP didn’t say anything. Their eyes were focused on the people standing a few miles away from where they were. “When did the shadow population grown like this?” TOP then said.
“I think Ahn had been more secretive than I thought,” he said. “He used to do some experiments to try to reproduce another descendant since I wasn’t prepared to take the role. But it seemed that he’s been reproducing shadows in general.”
“Freak,” TOP whistled.
“Why do you think they haven’t attacked yet?”
“I’ve been wondering about that as well,” Jiyong said. “But I think I already have an idea and it’s nice.”
“Nothing about shadows is nice,” Youngbae murmured.
“There is,” Seungri said. “Me.”
“True,” Jiyong sighed. “Your scarred face is pretty nice to look at.”
“Har har, very funny!” Seungri said. “But seriously guys, I will always be honored fighting next to you.”
“That’s just disgusting,” both Jiyong and Youngbae said.
“You two will always be my best friends, even if you treat me so unfairly sometimes,” Seungri said. “So, if something happens to me, look after Sohee for me, okay?”
“Can you just shut your mouth up?” Jiyong snapped.
“And. . . look after Chaerin as well.”
Well, since Seungri started it, I might as well make a request,” Youngbae followed. “You know who the most important people in my life are – my wife and my daughter so take good care of them, Jiyong, okay?
“Do I look like a caretaker?” he asked.
“Well, frankly speaking,” TOP finally broke his silence. “You’re the only one who got the chance to survive this.”
“Are you all guilt tripping me?” Jiyong asked. “If so, you can go back inside and wait for the result.”
All three snorted. “Did you really think we’ll let you fight them alone?” Seungri asked.
“Like you said, this isn’t just about protecting Dara or her mother, Jiyong.”
“Enough with these talks,” Jiyong grimaced. “It’s creeping the hell out of me. And if I do lose control, stay away from me.”
“I’d love to!” Seungri beamed.
“Now everything’s clear, let’s have this over and done.”
Jiyong took a deep breath then gave a loud half-screech, half-whistle. Silence ensued next but sooner or later, ordinary crows started flying in to their direction, circling above their heads.
“Nice of you to call our friends,” a loud and familiar voice echoed in Jiyong’s head.
“What do you want?” he asked, his eyes scanning the area, looking for him.
“You know what I want, Jiyong,” Ahn answered. “And I can’t understand why you’re fighting me.”
“I guess we just have differences that we can never settle,” he answered back, still trying to look for him.
“Looking for me, Jiyong?”
“Where are you?” he hissed.
Laughter then filled his ears. “I’m here, Jiyong!”
Ahn then popped in the middle of the wiped-out forest with two people in front of him. One was his mother and one was his stepfather who was motionlessly lying on the ground. His mother was on her knees, facing him, all tied up in rope. Anger started boiling inside of him and he could just imagine his dark side smirking smugly at him.
“Easy Jiyong,” Youngbae whispered. “Don’t bite his bait.”
“One more chance, Jiyong,” the man called out. “It’s all up to you, just give me what I want.”
“I’m not really sure if you’re just being stupid or what,” Jiyong called back. “Why ask a question that you already know the answer to?”
The man nodded and sighed, looking crestfallen. “Well, if that would be the case. . .” he trailed and caressed Jiyong’s mother’s hair. Then, he pulled her head and snapped it in two in just a blink of an eye. Her body fell forward, lifeless. It happened so sudden that the four of them just stood there, staring. Jiyong, face bearing no emotions, started taking lifeless steps forward. Each step he took gave way to one tear until it finally dawned on his conscious mind what just happened, what he had just witnessed. The pain started spreading to his system and the urge to let his dark side take over was so tempting. Letting it take over would stop him from feeling pain, only pleasure from seeing others suffering.
“Jiyong!” someone called out. “Dara is expecting you to return to her in your normal state, you can’t lose control right now!”
Jiyong stopped in his tracks. It was TOP’s voice but why should he care? He didn’t promise he’ll return for her, right?
“He’s provoking you,” TOP went on. “If you lose control, it might trigger the phoenix to come and you don’t really want that, do you? Think of what Dara would feel if you and her mother would fight!”
Why should she think of other people’s mothers when his mother is dead? Whose mother was that again? he thought.
Dara, a side of his mind answered. Dara’s expectant face then popped into his mind and it’s as if his mind was cleared with the dark clouds hovering over it and his dark side retreated back to the deepest part of him. But then, the pain was just so crippling that all he could ever think of was getting revenge.
“You started this,” he said, letting himself fade slowly into a dark smoke, his eyes getting all black. Seeing this, the other three then went to their shadow mode on. With a smile, Ahn signaled the others to attack as well as Jiyong urging the crows to attack.
Half of the shadows surrounded Jiyong, Youngbae, TOP and Seungri while half of them went to attack the house.
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You can have this as a BGM
or the piano version, whichever you prefer. You can just replay if it's finished.
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Meanwhile, the girls were all anxious of what’s going on outside. Sohee was especially worried for Seungri. “My father might face him off personally because of what we did,” she said. “We were pretty surprised that he didn’t start doing anything to us after what we did.”
“Seungri knew what he involved himself into,” Bom said. “Surely, he would not expect less?”
Sohee was about to answer back when they felt the whole place shaken up that dusts from the ceiling started falling off heavily. They can hear mixture of sounds – screeches, voices, shouts, screams, banging sounds, explosions, among other things.
“The shadows would not be able to use their powers inside this room,” Bom said. “So they might go for physical fight. Sohee, I think you better stay at the back.”
“I know how to fight,” Sohee gritted. “It should be Dara staying at the back since she’s the one they wanted the most.”
“I’m –” Dara started when the sound of incoming footsteps stopped her.
They all went still. Dara’s heart started beating so hard against her chest that she was finding it difficult to breathe. Truth be told, she was scared. She was scared to death. Then, slowly, a person emerged into the room followed by a horde of shadows.
“Hello ladies,” Ahn greeted them, smiling. “Oh, dear daughter, you’re also here.”
“Dad, stop this. . .” Sohee said.
“Your mother is quite disappointed with you,” he said. “Choosing that low-life shadow as your lover, it’s an insult to us. It makes me wonder how you can stomach watching his ugly scarred face. His name is Seungri, right? But don’t worry dear, some of my friends are now eliminating him.”
There was an outraged scream and Dara stood frozen in shock as she watched CL launched to attack Ahn but then, a shadow leapt forward and attacked her. And I then realized that CL actually knew how to fight as well. But then, Ahn stepped aside and let the other shadows in.
“You can do whatever you want, just leave the phoenix girl and my daughter alive,” Ahn said. And it angered Dara so she joined in with Bom and CL fighting the shadows off. Sooner or later, Sohee joined in.
Adrenaline rushed through her veins and she felt so cool fighting off a number of shadows all at once. She never felt this good before as she was never a supporter of violence. She still doesn’t support violence but just having that ability to defend herself and her friends was something she somehow takes pride on. She suddenly felt responsible for them and for her life, she felt independent and strong. But she knew it was limited. The shadows coming in on them seemed endless and she didn’t have the enough stamina to fight all of them. If she falls down now from exhaustion, Bom and CL might fall down from exhaustion as well and the shadows would not hesitate to kill them.
If previously asked, she would probably let them be to save herself and Jiyong. But the things she went through taught her that there is a world outside the world that she created for herself and Jiyong. And that world is beautiful and should not be ruined – that world where friendship exists; that world where you make mistakes and learn from it; that world that will teach you how to be strong; that world that will laugh at you; that world that will cry with you; that world that would not really care if you die or not; that world where you create memories with your loved ones and even with your enemies; that world where you love and get hurt; that world where you will be loved and you’ll find your happiness.
She wants to be part of that world. She wants Jiyong to be part of that world as well. But they’re not the only ones who have the right to be part of that world. Bom and CL have the right to be part of that world, too. Bom, being with her daughter and watch her grow. CL, finding someone she can be with. And she thought, life is all about choices. I learned that well from my past experiences. Sounds pretty easy, huh? But not quite. What if the choices are to gain or to lose; to be loved or to love; to leave or to be left; to live or to die; to kill or to be killed? Will you be able to choose? It always goes down to one thing. It’s either be selfish or be selfless. However it may be, consequences will always come forth. As much as I don’t want it, I know that along the way, lives will be taken, hearts will be broken and a happy ending will be impossible for some of us.
She doesn’t have anything to ask anymore. She only wanted Jiyong to love and forgive her, to be with him. She also wanted to have a family with him, of course. But then, having a family would have another descendant and that is not good thing. If both Dara and Jiyong will be gone, then there will be no useless battle and wasted lives. It will be prevented. She was in that thought when she heard a scream, Sohee’s scream. She paused for a moment and looked for her. She was writhing on the floor with pain. She looked back at Ahn and saw him staring at Sohee. Now this made her frown, as far as she knew, shadows can’t use their powers inside this room.
Sohee writhed and screamed some more. “What’s going on?!” Bom screamed over the chaos.
“I don’t know!” she answered. She looked back at Mr. Ahn and saw him holding some sort of a device in his hand and he was pressing it.
“Hmm,” he murmured. “It seemed that my experiment on you is actually working.”
A painful ringing hit her ears. Experiment, the word echoed and bounced off the walls of her mind. Who sane parent would experiment on his child to inflict pain?
“Stoopppppppppp!” she screamed so hard that the whole room reverberated. She felt everyone went still. “Enough!”
Ahn narrowed his eyes. “Take my daughter,” he ordered the shadows that stopped fighting.
“Don’t touch her!” she screamed. “I hate you. . . I hate you. . . I hate you. . .”
“That’s a strong word, girl.”
Her mind just went blank. Now she understood how Jiyong feels everytime he sees her in danger. Sohee might not be that close to her compared to Bom or TOP or Jiyong but just the thought of a parent experimenting on his child to inflict pain and use as bait was so repulsive to her that it made her saw red.
“You’re the vilest creature I’ve ever known,” she said before launching to attack him. At the same time, she saw CL did the same but the other girl was blocked by the other shadows. Even without powers, Ahn was quick and strong. No matter how hard she tried to hit him just once in the face, he would always successfully dodged her without any efforts. And she knew he was laughing at her and it enraged her even more.
As she fought Ahn, Youngbae and Han Eul suddenly arrived. Youngbae started pulling off the shadows fighting his wife while Han Eul had a bow on hand and shooting some arrows into some of the shadows crowding around CL.
“Dara!” Han Eul screamed. “Stay away from him!”
Dara heard Han Eul but she can’t stop herself from fighting Ahn, not now. Not now that she can still hear Sohee panting and sobbing, all curled up on the floor.
“Dara!” Han Eul screamed again.
When Han Eul ran out of arrows, she used her bow to fight off the shadows together with CL, Bom and Youngbae. But shadows just keep on coming until it was already too overwhelming for the four of them. Bom’s arms were grabbed by two shadows at each time and Youngbae went to help his wife. But then, the number of their enemies was just too overwhelming that a shadow attacked him from behind, grappled his neck and twisted it so hard that the joints broke. Bom went still and watched as her husband’s body fell forward, lifeless.
Her grief rendered her weak that she fell to her knees, just staring with eyes wide opened at Youngbae’s dead body – his eyes opened and staring blankly ahead. And she was being attacked. For a moment, she wondered why they were not killing her just as what the other shadow did to Youngbae.
She wanted to go with him, she wanted to fade with him but then, it’s as if her subconscious mind was protesting against it because the image of her daughter floated in her mind. And the image of her smiling, looking exactly like her father suddenly gave her the will and strength to survive.
Unknown to most all of them, Daesung slipped past all of the chaos, picked up Sohee and gave a brief nod to Ahn who was still busy making fun of Dara. But CL saw Daesung carrying Sohee away from the chaos. Sohee would be safe but she knew Seungri wouldn’t be too happy to see Sohee being carried by Daesung so evading some of the other shadows, she went after Daesung. She ran through the chaos, just flailing her arms all over the place. She climbed the stairs and when she reached the last step, she was surprised to see that everything was wiped out – the trees, the house, everything. Her eyes ran through the area. There were dead bodies and crows here and there. There were flying and attacking crows as well. She wasn’t sure of the number of shadows but they were a lot, transporting here and there, screaming here and there. . . it was pure chaos. She couldn’t make out where Seungri was. She could only make out Jiyong’s profile that was emanating dark vibrations, sending shadows around him down to the ground, writhing. Goosebumps covered her all over. She had never seen Jiyong like that before.
Sohee’s scream brought her back to her reverie. Shaking her head, she started running after Daesung, hoping that he would not transport somewhere. And she was more than grateful when she finally reached him. She gave him a kick in the back, making him stumble a little bit forward. Sohee was dropped off to the ground and she rolled over.
Daesung faced CL, his stance defensive but then, he straightened up upon seeing the girl. “You don’t really want me to hurt you, do you?” he asked.
CL replied by swinging her arm to his face but Daesung easily dodged her and when his eyes turned pitch black, she knew she was in danger. And she was right because she just dropped to her knees, her eyes rolling back to her head. She didn’t want to scream, she’s not that type of person but she wasn’t able to help it. An eerie scream escaped her lips and it took the attention of the nearby shadows.
“I’ll handle her,” Minzy’s voice appeared. “Take Sohee.”
Daesung turned away from CL and the scream faded. As he was about to go pick up Sohee, a shadow transported just beside the girl – Seungri. Seungri pulled the girl in her arms then disappeared before Daesung could even stop him.
He turned back to Minzy but she was already fighting with CL. He was about to help his sister when he was suddenly pushed away by an invisible hand. And when he looked up, he saw TOP whose eyes showing his emotions – he felt betrayed.
“Why?” TOP asked. “WHY?!?”
“Ahn promised to heal mother,” Daesung answered. “And that’s what we wanted from the start, right?”
“BUT LOOK AT WHAT YOU’VE DONE!!!” TOP screamed.
“Are you really concern of what is going on or you’re only thinking of your precious Sandara Park? By the way, did she choose you over Jiyong?”
TOP didn’t answer.
“She didn’t, huh?” Daesung chuckled. “So what’s the point of all of this, Seunghyun? You should be fighting with us, with me, Min and mother! Not with them!”
“I’m fighting for what is right!”
“Why, is it wrong to want the person who raised us to get better? Do you really love that girl so much that you’re choosing her over the person who took you without having any second thoughts?”
“I care about the old woman, Dae,” TOP said. “But do you think she’d be happy to know that we’d let things like these happen just to save her? Dae, lives are being wasted here! Aren’t you even looking around you?”
“I don’t care about anyone else!”
TOP shook his head, saddened of where the conversation was heading.
“Look, I don’t really want to fight you,” Daesung then went on. “So stay out of my way.”
TOP was silent for a moment but then, his eyes gone all-black as well. “I’m afraid I can’t allow that.”
“So be it, then.”
On the other hand, CL was having a hard time fighting off Minzy. She felt so drained out and she could no longer stand straight. The girl smirked at her. “Well, I might just have to let my friends finish you, huh?” she said then gave a tiny whistle. Two or three crows flew in and started attacking CL. She protectively covered her head with her arms and just stayed down on the ground, all curled up. When she thought it’ll never stop, two arms encircled around her. And when she opened her eyes, Seungri’s scarred face greeted her. “W-where am I?” she asked.
“Far from the trouble,” he answered. “I don’t really think they’ll bother going after you, they only care about Dara. As much as I want to bring her here, I can’t. They’ll only follow her here and more innocent lives will be taken. I’ve already told Jiyong a while ago that it’d be better if you, Sohee and Bom are far away from Dara but he thought the others won’t find the place we’re hiding and he said that it’d be better if we stick together because it’d only make all of us vulnerable if we’re all separated.”
“Bom. . .you need to get her. Youngbae. . . he’s. . . he’s dead.”
“W-what?”
“Youngbae’s dead.”
Pain flashed through his eyes. He closed his eyes for a moment then opened them again, signs of pain all gone.
“I need to go,” he said. “You can look after yourself, right?”
“Yes,” she answered.
He smiled a little. “I know you’d say that,” he said. “And do me a little favor, look after Sohee as well. She’s in the other room.”
“Okay. . .”
Back to the underground room, as Dara made another attack, Ahn was able to get hold of her arm, twist it around and held her back. Then, she heard it, three arrows swooshing her way. Instinctively, she bent her body forward to avoid them as basing on the sound; the arrows were aimed for the head. She expected Ahn to gasp in surprise or even fall down to his knees but when she straightened up, she saw that he was able to catch all three arrows shot by Han Eul in one hand. He then threw it back to Han Eul and Dara saw Han Eul was about to evade it when six shadows crowded around her and restrained her from moving. The arrows then hit her – in the forehead, in the chest and in the stomach. Dara wasn’t sure how that happened. It was impossible but she could just watch as her aunt stumbled to the floor bathing in her own blood.
She tried to search for Sohee, CL and Bom but they were nowhere in sight.
“All alone, eh?” Ahn whispered against her ear, giving her goosebumps as he ran his nose up and down her ear. “What is it about you, huh? Jiyong was almost there – almost being the shadow descendant that he is but when he heard from those two stupid minions your name and your relationship with the phoenix, he then went back to his normal state. Why is that?! TELL ME!”
She didn’t say anything. She was trying to save her strength. She started counting the shadows in front of her. It was more or less than a hundred. She needs to do something. Her mind was busy thinking of tactics when she was pulled back to earth with Ahn’s hand slipping through her shirt. She heard her bra snapped. She felt so revolted that all of her plans disappeared into smoke and she just went to a barbarian attack. She stepped on his foot, elbowed him on the stomach, twirled around to face him and kneed him in between. As soon as Ahn bent down in pain, the rest of the shadows crowded around her. And she was helpless against them. No matter how hard she tried to pull up all moves she learned from Han Eul and TOP, they were useless. She was so exhausted already – and being human at the moment that she was, her strength was limited. And so, she limply held on to one of the shadows’ arms, trying to keep herself up straight but then, someone kicked her knees that she just knelt down to the floor, panting heavily.
She then gasped when someone pulled her hair up painfully. A resounding slap then landed on her face that she felt like her head was separated from her body. Upon looking up, she found out it was Ahn. “Drag her by the hair up the stairs,” he ordered. “And bring the boy’s body up as well.”
Dara wondered for a moment who the boy was. But she soon found. It was Youngbae and she swallowed back her scream and cry of agony upon seeing him lifeless and being pulled around like a rag doll.
Pain lanced across TOP’s back. Turning around, he saw Minzy glaring up at him, holding a whip. “Stay away from my brother!”
Daesung took advantage of the situation. He went closer to TOP, placed his hand on either side of his neck. In that instant, TOP felt pain went deep to his soul. He never intended to kill Daesung. He was just supposed to knock him out but as he evaded Daesung’s attempt to twist his neck, he then realized that the siblings would not hesitate to inflict pain on him and it was more painful than all types of pain. Closing his eyes, he willed all of his strength, sent Minzy flying backwards to nowhere in particular before facing Daesung again. He tried to search for a glimmer of hope in Dae’s eyes – just once, just a glimmer that he isn’t as merciless as what he’s showing now. But there was nothing. There was only determination and bloodlust in his eyes. And TOP knew he had to make a choice. He couldn’t afford seeing Daesung lose control like this. He must save him but the only way of saving Daesung from Ahn’s influence would be brutal, merciless and evil. But choices must be made.
As soon as Dara was out of the underground room, she felt her body frozen. She knew then that they were past the border where shadows could not use their powers. She wanted to scream but she couldn’t even move a muscle, bounded by invisible rope that Ahn placed upon her. When she was out in the open, she could only stare wide-eyed at how many dead bodies were lying on the ground, at how many flightless crows were writhing on the ground with their broken wings – some were obviously dead. And on the middle of all the dead bodies and all the blood was Jiyong. My pancake, she thought. And it pains her to see him in that state.
“Kwon Jiyong!” Ahn called out. Jiyong paused, as well as the others – even the crows stopped attacking shadows. Dara was then pulled up by Ahn and he made her stand up in front of him. Her tears then fell upon seeing Youngbae’s body thrown casually in front of her, followed by Jiyong’s mother and stepfather. Han Eul came next.
Dara could only stare at Jiyong – he was such a beautiful man even if he was surrounded by the eerily black and violet smoke or water or air or whatever it is surrounding him. she then felt something cold, smooth and sharp on , slowly gliding down to her neck and to the top of her shirt.
“Stop being a rebel Jiyong and all will be back to normal,” Ahn said.
Dara then wanted to scream when she heard the top button of her blouse falling to the ground, followed by another then another. Ahn then stopped. He brought the knife to Dara’s chest, just in between her s and dug the knife in shallowly, creating a small wound. Dara felt something warm and wet trailed down from her chest and lower. And she knew what it was – blood. She then felt Ahn’s finger wiped the blood off of her and from the corner of her mind, she saw him placed his finger inside his mouth, her blood.
“Hmm,” he murmured loudly. “She tastes good, Jiyong.”
She wasn’t really sure if Ahn was simply stupid and brainless or just mainly an . If he wanted to calm Jiyong down, he was obviously doing it the wrong way because Jiyong looked even more violent and out of control. He looked worse compared to the time that he totally lost control and hurt her.
“Watch her die and come back to life as a phoenix,” Ahn shouted and raised the dagger high up in the sky.
She closed her eyes tight as she could not even move a limb. Her tears flowing endlessly – she was going to die. I’m going to die, she thought.
She was mentally and physically preparing herself for the pain the knife would bring but then, a loud singsong cry echoed around the place. She then felt Ahn disappeared from behind her. Then, a soft feather touched her cheek. She opened her eyes and found herself capable of moving her body. As she looked around, she saw her mother, flying to her rescue.
But then, she felt something so strong coming off from afar. It was Jiyong – looking up at the phoenix flying around, chasing shadows away. There was a look in his face that scared her. The look on his face as he stared up at the phoenix was evilly hungry. I heard Ahn’s laughter from somewhere. “That’s it Jiyong!” he shouted. “That’s right!”
Dara could only stare at Jiyong as he started. . . deforming. “No. . .” she whispered and she felt herself moving forwards, towards Jiyong.
“Don’t let the girl touch Jiyong!” Ahn’s voice shouted. “Not now that his evil side his naturally reacting to the presence of the phoenix! He won’t transform to a true descendant form if the girl will touch her!”
She was just walking but she found herself running now. It was then that she realized what Sohee said was true – they’ve been observing them far too long. They knew that she could calm him down. It made her determine to reach him. That she didn’t even notice TOP and Seungri fighting off the shadows trying to block her way. She then felt something on her shoulders then the next thing she knew, she was already being lifted up. She looked up and saw her mother carrying her with her claws which were amazingly gentle on her shoulders.
“Mom!” she said for the first time. “I need to get to Jiyong!”
“We need to give him some time to transform!” Ahn shouted again. “Distract the phoenix!”
Crows, which were defending Jiyong a while ago, started attacking her mother. Sooner or later, most of the shadows turned into crows, including Ahn who was unexpectedly huge and circled around them. They all launched at once the same time Dara heard a dozen of arrows coming their way.
The phoenix gave a loud cry, making the arrows turn into dust. Then, Dara felt her mother letting go of her. She started falling down and all she could do was scream her lungs out - just as she thought she’d hit the ground, a set of arms encircled around her – TOP’s. A strong force then pushed them backwards, sending them flying away. Dara, TOP and Seungri landed a hundred miles away from the place in a loud thud.
Dara panted as she tried to push herself up. Looking straight ahead, she then saw what seem to be a large transparent dome made of electricity caging her mother, some of the shadows and Jiyong inside. There were crows flying above the gigantic bubble and when one of them tried to dive into it, it turned into dust. She then realized it was coming off from her mother, who seemed to be fighting off the shadows pretty well.
Her eyes then went to Jiyong. She stared. It was no longer Jiyong. In his place, surrounded by violent black and red and violet was the most beautiful creature she’d ever set eyes on. It was some sort of a bird, as huge as the phoenix with black feathers with a dip of red and violet on the tip of each feather on its wings.
“That’s not good,” TOP said.
“W-what do you mean?” Seungri asked, who sounded to be in pain.
“When I was researching about the phoenix in the underground library, I read something about the shadows’ direct descendant’s true form. The book said that once the direct descendant transformed, it would instinctively want to kill its long time enemy – the phoenix.”
“No. . .” Dara heard herself say. She started moving forward but two arms restrained her. “Let me go.”
“Are you out of your mind?!?” TOP shouted. “You can’t go in there! That dome is a barrier your mother created to avoid you being harmed!”
“I don’t care!” she screamed back. “That’s Jiyong and my mother inside, naturally created to kill each other! Can you expect me to just sit around and watch one of them die?!”
“How are you going to get inside that dome then?!” he demanded. “You’ll die even without even reaching either of them!”
She had no answer to that but the stubborn person that she is, she pulled herself off of him and started moving forward. But then, a set of arms stopped her again and she fought the person. She fought TOP off. But TOP won over her. She was just too drained out. And when Seungri joined in restraining her, she could only struggle against them.
“JIYONG!” she screamed. “KWON JIYOOOOOOOONG!!!”
The smoke or fog surrounding the new creature turned pitch black that she could no longer see Jiyong. It was as if there was a whirlwind made of black violent winds, moving around and around powerfully.
“Jiyoooooooooong!” she cried so loud that it almost tore apart. She weakly leaned against TOP’s body but straightened up at once when the black whirlwind cleared a little. And Jiyong was standing there, staring at her, his eyes looking normal. A small smile curved his lips as a tear fell from one of his eyes. He then mouthed the words, I love you before his eyes turned all black he was swallowed by the black whirlwind and turned back to the creature a while ago. It was the only time that Dara noticed – the creature’s eyes were violet.
Dara was frozen on her spot as she felt her heart skipped a beat. There was something in Jiyong’s look as he mouthed the words I love you that paralyzed her. And she watched as the beautiful creature spread its wings and flew towards the phoenix. The phoenix gave a singsong cry and met the creature halfway.
A blast of black and violet then exploded. It was so strong that the tip of the dome or the barrier started to crack. As the blast of black and violet spread out, all living things inside the dome started turning to dust. The crack then grew larger and larger until the dome started breaking from the tip, going downwards. The crows flying above the dome fell dead upon being touched by the blast of black and violet.
Dara blinked, her tears falling down upon seeing feathers of pure black with a dip of violet and red started falling down like confetti. She took a step forward but then, she suddenly felt being pulled into a dark hole. The next thing she knew, she was already standing in a room.
“Bring me back there. . .” she said. “Bring me back there. . .”
“Dara. . .”
“Bring me back there. . .”
“Oh, goodness! You’re here!” CL came in. “What happened?”
There was silence.
“Where’s Bom?” CL asked again.
Still, silence answered her.
“W-where’s Jiyong?”
Dara’s head snapped up. She turned to TOP and Seungri. “Bring me back there!” she said.
TOP and Seungri exchanged looks upon seeing the desperate look in her face.
“What’s wrong?” Dara demanded, her voice notching up. “Why did you take me away? Why did you bring me here?”
“You know why. . .”
“I DON’T KNOW WHY!” she hysterically burst out.
“We could have died, Dara.”
“WELL, I DON’T CARE!” she screamed. “YOU TWO ARE COWARDS! BRING ME BACK THERE, NOW! I NEED TO KNOW IF THEY’RE SAFE! I NEED TO CHECK ON JIYONG! MY MOTHER. . .!”
“We can’t do that, Dara.”
“Why not?” she demanded.
“Look, you need rest.”
“NO!” she stepped back. “Aren’t you worried about Jiyong, Seungri? He’s supposed to be your friend! You should be - !”
“Jiyong’s dead!” Seungri burst out.
Dara fell silent. Then, she started laughing but her tears were falling down. “You’re joking!” she laughed. She then turned to TOP. “Ain’t Seungri a funny guy, TOP? Saying that Jiyong’s dead? How could he be dead? The feathers that fell. . . they were black. So. . It’s my mother’s right? Hahaha! Can you just imagine how awkward Jiyong would be around me then? He’ll probably avoid me again as he would feel guilty for killing my mother. I feel bad, of course. . .”
“Dara. . .”
“W-what?”
“Jiyong’s dead,” TOP said. “He’s dead.”
Dara slapped him. “T-that’s not a funny joke. He can’t be dead. He can’t. . . not now. . . I’m just starting to win him back so he can’t be dead, no. . .”
“But he is. . .”
“NO!” she hysterically screamed. “Bring me there now or I’ll go there on my own! You’ll see! He’s there! Sitting all alone, trying to think of ways to avoid me again!”
“Dara –” Seungri started.
“I’ll bring her back there,” TOP said.
“But. . .”
“She won’t accept it until she sees.”
“There’s nothing to accept,” Dara said. “He’s there.”
And so, TOP took her in his arms and transported her back to the place where the chaos erupted. She stared at the vast, dead field. She started walking and walking and walking and walking. She’d been doing that over an hour and a half when her eyes caught something lying on the ground. It was one of Jiyong’s feathers – pure black with a dip of violent and red. She knelt down and picked it up with trembling hands. As she did, she then saw something that made her dizzy – the angel pendant made of crystal that she made for Jiyong covered in blood.
She choked out a sob as she pulled the necklace up and brought it to her chest, just where her heart lies – her heart, it felt dead to her.
She then remembered the look on Jiyong’s eyes when he mouthed the words I love you a while ago. He was mouthing those words but his eyes. . . his eyes were saying goodbye to her. She doubled forward over the realization. dropped open in a soundless scream of pain and agony and of loss.
Even if it was a soundless scream, the scream of pain inside her soul, her whole being, her body and mind was louder than the loudest cries.
-----
I will be posting just one teaser for the Epilogue, which would be the next chapter, on my twitter acct so watch out for it!
Oh, there are other suggested/recommended BGM for this chappie as well from myself and from the peepz in twitter.
You can check them out if you want
- Dare You To Move by Switchfoot
- Blind by Lifehouse
- Learning To Breathe by Switchfoot
- Linkin Park Burn It Down
- Dishwalla Collide
- Lifehouse Broken
- 3 Doors Down When I'm Gone
- Evanescence Whisper and Taking Over Me
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