Falina deeply inhaled. “Not kidding, people are missing out on what sweet revenge really is.” She dug her hand into a popcorn bag, the threads played with Elaine’s guts in the air, yet kept her alive.

  Her vibrant red eyes were now like dark coals. Each scream tingled Falina’s stomach, like someone snuck behind her and tickled her.

  She munched on her popcorn and licked each finger. “So like, what are you anyway?”

  Black sweat snaked down Elaine’s neck, her lips bled and had several bite marks. It was like ants were gnawing her insides, feeling felt every bite.

  “You gravely err, if this is your method to obtain what you desire.” The words barely left her mouth. Each swing of her organs was a jolt of pain, her vomiting impossible due to her mangled intestines.

  “What? This isn’t for information, weren’t you listening?” She scooped a mouthful from her bag, a few slipped from her fingers into the ocean beneath. “Oh brilliant, Falina.” She stretched her legs, tossing the bag into the white sea.

  “Then you understand why he must suffer—”

  The golden threads sewed her organs back in place, Falina plugged her ears, blocking out her shrieks. “I get it, save the lecture. He killed your beloved, and you want to torture in revenge. That was the dispute when I was playing possum, right? Or am I slow?”

  Streams of blood gushed from her eyes, her stomach in turmoil and constant pain. “You naive girl, is your paradigm no bigger than a coin?”

  Falina flicked a smile. “Well duh? I didn’t kidnap you to treat you like a zoo animal. Time to spill the beans?”

  Elaine thought to herself as she observed her. To rip her neck from its socket was etched into her DNA, but here she was chained like a beast.

  Inflicting the souls of others was her divine purpose, so how could she crack under the same weight? Nevertheless, that didn’t make anything less humiliating. The way the girl’s fingers curled every time she screamed, her subtle glimpses of pleasure were not missed.

  She’s not one of us, but a hair of corruption could twist her worse than any being captivated by the Rule's will.

  “You wanted to play? Then do it by yourself. You both are vomiting to look at.”

  Falina combed her chin, mulling her idea. “Elaine Ivas, a married woman who was a secretary of Heaven Lights Incorporated. She tragically suffered a vehicle accident with her family, and is now a widow and childless.”

  Elaine’s shoulders spiked, barely containing her fury when she saw the girl trying not to laugh.

  “But the funny thing is, no one died in the accident. Such a happy ending, or so you all thought.” Falina rested her hand on Elaine’s cheek.

  “Ah yes, the eyes that savor vengeance. But something else is there, resolve? Apathy? The ones dear to you are declared missing according to hospital and police reports, but they’re not missing, aren’t they?”

  The water bubbled, strands of shadow fired forth from it, they homed in on Falina’s neck and struck through her throat. But she remained standing, furrowing her brows before dissipating them with a chop.

  “I know I’m like a low-budget zombie, but please respect that my nerves work.” She delivered a blow to her stomach.

  Elaine’s insides twisted, a surge of food spewed from her mouth. Its rottenness soaked in the blood-stained ocean.

  A tiny head partially stuck out from a wound in her stomach. Her eyes bulged.

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  Falina silently observed her, her lips curved to a smile.

  “Did Knat make you this way?”

  Elaine’s chest froze, fingers curled in a deadly grip. “You speak as if you know him, why bother inquiring about my origins?”

  “You ask why?” Falina turned around, clasping her hands behind her. “Because if there’s anything I hate more than my brother being harmed, are cowards who murder in the dark.”

  ***

  “You should’ve let her die. But rats, the Air Patrol reactions are nerve-crawling.” Irva crossed her arms and rested her head. “Aren’t bigger matters on our tails?”

  “Mine, actually. Don’t forget who’s bearing most of the risk here.”

  The dining room was more like a cafeteria, its urban setting reminiscent of the city there used to. A food court in the mall would best describe it, except they had the whole place to themselves.

  “Hey! Didn’t I almost die for you?” She rose her head, her eyes like arrows.

  Damn, sometimes I forget how attractive she is. If only she weren’t an eyesore most of the time.

  “Stop giving yourself credit you don’t deserve, this is exactly why I had you swallow the pill.”

  She sighed, subduing her instinct to lash out. Any place would’ve been fine, but there’s still a few servants who she was wary of.

  Hezekiah slightly leaned in upon her reaction. “Come to think of it, you’re not all time-bomby as usual. What’s up with that?”

  Her lips pressed in. She set her purse on her table, shocking Hezekiah.

  “That wasn’t on you when my sister forcefully dragged us here.”

  “Then you can guess who dropped by recently.” She searched through her bag and withdrew her gun. “And you’re not going to like what she wants from us.”

  Hezekiah frowned, he drummed his fingers against the table, pondering the past couple of days. He always thought of her, was even concerned that he had yet to see her.

  But no one had been telling him anything. And as they say, no news is good news. Why’s my sister demanding anything? Hell, why didn’t she bother to see me?

  Irva then pulled out a capsule of pills, shaking it. “Lately been on the meds, going through lots for being a door-mat slave, you know?"

  “Ohh boo-hoo. So what did sis want that was so important that she only bothered to see you?”

  Irva rolled her eyes, opening the capsule and swallowed another pill. “She wants us to infiltrate the real headquarters of Sunset Garden and demolish them.”

  Hezekiah’s eyes spiked. “What...?” He took a look around for anybody nearby. “The rules should’ve finished them by now, what are you talking about?”

  “My ant hills, you’re slow. The real HQ is in the Mirror-Dimension, dumbass.”

  Hezekiah slightly leaned back and took a bite from his scrambled eggs. “Look at you pretending that you always knew.” Is Falina that selfish? I do all this crap and she asks me to screw around with people like her?

  “F*ck her, we’re not doing shit. Also, meet me in my room tonight, I shouldn’t have to tell you why, do I?”

  Irva flinched, noticing his tone grew darker in the end. She clenched her arm, just getting used to her arm not being fractured anymore.

  “You’re not at least a bit curious why she asked?”

  He didn’t have to think long. A lot of risks were made when saving her. Given her connection to the Unity Council, his perception adjusted. Treating her like a reckless air-head will backfire.

  “She’s suspicious of us, particularly me.”

  “That’s what you get for weaving a flimsy story, I bet Viraka told her our bogus narrative.”

  “That’ll cost you another arm.” He rose from his chair, throwing his trash on the tray. “And the narrative isn’t our concern.” It’s fucking Elaine.

  He hadn’t been slacking off, without question the strange anomalies at the hospital and former HQ will draw the Unity Council’s attention. Even Hyonda’s cave is under Viraka’s sight.

  At this rate, a dangerous link could be drawn to him if they link together solid evidence. Which is why he had to find opportunities to add more rules to those locations to throw them off.

  “You lookin’ stress there. Scared that your lies are all going to crumble down?” She mocked.

  “I thought you were somewhat smart, why do you keep talking when you’re about to be beat soon?”

  Irva watched him throw his food in the trash, she clenched the fabric of her skirt. “You’re taking it too personal, you think I love the organization or something?”

  He walked back and patted his mouth with a napkin. “Stop over-thinking it, you’re a slave for disposal and nothing more. Don’t forget I kept your free will intact to a degree just for fun. But it’s funny to see you rebel every now and then, to deceive yourself into thinking you’re still in control.”

  She slammed her capsule on the table, shattering the container. Pills scattered across the floor.

  The breaking of plastic alerted a few servants from the other end of the diner, yet cautioned themselves within their duties. “I am not your toy...”

  “Does telling yourself that console you? Did breaking that bottle make you feel any more free?”

  Her fingers gradually closed on a knife.

  “You only do what I allow you to, this charade you’re throwing is only a shell that’s desperately hoping they still exist. But you’re perfectly fine as you are now.”

  She pointed the blade at him, veins bulged her knuckles.

  “What are you waiting for, you might get lucky.”

  She grinded her teeth, he was doing it again. Always looking like he was a step ahead. There was no suppressive force restraining her, but she won’t fall for his provocation.

  “You’re not as clever as you think.” She held the blade to her neck. Hezekiah’s eyes widened, as she slit herself clean through.