169 Death & Promises (2/2)

He was stunned by his sister's words and violently shook his head, clasping his sister's hand into his.

\”Why?!\” He screamed. \”I'm not leaving you! Jia…just hold on!\”

\”Aiguo,\” Jia slowly opened her eyes to look at her brother, tears brimming the corners of her eyes. \”You…You have to live a long life. L-Longer than father, mother, and I. It's a manly promise, all right?\”

Aiguo's hands clutching her own trembled.

\”I-I promise.\” He choked.

Jia smiled, tears running down her pale cheek. With the last bit of strength she had, she gripped his small hand. \”Mm, that...that's good. Go...and find Rin.\”

\”I love you…Aiguo.\”

The light had left her eyes as the color from her rosy cheeks vanished. Her hand gripping tightly to his went limp.

Aiguo refused to look away, even as his lips trembled and his shoulders heaved with emotion, unwilling to back down. His dark lashes brimmed heavy with tears; his hands clenched into shaking fists, in a desperate battle against the grief.

A lone tear traced down his cheek, and just like that, the floodgates opened. He wept, tears streaming from his deep, dark eyes, loud, heaving sobs tearing from his throat, and still, he did not look away from his sister's body.

Not until the sobs drove him to crumble, did his determined gaze fall.

\”No, I don't want this…Jia…Jia…\” He tried to pull up her limp body toward him. \”I love you too! So, don't leave me behind, Jia!\”

In the dark of night, the sound of cries echoed from all around. A bone-piercing cold wind entered the small home, wrapping itself around the boy and the limp figure in his arms. In the distance, the sound of approaching footsteps stepped closer, until they suddenly came to a halt.

Aiguo shifted his head and looked at the figure standing by the door.

\”Rin…\” He whispered hoarsely. \”Save her…save Jia!\”

Rin was silent as she stared at the boy. After a moment of silence, she walked up to Aiguo slowly and pulled him close to her, wrapping her arms around him. Her embrace was warm, and the small but strong arms seemed very protective when wrapped around the boy's frail body.

\”I'm sorry…\” Rin whispered. \”I'm so sorry.\”

The boy's sobs were stifled at first as he attempted to suppress his grief, then overcome by the wave of his emotions he broke down entirely, all his defenses washed away in his tears.

\”Auughhhh!\” He cried out with all his might and pulled his sister closer to his chest while Rin wrapped her arms around him.

Her hold tightened as she lowered her eyes. Jia's dark hair was scattered in multiple places, stained with red blood. Her round black eyes were wide open, but her irises held a sudden sadness.

She started to remember. Her smile. Her voice. Memories flooding back into her head. The lively girl that entered and saved her life. The beautiful girl that took her heart and made her feel safe again...was dead.

Rin's chin quivered as she extended a trembling hand to close the girl's eyes. A single tear ran down her cheek as she closed her eyes.

\”I'm sorry.\”