chapter 2

Thunderclaps echoes, it's raining heavily and lightning strikes now and then. Although it's quite humid, the fire starts to flame and the smell of gasoline filled the air. A golden light reflects on the pale white skin of the child, sobbing while hugging its Mother's corpse. Just then as she heard the heavy steps incoming towards them, she instantly holds the lifeless body very tightly while glaring at the person she hates the most. In its small body frame, an intense anger of a raging beast filled her obsidian eyes.

“What a scary face you have there.” said nonchalantly of the person standing in front of them. He looks quite slender yet his body was strongly built and his looks were extremely exceptional. The child took a glance at the gun on his hand, as she remembered what this thing was capable of, it triggered something inside her. Just then she accidentally saw a kitchen knife lying on the floor. Instantly, her mind filled with one thought, “Kill... Kill this man, I want to kill this man!”

“That precious body you are holding there, I'm retrieving it. She must be on my custody. She's mine. My only Lilith.”

In split of seconds, Lilith's body was already in the hands of the man, carrying her on his left arm and about to leave. The child flabbergasted, her limbs couldn't move and her vision becomes blurry. She was too late to react when the man hit her nape. When she's about to lose consciousness, she saw her mother smiling gently with blood drips on her mouth. It was then hatred and rage completely consumed her.

“Give me back my Mom!!!”

Lightning strikes once again and followed by the loud bang of thunder. The child picked up the kitchen knife and holds it firmly and runs furiously towards the man, attacking him while shouting angrily. The man was surprised by her nimble movements, her steps were so light and so fast like lightning, leaping and directly striking his head. He barely dodged the attack, if not because of his instincts and experience this child were able to get his head. However, this child managed to scratch his face. Fresh blood drips from his new wound. Feeling the slight pain, he laughed vociferously. This is the first time someone wounded him, and it's merely a child.

When the child attacks him again he immediately grabbed her neck, hanging her in midair. The child struggled vigorously but she couldn't free herself on the man's grip. If she didn't lose her grip on the weapon she would be able to wounded the man more. Although her life was already in great danger, her eyes were still burning with rage.

Feeling satisfied, the man stops his laugh. He was quite interested in this child's murderous aura. Still carrying the corpse in his other hand, he decided to let go of the child. He has no intention to kill her, as he has better plan for this child. The child coughed nonstop, gasping for air.

The fire that surrounds them. The heat and the light it emits, and the man standing at the center while looking down at her was giving off an illusion of hell to the child's eyes. 

 “G-give me back my Mom!” She repeatedly says while coughing between words. Moreover, the oxygen inside of the room were slowly consumed by fire, making it hard to breathe for this child's small lungs. She wants to stand up and try to get her mother once again, yet her feet were sprained from the sudden drop. Its painful but she didn't feel anything than rage and her deathly glare never been taken away from the man.

“Andrea, oh Andrea... Those pair of murderous eyes. I love it. Who would have thought, the angelic child that everyone's love will one day tried to kill someone without hesitation? Haha, I never dream about this. So...” Suddenly, the room change in freezing atmosphere even though they're surrounded by fire. The chilling aura of the man where too intense, pressuring the child so greatly.

“Rhea(nickname) you want revenge right? You want to kill me from killing your mom right? Then, let's play a game. You'll be the hunter, and I'm your prey. But be sure to draw your arrow correctly because if you'd miss. This rabbit will hunt you instead. Find me Rhea, find me in this vast world that will become our forest. Find me and retrieve your mom. I'll be waiting.” he then, left the room while laughing demoniacally.

Zitrey woke up bathed in sweat. This night was still the same, nightmares hunted her everytime she sleeps not even a single time they give her peace. She glances at the wall clock hanging in their gray painted room. It was still 3 o'clock in the morning. She tried to close her eyes once again but failed to go back to sleep. Just then, she heard a soft voice mumbling beside her. 

“Hmm... Mm... Nightmare again?” said by Kate, sleep talking in her deep slumber. Zitrey knew she always sleep alone in her bed, but everytime she wakes up Kate was already there, wrapping her arm and leg around her. She always manages to crawl in her bed, not notice.

Zitrey slowly removed the limbs wrapping around her and quietly stand up. She carried this disturbing person in bridal way and put her gently on her bed. As soon as she covered Kate in the blanket. Kate grinned widely and giggle in her sleep. 

Although Kate was 10 years older than Zitrey, she's more childish compared to her little sister. However, this kind of personality won't have any trace if she's not with Zeth. Outsiders knew her as strict individual, merciless especially if it's work related. Despite this, she still has a lot of followers; who respected her greatly and idolize her wholeheartedly. In their eyes, Kate were noble, elegant, cool, dauntless, has extraordinary combat and firing skills, intelligent, wise, dependable and has unparalleled leadership skills, more importantly she took good care of her subordinates and people around her. Her merits were too many to count of. A perfect Goddess of Justice in District 1. But no one knows that this Goddess has sister's complex, and have weird talent in cooking.

Zitrey went back on her own bed and sat down. She glanced at the picture frame at the top of her drawer: one was quite small than the other and its picture has a trace of the past of time. A picture of a mother and a child while the other one has three persons: an older guy, a young woman who'd smiling beautifully and a teenage boy in the middle who has solemn face. Zitrey once again stared at the picture of the mother and a child who have the same sweet smile. Staring at it for the longer time, she starts to feel her heart squeezing and like it was stab several times. Although, wounded emotionally and in pain her cold and solemn look were still the same, not even a tear, was formed in her eyes. Nevertheless, it darkens.

Suddenly her attention was taken by the bluish light coming from the mouth of the drawer. As she pulled to open it. A mixture of blue, white, purple and pink light was dancing around the crystal bell, and a lotus shadow surrounds it. Seems it reflects the light coming from the phone vibrating underneath it.

Zitrey picked up the crystal bell and leave the phone. Seems Kate put it accidentally in her drawer. On its screen, notifications and messages are flooding from her work. Zitrey sighed. It's not accidentally but intentionally. Kate put her phone on her drawer so that no one will disturb her sleep. To her, rest time is rest and work time is work. But even though she has this kind of behavior no one hated her as she always did her work smoothly during her duty. 

When Zitrey looked at this mysterious bell, the beautiful light it emits were already gone. She checked the inside and saw a tiny arctic and reddish gem embedded in the top most part of the bell. Seems these tiny gems are the source of those beautiful lights it emits.

Kate mentioned that this bell were supposed to be in District 11. Moreover, only the disciples of the Religious Temple should obtain this kind of thing. This bell could help them to their meditation and its soothing sound can calm one's mind, soul and heart. Zitrey wondered why is this crystal bell are in District 1 where the distance from this place and District 11 are miles away and temple disciples are secluded from the outside world. What its connection in the nimble shadow? Why did he own this rare thing? Was he one of the disciples? What his purpose for spying? Does he have connection with the Dark Organization especially the Dark Moon? Or worst he was he one of the pawns of the man who killed her Mother? These kinds of thoughts occupies in Zitrey's mind, and she can't think of any answer. She put back the bell inside her drawer to clear he minds. Clenching her palm tightly that nails almost buried her skin, she said in her husky voice, “I'll find you and you will spill everything you know!”

—————

On their late night conversations, after she had said something about the bell and the nimble shadow, she also told Kate that she accidentally revealed her identity (gender) to Nathan but fortunately the Idiot didn't believe it and thought she just makes an excuse to make him stay away. She also told her about how she met Aoi Akuma, an old acquaintance of her in the dark world. Zitrey told her everything on what happened on her day. She thought that Kate must know these things. 

Kate on her own fluffy bed was in deep thoughts while closing the laptop she used to search information about the crystal bell. “Hmm, seems you have a quite interesting day Zeth. It was not like you to carelessly tell your secret. Ah! I'm enlightened. So, that's explain why my little sis— bro who's indifferent and has no any friend will one day, out of the blue brought someone home. What's more exhilarating was it's a guy and a cute little one.”

Zitrey eyebrows twitched. 

“But Zeth, I think this Nathan that you've mentioned won't spill a bean even if he knows it or not. Looking and meeting him for just a few seconds make me feel like his trustworthy. He gives off a feeling that luck and heaven were in his side. Trust me my instincts says so.” Kate exclaimed with full of confident. 

But how could Zitrey trust this baseless statement. She just shakes her head from dismay. 

Kate suddenly snapped her fingers, she faces Zitrey excitedly, even her eyes were sparkling with excitement. Zitrey have a bad feeling that Kate has crazy idea on her mind. 

“Zeth, why don't you befriend this Nathan? Not just he one-sidedly thinks you as a friend. Be his real friend. And to start with it, tomorrow invite him to go to school together. He even has a heaven's aura. It will make you stay away from trouble.”

“And if that happens, I will make Nathan tell everything about Zitrey in school. Hah. Two birds in one stone.” 

Looking at Kate giggling, Zitrey have an idea that her older sister planned something else. She then said, “Not a chance. Meeting him got me in quite trouble already. That idiot magnets trouble, not a lucky one.” she then laid on her bed and covered herself with the blanket. 

Kate sighed, a sighed of defeat. She put the laptop on top of her own drawer while in low spirit. Then laid down on her own bed. She was about to sleep when she remembered that there still a person, a more troublesome one they need to discuss. Kate cleared her throat and said, “Ahm! Zeth what about Aoi Akuma? How can you deal with him? Shall we transfer place to avoid them?”

Zitrey facing her sister with her back, answered, “No, Kate what are you thinking? This place was more precious to you than other things. We will stay here. About that Blue Devil you don't need to worry. He won't tell anyone that I am here. He will never let anyone touch his prey. I assure you that. I know him for years more than you. But when the time comes when we meet again, then I might as well, dispose him. Sleep, you have your own problem to face tomorrow, don't mind mine. I can handle my problem. Moreover, I just told you these because I think you need to know.” after she says it, not a single word left her mouth again. 

Kate look at her back gloomily, it hurts her a bit of what Zitrey's said. In such a low and sad voice, she uttered, “Zeth, it's not any other things. If it's for you, I'll leave everything. To Dad and me, there no such things more precious than you. We will do everything just to keep you safe. So please, let us at least worry about you. Even if we're not related by blood, you are still my cute sibling. We're a family.”

Receiving no reply, she sighed and looked at the ceiling. “I manage to be closer to her, but she won't let me in her heart. She trusted me, yet won't depend on me wholeheartedly. But even if it was a slow process, it's fine for me. I'm quite satisfied when she starts to open up with me even for just a bit. It's was a big change already. 

Those time when Dad adapted her, it took me half a year before she starts to talk to me and call me 'Kate'. Ah!~ can you imagine how happy am I that time? I'm so happy that I thought I won't have any regret even if grim reaper comes and visits me. Oh! Who am I talking to?”

Kate shakes head and sleep. Not knowing that on the other bed, Zitrey was still wide awake. Engraving every word of what Kate's said.

“We're Family.” Such warm word yet heavy to bear.