Darell showed up unannounced in Ragi's house. In her defense, she didn't expect to see him at home, since he was at the palace most times. Ragi stared at her with a surprised and puzzled expression. He hadn't seen her since their little date. “Hey Darell?” It came more like a question than a greeting. “I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting you.”“Oh, that's fine,” she forced a nervous chuckle. His expression made her painfully aware that he noticed it. “Hey… uhm… is there something you wanted?” He asked her. “You seem… uneasy.” Darell swallowed thickly. Her eyes scanned around as her brain tried to come up with an explanation for showing up at his doorstep, other than the original reason. “Uhmm… I went to check for you at the palace and they said you weren't in so I figured you would be here. I just wanted to spend a little time with you…”“I'm sorry but that won't be possible,” he cut her short and the sharp response pierced her like a dagger. “I am busy.” “Oh,” she mumbled. Even thoug
Taiwan, one of the cities in the black empire was the first to experience the rough hand of the military.The Taiwan chief, after receiving the signed information on the curfew, instructed the Taiwan military to swing into action immediately.However, he was unaware that some of his soldiers had secretly been replaced by Cedric's men. The information on the curfew was circulated in the early hours of the morning but no one took it seriously. Not even when it was stated that the curfew was for security purposes.They believed their town was safe and it had been for the last ten years so there was no need for the curfew. The people went about their normal business and when it hit six, only a few people bothered to move.The military started arriving, but it ring any warning bells to them until they started firing into the air. The people scrambled helter skelter, seeking safety as they opened fire at everyone. Screams erupted as a few got hit on the legs, arms and even shoulder. They'
“You have a woman in your life?” Mona asked, unable to contain the question anymore. Daniel almost choked on his juice. Mona grabbed a glass and poured him some water. “Thanks,” he mumbled, taking the glass from her. He didn't expect her to bring up a question like that from nowhere. “That was a little random, by the way.” “Is it?” Mona muttered and a puzzled expression crossed his face. “I'm just curious, okay? Do you have a woman in your life or not?”“Why is that important?” He threw back and she restrained herself from giving him a hard stare. “Like I said, curious,” she shrugged. “What'd you bring home?” Daniel continued staring at her in a bid to fathom what was going on in her head. Then his conversation with his grandmother replayed in his head and everything clicked.“Were you eavesdropping?” Mona was caught off guard by the direct attack. Her cheeks colored a little. “I… uhm… wouldn't call it eavesdropping. I just woke up and happened to stumble upon an ongoing conver
The shattering of glass behind made him flinch. He turned to see a very pale Darell, mirroring the same shock on his face. “Darell…” he drawled out and she swallowed thickly. “What… what is this?” “I told you not to touch anything!” She snapped at him, pushing past him to shut the door. Her heavy breathing was the only evidence of her inner panic. Probably her pale face.But this woman looked like she was one he offended, not the other way round and it riled him up.“What do you mean by that? You have drawings of me all over your room amd the best you could say is that I was supposed to stay put?!” The anger in his tone caused her fragile body to tremble.She'd never heard such an angry tone from Ragi. It was proof enough that she'd messed up. “I can explain…” she bit her lip to keep from saying further. There was nothing to explain in this situation. Her actions were clear as day . Unjustifiable. She couldn't say she was thinking of him so she drew him. How would she explain the
As Ragi rode away, he felt his heart breaking. How did he miss the fact that she was obsessed with him?He had been so blinded by the Emperor's affairs and his wife's death that he didn't see the one dying to be in his arms, even when she was right in front of him. His mind replayed their first date. There was always something about her. For some reason, he turned to back and forced his horse to a halt when he saw the smoke. He knew it wasn't from the drawing. The smoke rising from the top of the mountain was too much for those frail pieces of paper. Without hesitation, he turned the horse around and headed to the mountain with a pounding heart. He prayed to the guts that she didn't try to harm herself. He would never forgive himself if she killed herself right after he rejected her. “Please don't hurt yourself,” he prayed as he rode faster. He arrived at the foot of the mountain in no time. “Darell!” He yelled, running up the Stony steps but there was no response. Dread oversh
Dao was the second city affected by.the curfew policy. Unlike Taiwan, Dao citizens were quite compliant. No one tried to be sneaky or play hero. It was an organised town, essentially leading to no casualties and Archie wasn't very pleased by this news. “Did you look very well and not one person broke the curfew?” Archie asked them. “Not one, sir. Dao.city is known as the cleanest and most organised city in the black empire. I don't think we should be surprised about how compliant they were,” one of the men answered. “This is going to be a problem, Cedric We cannot afford more issues like this. We need to stir trouble to get the people to rise not return to grid homes and sleep peacefully.” Archie said.“It is just one city, Archie. Even if a war or protect was to be started, do you really think that Daoians would leave their comfortable beds to come protest?” Cedric asked him.“Ahhhh! This is just so annoying. Why can't they be as complaint as other cities?” He groaned. “Forget a
Darell opened her eyes to an unfamiliar environment. Where was she? It looked nothing like the afterlife she'd heard so much about.But this wasn't the after life. Not with the stench of drugs at least. Where was she then? The sight of the doctors alerted her that she wasn't wrong after all. Somehow, she'd managed to survive. She didn't know how to feel.She was back in the very nightmare she was trying so hard to escape.“How are you feeling ma'am?” One of the doctors asked.Darell struggled to keep her mind open. This had to be a good thing right? Maybe the universe wasn't done with her. “I feel like í should have been dead but here am I. Who brought me in?” She ignored the burning sensation in her throat. “Sir Ragi,” she responded. “You are lucky he found you on time. Else who knows what could have happened to you.”The information made her stomach churn. Radio found her? How? Didn't he leave? The doctor looked at her like she was expecting some kind of response, which Darell ha
Need was a strong word but it explained house inner feelings. Darell stared at him critically, trying to ascertain if he was saying it to make her feel better.“Are you lying to me?” She asked and he cupped her face.“Don't ever try to take your life again. No matter what happens, even if we fight, don't set yourself on fire, I'm begging you.”It sounded funny to her ears but his serious expression was frightening. He meant every word of it.“Noted,” she forced a smile.“I need you to promise me,” he said firmly.“I promise,” Darrell answered, then smiled sadly. “Are we going back to the way we were or you're no longer comfortable with my presence,” she asked.It took every ounce of confidence in her to ask that question. She knew she didn't deserve to be in his space anymore.“I can't promise you that. I need to digest everything and decide I've moved on from it before letting you back in my life. I just want you to stay alive until then,” Ragi said sincerely.A part of him wanted t