Chapter 99 - was it a dream? or a memory?

By the time Seraphina regained her consciousness, the darkness of the night already dawns on her surrounding. Feeling slightly better, she rolled herself to stare at the canopy of each tree with the illuminating light from the moon.

Not bothering about the muddy ground with some wild grasses that attempts to grow on it, her expression was rather melancholic. She mumbled, "was it a dream? Or… a memory?"

[ Seraphina's dream 1 hour ago]

On her dreams, she saw herself from the previous lifetime; the amnesiac girl she supposed to be. It was the time after Sebastian Yue died from the hands of her enemies. Fortunately, those people let her go to mourn for her loss. Although her bodyguards wanted to help her escape, she knew she has nowhere to go and might cause harm to the people she will encounter. Thus, she chose to stay in the Yue family mansion.

Currently, her old self was sitting on one of the benches in the spacious mansion's garden. Her beautiful yet lonesome figure was rather captivating with the mild breeze blowing passed by her. The tall familiar figure of Riggs was just standing behind her accompanying her wordlessly.

After some time, her melodious voice was heard, "Can you do me a favor?"

Riggs at that time kept his silence as he patiently waits for her request. Seraphina continued,

"Kill me." Although Riggs could only see her back, he knew that she was rather serious. He could feel her agony through her spoken words and the dispirited aura she emits. A bitter smile formed on the corner of his lips seeing her in this state.

"Miss, it's hard dying without any reason." Riggs gently spoke each words trying to get through her. Alas, her response was much stubborn than ever.

"But living without any reason is much harder."

Riggs pressed his velvet lips on a thin line as if he somewhat understood her words. He couldn't say anything to her nor even comfort her because there isn't really any right words for consoling someone in this situation. Not long after the brief silence, he heard her speak again.

"Didn't I fired you? Why are you still here?" still not turning her head, Seraphina inquired in her usual void of emotional tone.

Back then, Seraphina didn't see Riggs expression as she was disinterested about her surroundings anymore. However, now that the current her was witnessing the scene-- live on her dreams, there was a complex feeling of remorse creep through her heart.

Riggs heavily sighs as he pulled out a box of cigarettes. After he picks a stick of cigarette, he slid the box of tobacco back on his pocket then wordlessly lit the cigarette stick on his hand. After he took a couple of long drags -- inhaling and exhaling the lung coiling smoke, he spoke,

"I also wonder why... huh, the only reason I live is that I owe someone a huge sum of money but… it seemed like he is dead." Riggs spouted in a bitter tone.

Seraphina rarely sees this side of Riggs. She somewhat felt she failed as a friend, a debtor, and a leader. He was obviously referring Luciano who is in fact her. She felt her c_h_e_s_t tighten with every passing time seeing this vague dream of her. She wanted to wake up. She wanted to protect every one of them. She wanted to free them from the eyes of her enemies. But how?

The conversation of the old her and Riggs continued,

"Is that so?" Seraphina said.

"Hmm. besides, maybe I'll meet her. The person who I can only miss." looking up at the bright cloudy sky, as if envisioning the girl he was referring -- his eyes turned sorrowful.

"You'll probably not... you might go straight to hell, not in heaven." she said in a deadpan tone which made the dramatic expression of Riggs distort.

"Ey, young miss, you really are a mood killer."

Seraphina let out a light chuckle by her seemingly dissing which made the devastating atmosphere lighten.

However, just as the scene Seraphina was witnessing started to lighten, it hopped to an intense scenario in a dark secluded factory. Whereas Riggs was using his body as a shield from the incoming bullets that was aiming at her. Her amnesiac self was trembling uncontrollably and fear was plastered all over her face.

"No, no, please… stop!"