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2. A Broken Soul

  "We have to get out of here, quick!" I grabbed Lady Ly Giai's hand and we both got up. We had to move right away. The longer we stay, the more enemies will be around, and the harder it will be for us to get out of the city.

  I looked around and saw my door shield. It was lying there with the bodies, soaked in blood. I was disgusted at the thought of picking it up. Luckily I didn't have to. Speed was what we needed right now. A clunky door that could provide some protection but slowing us down would do more harm than good.

  When we moved to the gates, I carefully checked to see if there were any enemies around. None. So I turned back to her and signaled with my head to follow along.

  That was when something caught my eye. A very visible trail was behind us from the well to the gate. I found out that it was the lady's long dress, soaking with water from the well and blood on the ground, was the cause of it.

  I let her know to stay quiet, sat down, and cut off a part of her dress that touched the ground.

  Confident that there was nothing else to do, we stepped outside. The goal was to get out of the city. As we moved, I ran through the options that could get us out of there.

  "The front gate's a no, enemies will guard it heavily. Disguise? No, they might check our faces and see Lady Ly Giai. They'll know we aren't soldiers. Ugh! Think! Think!"

  As I was lost in my thoughts, Lady Ly Giai suddenly pulled me into a house to hide. Moments later I heard soldiers running by us.

  "Thank you," I whispered, but she didn't reply. Now that I pay attention, she has been quiet and shaking since we got out of the well. The entire time, she kept her face low, so I couldn't see how she was doing.

  I carefully lifted her face and saw a soulless gaze that sent chills down my spine. Her eyes were lifeless, with not a single reflection in it. Her cheeks left visible trails of tears that had dried up a long time ago. She was not even crying anymore.

  This was not the Lady Ly Giai I saw just this morning.

  "Lady Ly Giai, can you hear me?" I asked quietly, trying to get her attention.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  She nodded, but it was more of a reflex than with intention.

  "My name is Do," I said. "You probably don't remember me, but I will get us both out of here. Don't give up. We will live."

  I tried to be energetic and positive, but she gave no response. I thought she looked like this was because she saw no way to escape. But seemed like that was the reason.

  "Leave me," she finally spoke for the first time.

  Seeing the person whom I admired so much for many years in such a state. Her once bright smiles and lively giggles I longed for. Her playful jokes that she would laugh at herself. The pure, innocence in her eyes, these were what the Lady Ly Giai I watched every day made of.

  But those words, so cold, so helpless. Was it because of how calm and easy she said it? Or the dead look on her face? Whatever it was, those two words overwhelmed me and made me do something unthinkable.

  I slapped her.

  But she didn't yell in pain or react. Her face stayed where it was after the slap I gave her. The red imprint of my hand slowly appeared on her cheek.

  Anger overtook me. I grabbed her face and growled. "Why don't you react or yell back!? Why don't you hit me or run away!? Why aren't you scared or angered!?

  Why are you like this?"

  Lady Ly Giai looked at me with her soulless eyes, and again, repeated.

  "Leave me."

  I shook my head, denying the drastic change in the person I love. "Why are you submitting!? Your family, they are all dead right!? Don't you want to avenge them!?" I yelled.

  Seeing her unfazed, I pulled her to the door and had her look out, where a group of enemy soldiers was passing by us.

  "You see them? Those are your enemies that killed your family. Don't you want to revenge them?" I told her while pointing at them, trying to invoke any kind of emotion in her.

  "What's good of it? My family is gone," she replied as tears flowed down her face. But somehow, even though she was crying, her face remained the same. It was as though I was witnessing a corpse crying.

  I pulled her back inside, "Then, you have to live!"

  "Why?" she asked.

  I looked into her eyes, deep into it, and asked. "How are you still living? How did you end up in that well?"

  I think that question of mine finally pierced through Lady Ly Giai's clouded heart. That stone-cold face with crying tears finally showed some pain. "They protected me."

  She crumbled and cried. Her body contracted, and she had difficulty breathing. She had to cover her mouth to not let out a sound for the enemy to hear. Life had come back to her, even if it carried unbearable pain.

  Even if she didn't see the slaughtering at the mansion, I believe she must have heard the screams of her family and servants must have traumatized her. I sat down and hugged her. I felt her crying on my chest. At each sob, I felt it was as though a piece of her soul left her body.

  It was heartbreaking to see Lady Ly Giai in that state. She had to cry without letting out a sound.

  "You have to live. Live happily, for them," she was still crying, but nodded. We then left the hug and I looked at her, smiling. "Let's get out of here." I could see her eyes lighten up a little more than just a moment before.

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