[A Century ago]
331Please respect copyright.PENANApjX5paKrHP
"Choose."
331Please respect copyright.PENANAv5mqMqiBzK
"You want me to choose?" Jae looked at the man before her with disbelief. "Do you think this is fair? Why can't we have both?"
331Please respect copyright.PENANAktnqVSbeGL
The man paused for a moment and seemed taken aback. Doubt, hesitation and conflict all crossed the handsome face, but a moment later he shook his head as if to clear the unwanted thoughts and he replied: "it's... it's not possible."
331Please respect copyright.PENANAzvND8IieK7
"Why?" Jae moved towards him and said, almost pleading, "why is it not possible? Isn't it better to stay in this place together, instead of going to an unknown world? Anything could happen there!"
331Please respect copyright.PENANAY3PW0w61wQ
Taking her hands in his, he took a different approach and spoke to her gently: "staying in this place means them catching us and forcing us to spend the rest of our lives in servitude, but if we go to the other world, we can finally be free and... and together."
331Please respect copyright.PENANAkY9ScSA3Wh
Seeing her softening expression, he continued, "together we can spend eternity doing the things we want, and not having to worry about them watching our every move. Just think about it, Jae."
331Please respect copyright.PENANA9b6R9AVFgo
Holding his hands tighter, Jae was about to reply when she felt a pulling force behind her.
331Please respect copyright.PENANA0VaSV2HRuF
"Jae!" The man yelled as he tried to grab hold of her, but ultimately he failed when someone forcefully drew him into their chest - with a long sword now pressed against his neck, he could only watch as an armed guard held her up by the throat.
331Please respect copyright.PENANA4i95YNvPyK
"Did you think you can get away that easily?" The guard sneered while gripping her neck tighter, making it hard for her to breathe.
331Please respect copyright.PENANArCL7VCne09
Jae might've been able to live a long life because of her witch powers, however, it didn't mean she couldn't die from outside forces: like getting stabbed, poisoned, choked to death, etc.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAC54Esmeerq
So, the fear she felt was intense, and she struggled to move her gaze to the man still fighting to free himself from his captor. It was difficult, but if this was her last moment, seeing him for one last time would make it worth it.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAdnE7E9wSnR
All was forgotten about the ultimatum she was given about staying in this world or going to the next. Even if it wasn't, it was pretty obvious now what would be the best choice - going to the new world. A world where they didn't have to constantly look over their shoulders and be wary of every step they took.
331Please respect copyright.PENANADUVQQjsl4H
There, they could start afresh, and live the life they always wanted. In a place where no one knew who they were, where they came from, or that they had to run away from the world they had previously called home.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAcPO1Oh9lk5
Still being strangled, Jae grabbed the guard's fingers and tried to pry them from her neck. If they couldn't get out of this situation, they wouldn't be able to escape to the new world or anywhere else, because instead, they would only be six feet under the ground if they got a hold of them.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAkc0TABdVaB
A sticky, red liquid splashed onto Jae's paling face, and a jolt ran through her body. Moving her eyes back to the man's direction, her eyes widened in shock when she saw the terrible scene playing out before her.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAxGWMbNjZ6O
☽
331Please respect copyright.PENANAYBR4ispZx2
[Present Time]
331Please respect copyright.PENANAMFSs1U5H4u
She collapsed on the sofa once she had returned to the teahouse and tried to block out the unwanted memories that had come storming in.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAh6iJ9KkZqy
The accident hadn't been her fault, but if she had decided sooner, none of that would have happened: him getting injured, the events that transpired afterwards, and growing to hate the man she had loved so dearly before.
331Please respect copyright.PENANAiNZL9q2FkF
Seeing him at the cafe had done nothing but bring back feelings she had long forgotten and didn't want to remember. They were pointless now anyway - after she had decided all those years ago to erase everything to do with him out of her life for good, including the person himself.
331Please respect copyright.PENANA917U5Qj0Kl
She had learned the hard way that nothing good came out of being associated with him. And she'd like to keep it that way for as long as possible.
ns216.73.216.229da2