“Hey, Sol, there’s plenty of bed on this floor. Don’t you think it’s ridiculous for us to cram in one bed?” Luna and Sol were lying on the bed with their back leaning against each other.

“I can’t see anything ridiculous in this. We’re sharing one bed most of the time. Why should tonight be any different?”

“You’re worried,” Luna noticed that tone in the voice of his twin brother.

“You’re not?” Sol snapped back at him.

“I’m scared,” Luna honestly admitted.

“Dad and I will protect you,” Sol assured him despite his own fears. “Lei and the rest of their army will never be able to take you from us ever again. They will never be able to use you.”

“I’m more scared with you and Dad getting hurt because of me,” Luna sighed. “I don’t want you to die protecting me from those monsters.”

“Then get stronger and protect us in return,” Sol simply said, the anxiousness in his voice was fading. “I’m worrying because you are too soft. If you start fighting for your self then I will be at ease.”

“Mom will further hate me and the voice inside my head will laugh triumphantly if I become violent,” Luna sighed in frustration. “That is the reason I don’t want to fight back. I am willing to accept any blow because I want to show Mom that I am not a bad person, that she is wrong about me, and that I can win against the voice inside my head. If I start fighting those monsters, I’m afraid that I will become the demon that Mom always sees and the voice inside my head will finally succeed.”

Sol sat up and stared at the window. “If you fight them, Mom will return to us.”

“What are you saying, Sol?” Luna anxiously asked as he got up and sat beside his twin.

“They had taken Mom as a hostage,” Sol answered, tightly clenching his fists in frustration.

“If that’s true then why are we not doing anything?” Luna asked in confusion. “If they want me…”

“You will not do that,” Sol stared fiercely at Luna. “We will never trade you for her. Dad and Dr. Jerami are thinking of ways to save Mom. We only need to wait.”

“If I give myself…”

“I said no,” Sol firmly told Luna. “If you show them how easily you can be swayed, they will always use us against you. Fight instead of submitting to them. Prove to Mom that you can save her without becoming one of those monsters.”

“I want to fight. I want to protect Mom, Dad, and you,” Luna desperately uttered. “But what if I can’t? What if I get you all killed? You are all that I have, Sol. I can’t lose any of you.”

“Dad and I know how to protect ourselves. The three of us can protect Mom once we take her back from those monsters,” Sol tightly gripped Luna’s shoulders. “We only need to get stronger.”

“If you want to get stronger, you need to start saving souls,” Dad said, standing at the staircase landing with a beautiful lady.

She seemed to be in her early or mid forties. Her long black hair was neatly braided at the back of her head. She was wearing a simple make-up and a sweet smile that felt comforting. She must be Dr. Jerami.

But after meeting Lei, it was hard to judge people only by their looks. She appeared to be trustworthy and reliable but she could be hiding something terrible deep within her which she would only reveal once Luna fell for her tricky pretense.

“Before we leave, I need to check your temperature,” the beautiful doctor approached Luna and pressed her palm on his forehead. “You’re good to go.”

“Where are we going?” Luna warily asked.

“To the very first soul you will be saving,” Dr. Jerami answered with a sweet smile.

“Is it your son?” Sol asked, looking annoyed.

“If you successfully save this person’s soul, the next one will be my son,” Dr. Jerami kindly answered.

“Okay,” Sol sighed. “Who is this person and where can we find him?”

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