Chapter 3

It was early in the morning and there were very few people on the streets even through it was early summer. The trees started to grow small green leaves or flowers; it was a beautiful and peaceful scenerio.

There were two people walking on the quiet road, one of them a young girl, one of them a young boy with similar age. They walked together silently but suddenly the girl looked at the boy like she just remembered something and opened her mouth:

'Young one -Amber said.- After I die, don't bury my body. Cremate it. This is the only way I can be free.

Christian was dumbstruck hearing the young heroine saying these shocking things.

'Heroine, this...'

Amber knew he wanted to disagree but she remained stubborn about her decision. She sighed.

'Do not argue with me now.- she said while looking at the sky above.- Do it when we'll have time for that. Now just promise me this.' She thought that would be enough. 

Christian was speechless. This conversation was SO absurd that he couldn't even think what would be alright to say in a situation like this. After a few moments he sighed and promised.

Amber hearing his assurance smiled like she trapped him and said:

'Let's go'.

A few months earlier

It was late at night. In an abandoned house's window sat a girl with long black hair looking at something. She watched three fireflies flying near her, her gaze longing.

Christian just came into the room and seeing this scene he hesitated before saying:

'Heroine! -Amber looked out of the window blankly but Christian knew she heard him.- Are you thinking of them again?' -he asked.

Amber slowly looked him and didn't say anything, just smiled. But this smile was so sad, one could tell at a glance. She looked like someone who didn't enjoy even a moment of her life and was used to this emptiness. It was discouraging.

A few moments passed than she opened her mouth:

'Did you know? There's a tale dead people turn into butterflies after their deaths and stay close to their loved ones. It's a bitter-sweet fairy tale.'

Christian's heart ached for the heroine. 'It must have been tough for her all this time.' -he thought.

Amber saw the pity in the young one's eyes and somehow she felt a bit irritated. She didn't like being pitied. At the end she sighed and said:

'You don't have to look this depressed. I'm fine so don't worry about me.'

Christian knew the heroine just built another imaginary wall between them so he dropped the topic. Instead he asked:

'Heroine, that person... who is 'he'?'

Amber immediately knew who the young one was refering. A smile slowly creeped to her face but this smile was rather a smirk.

'That person.- she said.- Is my second uncle.'

Christian was again so shocked he couldn't speak at all.

Amber didn't care, she just continued.

'You may not believe it was him but I can guarantee you: it's all his doing.'

'But... then... how did you know? And why would he do this?' -Christian asked.

'Of course I didn't immediatelly know and that I discovered wasn't intentional either. -Amber explained.- Soon after the burial, it was my second uncle who spoke up for me. I say 'spoke up' but in reality it wasn't the truth. Because he said it was a pity for such a good family. Even through I was 'quite agressive' but I wouldn't do this to my partent and older brother. Yes, he was right in a way. I wouldn't do it. But him?

This is why these words weren't for my protection. -she said with a smirk while holding a vine cup. She sipped then continued.- It was to increase suspicion and 'certainity'. In the end HE was the one who benefited from this only. 'The guilty party filling the lawsuit' should imply to this. -she mocked.

Christian listened to her quietly. He was again shocked. Isn't it too much for a child to go through something like this? However he didn't say words of concern. He knew it was meaningless. The pain wouldn't lessen for a parent  if a car driver who just hit the parent's child -apologize. This was the same.

Christian was startled from his thoughts when the young heroine started speaking again.

'As for how did I know of his intentions... it was a coincidence. I just happened to be there when he said those words. Nothing more.

I was walking soullessly in the empty corridor after the burial. I didn't know what to do at all and was desperate enough to die. After some time I heard a familiar voice. It was second uncle's. You know, I was glad, at least he was alive, like... he was the only family member of mine who was with me and I felt a little bit comforted with his presence. 

I walked closer but then I heard him talking on the phone with someone. And what he said made my soul fly away.' -Amber looked at Christian after a few moments. Her look contained anger, despair, self-blame and sadness. She opened her mouth.- He said my parent's were dead anyway, and all they have to do is fix the blame on me. After I die, they can easily assess my family's fortune. He could easily do it because he became my bearer in a few week's time.

After this, there were no place for me to call 'home'. I ran away and swear I'll defenitely not let that traitor go. Ironically I was thinking of suicide before. However after I had to face his true nature, all my reluctance went away. Anyway; it has been too long since I saw his face.' -she said.

Suddenly her gaze landed on something in the room. She looked at the young one and asked:

'What does your religion say about people like me? Who originally wasn't vicious but became one. Or who knows? -she laughed.- Maybe it's just my nature like uncle said.'

'What? How did you...? -Christian never said anything about his religion and thought Amber didn't notice it. It's not like he wanted to keep it a secret but Amber was occupied with her own things. 

Amber smiled.

'Do you think I'm that kind of person who never pays attention to other business than her's? -she asked.- I knew form the very 1st day what your religion is. I just didn't say.'

After saying this she turned to the window again and looked at the fireflies flying around her.

'People say I'm a vicious psycho who kills others as easily as lifting a finger. But that's not true: I've never killed anyone. I just tortured that low-life but did I kill him?' -The young heroin looked upset. This was a face she's never revealed to anyone until now. She trusted the boy in front of her.

'Young one, tell me. Why is everyone so narrow-minded? Yes, I'm fanatic for taking revenge but does that mean I want to be like this? Heh..- she mocked.- It sounds so beautiful to trust others and not harm them and if they hit you on the face, you'd show your other cheek. But this way who'll NOT use it against you? If you're good and not struggle, they'll kill you. At the end it's always the good people who lose.' -she said.

Christian approached her with some cups and vine but hearing this he put them on the table.

'This is why your religion'll ALWAYS be a luxury for me. Not everyone is as lucky as you are. 

The boy was a bit annoyed. He didn't wan to see the young heroin like this.

'I know not everyone is as lucky to follow this religion. But I think you're not a bad person. And if I can see this, do you think God cannot?' -he asked.

Amber smiled at his naivity. So let's say God exist. That's worse scenerio than he doesn't even exist because he watched her family being killed, her taking all the blame and second uncle's family prosper with folded arms. If she had to pray to such a God, she'd commit suicide.

But it was kinda cute looking at the young boy's angry face.

'Little one.- she said.- I'm going to kill a person. A relative, no less! Or what? I'll only be a bad person AFTER I successfully killed someone? -she mocked.- I think thoughts are as important as acts.

'I'm guilty, I've let my family down for believing such a traitor. 10 years passed since then but I still cannot eat or sleep. I'm exhausted...

You're a good person, so tell me! Am I doing the wrong thing? Should I just let him get MY family's money? But I'm unable to stay idle!' -she said, her eyes misty. She looked like she'll cry at the next moment.

Christian watched her for a while and said:

'I know you're afraid. Afraid of betrayal, afraid of the future and even afraid of losing your right mind. I KNOW these even if you act like a deviant. You asked before if I wanted to stay and I said yes! -he suddenly looked at the things the young heroine's just watched. - You said you're evil and a psycho but you'll always light the candles in this room immediately they die out, even at night. -he said and looked at Amber with questioning eyes.- Does a psycho act like this?'

Amber's gaze swept through the three ignited candles near her loved one's chalk-drawings. She looked really sad at that moment.

Then the next moment she smiled, jumped off the window sill and walked closer to the young one. She watched him like she was looking at him for the first time, surprise in her eyes.

'You're angry at me!' -she said amazed.- I'm right, aren't I? You also have a temper I didn't know!' -she teased.

Christian rolled his eyes but didn't utter a word. Amber smiled and -still teasingly- said:

'Okay, okay, no more teasing. But I guess you didn't come and find me for nothing. Just tell me, I'm all ears.'

The young boy was a bit taken aback.

She noticed.-he thought.

He sighed at the question he was about to ask and said:

'You said you'll defenitely take revenge. Have a plan already?' -Amber looked at him and answered:

'Of course I have. who do you think I am? He must be very anxious now, after hearing my notice and will likely head here. However, he shouldn't bother. -she smirked.- Even if he doesn't want to see this niece; this niece'll go and see him.'

The boy was rendered speechless. Not really because of the words the young heroin had said but her facial expression. It was the same she showed when they met for the first time and threatoned the killer. It was the same.

However he thought at the sentences he just heard regarding the plan and smirked:

'In other words: go there without a plan, beat everyone we see, kill the target and go home? Really?'- he wanted to confirm because he didn't believe his ears.

Amber however had other thoughts about this.

'Young one.- she thought.- maybe you'll be the only one, who returns... At that time do not blame me for not telling the truth.'  -She looked at the confused boy in front of her and said:

'Young one, you don't have to worry, we'll be fine. And another thing: on the 25th of August will be my family's memorial day. We'll depart at that time.'

Christian looked shocked hearing this. A few moments passed then he sighed:

'Okay.'

At the end of the day no one was happy. Some were thinking about how to protect themselves, some thought about the possibilities they'd die and some were worried about other recless people. It was doomed to be a sleepless night for all of them.

After this, months passed as quietly and quickly as days.

Not long later it was already August. It was the time to depart.