CHAPTER 1.1: Red​ Thread of Fate

Lorelei and I we're on the way to the province where my dad and Lorelei's Dad didn't know. I opened the topic about our Dad's to Lorelei and explained everything to her. 

I looked at her, she was worried as I can tell because of her face. She's still processing in her mind what's going on. 

" Lorelei…." She suddenly looked at me and she was obviously worried. I grab her hand and hold it. 

" Don't worry" I smiled, " What's going on? There's something really serious?" She asked 

" Did you know who your dad's business partner is?" I asked but she shook her head, " No" 

" It's my dad, there's a problem between them. Your dad planned to kidnap me before but my dad did it in advance and he kidnap you" I explained, she's shocked from what she heard 

" Really? How did you know?" 

" My dad, he saw me leaving at our house and he called me and explained everything. I also knew it and my dad will kill you. That's why I'm trying to protect you but my dad said that your dad is going to kill me also. We're being kill" 

" But I know my dad, he will never do that, to kill? He can't" Lorelei started to cry, she is also afraid, we are now in trouble not just trouble. We're in danger! It's just because of love. I'm asking myself if there's something wrong with loving someone. If love is connected to the problems of others. 

" I also can't believe that my dad can tell that in front of me that he will kill you. Someone is changing when being rich in money is in their hands. Don't worry Lorelei, I will protect you no matter what happen" I hugged her to warm her. 

" I'm afraid" She hugged me tight while she's shivering, " Shhh…." I patted her head while hugging her. 

Lorelei's Point of View 

Eight O'clock in the morning, We are in the province, 9 hours to travel from the city we are from. Now we are here, it's impossible that our dad will know this place. Luckily, Articus already bought this house. 

" We are here" He smiled while looking at the house, " Is it your house you are talking to? When were we on a date before?" I chuckled

" You remember that? You have a good memory huh" He held my hand and we entered and arranged our clothes. 

" I will go upstairs, I'll clean there " I exclaimed, he nodded 

I think we're practicing now as a husband and wife, just kidding. Kidding aside, I'm still afraid our dad might track us. I trust my love, my Articus, that he will protect me but I need also to do something else to protect him either. 

For now, I will clean this area and prepare some food later for us. 

" Oh I forgot the dustpan, Articus? Articusss!" I called him many times but he's not answering.

" Articusss?" I called him once again and he's still not answering. I'm worried, I went downstairs to find him and he's gone. 

I dashed to go outside of the house," Articus! " I don't care if the neighborhood gets mad at me for being noisy but Articus still doesn't answer. I'm crying right now, Articus isn't around, he might get by my dad and he will kill soon. I sat on the floor, I was sobbing in tears, I heard someone enter the house. 

" Lorelei! What happened?" I heard Articus's voice . 

" Articus? Articus! I thought you are getting by my dad" I wiped my tears and I disquiet this time. 

" Don't go around without telling me! Tell me next time where are you going" I exclaimed while my voice still stuttered. 

Articus hugged me tight, I felt warm, I felt safe. " I'm just here around of our house" he answered 

" Even you are just around our house. Just tell me so I will not worry about you" 

" Okay madam" He chuckled, " I love you" he kissed me in my head 

" I love you too" I answered. 

Now that Articus is not gone, I went back upstairs to continue what I stopped doing earlier. Now that Articus is noisy downstairs, I'm okay to noise while he's doing something so I can assure that he's still there. 

Articus wasn't bad to buy a house, it's perfect for us two. Its quality is good, I'm not that picky in terms of house, as it's good, it's okay for me. I'm happy and thankful that I met Articus. 

" Lorelei, I will take a break for a while. Go down there, let's take a rest" He shouted 

" I will, let me finish it first" I answered and I continuously cleaned and set up to be presentable upstairs. After an hour I already finished what I'm doing here and now I'm about to take a rest downstairs but I saw Articus sleeping on the couch. 

I chuckled, he's indeed cute and had a charming visual. He's known as a hard working student, but when I looked at him, his face changed a little bit. It matured but it looks perfect the way he is. I wiped his sweat and opened the electric fan for him. " I love you" I softly said

I see him smirking, " Take a rest for now, I'll do it" I said. While he's comfortably taking a nap, I clean it before he wakes up. 

After an hour I also prepared dinner since it's already eight O'clock in the evening and I started to wake up Articus. 

" Articusss! Articusss… " I poke his nose but he's still not waking up. " Articussss" I touched his cheeks and I squeezed it because I'm gritting about his face. I really love him. 

" Oh, Lorelei, what time is it?" He asked 

" Let's eat, it's already eight O'clock" I smirked. " What! Eight O'clock!" He was shocked and suddenly woke up and he was amazed that I cleaned everything in the house. 

" Wowww! Amazing, you're literally wife material. I love you!'' He appreciates what I did, He's always acknowledging me. I really love him. 

I and Articus started to eat, he enjoyed the food that I prepared. We laugh, enjoying it like there's no problem with us. This is what we want, a peaceful, just loving each other, caring for each other. 

After we ate, we went upstairs to sleep. 

Articus went first upstairs and I cleaned the kitchen first and went to him. " Are you done?" He asked 

" Yes, are you already sleepy?" He sat first at the bed and waited for me, he's smiling and I kissed his cheeks. 

" Wow! Thanks, I'm not sleepy, here. Lay here at my limb, I will massage your head" He exclaimed and I layed down at his limb and he started to massage my head. 

" Ohhhh… I loved it" I feel relaxed when he massages my head, he's always good at everything. 

" Do you have anything that you can't do?" I chuckled while looking at him 

" Hmmm yes, I can't hurt you, I can't leave you, I can't give you heart break" He answered and he's always being a witted boyfriend. 

" Ohhhh I know you are a top student at class, you are always doing great" I answered 

" By the way, can I have your pinky finger?" He asked and I gave it to him. " Here" 

He had a red string in his hand and he asked me about the string. " You know what it is?" 

I just looked at his dazzling eyes, I don't know what it was for. " What's with red strings?" 

He tied it first to his pinky fingers after he tied it to himself, he got mine and he started to tie it. 

" It is the Red​ String of Fate, if we die soon. You and I will meet again in our next life" He beamed a smile and I just got teary eyed. 

 After Articus kissed me, someone's force opened the door. We heard a crash downstairs and I started to tighten my hug to Articus. We tried to don't make any noise but we heard the footsteps it's going upstairs. 

" Who is that?" Articus shouted and it started to run towards us. A guy who holds a gun. It is the last point of our life. I thought it was Articus Dad but the gun pointed at Articus. 

" My dad's personnel. Stop it, I'll talk to my dad about this!" The guy doesn't care if I talk or not as long as their mission wasn't successful they will do what my dad asked them to do. 

I saw the finger of the guy he started to fire the gun, I suddenly hugged Articus in front of him to be his shield from the bullet. I smiled at him. " I did it" I exclaimed, I'm gradually losing my consciousness until it's my last breath I heard Articus's voice.

 " Lorelei!!!" 

Articus's Point of View 

The gunman pointed at me, I closed my eyes as I know that I'm a target. It's okay for me to be shot since I'm target at least Lorelei is safe. I heard the gun was fired but Lorelei hugged me in front of me and she got the bullet and she started to bleed. She smiled, " I did it" the last word she said. The gunman ran away from us. 

" Lorelei!!!" I shouted, I can't breathe, I can't expect that she will sacrifice herself for me. I'm sobbing, I still hugged her. I tapped her many times just to wake her up but she's not breathing. I thought she would be safe for the last time. I thought I will protect her, I will be her escutcheon. 

At last, I'm just a burden. I didn't save her, I didn't protect her. I continuously sob until I heard the call from Lorelei's phone. I answered it. 

Sister: Hello Lorelei! Can you visit me here at my house! I'm jealous as a sister! You are always there to dad. By the way I have good news, I'm pregnant! I'm 2 months pregnant!..... Hello? Why are you so quiet? There's something wrong? 

I scream in pain, I am deeply hurt hearing the good news about Lorelei's sister. 

Sister: Hello? Who are you?! 

Articus: Hello! Help us! Lorelei got shot! 

Sister: Who are you?! Who did that to her! Where are you now?! 

Articus: We are here in the province, your dad sent his personnel to kill me but Lorelei got shot. 

I hang up the call, I can't talk about it anymore. I want to hug Lorelei more. 

" I'm sorry….. I'm really really sorry Lorelei…." 

" I'm sorry for not protecting you… I'm sorry. Why did you do that Lorelei!" 

" It's my bullet, why did you protect me!" I painly shouted, I'm more than in pain, I want to go to her. I have no reason to live. 

I saw the rope beside Lorelei, I grabbed it and I hung myself. 

" I hope we will see each other, Lorelei, in the next life. I will wait for you! I love you… "

I hung up myself while the Red​ Thread was in our pinky. 

I slowly lost my consciousness, for the last time, I saw Lorelei.