Dead Cold

Sadoche

There’s something wrong with her.

The way she stares at the candles says it all and when Luna blew them, Roux finally loses it.

Luna and Lucas were oblivious of her but I saw how her pupils dilate like she’d seen a ghost.

I kneel beside her, putting a safe distance since she freaks out whenever someone touches her.

She’s staring at nothing like she’s in a trance.

“Roux,” I called her but it seems like she can’t even hear me.

Lucas puts the cake down on the table while Luna watches her in horror.

“Oh my God, what’s happening to her?” she asked like I know the answer.

“Roux.” I snapped a finger on her face but she suddenly started kicking.

Lucas pulled Luna away from her since she got kicked on her stomach. Lucas runs for the lights but Roux kept on kicking the air like she’s trying to get away from something—or someone.

She managed to knock out the plates and glasses near her until shards of glass cut her skin. That’s when I decided to hold both of her hands and pin her down.

“Call her brother!” I shouted as I wrestle with her. “Roux, listen to me.” I tried again but she’s not responding. “Damn it, check her bag.”

Luna reached for her bag and dispose of everything on the floor. She found a syringe that has a note. Before Luna can hand it to me, Roux managed to hit my eyes. Using my left hand to hold her hands, I gripped her jaw so she’s looking at me. Tears well her face and I felt something hit my chest.

“Please let me go.” She cried. If she’s talking to me or someone else, I’m not sure.

“Roux, look at me. Hey, you’re okay. You’re okay.” I whispered.

Her eyes soften like she just woke up from a nightmare. She’s shivering badly but she stopped wriggling under me.

“I’ll let you go now but please don’t hit me again, okay?”

I climbed off her and gently released her hands. Just when I’m about to let her go, she pulled me on my neck like a monkey. She’s crying too hard all I can do is to keep her in my arms like I’m his lifeline.

“Shh. You’re okay.” I whispered on top of her head.

Bloodstain all over the carpet. Broken glasses were scattered on the floor. Luna is crouching near us while Lucas is still on the phone. The note from the syringe says ‘for emergency purpose’ then I remembered the same thing Yuan used on her when she freaked out that they needed to tranquilize her.

When Luna realized what’s going on, she went out of the room. Lucas followed her so the two of us were the only ones in the Theatre room. She loosened her grip on my neck, giving me enough air to breathe.

She covered her face with her bloodied hands. Her shoulders shake, she’s crying. The adrenaline washed out of my body and I finally felt exhausted. It took Yuan and Kori to bring her down when she freaked out while it took me and a black eye.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I ruined things again.”

Luna came back with a medicine box. She handed me a cold compress and put the medicine box beside me. Roux’s hands are still bleeding so I discarded the compress and opened the box.

“Roux, you’re bleeding. We need to clean your wounds. I’ll clean them but you have to trust me okay?”

I reached for her hands. She flinched when I put her hands on my lap but she didn’t pull it away. She’s still looking down. I had cleaned her left hand when Yuan barged into the room.

He’s wearing black pajamas. His hair looks like a bird's nest. When he saw us, his brows creased. He opened his mouth like he’s going to say something but closed it again.

“Sis.” His voice was so low, it was almost a whisper. “Do you want to go home now?”

“Yu…” her lips quiver, she’s going to cry again. “I remember now.”

Yuan inhaled a long breathe and comb his hair in frustration. He closed his eyes for a moment as if to utter a silent prayer. The three of us exchanged confused looks but didn’t say anything.

“What do you remember, honey?” Yuan asked. He sat next to me but didn’t try to make me go away. Instead, he put his arm on my shoulder like he’s asking for support.

“My birthday. In Ole Keating Village, when I was abducted.” She started, her grip on my hands firmer now. I absentmindedly squeeze her hands to remind her she’s safe.

Luna gasped while Lucas fell on the floor like they can’t believe it. Nevertheless, they remained quiet. She said Ole Keating Village.

“You were from OKV?” I asked.

“Yes.” Yuan confirmed, “Roux was kidnapped when she was eight. I was in England back then.”

She was kidnapped when she was eight. It was ten years ago, the same year my whole life changed. They were from the same town we were. I felt something burning at the back of my neck as my vision darkens.

No. It must be just a coincidence.

“Where did they keep you?” I asked.

“I-in the old warehouse.” She answered then look at Yuan like she’s trying to make a point. “I told you, Yu. I’m not alone. There was a boy.”

All my strength left my body when I heard her last words.

It’s not a coincidence.

It really happened and she’s in the same warehouse all those times.

“You were alone when the police saved you. There’s no boy, Roux.” Yuan countered.

“What happened to the boy?” I asked. I know I shouldn’t and Yuan might think I’m invading their privacy.

“He was badly beaten.” Roux practically quiver whenever she relives what happened, “He managed to escape. He said he’ll go back for me but he didn’t return.”

“Do you know his name?” I probed but Yuan held my shoulder.

“Akira,” he warned.

He’s stopping me to ask her but I badly need answers. I need to confirm it.

“That’s it, Yu.” Roux frantically looked at him, “His name is Akira.”

That’s when I finally lose it. I let go of her hands and stormed out of the house. I heard Lucas calling for me but I didn’t look back.

I run away from the house—from her.

It’s raining hard. Lightning slices through the skies just like that same night. She was with my brother. She said he managed to escape but when the police appeared in front of our door that night, they brought us to the place my brother hated the most.

He was dead cold in that fucking morgue.