One Thousand and Two Lies (Reapers of Beauty Book 2) Read online

  "You could have chosen a different route, Minju."

  "Xia, if they’d gotten the serum, Japan would have only fallen into utter chaos. It was the successful dose. The only successful dose they'll make."

  "You don't know that."

  "I don't carry these wings on my back for nothing, Xia," Minju countered.

  I looked away and turned around.

  "So what if the serum is the only successful one? You're my best friend and you’re dead. What do I even say to Minso and Minsu? They lost their sister because of me. You saved me for what? To return to Master and continue being an Elite Reaper?"

  "You aren't returning. You're considered dead at the moment, and when you return, you won't remember."

  I paused my next set of words to look back at her. "What do you mean, I won't remember?"

  "The longer you stay here, Xia, the harder it will be to recall what happened. It has been almost a month now since the incident."

  "A… month?" I whispered. "How..."

  "Time passes swiftly when you're trying to escape reality." Minju sighed and moved to stand next to me.

  I had no choice but to stare at those radiant wings that sparkled in the moonlight; their purity knew no bounds.

  Minju will leave if I go back.

  "I can't go back."

  "Xia. I'm dead. Nothing is going to change that. If you don't return, think of all those who will be impacted. My sisters, your boyfriends, the little kitty who misses her new owner."

  "Ruby," I whispered, and blinked back tears. "I..."

  Minju sighed and moved to stand in front of me. She placed her hands on my shoulders and smiled.

  "You have to go back, Xia. You have so much purpose. So many things to enjoy and see." Her eyes filled with tears and she pulled me into her arms, holding me tightly as I began to sob.

  "We're supposed to celebrate freedom together, Minju. You promised." I cried into her shoulder, and her wings wrapped around me, enveloping me in a warm embrace.

  "I know, Xia. I know," she soothed, but it didn't relieve my sadness.

  She held me for a long time, and who knows if a day or two had passed.

  "It's time for you to go, Xia. I can't stay here any longer," Minju whispered in my ear.

  "You know I love you, right? You'll always remember that you were like a sister to me and I loved you dearly. Every time you made me laugh and held me when I needed a good cry… I was always grateful to you." She needed to know how much I cherished her existence in my life.

  How thankful I was to be given another privilege at life because of her sacrifice.

  I pulled back to stare into her pink eyes, and she smiled as she pressed her forehead against mine.

  "I love you more, Xia. Please, for me, don't waste time mourning me. I'm free. I'm at peace. All I need from you is to live. Enjoy living this new life and allow yourself to love. Don't hold back and let the darkness that hides in the alleyways of our country bring you down. Don't let those who hide behind power and money ruin your path to a free future. Take every breath with hope, and fight for the people you care about. I'll be watching and protecting you and my sisters. All I need you to do is live life to its fullest in my stead." She held me close as she whispered earnestly.

  We hugged and I wished I could keep her in my embrace longer, to take one last whiff of the scent of her soft perfume, or to enjoy a joke or two before we went our separate ways. All these wishes ran through my mind, but I knew it was time for both of us to go.

  For me to face reality and allow Minju to rest in peace. For her to be free.

  Pulling away, she wiped away the last few tears that rolled down my cheeks and took a step back. The scenery around me was already shifting, the night turning to day and going back and forth from sunrise to sunset. We stood on the roof, but the world around us was changing like we were fast forwarding through the seasons.

  I felt something brush against my cheek, and a soft, sweet voice whispered in my ear.

  "Xia?"

  Something squeezed my hand, and it dawned on me that I'd be waking up very shortly.

  "Minju… can I ask one more favor?" I requested. Her white wings stretched out to their full capacity, and I gasped in astonishment at how beautiful she looked.

  How peaceful she appeared to be.

  "You can, Xia."

  "Don't allow me to forget you. Let me return with those memories. Even if they'll bring pain to me. Even if I'll shed tears and feel guilty. Let me cherish them. Allow me to remember my sister who always made me laugh and the woman who sacrificed her life to give me a second chance. I'll embrace the pain and use it to motivate me. Please… let me never forget the good and bad memories we experienced together. Please, Minju." I was begging at this point, and if it wasn't for my current predicament and my inability to move my legs, I would have knelt down and continued asking.

  Memories shouldn't be forgotten if they don't have to be. I don't want the easy out. Allow me to endure the pain, anguish, and emotional suffering death can bring. That way, I'll always cherish the new life I've been given and see the world in a new light.

  Minju looked hesitant, and I almost burst into tears yet again, but a small smile crept onto her light pink lips.

  "One last celebration gift," she replied.

  Relief filled me at her answer, and then I felt something brush against my cheek again; the voice calling for me was stronger.

  "Xia, love."

  Minju nodded her head and looked to the sky that was now pure darkness. I followed her gaze, noticing that we were standing in nothing but darkness.

  A bright light flashed before my eyes, and I turned to take a final glance at Minju who gave me her best smile.

  "Be free my best friend, my sister. Live the best life possible and make Japan a better place. Till we meet again. I love you."

  "I love you, Minju. Thank you..." I whispered as the bright light grew stronger and stronger until it engulfed my vision.

  * * *

  "I'll let the others know and call the nurse to come in."

  "Thanks, Dante."

  My ears picked up on the sounds of his fading footsteps and of the door closing gently. My mind felt sluggish, but it was alert enough to remember what had just happened.

  What I'd just experienced.

  "Xia?"

  I didn't want to open my eyes. Not yet, anyway. It could have been my need to assess my surroundings through my senses, aside from sight.

  The sterile scent that lingered in the air told me I wasn't at the shrine, but it didn't give me enough confidence to say I was in a hospital.

  The flow of oxygen through my nostrils and the soft beeping sounds from a machine to my left gave me the impression I was receiving treatment somewhere.

  The hint of cologne helped ease my initial fear; the scent of cologne that Xander worn at the club was to my right, and his voice now registered in my brain.

  That means I'm safe… for now?

  The large hand wrapped around my right hand and squeezed ever so slightly. I couldn't help but squeeze back, but I wasn't ready to open my eyes.

  Not yet.

  "Take your time, Xia."

  I wondered if Xander knew how helpful he was being as of now. Did he know that his encouraging sentence was doing miracles for me? Aiding in keeping me calm and allowing me the chance to reminisce on my last encounter with Minju? I wanted to tell him now, but I took a few more minutes for closure.

  A couple of minutes to enjoy the last image of Minju and the beautiful wings that would help her fly to the kingdom above. A place filled with love, peace, and tranquility.

  When I was finally ready to open my eyes, it took me a few tries.

  My eyelids felt like they had been glued together, but with some extra effort I was finally able to open them slightly.

  I took my time, pleased that the lights were off. Only a small flicker of light came from my right, helping illuminate the dark room.

  My vision was blurry at f
irst, but I wasn't in a rush. If what Minju had said was true, blurry vision would be normal for someone waking up after almost a month of unconsciousness.

  Seconds ticked by, my vision becoming clear until I could see the detailing of the white ceiling panels above. With a few slow blinks, I decided to see what worked.

  I wiggled my toes, lifted each finger of my left hand, squeezed Xander's hand with my right hand, and took a few deep breaths.

  My mouth felt dry, but my lips were still smooth, telling me that someone must have been applying a lip balm or moisturizer to them while I was asleep.

  My skin didn't feel dry either, and I smelled nice; a mixture of vanilla and roses.

  I glimpsed hints of my long hair that rested on the front side of my hospital gown, and from its smooth, textured appearance, it was apparent that someone had made sure there were no tangles.

  Did Xander take care of me this whole time? What happened to him and the others? Were they all okay? Even that stranger who made my magic stop me from pulling the trigger on him?

  After another eyeful assessment of my body, I finally looked to my right. Black eyes met mine, their appearance widened with hope and relief as the dark color began to shift to that gorgeous shade of silver that turned the ends of my lips up into a small smile.

  I was exhausted, both physically and mentally, but the sight of Xander, the knowledge that he was alive, safe, and next to my bedside, gave me a boost in energy.

  He cared about me enough to stay by my side when he is under no obligation to do so. That tells me what kind of person he really is. A genuinely kind individual who wouldn't go against the peace vow he made that night we made love.

  I took in his appearance, slowly, starting from his messy black hair, which told me he must have slept in an odd position.

  The dark circles under his eyes made it obvious that he hadn't been sleeping for quite some time. His build was still fit, but he did look slightly leaner from what I recalled, and his shirt was looser than its usual muscle tight slim fit.

  As I continued to stare at him, he gave me a shy smile.

  "If you're going to tell me I look horrible, Dante and the others already told me you'd say that."

  That brought a smile to my lips.

  "You look atrocious," I teased, my voice sounding like a frog croaking. "But I'd still kiss you."

  "I'll take that compliment and cherish it." His smile widened, and we shared a look.

  His eyes showed a glimpse of what he must have gone through. It displayed all the pain he harbored because of the unpredictable future he had to deal with.

  I still wasn’t sure as to why he had been at the mission site, other than the thought that he was preventing either party from obtaining the serum, but I could imagine the stress the aftermath had caused him, and I'd contributed to it.

  "Xia. Welcome back." His husky voice was filled with emotion, a hint of vulnerability that tugged at my heart and made me want to hug him.

  It also ignited the pain that began to spread through me; the ache of accepting I'd lost Minju.

  "I'm… back." I choked out the words, my eyes already beginning to blur with tears. "Xander..."

  He bit his lip and nodded.

  "You want a hug?" he asked, and it was like he knew what I mentally needed.

  Hugs were always a cherished action to me, something I had very few opportunities to enjoy.

  However, this time around, I needed the physical touch. My body needed someone else's warmth, and the comfort of being in his arms would help ease my pain.

  It wouldn't eliminate it or help me ignore it, but at least I'd know I wasn't alone.

  Xander stood from the chair he was sitting on. After some moving of the IV and other devices that were connected to me for monitoring, I was sitting in his arms in the medical bed.

  I wished I could curl up into a ball and disappear, but being wrapped in Xander's warmth and cologne would do.

  "I… failed," I whispered.

  "You did the best you could, Xia."

  "Minju's dead."

  "I know."

  "She was with me," I said softly. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I pressed my hands on Xander's chest and leaned back to meet his sad silver eyes.

  "She stayed with me the whole time. She told me I'd have to go back… but I didn't want to leave. If I left… it would mean she was gone for good. She said I had to enjoy this second chance at life and not feel guilty… but how? She died because of me, Xander. She's… gone. Forever. I'm the reason my sister is gone. I killed her." I began to whimper and Xander lifted his hand to press it against my left cheek.

  "You didn't kill Minju, Xia. She made a choice. One that meant you would live and she wouldn't. Her choice was her own, and she wouldn't want you thinking it was your fault. It's okay to cry and mourn her, Xia, but Minju probably wanted you to enjoy the freedom she knew you deserved. Just like her sisters."

  "Why does freedom have to hurt this much?" I sobbed, and he blinked his eyes rapidly.

  "Sometimes to acquire freedom it means immense lost. It means we have to cherish the opportunity given to us, even if it brings tears to our eyes and makes our hearts hurt," he whispered, a single tear rolling down his cheek.

  His hand moved from my cheek to glide through my black locks to the back of my head. He pulled me down to rest against his chest.

  "Let the pain out, Xia. I'll be right here to listen and comfort you, as long as you need me to. Mourn your sister's sacrifice but acknowledge the life she lived and how you brightened it. She may be gone, but her memory will continue to live through you, and you'll carry those memories while she enjoys the peace she so righteously deserves."

  I nodded into his chest and let my tears fall, releasing the agony and pain in my chest through my tears and cries of anguish.

  This was the start of my new world, a chance at the freedom my sisters and I so desperately sought.

  It just hurt that Minju never got to enjoy it while living.

  ~ONE WEEK LATER~

  * * *

  "We are gathered here today..."

  The words repeated themselves over and over in my mind.

  A week had passed since I'd woken up in what was called the Peace Safe House. It was under the Japanese government when unused, and on most occasions, no one else was allowed to use it without permission. Except for Xander, who’d apparently earned the privilege to use it if needed.

  During my recovery, I'd learned that Xander was the leader of his team associated with the Neutral Peace Organization, NPO for short.

  They were on the site the night of our mission because they had heard of the serum exchange and wanted to stop it by any means necessary.

  They had been investigating and gathering as much information on the serum and the purpose of its production as they could, but their previous attempts of shutting down the organization handling its production had all failed.

  Even with the government's aid, it was difficult to shut anyone down in Japan who had a massive pool of money at their disposal.

  Xander would need proof of their wrongdoing, and they didn't have enough evidence to take them down right away.

  I owed gratitude for my survival of the government to Xander and his teammates; Dante, Silas, and Ace, who all vouched for my asylum.

  They explained to the government officials that I was a Reaper who'd been sent to eliminate the serum at all costs and that was the reason for Minju's death and extensive injuries.

  It was made clear with the additional video evidence, that I'd saved the entire team, using my body as a shield from those bullets and distracting the enemy long enough for Minju to get rid of the serum, but it still led to her death.

  I was saved thanks to her selfless diversions, and because of it, her burial and cremation had been covered by the government.

  Due to the complexity of the situation we had grown up in, we weren't required to reveal any information on Master or where we'd lived all this time.

 
It was surprising that they didn't want to risk our safety for information; something that was completely opposite from the world we'd grown up in. Information was the key to power and wealth, and to push it aside like it was nothing would be looked down upon.

  Foolish choice in my opinion, but in this case, it benefitted Minsu, Minso, and me.

  We were taken into the NPO, and thanks to their kindness, my medical bills had been paid for. Originally, Xander had covered them, which left me speechless, but it was nice to know the government would reimburse him.

  After receiving the approval to be discharged, we had arranged Minju's funeral for that weekend: Sunday at 2 PM.

  That day is today.

  Minsu and Minso knew exactly what their sister wanted, and that was the reason the funeral was scheduled at two in the afternoon. It would give them enough time to say what had to be said and to lower the empty solid black casket into the ground at exactly 3 PM.

  There was a significance to 3 PM, whether it was connected to her religious beliefs or harbored a symbolic meaning. Nevertheless, we followed her wishes, which included for us not to wear black.

  Death was a celebration of new life. It was where we shed our body on this world and allowed the soul to venture off to the next.

  The triplets all had the same belief when it came to their outlook on death, and they knew Minju would be whooping our heads if we dared to shed a tear near her casket.

  It is hard.

  I wouldn't deny it or act strongly as I normally did. Watching the casket lower into the ground, thinking about how her body wasn't up to the standard of viewing because there had barely been anything remaining, left a gaping hole in my heart.

  I felt as if I was on duty as a Reaper, having to play a role I desperately wanted nothing to do with. I didn't want to stand there and act like I wasn't the cause of it all.

  Minju is dead because of me...

  Yet, I stood there, tall and confident, my red eyes glued to the casket as they began to dump the rich, brown soil in and fill the space.