The night has ascended as the ever-eerie moon broke from the horizon; blackened sky covered everything from my point-of-view. The waves of the ocean is tranquil and it emits sparkles, receiving the little lights from the moon.

I sit silently here, feeling the chilly temperature to my skin.

This place is perfectly a good place to have a conversation to someone. We are setting out of the sea, loading on this luxury liner.

I gaze at the man, sitting in front of me. My hands are resting loosely on this table, keeping a cold-dead expression.

"So," the man prompts first "what do you want from this frailty old man, Young Twain?"

I stay silent. That's right. The man whom I'm seeing this time is Will Nakajima—my father's half-brother.

"I only want a talk." I state simply.

"Ohh... I see." he responds while nodding with a gentle expression. "Coming here bare-handed to the enemy's base just for simple talk with a wretched man like me. I admire your resolve, Young Twain."

I move my gaze downcast. It is my first time talking to him. Truth be told, my will is lacking courage. If my courage won't suffice enough, my breaths will falter instantly.

"You look gloomy, Young Twain." says him again. "And you are the one who want to have a little chat, but you have stayed silent for a very long time."

I lift my eyes and see an amiable façade. What I'm seeing right now is far different from what I thought of him. I always imagine that he's always mad, but he actually have the softest expression ever.

I nod my head again and give him a small bow. "Thank you for humoring my sudden request to have a little chat from you, Mister Nakajima."

"Calling me 'uncle' is fine, Hime. After all, I am Niel's little adopted brother, am I not?"

I'm left agape when he called me 'Hime'. And . . . uncle?

"I guess . . . you are correct, uncle." I reply silently yet shyly.

"Well, well, back to business." utters him, "What do you need? If coming here just to blame me for all I have done to you, then, I will gladly accept your accusations."

"It's not like that." I tell him, "I just want to ask why . . . why did you stay on the miserable side?"

"Well, do you think I have a reason to be happy?"

I remain shut silent. He is also like one of those people who became remnants of despair.

"Carelessly born without knowing or having everything; growing up in a place that I don't even deserve; and then walking on this world, wallowing in endless nightmare. It's always like that."

"Why is this happening to us?" It is my tedious reply.

"Perhaps, you know the feeling that you're always forsaken by this world?"

A small gasp escapes to my lips as I twitch my palms. He is right. The world have locked us in a dark room. As we suffer, we long for someone who could find and save us.

"Yes, I do." I murmur.

"Then, you will dwell to yourself, asking, 'Why me? I never asked for this. Do I deserve this? Does the world hate me so much that it cursed my whole-being so severely?'." Mister Will demonstrates with a snickering grin on his face.

"You know a lot, uncle."

"Of course." he answers, "If this world tried to reject me that much, then I won't surrender easily. And it would be unfair if I'm only the one who was going to experience this. So as a kind-hearted man, I decided to share this cruelty to everyone."

"And I'm also one of them, I see." I chuckle to myself, not looking at him. "Thank you, I guess." What a laughable reason.

"That's right. Just so you know, Hime, your father also played an important role why I became miserable."

I sigh, "Just because you didn't able to get the throne of being the Mafia Don?"

"That's right." his nonchalant yet honest answer.

"What's great about that throne, huh?"

"What's great, you say?" He repeats, eyeing me arrogantly. "Everything about that throne is great. You can do anything you want, grasping everyone with my own calloused hands. I can make the world mine. And the greatest thing about that throne is that I can take lives, whenever and wherever I want."

"You are happy to take lives?" It is my surprised utterance. "That's unreasonable."

"Absurd of me, I know." he says while pushing his eyeglasses, "Is it bad to dream to be a god?"

"God?" I narrow my eyes, "What do you mean?"

"As a god, you can control all things—money, things, and even people's life—and that is what I always dreamt for. For you to know, young lass, since I was a child, I was highly competitive. I looked upon to my father. I was amazed to his work. And at that moment, it made me want to be a great Don like father when I grew up. Thus, I worked hard to polish my skills for the throne.

"Then there was my idiot brother, who only knew how to fool around. He was actually like you, Hime, finding a way to escape in this bloody world. And in the end, he was chosen to rule this rotten kingdom, even though he didn't want it."

"Gladly, he had escaped, hadn't he?"

"Yes," he answers casually, "but only temporary."

"I supposed so."

"Uh-huh. The retribution of his evasion is the sufferings of his children. Especially you, Hime."

"Yet why do I have to experience suffering? Biologically, I'm not a Twain offspring."

He scoffs, smirking, "Maybe the heaven designed our fates to suffer. I can't complain enough, that's the thing meant for us."

With that, I lower my sights. Perhaps, he is right. And I think, we are both weak to change our own fates. I'm not strong enough. Not even close.

"Is that all what you want to ask, Hime?"

"About Myrna Lial?"

"Oh . . . What about her?"

I sigh, averting my eyes back to him. "Why did you place an interest about her?"

"Do you want to know?" In just a matter of second when the gentleness of his eyes are changed into menacing ones.

"Yes," I answer silently.

Then he started the telling the tale. I knew too well that his story is also a tragedy, but he did a remarkable sin, enough to make his miseries last until now.

"Why did you do that?" I ask him, gazing at him pitifully.

"As you knew, I have strayed from being a human." he answers emptily. "I could not figure how humans live . . . how a person like me would live. That's why . . . I made you kill her, for to know what it would be like if I lost the someone I love. And it felt like really horrible, I dare say." Then he scoffs sarcastically. "Isn't it embarrassing, huh?"

"What is it?" I say silently.

"Living."

I never replied. It's true. We are like an ugly ghost. No matter how we try to live, we still don't qualify as a human beings. It's a shame. It is a real shame.

"What's next, Hime?"

"I think . . . that's all I ever wanted to know."

"I'm quite disappointed." he says, "I'm actually looking forward for this night."

"I apologize. That's all the thing that I want to ask."

"Really," he utters while pursing his lips, "And oh, I remember. I have something to give you."

"For what?"

Uncle Will smiles, "It is your birthday next week, isn't it?"

"Oh . . . I'm surprised that you know."

"Of course, I do." and he chuckles. "Here," then he grabs his attaché case and puts it on the table. He opens it and pick a long brown envelope.

I quickly take the envelope as soon as he hands it to me.

"What is this?" I inquire, opening it.

I hear him laughs on his throat. "It is just a document of your real parents."

I got stunned suddenly as I almost dropped the envelope.

I huff a huge breath and let it out slowly. "Why are you giving me this?"

"I told you, right?" he grins sideways while shrugging his shoulders a little. "It is your birthday next week, and that is my present for you." And then he chuckles, "Surprise?"

I give him a deadpan look. "It is surprising, but I will not going to accept it."

"Why so?"

I sigh and give the papers back to him. "I don't have a plan to find my own real parents."

"Again, why?"

"Is it horrible of me to say that they are the worst?" Uncle Will only gazes at me, waiting to hear my reason. "Well, that is because they are the reason why I became this miserable."

"You consider yourself 'miserable', Miracle?" he scoffs.

"Partly, yes." I say while sighing, "I have said this many times, but my name is a fake."

"Hmn . . . I see." he replies, nodding in redundancy, "Then, if you don't like my present, maybe I will just throw it away."

Without any explanation, he throws the envelope to the ocean.

I didn't feel anything. It's fine for me not to know who are my real parents. They abandoned me. It only means that they don't probably care about me.

"Now, was that all you wanted to know?" he inquires and I purse my lips, signing him yes. "Well then, I have to go."

"Are you going to leave me here?" I complain and look around. I don't know where is our exact location to this vast sea.

"Why not? You need to replenish your stressed and dead soul, Hime." says him. "Don't worry, I told my people to give you the most guaranteed service. No one would harm you here, you're my niece after all."

I sigh, "I'll stay here for a while."

Looking on the other side, it is nice to waste my time gazing to this sea. Cruise trip is not a bad idea.

"You should." says Uncle Will, wearing his trench coat. "So, enjoy your stay to my luxury liner, Hime."

I give him a sideward grin, "Thank you, uncle." and say sincerely looking sideways.

He never answers but to walk towards the highest deck of the cruise ship, where the helicopter is landed. Yes, this liner is huge, enough for a helicopter to dock here.

After a while, he left.

I remain here, silent. I'm just watching the ocean blankly. The ocean is beautiful, but also very dangerous. It reflects the humans. Sometimes it is calm, or sometimes, it is surging with rage; it will take you by the waves, it is only your choice if you let yourself get drowned to the depths of this water.

I now gaze above to see the sky. Surprisingly, the heaven is utterly breathtaking. A sky full of sparkling stones as the moon joined the astonishing presentation up the sky.

And it's awfully silent tonight. The only thing that gives noise at this time are the waves of the ocean and the whisper of the wind.

Also, I just notice . . . there are no other people here.

They are should be here. Where are the crews? The guards? Employees and such?

The silence didn't last as a deafening blast resounds to the whole ship. Right after the explosion, the ship shakes violently that causes me to go offset.

Shit. An intruder is here. This maybe answers my question why there is no other people here, except me and the intruder.

I quickly regain my composure as I ready myself. One of the unfortunate things for me is I don't have any ammunitions. Damn it.

Again, without further warnings, another explosion blows and it is near me. I got caught with the outburst and sent flying.

As I landed on the floor, I feel like I'm weakened so good. Half of my strength was lost.

Drat. I dare to stand, but I feel dizzy for no reason. It only surprises me when I saw blood on the floor, gushing nonstop.

This is the real shit.

Is this my blood? I hurriedly check where the blood is coming from. Then I only found out that there is metal scrap stuck on my leg. Screw the explosion. Who in hell would plan something as this? The timing is too great.

But crap. I should worry for my leg first. Without a second thought, I pull it out. Ugh. Fuck. As expected, my blood flows continuously. I shiver as I collect some oxygen to my system.

"Hi, Nat-su-mi~"

I immediately look at the person who talked. I make a disappointed yet an angry look as I sigh. "You again."

I see her lips curls up, grinning like an evil one. "Yes, it's me again." then she laughs lunatically.

"What happened to you," I pause, slightly panting. "Casey?"

Her laughs turns loud, psychotic, and totally screwed. "What happened to me?" she laughs between her words, "I do not know! What happened on this Earth, by the way? What happened to you? What the fuck is happening?!"

She completely didn't answer my question. I only watch her laughs diabolically. She became thinner, I can tell. Her skin is pale. A pair of eyes that are pathetically horrible. She once was a beauty, but now, she's nothing but a disgrace.

I'm just looking at her, when I notice the whole surroundings. This place is now on fire, growing bigger every seconds pass by.

Where are the people here? Why is it everyone suddenly goes missing?

"Fate . . . Destiny . . . Or even coincidence, what are those? Does those three are the reason why I'm here?" Casey mutters lifelessly, looking down while holding a gun. "It's because there are no such as things as fate, destiny or coincidence, I decided to go here. Are you surprised~?"

I laugh against my throat, reposing a hand on a surface. "Who wouldn't be surprised with this? Causing some trouble here, aren't you pretty sly, Casey?"

"Ah, please don't, Natsumi. Don't compliment me that much." and then she giggles like a shy girl while hiding her blush.

Ah, she has gotten so twisted.

The explosions continues. I wonder, how many bombs did she plant in this liner?

"Isn't this beautiful, Natsumi?" she questions, dancing around the fire. "Ah, I have a story to tell, will you listen to me?"

"Please do. I don't mind."

"Okay~" she beams as she repeatedly swirls around. "Now, where should I start?"

"How about, starting it as 'Once upon a time'?" I suggest, giving her a bright smile.

"Oh... Good idea." she smiles brightly as if she's enjoying what she is doing. "So, once upon a time, on a far, far away land, there once was a one big happy family. A father and mother who deeply affectionate to their children. Then, there was a loving brother who was very protective to his little sister. They lived beautifully, not until a tragedy happened."

That was the introduction of her story and I'm just lending her an ear. The only thing that confuses me is . . . who was the protagonist in the tragedy?

"Then, in an undeclared event, the bad guys came, creating a great Holocaust in their simple home. Miraculously, the brother and the sister were spared for the crimes of their parents."

I listen, enduring the burden that my wound is giving me.

"What kind of crimes, you ask?" A smile creeps to her mouth with a pinch of malice. "Their crimes was being "The Rats of the House of the Dead*", and they name that was given to them was "The Deceitful Magi". The punishment was simple; being the Magi in the Old Jewish's culture, burning the people alive is way of execution. And then, the parents died, leaving nothing but ashes.

"As the siblings survived, they promised an oath that they will come back with a revenge. But the older brother told his precious little sister that she would not have to stain her hands, so the older brother took all the sins, tainting his hands with unforgivable, heavy sins. The brother succeeded on his revenge on the right time, but it wasn't enough. Thus, the little sister made her move, making the story ends with a despairfully-happy-ever-after." Casey clasps her palms with her unwavering smile, "The end."

I stare at her impassively. I'm not satisfied with her story.

"Now, now~ time for the acknowledging the casts!" she declares energetically, despite the happening on the surroundings, "The father and mother of the story was my own real parents. Then, the brother was my brother~ And you know him really well, Natsumi." Casey says sweetly with an indifferent crazy smile.

"Who is he?"

"He is Sion." she smiles again, but this time it's rendered with sadness. "Or the person who once you knew as Clint Yamada."

I hear something breaks inside of me as the truth exploded coming from her mouth. My chests started to skip, squeezing it tightly. Heh. I have no words to say and just lay on the deck unsubconsciously.

"The night is beautiful." I mumble, "Why don't you lay down here and watch with me, Casey?"

"My name is not Casey." she says, coming near next to me and lays down. "I am Celestia."

I grin, "You have a beautiful name." and say while gazing at the celestial beings. "The same with Sion."

Casey—Celestia keeps the quiet. I peer at her. Her emotionless eyes are full of griefs. And I saw the shadows that lurks inside her. It is pathetic, because there's nothing would suffice her sadness. I scoff. How ironic, we are the same.

"Where's Sion?" I ask her.

She only eyed me, then returns her look above. "One day in one night, I received a note. And that note is my brother's suicide note."

Again, I am shut silent. Why did he commit something like that? Why . . . Why he didn't seek for help? It's truly a shame. I should have found him and try to save him. But why did he took all the guilts and pains?

And right now, I am a complete loser. Clint—Sion won. He succeeded on making me miserable. Not just with me, even her. Only Celestia have the right to be miserable right now.

I now know why is she here. Her motive is to avenge his brother. I smile to myself. Again, it is my fault and I should pay for it.

"Sion said that he couldn't bear the sins he have done, especially what had happened to Dennis Rosen." she says, explaining the things I cannot understand. "Well, would not be?" then she laughs again with her insane laughs. "Say, Natsumi, tell me, what it feels like when you take lives? What are you thinking when you see blood? Does it fun? Does it give you pleasures?"

I never answer. Truth be told. I enjoy killing people.

Maybe my soul is now immuned enough to feel sorry for the lives I reaped. My sins are cannot be redeemed, no matter how I look for a redemption.

"And you know what," Celestia starts to talk again as her voice is now shaking with guilt and fear, "I actually my first time to kill. Specially to all of the people here. I snuck inside this place, setting traps for their deaths and shooting their heads with my gun. And I don't know what to feel. I wanted to vomit because of the disgusting view, but still, I feel very happy with it. At the very least, the sight of their deaths truly fascinate me."

I chuckle, "Yes, I know."

"How can you stand something like that? Even my brother didn't let me kill a single soul. He took all of it and carried the burden of a sinner . . ."

"I'm not sure," I whisper, "but the only thing that I know is that it gives me a double pleasure."

"Oh, I see." Then she stays silent again, looking deadly at the night sky.

"Why don't you save yourself, Celestia?"

"Let me lay here, Miracle . . ." she answers, "Let me sleep, I'm restless."

"All right . . ."

"How about you? Why don't you save yourself, Miracle?"

That makes me laugh. My fake name again. "I can't, even though I want to escape and save you, Celestia, but my leg is bleeding nonstop. Even if I would dive on the ocean and swim with all my might, it will still be useless in the end."

"Then, we are going to die here, Miracle."

"I know."

And once again, there's a deafening silence. This ship won't last long. It is burning and the explosions are still on-going. What a pain. She is right. This story will end as a despairfully-happy-ever-after.

"Hey, Celestia." I call her silently.

"Yeah . . ."

"How about we live?"

"What do you mean?" she utters.

"I mean, why don't we find our new reason to live? Not in this realm of bloodshed and darkness."

I hear her hums, "That's also nice. Then, if we both managed to come out here alive, let's meet again . . . and find our new reason to live."

I smile, closing my eyes. "I understand."

I laugh mentally, she said the same thing as Sion did. But Sion never showed. Will it be the same with Celestia if we came out of here alive?

I don't know.

It is just a matter of seconds when this ship became nothing but ruins.

I don't really understand. All I know is my life is gone and became one with the sea.

↭ ♡ ↭

Note: "The Rat of the House of the Dead" is taken in the stories of Fyodor Dostoevsky. It sounds so cool, so yeah. Also, "rat" means "traitor", looking in the figure of speech.

And tada~ it is finally done! I'm sorry for the long wait.

Uh, well . . . are you satisfied with the ending? Because, if you are going to ask me, then yes, I am satisfied.

I'm still deciding if I'll just going to delete the book two I have published here. It is too easy to delete a book, though. I could take that out in an instant.

So, if you have some objection, then please let your opinion be heard. I'm still unsure with my thought. If you are having qualms with this, then help me to decide. Talk to me, please.

I'm just going to leave a simple question here, and I hope that you'll notice me.

Question:

Why does Miracle deserve a happy ending?

And if ever I didn't get much response, then it means I will end this tragically.
No response = delete.