Chapter 28 ♚ Warning

Bang!

The loud sound of the gun echoed through the entire room. I felt a hot liquid on my chest then followed by an excruciating pain.

'It hurts. Please make the pain stop.' My mind screams, but my mouth is clamp shut. I can't even speak. It feels like every part of my body is paralyzed and numb.

As I fall into the ground, I can see the figure in front of me smiling wickedly. Is this how I will die? If I can laugh, I would've done it right now. Who would have guess that the one who'll end my life is myself? And the last image that will forever engrave my mind before everything will turn into darkness is also my face?

How ironic.

I closed my eyes waiting for the impact, but instead of the cold tiled floor hitting my back, I submerge deep into the water. Water filled my lungs and I'm now gasping for air.

Like any other normal person would do, I struggle and swim all the way to the surface. It surprises me that I can move after being shot point blank into the heart.

Suddenly, somebody grabs my wrist and effortlessly pulled me out of the water. Once my body left the coldness of the water, I cough non-stop trying to expel all the water out of my mouth.

"So, are you done?" The person asked. Even if I didn't look up, I know that voice. The stunt she did earlier is still fresh in my mind and no doubt, it will be forever engraved in my memory.

Without further ado, I immediately put my hand on my chest expecting to find blood, but there's nothing.

H-how?

"You're really gullible to believe that I can kill you," The girl said before throwing a fit of laughter.

I look up and saw her. The girl standing in front of me is no longer the little kid I saw earlier, but a young woman wearing a simple white dress. She's laughing hysterically as she watch me struggle to fill my lungs with air.

"That's not even funny," I told her without any hint of amusement in my voice. To tell you the truth, even if we share the same face, I despise her behavior. Laughing at somebody else's demise is not morally right.

She suddenly stops laughing and look at me straight in the eyes. The way she look scares the hell out of me. It was devoid of any emotion. It reminded me of our first encounter.

"You-" She started saying before kneeling in front of me. Now that we're seeing each other eye to eye, I can't help but feel terrified on how our facial features greatly resembles each other. Her blue eyes shine with unspoken rage. "-despise me?"

My eyes rounded at her statement. How-

"-can I hear your thoughts?" She said finishing what my mind is thinking. A cold sweat run down through the side of my face. "Let me tell you something first my dear Tasha," I saw her smirk and place her hand on my chin pulling it up slightly.

"I am you and you are me. Your thoughts and mine are one and the same. Always remember that." She finished before letting go of my chin and standing up.

Instead of reacting to what she just told me, I remained silent. For some unknown reasons, I believe her.

"Anyway, I'm glad you understand what I'm trying to say," She said before offering me her hand which I just stared at. I'm hesitating whether it's a good idea to take it.

I heard her sigh. "Doubting yourself won't do you anything good," She said before forcefully pulled me up. "You can only trust yourself," She told me meaningfully before turning around and start walking away.

"Wait," I manage to say. She stops from walking and turn towards my direction."Why did you bring me here?" I asked.

"Or rather, why are you in here," She said.

"Last time I check, you shot me with a gun. You tried to kill me," I said bitterly.

I saw a small smile crept on her face. "But you're alive, thanks to me," She stated.

"How come?"

"Didn't I already told you that I exist inside your head? Good or Bad, Dreams or Nightmares," She explained. "I'm trapped inside this hell hole with you as my only companion," She said. "Even if I wanted to kill you, I can't. That's why my life sucks,"She said dissappointedly.

What does she mean by that?

"But don't worry. Even if I despise you as much as you despise me, I'll forever be your ally. For better or Worst,"

"Why would I trust you?" I said. " You clearly stated awhile ago that you wanted me dead. Your life sucks because of me so why would I trust you?"

"Good question," She paused. Probably thinking of a good response for my question. "That's because if you die, I die. Simple as that,"

"Whatever you mean by that?" I asked.

Instead of answering my question, she gave me a small smile before turning around and starts walking away.

"Where are you going?" I asked, but she didn't stop. I thought she's going to tell me what's going on so why is she walking away?

"To tell you something you don't know," She simply said but she still refused to look back.

"Wait!" I shouted and starts following her.

The more I run towards her, the farther away she goes. It's like I can't catch up to her no matter how fast I run.

"Wait-ouch!" I screamed in pain. I stop from running and examined my foot. I think I just step onto something. When I removed my feet, I saw a familiar object.

It was my grandfather's ring.

"How did it get there?" I asked myself.

I picked it up, but when my hand finally touches the black stone, I froze.

Like a free flowing stream, memories that I thought I forgotten starts filling my head.

If I can only remember bits of events that happened inside Mr. Alastair mansion, now, I can remember everything.

"He's a liar," I said bitterly.

"Well, he is and always will be," I heard another voice deadpan.

"Why did Axel always keeping me in the dark?" I asked.

"I'm not him so I can't answer you that question," she said. "I told you, never trust others aside from yourself," she added.

"H-he's a knight,"

"So what? Even the loyal servants can betray their master-oh yes! Another good example is Marshall!" She exclaimed.

"W-what?"

"You wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for him," she told me, but I only gave her a confused look.

She sighed. "The cave you just entered is called mystic cave of memories. It is a man-made cave created to imprison everyone who dares enter it."

"Mystic cave of memories?"

"It makes everyone who entered it to get trap inside their dreams and nightmares. It works because of the strange flower they planted inside. If you didn't know about it, you'll forever be trapped inside. "

"What does it had to do with Marshall?"

She smiled. A very wide smile. "What do you think?" She told me meaningfully.

Then an idea finally click inside my head. "Knight," I breath.

I remember what Mr. Alastair told me when I was talking to him inside his mansion. He said I'm the rightful heir. What does he mean by that?

"You are. We are," she said out of the blue.

I look at her and blink twice. Was it just me or she's starting to fade?

"Oops. Times up," she said as she examines her fading body.

I look at her quizzically.

"You're about to wake up. I guess you won't be needing my help this time," she said.

"Wait, you still didn't tell me anything,"

"You'll know everything in due time. Collect all the knights and you'll see," she said. "But remember this. Once you do so, you'll never ever be the same," she warned as if it's a very bad thing.

What can go wrong?

"But be warned. I told you that be careful of who you trust," she warned.

"Wait!" I rush towards her.

"I'll be watching you," was the last thing she said before she disintegrate. At the same time, my eyes turned open.

Darkness was the first thing that I saw.

"W-where am I?" I wispered as I look around my surroundings in confusion.

End of chapter 28

Next: Chapter 29 - Corvus

Thank you for reading! :)
Confusing? Lol. That's just how the other Tasha rolls. You'll see more of her in the next chapters so ready yourself with her craziness.
Unedited chapter.