I woke up in some weird Nipa house, almost all the things in this house is covered in-cab web and dust, and the small bed made the rest of my feet hang in the air.

I stood up but a chain in my left foot pull me back to the bed.

what the hell?

where in the world am I?

My head feels like it had been beaten with a hammer.

I rest my back against the wall and close my eyes trying to remember what happened.

*21 hours earlier*

"you are going to marry the CEO's daughter of Emerald furniture company" my evil stepmom said with full authority in her voice.

I didn't say a word and continued to eat just to satisfy my hunger.

"I and Emerald will ready the preparation together with your father" she continues in a cold voice.

"and tomorrow night will be your engagement party"

"William, are you listening?" instead of answering her I ask our maid to pass me the glass of water.

"Aunt Luz, can you pass me the glass?"Aunt Luz nodded.

My ***** stepmom drops her utensils in frustration.

" William!"I stayed unbothered and didn't mind her at all even though I notice my father's gritting his teeth.

"Huh?! what a great son you have Lucas" she said in disbelief at my attitude.

"William Lawrence do not take your dead mother's attitude with you" A smirk plastered on my lips when my late mother has been mentioned in this pointless scolding.

"Yeah exactly! William your father was right you need to stop reflecting your attitude to that dead *****" My blood boils and my anger raise automatically with her words.

I stoop up and rush to her, tracing her plate with the knife that made an ear-breaking sound.

"No, He is wrong because he needs to stop tolerating that disgusting attitude of yours"

"William!" Father's voice thundered the whole dining area.

I left Amanda a disgusting look before turning to my father, as soon as I face him, his fist landed on my right cheek.

"This woman made you drink a love potion huh?" I said sarcastically and smirk.

"You've lost your taste father, this woman..." I pointed to her like she is some trash that needs to be thrown.

"This woman didn't even reach half of my mother's beauty and attitude, she didn't even pass ¹/⁴ of her class yet you replace her with this woman?, Disgusting Dad" I got another punch from him, and another, and other another, and again and again.

"****!!! Why won't you beat me up to death?!"

"Yeah sure, you think I can't?"

"Did I say you can't? A monster like you?"

He grabs my neck hard, his hand is trembling while choking me.

Right go ahead and kill me in that case I can be with my mother and not with you.

"You killed mother, and what makes– you think th–that I didn't –im–imagine this day would come?" I manage to say those words between my thin breath.

at this time I don't care if he chokes me to death, I don't care if I die right here and now

I just hope that if he kills me someone will put him in jail for the rest of his life.

I hope that he will be a prisoner until he dies and his soul will suffer in hell.

A never-ending suffering.

Aunt Luz push Dad away from me.

"What is wrong with you sir?!" she shouted at him.

"stay out of this Luz, this is none of your business" Dad tried to hit me again but Aunt Luz punch him before he can take a step toward me.

"William is like my son sir and I will never let someone like you hurt my son ever!" Aunt Luz's emotion is so strong that she even had the guts to yell at him.

She grabs my wrist and we headed upstairs.

Aunt Luz treats the wound caused by my Dad's punches earlier.

"you should never let your Dad hurt you like this again, He almost kill you, such a monster"

"it's better Aunt"

"it's better? what the heck are you talking about?"

"I want to be with mom" Aunt Luz sighed and hug me.

"Your mother wants you to be happy in life, she wants you to leave your father's side because she knew he is a monster"

"I have nowhere to go Aunt"

"Yeah exactly, that is why your mother ask me to take care of you before she died in Lucas's hands, she knew anytime soon Lucas will be able to kill her but she didn't leave William"

"She should have left"

"A mother should never-ever leave her child's side no matter what the situation is"

Aunt Luz said I can come with her, she said I can be his son, she said we can be a family.

"pack your things, we're going to leave this house" I nodded and start packing everything.

my clothes, shoes, my gadgets, the photo album consisting of my childhood photos, and my Mom's picture.

I pack everything desperate to leave this damn house.

Aunt Luz said we can leave at midnight when everyone is sleeping including my ***** stepmom and my Dad.

while waiting for midnight to come, I receive a text from Ethan.

Ethan: Yo bro, up for some cruise party tonight?

Me: Damn what's that party for?

Ethan: My girlfriend's birthday celebration

you should come you never knew my girl has a lot of hottie friends😉

Me: jerk

Ethan: bro I'm loyal, just sharing and inviting you to get my dearest friend a girl😘

Me: I didn't ask for a girl Ethan

Ethan: C'mon man I'm playing cupid here

I think everything that will happen if I leave at midnight...

if I leave, I will never come back.

if I leave, a new place, a new circle of friends.

I will never meet Ethan again so let's make this party a farewell one for me.

a birthday party for them, a farewell party for me.

I went to Aunt Luz's room and ask her permission.

"just be back before midnight"

"I will Aunt"

The whole ship is loud and messy

I barely see the shadow of Ethan in this huge crowd.

He is right, hot girls are everywhere, hot and wild.

I saw his girlfriend having fun with the girls at the corner so I ask her where is Ethan.

"Hey, kate where's Ethan?"I almost shout due to the loud music

" William!" Kate is a bit drunk.

"Yeah happy birthday where's Ethan?"

"Huh?!" we couldn't hear each other because the rock music thunder the whole boat.

"where is Ethan?"

"I'm sorry what?!"

"Ethan?!"

"oh, my boyfriend?"

"yeah, where is he?"

"at the deck smoking"

"ok thanks happy birthday"

I saw the dude a bit drank and quietly smoking with some men.

"Yo William you came!"

"Damn too many hotties"

"I told you" He handed me a shot of Valkan vodka.

He handed me again and again

I already had 5 shots and I think this is enough I can't be drunk tonight.

"C'mon bro drink!!!!"

"Woahhhh!!!!"

"Drink!!!!!"

Damn these men!

We got men's talk while sipping on our glass and smoking.

Valkan Vodka contains 88% of alcohol so everyone is drunk including me I can tell man I am drunk.

Kate takes Ethan away from us.

and we the boys are having fun with the girls

we got inside and dance the hell out with the hotties here.

Drink here, Drink there

Dance here, Dance there

kissing here, kissing there

I don't know how many lips I've kissed but they are all soft and a good kisser

"WOAH!!!!!"

"YEEEEEYYYYY!!!!"

"HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY MY LOVE!!!!" Ethan holds a microphone and greeted his girl

"WOAH!!!!!!!!!! KISS!!!!!"

Ethan put the microphone down and pull Kate towards him and gave her a long deep kiss that made the crowd shout their loudest cheer for the couple.

"WOOOOOHHHHH!!!"

I Smiled while watching this whole messy ship, messy yet happy. I watch how Ethan smile while watching his girl. I witness how genuine our smiles are in this party. I think this will definitely be the last hangout with Ethan.

I went outside to have some fresh air.

I rested my back on the deck of the ship and lit my cigarette.

I feel tipsy and I laugh and sing for no reason

I didn't think straight and sit on the deck while smoking.

"Woah!" I shouted as the cold air hit my neck.

My head hurt and my eyes just want to shut.

I feel sleepy and tipsy.

My cigarette fell off the water so I try to reach for another from my pocket but a small movement from the ship made my body fall off into the cold and dark sea.

I try to swim upward but my body is tired and didn't have enough strength to pull myself up.

I close my eyes and try to sleep in this dark and cold water

*PRESENT TIME*

"Why did you bring me here brother?" I heard footsteps and a woman's voice.

"ssshhh"

"God brother if we get caught coming back in this tiny old house of ours we are dead"

"We won't get caught if you keep quiet"

The door opened and the woman's chin drop off when she saw me.

"Who are you people?" I coldly ask.

The woman pointed at me and gave her brother a confused look.

"Who is this man brother?"

"I don't know"

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"I just saw him falling from the huge and loud ship last night when I was fishing"

"why did you bring him here?"

"I don't know what to do Victoria"

"Are you kidding me?" The woman unbelievably said.

"What do you want me to do huh? leave him alone in that huge and wide sea while dying?"

Am I really dying last night?

"You should if you need to" This woman is kinda cold huh, I am here listening to them, does she think that I'm deaf or something?

Her Aura and posture are cold yet she had the beauty of some innocent girl.

the way she looks at you? it's cold but her innocent beauty made you want to do a never-ending eye contact with her.

A white elegant dress, her hair is in princess braid with some accessories on it that's like a crown while, her brother on the other side, had some sort of white cape with matching elegant below the knee black shiny short and a white shirt with some sort of design in the middle that I can't understand and accessories also in his hair that looks like a crown and their shoes?

just like what kind of roleplaying is this? I can't help but let out a sarcastic laugh.

They look at me like I'm sort of a big problem for them.

"Why are you laughing?" The man asks me cluelessly.

"C'mon guys what story are you playing right now?"

"playing?"

"You put too much effort in this play"

"You think that we are playing?"

"A super-duper yes!"

Victoria went to me and hold my chin making my eyes stay with her. I was caught off guard by her action but I tried to stay firm and look her straight in the eyes which she does the same to me.

"Yes pretty? How can I help you?" I playfully ask her.

"How can we get rid of you?" she seriously asks back.

"Should I kill you?" The seriousness in Victoria's tone made me stop smiling.

"Victoria" The man called.

"How should we get rid of him?"

"We just wait for the perfect timing and sent him away with the boat"

"What if someone found out about this before we can send him away?"

"No one will find out Victoria"

"You are getting me killed for this Achilles!" she furiously slam the dusty table in the center.

Such a line

My headache and hunger are killing me.

"Can't you give me something to eat first?"

"Shut up!" they both shouted at me.

"Okay okay..I just want something to eat, you don't need to shout my goodness" I surrender my hands in the air.

"And now where should we get something to feed this little animal?" This woman!.

"Excuse me Miss Victoria–"

"Shut your mouth!"

"Dang Girl what the **** is wrong with you?"I laugh cause it seems like they are so serious

but Victoria went to me furiously and grab my neck.

"Here's one thing for you, If you want to leave this place alive do not do anything foolish because you're not only getting yourself killed but also us" She let go of me and angrily look at her brother, the moment she grab the wooden door knob a sound of horses and sword is coming this way.

She immediately closes the door and her brother runs to kill the flame in the oil lantern causing darkness to the whole house.

"what are you doing?" I lower my voice.

"Sssshhhh get down" at first I didn't understand why do I need to get down so I didn't move a bit.

Victoria pulls me to the floor together with her body.

She holds me close to her and covered my mouth.

"The crown Princess Victoria has seen of coming this way earlier together with the Crown Prince" We heard the soldiers conversation outside.

"Idiot look at this shitty house they used to live in, why would they come here? if they are having a comfortable life inside the castle?" Many of them laugh.

"You are playing us" Laughter filled the whole place.

"or maybe they've gone this way to have a shortcut through there"

"Look at my finger idiot, look where I am pointing"

"Physical training for them to be ready in every danger in this woods is held there"

"Now that makes sense!"

"C'mon let's go back to our post" we heard the horses are going far from us.

"Princess Victoria?" As soon as I speak Victoria gets up.

"Stay here for a while"

"Where am I?"

"C'mon Victoria let's go" Her brother went outside first.

"WHERE THE HELL AM I?!" I cannot help myself because I want to find an answer right now.

What kind of situation am I in right now?

what happened when I fell off the ship?

why did her brother save me?

"What kind of shitty place is this Victoria?" now my voice is low but rough

"Forbidden island" Victoria answered coldly.

Forbidden island?

"Forbidden island?" I laugh in disbelief about this name, Forbidden island? what kind of stage name is that?

"Wanna know about the forbidden island?" Victoria ask me in a serious tone.

"Yeah sure, it sounds interesting"

"Are you being sarcastic?" Achilles said.

"Maybe"

"Now I just realize what I did that night is a total mistake, I should have left you dying that night, I should have left you drowning in that dark and cold water!" I look at Achilles after what he said.

"Did I ask you to save me?" Did I ask him? I didn't, no one did, if he thinks that saving me is the biggest mistake of his life I don't care.

He smirk and gives Victoria a weird look.

"Open the Door Vic"

"Stop this bullshit Achi" Achilles made his way and find a match to light the oil lantern.

"What are you doing Achilles?"

"Getting rid of him Victoria"

"After you drag the hell out of me here to ask for help of sending him away from this land safely?" Victoria ask as if he's asking Achilles if he's being serious.

"Yeah" He nodded

"You are unbelievable–"

"I know Victoria, it's okay if you don't wanna help me, You can go back to the palace and act as if nothing happened, forget about this, forget about him, They will kill this man anyway" Achilles talks as if the word kill is normal to use in this situation, I mean I don't understand, I don't get it, Why would they kill me? I've done nothing wrong to them.

The way they talk, the way they are so serious about how to hide me, the way they argue whether they will hide or just get rid of me right here and right now, it's making me nervous... shiver down my spine..

Now I know all of this is, are not some kind of play.

Earlier the soldiers conversation outside, the way they talk about 'Crown princess Victoria' and 'Crown prince Achilles', Victoria and Achilles arguing right now, Victoria ran to me and made my body collapse with her on the floor, Achilles immediately kill the flames of the Oil Lantern, This old and weird Nipa house is not some kind of prop house, they are real and strongly built, me getting my foot chained is questionable.

All of their actions and things right here are questionable.

"Achilles are you an Idiot?" Victoria's tone made Achilles stop from making this kind of wooden box and strong tie around them.

"Victoria–"

"Are you seriously want me to lie in my bed like you didn't show me this thing? like you didn't ask for help to hide this man? Do you want me to ignore your plans about getting him killed? I am not a monster nor a killer Brother!"

"Woah Victoria what's up with you? Earlier you wanted it so bad to show him to others so that there will be no problem for you and me, and now you are reacting so much about this?"

"What can I do Achi? You drag me here and now this guilt feeling which I hated so much is running throughout my body if we hand him to father and let him die"

"Then I guess I should have not called you and asked you for help"

"Yes! Definitely! at the first place this is your fault for calling me and dragging me here!"

"Fine Victoria I was out of my mind then! but you know what?" Victoria just gives him a look saying "what" and didn't say a word.

"All I thought is only Victoria can help me with this, When I found him, your name comes to my mind, for a minute I forgot you have the crown princess title because you–!"

"Don't you dare mention that thing!"

"That thing? You are talking about her right? and you just call her 'That thing?!'" Achilles' Voice thundered around the house but Victoria furiously throw the old-styled glass flower vase to the wall that made Achilles shut his mouth.

She then went to Achi and grab his collar and pinned him to the wall.

"You don't know anything about what happened between us so shut your ******* mouth before I lost my temper" Victoria threatened Achilles and punch the wall.

I am so stiff at where I am sitting and couldn't move or say a word after watching their fight that almost lead physically, Achilles' anger is as normal as other guys but Victoria? She has this vibe of someone who can kill if ever that someone will cut her thin patience.

"You didn't change Victoria" Achilles said after Victoria let him go.

"Blood is thicker than water Achilles and remember what and whose blood is running through my veins" Victoria didn't look back and went outside.

Achilles is lost in his sight of Victoria that even if it's been a minute since she got out He couldn't move or take his eyes away from the door.

Achilles only turns his attention to me when I make a fake sneeze.

"What kind of place is this Achilles?" I ask with pure curiosity about my whereabouts right now.

Achilles ignored me and grab his things like some Arrow? and sword? I just notice it I didn't give a damn about his things earlier.

sword and arrow? seriously for Pete's sake where in the world am I? what kind of place is this?

The door banged open and Victoria's blazing hazel eyes meet mine.

"Do not touch him" just like that she then closed the door again without another word.

I heard Achilles loud smirk.

"Victoria wants to get rid of you, now she wants to protect you? tss...tss... What do I expect? Gazee's blood indeed" He looks at me from head to toe.

"Do not make noise, Victoria might blame me if something happens to you" When he reached for the wooden door knob I immediately called him.

"Achilles" He stops but didn't look back.

"Can you lend me some foo–"

*door banged close*

Jesus! hunger might be the reason for my death.

**** this man He didn't even let me finish my sentence.

I guess I will just sit here and do nothing.

I rested my head against the wall.

I think about Aunt Luz, about Ethan, about my father and her evil wife.

Are they searching for me?

Aunt Luz might be devastated right now, I told her that I'll be back before midnight but then I ended up here I just hope that my father didn't do anything to her.

I think about Ethan, Ethan is a good friend to me, He's the only person I run to whenever I fight with Dad, Ethan is searching for me, that is for sure! He might also start blaming himself I just hope that He's not doing that.

That cruise party made me forget everything that happened to my own home, that cruise party made me and turn me into the old William, the William that might be a bad student but at least that William knows how to smile and laugh with pure happiness, that William has been lost when his mother died.

I scanned the whole house with my eyes, I look at the chain on my foot and try to open my ears to what was happening around me.

The place is quiet and dark, with only crickets and the rustling wind will touch your ears.

I don't know what is this place but...I barely sense hope in this situation.

I don't care anymore, if I die here so be it, I just hope that the people I left, basically I only left Aunt Luz and Ethan no other people cared for me genuinely when Mom died but only the two of them, I just hope the two of them will be happy in life.

Good thing I didn't have a girlfriend because if I have I might be at my worst and lowest right now.

I laugh at that thought.

As I was laughing alone in this dark place the door opened and Victoria with a lantern in her hand came in.

She got a basket in her left hand, she places both the lantern and the basket on the table.

I look at Victoria as the light reflects on her face, Bright hazel eyes, Thin heart shape lips, long lashes, thin but perfectly shaped eyebrows, and define jaw.

A beauty indeed.

Cold aura, and probably it's hard to put a smile on her thin lips.

"Aren't you hungry?" I divert my attention to the foods that she prepared on the table.

A long piece of bread, 5 pieces of banana, 2 apples, and a jug of water.

"Eat if you don't want to starve to death" She went to the old cabinet and stare at something for a while.

Only her back is in my sight and just like Achilles she got an arrow and a sword.

I only ate a small part of the bread and set it aside for later, 1 banana and 1 apple will satisfy my hunger.

I plan to take a step to the window to see the outside of this house but the chain couldn't let me take a step farther than the table.

"Victoria" she looks at me and then the chain.

She didn't move, she was just looking at me.

I couldn't read her expression, it's hard to read her.

"Can you please take this off me?" My voice is almost begging her to remove this thing.

She removes the chain but shows her sword to me as if she's saying that if I do anything silly that sword will hit my body, my flesh, pierce through my bone and my blood will flow in this wooden floor.

I surrendered my hands in the air.

"I won't do anything"

Wide darkness, tall trees, dark skies, crickets, and wind. These are the things I see and hear from the outside.

At a far high mountain is the huge, old-styled palace.

Light is all around the palace, its the only place with bright light, it's the only place without darkness.

How lucky Victoria is.

"Like the name itself, this place is Forbidden island, it is forbidden for someone like you" I turn my gaze to Victoria who's now sitting comfortably in bed.

"Someone like me?"

"An outsider" I pull myself a chair.

"Explain deeper Victoria"

"This is our place and no outsider is allowed. I was born here, I grew up here, and I witness what happened to every outsider like you, they got killed, their body is chopped into thin pieces, and got fed into the wild animals in this island, half of their body has been offered to our God, I watched the offering ceremony so I've witnessed the flames slowly turning them into ashes" I couldn't utter a word in this.

Why am I here? What am I doing here? Is this the place where I suppose to die? Is this the beginning of my death?

Okay...okay...I'll surrender my life here

If I survive then good, if I don't I would not say that its sucks, it's fine...it is fine...

"I don't know where Achilles' mind was when he took you here" Victoria continues.

"Couldn't say a word?, Let's see if you survive a month here" My brows raise when I heard her say that.

"Why would I need to be here for a month if I can leave tonight, or tomorrow night, the day after tomorrow?"

"You are surrounded by water Mister, Deep, and wide water, your land is two days away from here"

"You mean two hours?"

"Two days, 48 hours, 2,880 minutes, 172,800 seconds, that's how far your land is"

I find it hard to process her words, even though I said I don't care whether I survive or not, it's good, but hearing her say those words, hearing her says I was two days away from the place I belong, it's such an Earful.

"The next ship will arrive next month and we are not sure if you can get on that ship, it is full of father's men, soldiers, servants, and fishermen" I grab the back of my head with my both hands tryna understand everything.

This might be your faith William.

This might be my faith.

Should I try my best to survive? or should I just let things flow their way?

"I'll be back and bring you some clothes to change" Victoria stood up.

"I need the lantern with me" She ask and I nodded.

I didn't look up to her when I heard the doorknob click.

Everything, every little thing is still processing and burning in my mind.

I didn't hear the door close and I still see a glimpse of Victoria's feet in my eyesight.

"Do not dare think of going out without me" that, that makes me look up to her, She didn't smile, she was just staring at me blankly.

As I close my eyes and try to fall asleep, I remember my mother, my beautiful mom who lives with a monster for me, the most beautiful woman who carry every pain just for me.

I am so sorry mommy, I didn't do anything to help you, I didn't protect you from him.

I get up from bed and stand in the window as I hear a running footsteps and a sobbing lady.

What was that?

"No" the sobbing continues.

"Help me" the lady cried.

I grab the doorknob ready to go out when Victoria's words echoed in my ears.

"Do not dare think of going out without me"

Will I die if go out without you? is helping that woman will be my death? I take a step back from the door. Is this really it? Should I really just let that woman be hurt? Will I not be considered as a man if I will not help that woman? I said that I don't care if I die here so what's stopping me from grabbing this doorknob and run outside to help that lady?

"Do not dare think of going out without me"

"Am I afraid of her?" I unbelievably smile.

"Well, kind of but should I just let my fear of Victoria stop me from helping someone?" I ask myself. I tried to find other right answer for that question but nothing inside me answered "yes" or "no" all I know is that I can and I am able to help that lady.

"Stop please..I'm begging you to stop..." the woman's voice stop me from thinking if I should help her or not.

I run through these dark woods following the woman's small voice when I heard a horse and a man, I hide behind the large tree just enough for me not to be seen by whoever is coming this way.

"Yohoo! Emelia where are you darling?" The man's playful tone reminds me of some pervert one.

"Baby come out now" he continues calling the woman.

"Come on Emelia do not test me"

"I know you want me too"

"Whoo! I am so overwhelmed by your perfect figure...hmm, your small waist...smooth skin and aww your pretty gorgeous hair. **** Emelia I want to touch all of those so bad..I wanted to claim your lips, I want to claim the whole you, come out now baby I am so ready, my boy is ready just thinking of you screaming in pleasure is making me crazy" I swear if this man is in my land I'm going kill this shit!

but I don't have enough power in this land even if I want to beat him up to death, ******* rapist! ******* pervert! This animal deserves death.

I gritted my teeth hard.

"AHHHHH!!!!!" The woman screamed and it was too late for me to realize that I grab a long and strong branch of a tree and hit him with it.

"Who are you?!"

My anger explode when I saw him grab the woman's hair and lick her neck.

MOTHERFUCKER!!

"You deserve to die" I hit him again while the woman stayed in the corner, but a small wrong move of me made him grab that chance to knock me out.

He's a well skilled man in terms of fighting maybe he undergoes training.

He tied me up and hit me over and over again that causing me to lose my energy.

The woman whom he called Emelia rushed to me and shield herself when this man tried to hit me again

"No, stop, please Justino!" She begged him.

"I will come with you and I promise I will never run away from you again, never Justino, Never!" she cried on her knees.

No what is she thinking? This kind of man didn't deserve her tears.

I push her away and tried to stand up even though I find it hard since I have a strongly tighten rope in both my hands and feet. Still I tried my best so that Emelia will not be hurt. Justino throws a punch in my face over and over again that cause me to lose my balance and fell in ground.

"Justino stop!"

"Let me kill this man first before I stop Emelia" He pointed his sword at my chest.

"Justino I'm begging you"

"I'm sorry darling" When Justino's hand is in the air getting ready to stab me someone's arrow hit his hand and made him drop the sword.

The furious Victoria walks toward us.

"Pri-princess..." Emelia's hope in her eyes showed when their princess showed up, she immediately bow down to her.

"Princess Victoria let me do this work"

"What work Justino?"

"kill an outsider"Victoria turn her back at us while Justino grabs his sword ready to kill me, is Victoria really letting this man kill me? She is turning her back on us after she gave me a furious look.

Okay, then I guess this is the end.

but before he could lay the tip of his sword at me a dagger from Victoria pierced through his chest and made him stumble on the ground.

"My father is ignoring every report he gets that you are harassing many women in our land because you've been loyal to him since the day you learn how to hold a spoon. He would not believe accusations of you being abusive and exploitative towards women" Victoria said with full authority and take the dagger out and pierce it in again.

"But guess what Justino? I AM NOT MY FATHER!" The furious Victoria killed him mercilessly, She pierced it in his chest again and again without blinking an eye.

She stood tiredly and with a piece of cloth she wipe her hands and walk away but she came back and told me to go back.

"Go back to that house...take her with you" she said blankly and walk like nothing happened.

As we arrive at the house, the image of Victoria killing that man unstoppably keeps playing in my mind.

What kind of person is she? I get it, even me I am mad and want that man to die but I didn't imagine she can kill like that, and after what she did, she left like nothing happened?

Seriously Victoria? You are terrifying.

"You must be shocked by Victoria" I turned to Emelia who was roaming around the house.

"Victoria is not like that before" She speaks her name casually yet her voice is sad.

"You've been friends with her?"

"We were best friends" She sat down with a piece of sketch paper in her hand, she caress it gently.

"Iriliatoria...Irina, Emelia, and Victoria" A sad smile plastered on her lips.

"Irina was blinded by power and love, She fell in love but the man fell to Victoria and she thought Victoria is betraying her. Irina was so obsessed, and then one day Victoria's Family rival negotiated with Irina, Irina took Victoria's time she pretends to have fun with her while the enemies are killing the Gazee except for Victoria. When Victoria found out she was so furious and even thought of me, accuse me for not stopping Irina, like heck I have no single idea about Irina's plan in exchange for marriage with the man she likes" Emelia broke down in tears and continued to speak.

"When the king found out about that he permitted Victoria to fight Irina, to have a battle with Irina, and the whole people on this island are watching them including me. And I forgot to tell you Irina was the crown princess that time, the king's biological daughter, Prince Achilles younger sister, their fight goes on. No one wants to fail, both of them are desperate to kill each other especially Victoria, anger has seen in her eyes. When Irina is losing she spot Victor in the corner near me, Victoria's younger brother, Victor was the only one saved from that attack because he was out that time playing with the other kids in this island. I was so stunned to even move my feet and take Victor away from Irina's sight and with just a blink of an eye Victor's throat is in Irina's sword. That time Victoria drop her weapon and even beg her to let her brother go but Irina is insane, she slash Victor's throat infront of her that made Victoria stab her non-stop, Victoria is screaming out of anger while killing Irina" She stop and wipe her tears.

"And me? I could not do anything to calm her, I was so afraid to be near her because I didn't recognize Victoria at that time. She was full of anger and despair, she was so hurt and down, she was dying on her knees" the pain in Emelia's voice cannot compare on how I imagined Victoria broke down when her whole family died.

"and what happened after that?"

"The king cannot believe that Irina killed a mere 6-year-old boy so she gave Victoria the title, Same night he announce the new crown princess, at first I thought Victoria will ignore him but.....she became like this, Cold, merciless, crown princess, and we never spoke again, we might run into each other but Victoria act like I am nothing like the wind blowing through the window"

She looks around the house and touches every part of it with her hands.

"We used to hang out in this house, the three of us" at the back of the closet in the corner she grab a sketch of Victoria's ear-to-ear smile. The Victoria in this sketch is not the Victoria this time anymore, just like Emelia said cold and merciless not like her who's smiling ear to ear with an eyes full of happiness.

"I miss the old her, I miss the Victoria I used to know, I miss my best friend" she hug the sketch and let the tears flow.

I gently tap her shoulder because I don't know what to say about the pain that they've been through.

The door clang opened and Victoria entered the room without saying anything, Emelia was able to hide the sketch under the pillow without Victoria seeing it.

Victoria handed me clothes to change.

"I told you not to go out" She coldly said.

"What can I do? I heard someone crying and asking for help, should I just ignore it?"

she looks at me, straight into my eyes.

"Next time when you do that make sure that you know how to fight because for someone like you here, death is everywhere, just waiting for you to show up and then bang! you're dead." My heart is pounding so fast seeing her so serious while talking to me.

I don't know if I am nervous or something, it's just that– sh–she's terrifying to look at when serious.

"Are you worried about me?" I cannot believe myself asking that question to her.

She takes 5 small steps toward me and looks at me from head to toe and here goes my heart wanting to go out of my chest and run away from her.

"I'm not, I just hate that man"

"That's why you killed him?" she nodded like it's nothing.

"Princess..." Emelia tried to call her gently.

"Cut the crap" Victoria turn her back to Emelia.

"Go back to your house Emelia"

"Victoria–"

"And one more thing, it's up to you if you wanna betray me again and tell everyone that I am hiding an outsider here"

"I never betrayed you!" Victoria is nodding sarcastically and shut the door.

"Victoria!" Emelia scream her name and cried.

"I never betrayed you...."

"Why would Victoria say that?"

"When Irina spot Victor, I have the power to take him away but I am so stunned and stiff that time because it's breaking me while watching my two best friends killing each other" I can't understand Victoria why she cannot see how hurt Emelia? Why does she can't see that it's also breaking Emelia? How selfish of her to just think about her self, about her pain.

Heartless!