Chapter 14: PART TWO
Author's Note- I apologize for my belated chapter. I planned to write once a week and published an edited chapter once a week as well. Thank you for staying tuned to my updates, I appreciate it! Also, reviews and private messages are always welcome! As for Leila's love interest, to be honest- I'm not quite sure. I haven't given my heroine a love choice yet. I dig Zhang Liao but I prefer her MAN-LESS at the moment. Here it is, PART 2 :P
Beep. .
The monotonous sound of the machine alerted Leila's mind. Her heart raced to awake her brain. However she just couldn't move. She tried to lift her arms and she felt so wrapped up. Her eyes slowly opened up and she noticed she was wrapped in her blanket, in her apartment, wired up.
There was a sound coming from her living room. Laughter and familiar voices.
Just then the door opened and her mother appeared. "Leila, you are awake!" She exclaimed and went to her side.
"Mom, what happened?"
"Oh Leila! You had a blood clot. Shortly after, you suffered from an aneurism and you stumbled and lost consciousness. Honey, it'll be better! You are home and loved. We have decided to take you home with us back to the States."
Leila gasped and straightened herself in the bed, however the binds tightened her. "No!" She shouted, almost alarmed by her sudden bravery. "Mother I meant to say I cant. Im almost done with school!"
"Your father has been in contact with your school and University of Maine. You can finish your education there. Honey, we cant leave you here alone. If this happens again, we could lose you. We want you to be safe."
Just then, her father appeared through the bedroom door. "Leila! Honey! All set, your credits will be transferred. And you will be able to graduate in two years. I got the private jet ready."
"wait when are we leaving?" Leila shook her head. "I can't go! I have to return to the Wei army!" Leila shouted.
"Ah, honey. You must have had a bad after affect of that painkiller. Vicodin? It does that to you." Her father chuckled and went to her bedside.
"We will be leaving in 3 days. While we wait, you have to rest up. I'll be going to the store to get a few ingredients to make you some rice porridge. " Leila's mother turned to her husband. "Gerard, keep an eye on our baby." After a kiss on Leila's forehead, her mother left the house. Leila listened to the sound of the door opening and closing.
"Well kiddo, rest. Ill be outside." Her father pointed to the living room.
Leila turned on her side and cried. She did miss home but she missed the past. She wanted to go back. Leila had yet to prove herself. She almost forgot what happened until she awoke from her dream. This wasn't a dream. She knew what she endured was real.
She remembered the war cries and conversations with everyone. Xiahou Dun and his disgruntled manner towards her, Cao's overbearing yet kind resolve and orders. She almost missed the playful fights with Yue Jin and Li Dian. Then she remembers when Yu Jin scolded her for galloping through the army. She almost missed the tutor lessons with Lady Yin.
She sighed. What she would do to have intellectual meetings with Guo Jia and Jia Xu again?
Lady Guo Meixua flinched as her skin burned before her eyes. She knew this was real. And she almost cursed herself that her trip to the future was just a façade of her imagination. future. 2017. She huffed. The future was unreal but this was real.
The smell of tarred skin sickened her core and she fought the urge to scream. She cant do that. She refused to give Yuan Shao the enjoyment of her pain.
While her body burned, her mind afloated to the future dream she was in. She remembered going to the tall buildings and driving that thing called a car. She remembered the fancy clothes and fabric. She winced when another whip laid on her back. However, she knew that weird loud girl named Meaghan was real. Why, her tattoo she got with her was right there on her collarbone. Meixua shook her head. It was real and how did she landed in this horrible nightmare?
"Guo Meixua, your crimes are punishable by death! Lord Yuan Shao has written a decree of the crimes you have committed. Him, along with a few others, have come to your punishment." The gaoler said as he looked at Yuan Shao for approval.
Meixua scoffed. It was surely just as Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu. They wanted to hit Cao where it hurts.
"Guo Meixua, your crimes are as listed. First and foremost, you are committed of treason. This is punishable by death. Second, in the laws of Han, no woman is to hold any title besides the Empress or Empress Dowager. You are neither. This crime is punishable by fifty whips. Third, you have behaved as a wanton woman. This is despicable and you deserved your skin burning off your flesh as punishment. Lastly, you have worked under a man who is raising an army against the Han- also punishable by death. You are to be decapitated." Yuan Shao smirked and nodded to the dealer of death.
Meixua straightened herself and felt the hand of someone guiding her to death. She was forced to kneel and her head straightened on a plank.
Just then she heard footsteps towards her. "You know I can save you."
"And what would that be?" Meixua whispered.
"Serve me and tell me what Cao Cao is up to." Yuan Shao stated as he placed his shoe at her hand, almost stepping over it.
Lady Meixua shook her head. She had no idea what Cao Cao was really up to. Matter of fact she has been away for almost two years. She had no idea what Cao was up to and what advice she has given him. Nevvermind who else was in his army. "I just cant-" she whimpered.
"Still loyal to that dog?" He retorted in disgust as he slammed his boot on her left hand.
Meixua gasped in pain.
"off with her head." Yuan Shao stated as he walked away.
"Any last words?" the gaoler asked.
Meixua shook her head. Just accepting her fate. Cao would avenge her but she didn't know if she was even worthy of it.
"Dad, I need to go meet Meaghan for lunch one last time. Please." Leila squealed as she got on a tight dress. It has been two days since she finally got off her bed. She missed her old friend and needed to see her before she officially says goodbye. And maybe Meaghan could understand.
They met at a local bistro that served light sandwiches and salads and coffee. "Meaghan!"Leila exclaimed and hugged her tightly.
"Girl you are alive. I was afraid you were gone!" Meaghan squeaked.
"Yeah here I am. Meaghan what happened?" Leila asked, just trying to get to the point to figure something out.
"Well girl- we went out shopping and you were hurt randomly. It was a blood clot."
"Meaghan, that wasn't me." Leila sighed and looked at her. "Do you believe in time travel?"
"I mean yeah- in the books and such. Not so much in real life." Meaghan laughed as she took a bite of her sandwich.
Leila gazed out further in the distant. Her mind drifted and suddenly her eyes brought her the image of fire blazing around the city. Men and women scattering. Chaos everywhere.
"Lady Meixua! Where are you? We need to get you out of here!" A voice she remembered well said.
Leila gasped as Meaghan shook her. "Hello? Earth to Leila?"
"Meaghan- I was transported to the Three Kingdoms era. Meaghan I lived partial in it. All I know was someone kidnapped me from a camp- and the bastard Liu Bei men helped them get me." Leila stated.
The people nearby eyed her suspiciously that Meaghan felt uncomfortable. "Leila, hush it. You're embarrassing me. Leila I think whatever is in your salad is making you crazy. Stop it. Drink some water."
Just then a noise from behind her startled her. Leila jumped and heard the voices.
"Lady Guo! Right here! Take the horse – I will run afoot!" it was none other than Li Dian.
"She lost conscious. The fire is consuming her lungs. Lets just pick her up and go!" Yue Jin exclaimed.
Li Dian shifted. "She is a lady, unmarried at best. I simply cannot touch her."
"this is a life or death situation!" Yue Jin shouted as he picked up Leila's lifeless body and threw her onto the saddle of the horse.
Just then Leila saw the horse right before her eye. The brown horse with the fire blazing around. Yue Jin and Li Dian were in front of the horse, leading.
"Meaghan I have to go. Tell my parents I love them please." Leila said as she pressed twenty dollars on the table.
Before Meaghan can react, Leila was out of her seat and raced into the middle of the street, like a little child looking for something she long lost. After that moment, two oncoming cars crashed right into Leila. The cars emitted smoke. The drivers quickly got out the cars and tried to save Leila. They were too late. Her body was decapitated.
"Get away from there! There's an oil spill!" Someone shouted.
All around, phones were out calling the emergency hotline. And within moments, a fire emerged from the two colliding cars.
Meaghan gasped and shook. "Leilaaaaaaaaa!" she shouted. She collapsed on the ground as the restaurant goers came to help her.
Just then the twenty dollar bill landed on her hand.
It wrote, "You will always be my best friend. Don't forget about me."