Bitter Place in a Broken Dream

by BerylCoronet

In a world inhabited by magic wielders and people with wings, Wang Yao, an academically inclined person with wings, never understand what it felt like to lose everything. But when his latent power was accidentally unlocked, Yao finds himself helping an infamous serial killer dubbed "The Arsonist" to go back into the past to undo everything. In his way, Alfred, his friend stands.

2. Chapter 2

Bitter Place in a Broken Dream C2

A/N: Sorry if it is misleading from the first chapter, there is actually 5 parts to this story. And this is not technically a rusamechu in that sense, because its Rochu and Amechu. There's no rusame.

This story is special in a way that the whole full five parts of draft was written out before the actual was written. I was trying out a new way of writing to see if it prevents writer's block, and frankly speaking it kinda did.

Hope whoever is reading can continue to enjoy this short story.

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Wang Yao open his sleepy eyes; it is comfortably snug in his current position. He look around him and found himself at receiving end of a hug, his face tucked into the chest so closely he could hear the heartbeat of this person. Feeling uncomfortable already, he tilted his head up to find himself looking at the face of the murderer. All sleepiness dissipated into thin air, replaced by fear, he struggle and tried to push himself out of the situation, but the arms around him tightened.

"You're awake." Yao heard him say. He struggled more against the restraint until he heard the man speak again. "Stop struggling, Yao." The man demanded sternly, and Yao stopped immediately. The man held him closer, lightly stroking the hair at the back of his head, sending a shiver down his spine. Awkward and afraid, his eyes roll to the corner and tried to peek out at the ceiling, his wings created a haven hovering over the two of them, creating an uneasy and intimate setting for them. The man's eyes remain closed, and Yao could see that his eyelashes that look almost invisible because its silvery blonde like his hair, are actually really long. Then he look back onto his wings hovering over them again.

He knitted his brow. Squeezing one of his arms out from the grip, he pulled on longest at the tip of his wings that is closest to his fingers down. He felt the tug. This is my wing!? Yao thought in horror. It's so ugly…. It's such an ugly orange….

It tilted his fear into another spectrum, turning it into anger. Wang Yao started struggling again, slapping his hands onto the man with urgency, wanting to be let free. The man finally opens his eyes and loosen his grip.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"What's wrong? What's wrong you asked?" Yao replied angrily. "Look at this!" he cried, pulling his wing, putting it in the man's face. "Look! My wings! Why is it in this colour? And you tried to kill me. Don't ask me what's wrong. I want to go home. I want to go home!" Wang Yao said agitatedly, he move himself away again and again from the man.

"I'll let you go home. Just calm down first." The man said, staying where he is, putting his hands out to reassure Yao.

"How can I calm down!?" Yao berated. He felt exasperated, he felt indignation and then he felt wrathful. "I almost died." the last three words that slip out of his lips became distorted by a layer of energies. Wang Yao look down to find his arms consume by a darkness, he examine his whole body, and found it covered with a thin blackness. He felt scared and agitated again.

"Why is this happening to me?" he asked, trying to scratch out the darkness lying on his skin.

"Yao. Look at me. Just look at me." The man said, slowly edging closer.

"Why? Why is this happening to me?" Yao cried, the tears that came out from his eyes are black too.

"Look at me." The man continued gently.

Wang Yao finally look back at him. "Who are you!?"

"Shhh…. Shhh… Calm down. I'll tell you everything. My name is Ivan Braginsky, okay? And your full name is?"

"Wang Yao." Yao replied, eyeing him suspiciously. "You're the arsonist aren't you!?" Yao suddenly raised his voice again. "You…"

"Yes I am. Yao. You need to calm down. You're turning into a black phoenix if you can't control your emotions. Your sanity will slip away. Look at me." Ivan asserted. "Please."

Yao look into the large, lilac eyes. It's almost comforting, but the fury in his heart twisted his expression, and he bare his teeth at Ivan.

"Take deep breaths." Ivan comforted, taking a deep breath, and slowly letting it out, encouraging Yao to follow. "Breathe in… Breathe out… Yes, you're doing it well. You are okay. You will be okay."

Distracted and focusing only on the breathing and the mesmerizing eye colour, Yao felt himself calming down, looking down, he saw the darkness on his skin receding. He continued breathing, staring at the grey mattress cover. Then he curl into his knee, his wings lowered until it hover over himself.

Ivan sat there unmoving.

"Can I go home?" Yao asked quietly after a long time. "You said that you would." He quickly added, afraid that Ivan would eat his words.

"Yes. You can after we are done."

"Done with what?"

"I need your help."

"My help? What help?"

"I need your help to kill a monster."

"What?"

"I don't want to."

"You have no choice. You will continue to corrode into a black phoenix whether you like it or not, and you will destroy this world and die with it." Ivan explains. "Two days. Just two days and you will be free. Everybody will be free once the monster is dead."

"What are you talking about?" Yao sniffled, silently wondering if Ivan is just another Alfred who is obsessed over conspiracy theories.

Ivan let out a breath, a visible mist was blown out, like he was stuck in an eternal winter that surrounds only him. "It's so cold." He commented. Wang Yao realise the scarf wrapped around his shoulder that he have been finding comfort from is Ivan's. He took it off and threw it to him. Ivan caught it and quickly wrapped it around his neck. "I need your help to go back in time."

Wang Yao knitted his brow, looking at Ivan like a mad man.

For the first time since Wang Yao saw this man called Ivan, he saw the cold, emotionless face change. Ivan let out a huge dramatic, exasperated sigh, as though Yao is the crazy and stupid one for not understanding him. "I don't think they teach this in schools, but a phoenix have the ability to bring people back in time."

"No… A phoenix is a myth that only exist in some conspiracy theories." Yao replied, unsettled with the serial killer's sudden change of emotional state. "And y-you're killing people because of these?"

"I'm not… They are just dead for now. They won't be for long. Everything can be changed as long as the monster is dead. You can help me." Ivan crawled in closer without a thought.

Yao quickly moved back out of reflex.

"You don't need to be so scared of me. I just saved you." Ivan said, looking at him.

"You tried to kill me earlier. You're a serial killer. You're sick in the mind."

Ivan let out a defeated breath, visibly upset by what Yao had said. "Even though everything you said is true, for now. That still hurts. I'm sorry to say this, but if you do not wish to help me, I will have to kill you right now. I can't let you go and let you destroy this world."

Wang Yao knitted his brow, unsure of the kind of reaction he should be making from such a gentle, casual threat, and he argued adamantly: "I won't."

"You will. Have you forgotten how the mass of dark energies corroded you just earlier? Those same things will eat your mind and drives you crazy, and then you will turn and bath this world with fire. Stay here with me, come to me. I need you." Ivan explains, he held out his arm for a hug.

"You're really crazy. I just want to go home." Yao replied, moving out of the bed, and stood up.

"Don't!"

"But you promised." Yao shouted back; he is breathing hard. He is afraid that Ivan might revert back to that same serial killer he encounter back at the alley way. He is trying his luck, and it seems to be working. He just need to get out of here, first.

Ivan look back at him, thinking.

Then still looking at him, Ivan started mumbling and wrote on his arm left arm using his fingers. A sharp, scratching pain throb on Yao's right arm, and he saw Ivan's name scratched onto his skin. "Why did you do this!?"

"So that I know where you are."

"You're crazy."

"You can go now."

Wang Yao stare at the scratched wound on his arm, written in cursive letters in precise manner. His fingers slowly curled into a fist, holding back his expression, he look back up at Ivan, deciding that arguing with him right now would ruin his chance to escape, his main goal is to get out of here. "Can I go now?" he asked.

"Yes. Before you leave though, can I have one of your feathers? That big one at the tip of your wing would be nice."

Yao look back at his wings, silently cringe at the colour before grabbing and holding it protectively to himself and saying: "No! You can't just ask a winged person for a tip feather." Quickly, he rushed to the door and slammed it shut.

"Why.." Ivan wanted to ask but trailed it off silently as Yao slammed the door. He could hear his footsteps as he rushes down the corridor. "Can't I have one…" Ivan look at the door for a long time after Yao left, then he look around the room. The trench coat, boots and gloves are strewn over the carpet floor and couch, the yellowing wallpaper with faded flower patterns offer no comfort to him. The place suddenly felt cold and empty again as it have always been, but Ivan still can't seem to get used to it. He slides off the bed and picked up those articles one by one and slip them onto himself, then turning back to the bed, he snuggle underneath the thick blanket, desperately trying to preserve the last of the body heat left behind by Yao.

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Wang Yao ran the moment he was out of the door, his heart thump hard against his ribcage, threatening to burst through. His lungs fill up desperately with air with each step he took, he is deeply afraid that Ivan would regret his decision to let him go. Yao started rushing down the flight of stairs, jumping down at the last few steps. It's only 3 story, and he soon found himself amongst the buildings. He look back at the forest green building with dark green roof tiles for the last time.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures. I'll just fly." Yao muttered to himself.

Slightly squatting down and looking up, he jump and spread his wings out, flapping himself up in the air. He flew higher and higher, until he sees the cobble pathway again, it is located in a distance away from where he is, and he started flying in that direction. Dawn breaks, and the lights spills over the edge of the horizon, Wang Yao block the rays blinding his eyes, squinting, he saw the lights bathing the concrete jungle in glittering gold.

"If the sun is warm and nice like this, I can see why Icarus flew that high." Yao sigh, beautiful things are always a comfort to his soul.

Then quickly snapping out of it, he flew downwards to where the cobble path is. Then he rush back to his house.

Bursting through the door, he found his mother cooking breakfast in the kitchen.

"You're back early, my dear. Had a fight with Alfred again?" His mother asked, eyes and actions not leaving the bowls and pans on her hands. "Would you like rice and salmon? I think I need to get another one out, didn't expect you to be back so early."

"Mum, I…." Yao tried to whine, but the words to the events got stuck to his throat, and not a word was uttered out of his lips.

"Now why don't you go back to your room and wait a little. I would be done in a jiffy." His mom said.

"I was…" Yao continued, but no words seem to come out of his mouth. Desperate, he ran to get a pen and paper, pushing the pen onto the paper, he tried to move it to write his thoughts. What is happening!? He thought, knitting his brow in anger.

Throwing the pen and paper onto the floor in a tantrum, he suddenly recall about the colour of his wings, surely that will attract his mother's questioning. "What is wrong with you?" he heard his mother said, he look up and found his mother's worried face. For a moment, Yao was glad that his words are getting through.

But his mother came out of the kitchen while wiping her hands on the apron, smack him on his head and questioned: "Why do you throw that on the floor? Just because you had a fight with Alfred doesn't you can come around and started throwing tantrums at everybody. Go to your room now."

"But mom, I didn't fight with Alfred." Yao replied, surprised that word came out.

"It doesn't matter. Go to your room. I'll call Alfred's mother to apologize later. Come down for breakfast with your father later. Go, go." His mother shooed him back.

"But mom… don't you see my wings is abnormally colored?" Yao asked, looking over at his mother.

"Yes my dear. It's as white as the snow that falls on the day you were born." His mother replied in a good natured manner.

Wang Yao pulled his wings to find that it is white. The previous gaudy orange is gone without a single trace. Did I …. Dream of everything? Wang Yao started doubting himself. Slowly, he turn around and walk back up to his room. He took a bath and plop right on his bed, looking at the ceiling. He decided to give a call to Alfred.

"Hello, awake?" he asked.

"Well, I am now." Alfred slur his words. Yao could hear him dozing off.

"Hey! I have something to asked you. What happened after we left school yesterday?" Yao asked.

"We…. You came over to my place for a stayover…. Because you wanted to…. Discuss… about the class." Alfred replied, snoring right after he finished his words.

"Alfred! Wake up!"

"What?" Alfred raised his voice a little, throwing a sleepy tantrum. "Yao… It's 7 in the morning! Dude, and it's not a school day. After all your fussing over going home and now you don't let me sleep. What do you want?"

"I did not. I said I was going home to play games. Who the hell discuss about class after the first lesson?"

"Yeah…. Yeah…" Alfred mumbled off.

"Alfred. Do you remember we went to an alleyway after walking on the cobble path?"

"Mmmm."

"Then we found the….." Yao stuttered; words stuck in his throat. "burning that little girl. Alfred!"

"Yeah… We found a little lost girl. With severe burns all over… Then.. we… bring her to the police because she can't remember anything. What are you talking about?" Alfred continued, seemingly a little more awake now.

"Alfred, we saw the man yesterday. I stopped him from burning the little girl while you took the girl away. I was caught by the…. man, and was subsequently let go. We need to tell the police this." Yao explains.

"But you're at my place for sleepover after we took the girl to the police station."

"Alfred look, use your damn reasoning skills. Do you remember that I said that I wanna go back home to play games after school?"

"Yeah…"

"Then why would I suddenly want to discuss about the class and stayover at your place? And if we found a girl with burns all over, why are we taking her to the police station? Why aren't we calling the ambulance. Alfred, do you see that it doesn't make sense."

"Okay… You got me… I can't quite recall the reasons why you wanted to discuss about the class…. And we did just call the police? Do you happen to mean that somebody have altered my memories about certain things?" Alfred said upon the realization of what Yao is trying to imply.

"Thank goodness you got what I am trying to say."

"So, who's the culprit…?"

"There seems to be something that hold me back from saying the full events out… Something that definitely involves magic. Something that got to do with A…. that news I showed you in school. Remember?"

"Uh… You mean the arsonist?"

"Yes!"

"You can't say it out?"

"Yes."

"You were caught and was released somehow…. Hmmm.. Where were you caught too?" Alfred muttered and asked over the phone.

"It's in the buildings near the cobblestone path, it was a 3 story, green building with green tiles."

Then in the distant, he heard Alfred's mother shouting. "Ah… I gotta go first, I need to eat my breakfast. I'll call you back later. If the arsonist ever finds you, you should hide first."

"Fine, fine…"

"Bye."

"Bye."

Wang Yao threw the phone slightly away from him and continued staring at the ceiling, trying to wrap his head around everything, and that weird person with purple eyes. "Ah… He said his name was… Ivan.. Braginsky? Right…." He climb out of the bed and went over to where his computer is.

"Uhh…. How do you spell that….? Ivan… B.. Raginsky." Yao mumbled under his breath, talking to himself as he type the words down in the search bar. "Here's one on the Braginsky family.." He muttered, clicking on the first link to it.

"… as part of the Orion family, the Braginsky are among the more prominent house of omega level magic wielders of regenerative nature. They can be immediately recognise by their purple iris, which can range widely from lilac to wine colour. There are currently no surviving members from the family….."

Wang Yao knitted his brow. "Omega level? No surviving members?" He squint his eye thinking and then click another tab from the site into the Orion family. "…. Proper establishment of the Orion family only started when 12 families have gathered in the ancient kingdom. They are separated into the 3 upper ranks, 3 middle ranks, 3 lower ranks and 3 hidden ranks and together they controlled the different aspects of the kingdom and surrounding, holding significant power rivalling to the Emperor itself….. The upper ranks are three of the most influential nobles and politicians that have connections with the royal family, they are never allowed to compete or overthrow the Emperor to become the Emperor themselves as agreed amongst the Orion family. The middle ranks are merchants and peddlers, not all of them are well known among people, but it was said that the 3 middle families sway the market movements. The lower ranks are families that deals with and control the shadier aspect in the kingdom like casino house and brothels, specializing in vices. Not much is known about the hidden ranks, in fact, the hidden ranks of families was only revealed when two skeletons was discovered in a mansion, it was previously shielded by strong magic barrier that conceal and crumbled due to lack of maintenance. There, it was discovered that the family was part of the Orion family under the hidden ranks called House Braginsky, for reasons unknown, the two skeletons are part of a brutal murder and evidence on the bones suggest that they have been cannibalized. It is not confirmed if there are 2 other families under the hidden ranks of family…. House Braginsky existed as one of the royal family from the scattered empire, the reason is not known as to why there is a splinter group of House Braginsky existing outside of the empire, and for what reasons did they join the Orion family."

"I don't… get it…" Yao mumbled, disturbed by what he have read. "If he is speaking the truth… Then for what reason did he come back for? If he is not…. What is he?" He felt a heavy sinking in his heart, a fear of something grave and dreadful that he simultaneously want to know and don't want to know.

"Hey.. Time for breakfast." His father called out, barging into his room, pushing the door a little too hard that it slam on the wall. The loud commotion startled Yao, he spun around petrified. He started breathing hard, the air touching his lungs from the shallow breath barely sated his needs. It's just dad, it's just dad. Yao kept thinking, staring at his father intently, his furrowed brows obviously sent the signal of distress to his father.

"What's wrong? You don't feel good?" his father asked, walking into the room, towards him.

"No.. No… Don't … Don't come near me." Yao breathed out, stumbling backwards.

"Why? You look pale."

The uncalled fear inside him continued to rise, he could see unwanted flash of images appear in his mind, images of him covered in orange flames reaching out and pummeling his fist onto his father's face again and again, burning him, melting him with the fire on his skin. Images of him bursting into flames that fill him with destructive energy, the orange flames slowly turn black. These images turns into a nagging compulsion that whispers softly in the depth of his heart.

Wang Yao tore his gaze away; the movement momentarily bring him back into reality. He close his eyes and pinch the bridge of his nose, trying to focus the anxiety away.

"Yao? Are you okay?"

"Don't touch me." He shouted, swatting the arms that touches him over the shoulder away. Wang Yao stare at the person in front of him and suddenly he don't recognise him anymore. The face distort into a monstrous mess, twisting and turning.

"I'm calling your mother." The voice said gently. But Yao could no longer contain the raging fear in him anymore, he turn and reaches out for the being in front of him, the skin on his arms turn into dark, shiny scales as it burst into black flames. He tore apart the being in front of him, the black blood splatter across his room like buckets of thick paint. Noises become loud and sharp, itching his ears, irritating, and scaring him. His world becomes a myriad shades of greys. Yao covered his ears, closing his eyes tightly, he tried to shake away the sound as it got softer and softer.

Ivan climbed up the half broken house, not that hard considering the broken parts have become quite steady footing. Sirens and loud commotions have gathered around the vicinity, but none dared to go any closer because the invisible barrier that surround the house gave off an oppressing energy. As Ivan climbs in through the window, he see Wang Yao sitting on the floor, crying, and clawing on his ears as it bleeds all over his clothes, the mutilated pieces of body parts strewn across the remaining part of the room, painting it red. The sky above is darkening, the looming clouds foreshadowing the violent storms it is bringing. Dark, long nails that look more like claws continue to dig deep into the flesh, as it pulls down the side of the face where the flesh regenerates as it moves. The large pieces of scales that cover one after another on Yao's arms and legs have a soft, sinister glow underneath, he spun around and look at the Ivan climbing into the room with hostility, baring his teeth. His wings enlarge and spread; Wang Yao stood up baring his teeth, and seeing that Ivan have no intention of leaving, he backed away. Ivan took a step forward every time Yao took a step back, and as Yao reached the door, he spread his wings fully and flap, propelling him up into the air. The wings emitted a powerful wave of energy, Ivan shield himself with his arms and stood his ground.

In a swift motion, he releases his magic from his hands and wrapped it tightly all around Wang Yao's body and face, it calms him enough that he did not struggle or move against Ivan's binding. Carefully, Ivan brings it down to the ground and moves it closer to himself. He took a breath, he could feel that the bindings where it touches Yao are all corroding him fast, but thankfully he regenerates as fast as it corrodes. Ivan lightly peel the magic binding off his face, and the moment Yao saw the lights he struggled hard against the rest of the bindings, screaming in agony and fear.

"Yao, look at me. Look at me." Ivan whispers softly. "It's me. Don't be scared. You will be okay. Look at me."

Wang Yao turned his head from left to right, seemingly unable to understand Ivan's words.

"Look at me." Ivan whisper again, this time he turn Yao's head to face him with the bindings. "Look at my eyes. It's me, Ivan. I'm here to help you."

The struggle seems to lessen as Yao caught sight of Ivan's eyes.

"Yes… I'm not a monster, look at my eyes. I'm Ivan. You remember these eyes don't you?" Ivan cooed.

"Ivan…." Yao mutter out his words in a daze, as though he was sleeping and just woken up.

"Yes, my dear?"

"Where's… Father? And… Mother…" Yao let out, slowly trying to turn his head to where the parts spattered.

Ivan quickly held his head and turn his attention back to him. "They are just sleeping." He adds on. "Come to me." He loosen his bindings on Yao and beckon him closer and closer, until Ivan wrap his arms around Yao, he lowered his body and placed Yao's head on his shoulder, caressing and soothing him. "You'll be okay."

Eyelids become heavier as the mind becomes clear from the nightmares swirling inside, Yao fell asleep and become limp in Ivan's arms. The scales on his body slip and fell from his skin, dropping on the floor, smashing, and splintering into thin air. The dark colour faded from his wings, turning it white once again. Ivan continue to caress and held the body tight.

Ivan held his palm up, facing outwards, he gather the magic on his palm and clutch. Puffs of purplish black smoke emitted out from the fist, veins started popping from his fist and arm that turn black in a couple of minutes. Turning his fist 90 degree, Ivan exerted all his strength and pulled it to the right. The broken pieces lying on the ground started moving, as Ivan pulled more, everything around them moved. Pieces moved to their original position, sticking itself perfectly into places they were, the body parts on the floor gathered as well, fitting itself into a human again. Bloods and paints, bits of tables, chairs and walls, everything was restored to its original state as the clock on the table turned its hands backwards.

A slight trickle that ended off with a violent ejection from the pit of his stomach made Ivan spew out blackish red, viscous fluid from his mouth, but he continued pulling until every single last pieces in the room and everywhere else became how it was way before he stepped foot into the room.

Panting hard, he sat down on bed to catch his breath. He turn his head towards the door, he could hear the sound of utensils clinking and the smell of delicious food wafting through the air. The smell and the warmth emitting out from Yao's body makes him feel comfortable, a tiny bit of him is begging for himself to stay, but he understand the trouble it might cause.

Ivan look down at Yao again with a reassured smile. He placed him on the bed and pulled the blanket on him. The flickering lights from the computer have already caught his attention for some time and out of curiosity, he finally went over to look at it.

"House Braginsky." Ivan muttered, letting a smirk as the words roll of his tongue. He look back at Yao, then back to the computer. Putting his hands on the mouse, he closed the tabs and cleared the search history. Shaking his head, he slip the upper half of his body out of the window, the sun is bright and comfortable.

"Must be beautifully warm today." Ivan commented, then jumping out, he landed lightly down the path with magic cushioning his fall. He adjusted and tucked in his scarf and trench coat even more and shiver.