Bitter Place in a Broken Dream C5
A/N: Hi Ilich! Thank you very much for the company while I was uploading this story. This is the last part for this story. And I am very glad that I managed to finish this, this is the first time I am trying out a new way of writing and it seems like it works even though it took a longer time. At least now I am convinced that I am really able to finish stories. (guilt).
Anyway, when I was writing this, I was craving for prawn paste chicken. After some slight googling, it turns out to be a totally unique dish to singapore... (And here I always thought it was a common thing everywhere).
Thank you for reading till this far. If there are enough questions or if anybody is unhappy with the ending. I might release another chapter that can perhaps make this situation a bit happier, and answer some questions and end everything off nicely. But I'll have to write that some time later. So before that, this is the ending for this story~
"Hello. This is Wang Yao from class W102. I would like to apply for medical leave for today. Yes. My parents will only come back tonight. Okay. Thank you." He hung up the phone and continue sitting on his bed in a daze. Ivan was nowhere to be seen, and a strange, empty spot aches in his heart.
Sniffing up the last of his soggy eyes back, he took a deep breath and let out a smile, slapping his cheeks to perk himself up, he dial the number on the phone again. "Hi mom." He said with gusto. "I won't be coming home tonight. There's a school project that is lagging from the original schedule, so I'll be staying over to finish it up. Yeah…. Okay. Goodbye. Love you."
His hands dropped onto the bed with a thud. His body felt heavy, and he doesn't really wish to move. Dark ugly things started forming on his arms again, he noticed them ever since he woke up, this time it was nothing new to Yao anymore and he no longer wish to make a big fuss out of it.
The doorbell rang. It tore Yao's attention to it. He drag himself out of the bed and made his way down. The bell was not urgently pressed in successive manner, but only occasional intervals that seems to just remind the owner that they are still outside. Waiting.
Wang Yao opened the door, and found Ivan standing outside with a bright smile. The sunlight shining against him from the back created an otherworldly glow around Ivan, Yao have to squint a little to meet eye to eyes with him.
"Good morning, my dear Yao. Are you ready to leave?" Ivan chirps.
"You….. I thought you left…"
"We have a date today. I went back to get ready." Ivan replied in a good natured manner, in an unusually chipper mode as he lift the sleeves over his arms and pull his scarf down for Yao to inspect the fresh needle wounds.
"Oh. I…" Yao stuttered, eyes and head cast down lightly with guilt. "I just woke up."
"That's fine. I'll wait for you."
"Okay. Come in. You…" Yao look into the living room and pointed at the flower patterned sofa. "Can sit there. I'll get ready really quick. If… my parents came back and see you, just tell them that you're my classmate."
"Sure." Ivan said, stepping into the house. As Wang Yao turns to leave, Ivan grabbed hold onto his wrist.
"Yes?" Yao turned back, asking.
Ivan smile, his eyes lingering on Yao's face. Before long, Ivan loosen his grip, letting Yao's wrist slide off his fingers, muttering: "Nothing." He walk over to the sofa and sat down, looking around and observing the house. It's neat and tidy, intricate china wares glow behind the glass cabinets as the golden lights shines in from the window by the side. It is a comfortable and beautiful place, and Ivan wish with all his heart that maybe one day, he would be able to live in such a beautiful place with a beautiful person like Yao. But right now, this aesthetic pleasure only serve to fuel his already excited mind.
A car pulled up outside the house, Ivan saw two person coming out from them and started walking towards the house. A key was stuck in the door and the turning of doorknob soon prompt Ivan to face towards the door with a big earnest smile.
"Good morning sir, madam." He greeted politely.
"Morning, who are you?" The women replied, casting an incredulous look towards the man beside her.
"My name is Ivan, and I am Yao's classmate. He requested my company to school today."
"That's incredibly nice of you. I know that silly boy is quite an oddball, I'm surprised that he found another person willing to be his friend." The women smile as she took off her shoes.
"Right… Alfred? That's golden hair boy is called Alfred right?" the man asked the lady beside him.
"Yes dear. I'm surprised you got it right this time."
"Yao is not an oddball at all. He is very nice to me." Ivan cut off, "I'm very glad I met him."
The couple's attention went back to Ivan. "That's reassuring to hear. He's quite overbearing at times. Anyway, do you boys need a lift to school?" The man commented, glancing at his watch before looking back at Ivan.
"No sir. I enjoy the walk to school with Yao."
The man and the women look genuinely surprised at Ivan's words. Just then, Wang Yao came out from the corridor and greeted his parents, all dressed and freshen up.
"Mom, dad, welcome home."
"Wang Yao look at you. Letting your friend wait here while you take your own sweet time." His mother lightly scolded. "Go on, don't let a sweet young man like him wait any longer."
"He…" Yao turn to look towards Ivan with a hint of indignant disgust. He's not sweet. Yao retorted in his heart, then deciding that it is not worth to raise a ruckus right now, he grumbled his words out: "Yeah.. We are going off now. Bye." Moving his way out of the house, Ivan quickly rise, and followed after him.
"You have very nice parents." Ivan commented, as he catches up beside Yao.
Wang Yao was too distracted by his own thoughts to reply Ivan. And Ivan continued the conversation on his own: "Is it true though?"
"What?"
Ivan chuckled.
"What are you trying to ask?" Yao replied, knitting his brows, annoyed.
"You don't have friends."
"I do have friends, okay. My friend is called Alfred." Yao reiterate, his gaze, tone and thoughts drifted to him again.
"Ahh… Thinking of another person while you're with me sure makes me jealous, you know." Ivan let out a dramatic sigh, head moving away pouting childishly, but teasingly gaze back on Yao's face for any reaction.
"Why would you care." Yao muttered, fastening his speed a little as he notice that Ivan is purposely taking smaller steps to walk beside him.
"Of course I do."
Wang Yao did not reply. The trauma from the events still haunt his head, somehow nothing feels quite right. "I'm sorry Ivan."
"Hmm?" Ivan answered, tilting his head a little.
"It's nothing."
Ivan smile gently in response. Then turning the topic away, he asked: "How do we go to the amusement park ?"
"We can just grab a cab or something." Yao replied.
"But…. I don't know how."
Wang Yao spun around at Ivan as fast as his neck would allow him to. "How did you move across towns and stuff then? You.. You went around killing people all over this country.. Didn't you?"
"I did…" Ivan said, slowly the smile faded off as he tried to recall. "I did… But… Hmmm.. I walked and used magic. And.. they are not dead, they will all come back to life soon."
"You walked?" Yao reaffirm Ivan's words, obviously ignoring Ivan's other statement in the same line.
Ivan nodded.
"I'm not in the mood to question you or anything so I'm just gonna call for a cab then."
The cab soon came after and together, they head towards the amusement park. The top half of the Ferris wheel peeking out of the borders of the park reminded Yao of something important, and it was not until the two of them are standing in front of the gates of the amusement park did he recall that they arrived too early.
"What's this?" Ivan asked innocently.
"We are too early." Yao commented, already felt like he was done before the day even officially started.
"How do we get in then?" Ivan turn to him and ask again.
"We need to wait."
"Eh?" Ivan let out, obviously distraught. "For how long?"
Wang Yao take a look at his watch and replied: "Two hours."
The childlike delight on his face replaced with disappointment. Then putting his hands into his pocket, he look around and head towards the bench.
"Ivan." Yao called out.
"Hm?"
"Where are you going?"
"To wait."
Wang Yao breath out through his mouth, he could see the whites. He walk fast enough to catch up to Ivan and grab hold of his wrist. Ivan was startled to say the least as Yao tug his hands out and started pulling him along. "What?" he asked.
"Let's have breakfast. I know a place."
They walked for twenty minutes, across the massive carparks and streets, and into a cluster of shophouses. Yao turn into an alley where metal tables and chair underneath massive umbrellas are arrange on the sides of the walls. Patrons are seated sparsely, already slurping bowls of noodles and side dishes served by a single waiter coming out from a door. The loud, clink clanks of woks, fires and shouts blasted out from the door felt strangely warming in the cold weather. Yao pulled Ivan to a seat nearby and ordered them food.
"It's been a long time since I've been here. I hope the food is still as good as I remembers." Yao smile.
"How did you know this place?" Ivan asked.
"When I was young my parents brought me here for breakfast, we went to the amusement park. The noodles are really good, hand pulled, and there's this one dish that taste really amazing."
"What's that?"
"You will know it soon." Yao's smile turned cheeky.
The waiter soon served up two bowls of noodles and a plate of freshly fried mid wings chicken. Taking a deep breath, Yao did not even bother containing the excitement all over his face, he pick up the chopstick and slurp a mouthful of noodles.
With his mouth full, he turn towards Ivan, face full of happiness. "Eat it. It still taste amazing."
Ivan followed suit and tried to pick up the noodles with the chopstick.
Amused, Yao picked up the fork on the side and pass it to him. "There's a reason there's fork here you know."
Ivan snatch it from Yao's fingers indignantly and eat his bowl of noodles, he could feel the warmth of the noodles spreading through his body as he swallows it. The taste of the clear soup, reddish from tomatoes, is surprisingly savory, the umami lingering spreads throughout his mouth long after the food was swallowed. "That's nice."
"Try this next. It is one of the most delicious food you will eat in your life."
"But it's just fried chicken?" Ivan commented. "What's so special about fried chicken."
"This is not just any fried chicken. This is called prawn paste chicken. It's marinated in fermented shrimp paste and some other seasonings. Try it. It's delicious. I promise."
"Okay.." Ivan muttered with some form of hesitation. The first bite into the warm chicken, the salty juices burst out its umami flavour. The meat is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, creating a beautiful contrast of texture. Ivan's face brighten up with surprise as he look at Yao's expected face.
"It's delicious. Right?" Yao asked.
Ivan nodded, taking another bite of the chicken.
"Ah, it's snowing a little." Yao said, stretching his arms out of the shade of the umbrella. A snowflake landed lightly on his fingers, melting into a drop of water, strangely reflecting the mood in Ivan's heart. Ivan could only wish this moment can last a little longer.
The two of them continued talking about anything under the sun that they are willing to talk about. There's giggles, laughter, and some patting on the head for comfort.
"Well, about time." Yao look down on his watch again. "Hey, we would like the bill please."
Ivan and Yao continue their way back to the amusement park again. The weather turn slightly colder, knowingly, Ivan walks closer to Yao. "You're cold?" Yao asked. Ivan nodded. Yao raised his hands up for him and Ivan took it without hesitation. Then Yao stuff their hands into his pocket. The warmth from his hands burns Ivan's skin, but it's comfortable, so comfortable that Ivan felt addicted to it.
The entrance to the amusement parks is open, they brought the tickets and went in as the first few. The lines are short, and Ivan's eyes darted around in delight, not knowing where to start.
"Let's start with that." Yao said, pointing to the haunted mansion.
"What's that?"
"Haunted mansion."
"What does that do?"
"Just come with me."
And they went in.
"So, what was that all about?" Ivan asked as they came out from haunted mansion. Wang Yao is still clinging on Ivan's arms tightly and pressing his face against it. "It's supposed to be scary."
"Hmm.. That wasn't all too scary then." Ivan commented.
"Hmph, fine, let's go to the next one then." Yao huff indignantly.
The two boys tried every single ride available in the large amusement park, teasing, playing, and having fun, trying out the candy floss, corndogs and eating lunch. The sun quickly started setting as happy times always flies. Wang Yao pulled Ivan back as they are walking.
"What?"
"Let's go to the ferries wheel."
"But we went for it earlier." Ivan said.
"Come with me." Yao insisted.
Knitting his brow slightly in bewilderment, he followed after Yao and got onto the ferries wheel for the second time of the day. As their pod slowly moves upwards, they could see from the horizon, the radiant orange spreading its lights like a blanket across the cities. It was a brilliant sight that draws contented sighs out of them.
"This is beautiful."
"Right. I saw this sight when I flew to the skies for the first time. People with wings always lament that they got the shorter end of the stick being born with wings, but with a sight like this only for yourself, it's a different thing, it's peace. And I want share this with you. " Yao explains.
Ivan turns his gaze slightly to his side. He nodded. "Yes, it's peaceful. Everything is peaceful with you around." Ivan whisper under his breath as he felt the pod slowly moving downwards, heart sinking along with it.
"The bumper car was really fun." Ivan commented as they step out of the pod.
"Yeah, somebody kept banging their car into mine. I think my soul almost flew out of my body." Yao replied, glancing at Ivan, and then rolling his eyes.
"And then the rollercoaster was good too." Ivan recalled excitedly. "When the mummy came out at the end especially."
"I agree, that was really good."
The ride back to Ivan's place was quiet, the atmosphere was heavy. Wang Yao stare at the passing lights blurred with the darkness and wondered hard. The conflict in his heart torments him, the serial killer that tried to kill him and killed countless others is sitting in the same car as him, and he is helping him with whatever scheme there is. But he can't deny that Ivan helped him as well, he can't deny that Ivan is incredibly gentle in the other times, and he can't deny the strange attraction he have towards him, though he wonder if it's just Stockholm's syndrome.
I guess it doesn't matter if everything will end tonight like he said. Yao thought, feeling a little nagging ache in his heart.
"You can sit over there. I'll make some preparations." Ivan instructed, as they reach the insides of Ivan's house. Wang Yao sat down where Ivan instructed and while waiting, he took out his phone. There is a single message from Alfred from a few hours ago:
"Where are you?"
Yao quickly replied: "Resting. At home."
Ivan stood in the middle of the room cleared of furniture and did a few gestures, a bout of energy spreads out. Then taking out a few bags of powder from a drawer nearby, he sprinkle them into a circle with strange drawings. Standing upright again, he instruct again: "Yao, I want you to stand up and close your eyes." Yao followed his words. "Then I want you to focus on yourself, can you feel something swirling inside you?"
"Yes."
"Good, that's the magic. Try to move it to your palm and squeeze it out from the skin."
Wang Yao raise his arm with his palm facing upwards, and on the surface of his skin, purplish almost black energies hovers on them, then as quickly as they appear they dissipate in the air. Yao open his eyes in a panic and closes his eyes again to try again.
"It's okay Yao, I will help you along, so don't worry. We don't have much time. Somebody is coming. Come, step into this circle with me."
"But it's not 12 yet."
"That is fine, I'll make sure you're fine. Come, the magic barrier I have casted earlier will hold them back, but it won't be enough to keep them out permanently." Ivan explains, looking out into the window as he speaks. Turning back, he beckons Yao again.
He steps in gingerly into the circle and stand face to chest with Ivan. "We will start now. Hold onto to me tight." Ivan said, wrapping his arms around Yao. Gently, he stroke the back of Yao's head. Once, twice and at the third time, Yao felt a violent rush of energy gushing out from his body, he clutched on tightly onto Ivan in shock and confusion, the energies overflowing out of every single pores of his body, the uncomfortable burning sensation. He took a peek at his arms, the darkness stains his skin turning it into a ghastly looking colour, bumps resembling large pieces of scales raise up from his skin, his consciousness slipping in and out. Just then, the green glow coming from Ivan spreads across Yao's skin, and healing through his dark energies.
"Don't worry, I'll heal you while you use your energies, so just let them all out. You'll be able to see where I want to go soon enough."
Loud, dull sounds of object clashing together distracted him to the door.
"Concentrate. Just let it go." Ivan press Yao's head against him. Black veins shot across the pure white wings, slowly consuming it as it turns it into a brilliant orange and then into purple and soot black.
The energies poured out from both of them, and the circle glows. Tears begin to appear in the fabric of air around them and violent gust of wind swirl around them. "Yao, please promise me that no matter what, you MUST kill the monster. You must."
Everything exploded in a yellow lights, and soon everything is deadly quiet. The sound of still air is unsettling. The two of them broke apart, and Yao sees that they are now at depilated mansion. Broken pieces of wood, dust and dirt laid in untidy fashion all around, holes where gloomy lights filter in. There are countless rooms, damp and dark all around with a spiraling staircase at the side leading to the second floor.
"We are here." Ivan said quietly. The over exertion of using the energies still left its mark on both of them, Ivan is still lightly glowing in faint green while neon green veins extend out from his eyes and ears. Wang Yao's black faded a little, leaving behind occasional patches of scales all over his body, his white wings are permanently stained with streak of black. Ivan reached into his coat, he took out a long, thick blade and hand it over to Yao. "Take this. The thing you need to kill is at the room located at end of the corridor at the second floor. Stab it in its heart and twist it, and if you need to pull its heart out. You can do anything, just kill it."
"Why.. Do.. I really have to do it?" Yao stuttered.
Ivan suddenly squeeze his palm between Yao's cheek and look him in his eyes. There is no joke, no taunt nothing, there is only firm beliefs in the pair of darken purple eyes in the promise that they made. "You have to. You promised."
"Fine. I would."
"Thank you." Ivan said, and giving a peck on Yao's cheek.
Wang Yao struggled out from his clutch and wipe his mouth, annoyed. Then he took the knife from Ivan's hands and move up the staircase in a huff, the initial annoyance that gave him the courage to walk up the stairs withered into fear as he edge towards the door. The smell of rot and damp dirt invaded his senses, his mind created all sorts of monsters that might potentially appear as he moves in the room.
All he found was a dirty, scrawny boy with greyish wings stain with filth lying half dead amongst the dirt and blood, though his arms, legs and wings are bound tightly together with metal chains. Two set of skeletons arranged in disarray are gnawed upon, the boy's bloodied hands and mouth indicated cannibalism, other tiny bones of rats laid all around as well. It is clumpy and dirty, but it is obvious to Yao that the colour of his hair is silvery blonde.
A breath hitched at his throat. "So that what's you mean, Ivan Braginsky." Yao mouth the words out from his trembling lips.
The boy on the ground stirs, weakly it open his eyes, the lilac colour are dull but somehow it brightens at the sight of Yao. "You're an angel."
"I'm so sorry Ivan." Yao whispers as he kneeled down and wrap his arms around the poor boy that is almost nothing.
"You're warm." The boy said, but it only came out as a rough whisper.
With tears in his eyes, Yao sobbed out: "It's okay to go now. I won't leave you."
"Really? Can I find you again?"
"Yes." Yao nodded, pressing the tip of the knife against the boy's skin.
At the first floow, Ivan slide down against the peeling wall; a tear slide down his cheek as a fresh piece of old memory surface in his mind, the feeling of that warmth he felt as he was dying. The nostalgia is killing him.
"Thank you, my angel." Ivan smile; his body started fading away.
"3, 2, 1!" The last barge by the combine effort of the police force have managed to burst through the door. Nobody inhabit the house and the only suspicious thing they could find is a circular burnt mark on the floor.
"Reporting from the scene, no suspect can be found. Over." One of the police said to his walkie talkie.
"The Clairvoyant department have send us the report. There's no issue now. Send your men back, Clarence. Over." The voice from the walkie talkie replied.
"What do you mean, Lawrence? Over."
"Between you and me, the report have stated that the future have changed. I don't know what the fuck is going on as well to be honest. Over. Just get the heck back. Over."
"What about that boy? Over."
"What boy? Over."
"We are supposed to be …. Saving somebody right? Over."
"No, this is just a normal raid. Over."
"Oh yeah… It was just a normal raid. Over."
"Pssst. How much did you get for your individual report?" Alfred asked, leaning over to Yao.
"Hmmm, not much I guess." Yao smiled cheekily.
"Tch, and how much would that be."
"Just a Distinction as always."
"Alright class, great news. This class did very well for the individual and group report, in fact one of the best in the history of this school for this class. In particular, Wang Yao did exceptionally well for his individual report. Perfect score. It was picked up by the historians from the research department for its accuracy and new insights. Everybody, a round of applause for him please." Miss Kay announced.
"What?" Alfred let out. "What the hell did you write for your individual report?"
"I already told you before didn't I? The history of the Orion families in the ancient kingdom."
"Why that?" Alfred blurted out. "Why didn't I do that, dammit." He whispered under his breath.
"I had a long dream about it so I figured maybe I should use that as my report subject." Yao shrugged.
"Why do you get the good dream, while I had nightmares for days." Alfred lamented.
"What's your nightmare about?"
"Not telling you." Alfred pouted. "What's your dream about?"
"Me? I can't quite recall, but I dreamt that I went to a library where there are loads of books about the ancient kingdom and its magic. There was a boy that was always around me as well." Yao tried recalling, touching his chin.
"Is that boy me?"
"No. It's a boy with wings. You definitely doesn't have wings." Yao retorted.
"Awww, that's a pity, I thought we are friends forever. Turns out I'm not your friend in your dream."
"Save your tears. Two weeks' worth of lunch money, thanks." Yao answered, holding his palm out.
Just then the bell rang. "Oh, look it's the end of class. It's time for basketball." Alfred quickly said as he threw all his stationery into his bag. "Smell you later."
Shaking his head, he look back at his individual report, a strange tugging feeling in his heart, and he wondered why. Pulling out his white wings with black, lightning vein streak stuck in between the not so wing friendly chair, Wang Yao packed his stuff and left too.