"Life is but a dream for the dead."

-Gerald Way-

CHAPTER 10: THE QUEST OF HIS LIFE

In a grand hotel suite…

Two teenage girls were lying quietly on a vast king-sized bed.

One of them was wide awake. The other was groggily looking at her brunette companion.

"Tia?" The pink-haired girl called, her soft voice was induced by sleepiness.

They had to relocate in the middle of the night. It was an emergency case so they had to share the new hotel suite with the maids. The two of them occupied the bed while their maids stayed in the attached living room to keep an eye on them. It had been an exhausting long day.

"Yes, Neon?" The other girl turned over, looking at her tenderly. "Complaining about sleeping with me?"

"Did I ever complain?" Neon slipped closer to her companion under the blanket. "I love sleeping together. It reminded me of when we were little." The fortune-teller giggled softly. Clandestia patted her head affectionately in return and it suddenly felt nostalgic for them.

"-But why are you shaking?" Neon gently hugged Clandestia, feeling her cousin's body tremble.

Clandestia did not reply. Neon whispered, a bit somber this time. "You're afraid! Was it another prophecy dream again?"

"Yes." The girl admitted softly. "I started having it very often these days."

"Poor Tia…" Neon sighed, hugging her companion closer. Her eyes gradually shut as sleep finally took over her.

"Sweet dreams, dear sis." Clandestia murmured to Neon who was already fast asleep. She quietly listened to the girl's even breathing rhythm. It's a blessing that her cousin can choose not to read her own predictions.

For her, she never had a choice.

She did not choose this ability. It chose her. She couldn't do anything and she couldn't even talk about it.

Her amethyst eyes fixated on the dark ceiling, listening to the clock ticking.

If everyone's life was timed to eventually cease, when would it be her turn? Would she see it to the end or she'd soon lose her mind?

Did it even matter if death came earlier or later when we all would eventually cease to exist?

Was life so precious? She doubted it was true for her. Maybe, it'd be better to die without knowing the little time that one has left. An ignorant death would be less burdensome.

Perhaps her mind was going numb as she had witnessed misfortunes unfold on a daily basis. There would be a time when all these feelings of torment and guilt would turn calloused as she got used to observing deaths and miseries.

Was there salvation for someone like her? If death was a form of salvation, then it counted. That was the reason why she never feared death.

In the coming day, someone close to them would die. His lover would be grieving. But what could she do for them?

I'm sorry, Eliza! She closed her eyes as she silently gave a prayer.

Someone else died tonight, too. It was a foe. There would be no concern if she didn't foresee his killer.

In her dream, the killer was wretched. He raised his chains at his long-awaited enemy thinking it would ease his endless anger and grief. But it did not turn out as he wanted. The dying throes, the smell of blood, and the determination in his enemy's eyes sickened him, frustrated him, and haunted him. He justified that his revenge was righteous because his opponents were nothing but ruthless monsters without hearts. But it confused him because that very same ruthless monster chose to die rather than give any information about his troupe members. It's an act only reserved to protect one's precious people. Turns out that disgusting monster did have a heart, unlike his expectations.

What would be harder than having the only purpose of your existence questioned?

She trembled, suddenly reminded of what he said the day before: Anyone's life is precious.

Her eyes snapped open. Right. He values life. That's why it will aggrieve him. It's going to torment him feeling that the sole quest of his life was not as legitimate as he thought.

She abruptly sat up in bed, glaring at the clock hanging on the wall.

4 A.M. She knew her presence would be unwelcomed now but there was no way she could calm her restless heart.

Having made up her mind, Clandestia flew out of the room.

Melody was pacing outside the door of a certain hotel suite. The room wasn't haunted or anything but she was having a hard time deciding whether or not she should enter.

She came an hour ago to check on her blond Kurta teammate but the frantic rhythm of heartbeats echoed from inside the room had her stop dead in her tracks.

She had never heard such a vicious rhythm. It screamed danger. No one was welcome to enter this room now, even her.

After some deliberation, she decided to leave. Knowing the fact that he was safe and sound was enough. It'd be better to give him privacy.

As she pivoted her steps to leave, someone unexpected appeared before her eyes.

"Lady Clandestia?!" She gasped. "-What are you doing here at this hour?"

"Is he inside?" Clandestia smiled faintly.

"Yes." The music hunter stuttered, not daring to grasp what was on the Lady's mind. "Yes, milady."

On cue, Clandestia proceeded to approach the door.

"Ah, no, milady, don't enter." Melody panicked. "He's in no state to see anyone now."

But Clandestia just silently reached for the doorknob.

"Lady Clandestia, it's... dangerous!" Melody uttered urgently. Her tiny hands held onto the girl's arms, preventing her from opening the door.

Clandestia released the doorknob but when she turned to look at her short bodyguard, her eyes were full of resolve. "I appreciate your concern, Melody. But don't worry, I believe he won't harm me."

"Plus, I don't think I can leave him alone now." She spoke with a rather sad smile but her voice was filled with tenderness.

Melody widened her eyes. At last, she let go of Clandestia's arm and sighed. "Alright, I'll be right here in case you need me."

"Thanks, Melody." Clandestia firmly turned the doorknob.

Melody wearily watched her mistress walk in and shut the door.