Chapter 9 – The Weight That Can't Be Undone
"No one remembers I die?"
Kairo's hands trembled. His voice cracked as he turned to Lyna, panic rising in his eyes.
"Lyna… I died—!"
But before he could finish, time itself seemed to freeze. A heavy silence fell around him, and suddenly—he couldn't speak. It was like something had grabbed his throat, locking the words deep inside. His eyes widened. He clenched his fists.
"…This damn curse…" he growled under his breath. "It won't even let me say it?! F**k it—I'll just write it!"
He rushed to the table, grabbed a pen and paper, and began scribbling furiously.
"I died. This curse won't let me talk about it. And it said… if I die, someone I know will die too."
Lyna took the note, reading it slowly. At first, her brows furrowed in confusion. But then, she looked up at Kairo's desperate eyes.
"…I believe you," she said softly. "This curse… it's more dangerous than I thought."
Kairo's breath caught in his throat.
"I don't want anyone else to die. No, no, no… please…"
Suddenly, the bell rang. A knock at the door. He froze.
"No… not now…" Kairo whispered. "Please, not bad news…"
Lyna opened the door, only to find a delivery boy standing there with a sealed envelope.
"It's for Kairo."
Kairo took the envelope, hands shaking. He didn't even open it yet—and already, his gut twisted.
"F**K! I don't want to hear this—I don't want anyone to die…"
He ripped it open.
His eyes scanned the first line. And stopped.
Your father has passed away.
His body went numb.
"WHY?! Why always me?! It can't be true… it CAN'T be true!"
He bolted out the door. "Lyna! We're going to my dad's shop—now!"
They sprinted through the village. Every step felt heavier than the last. Once there, he asked anyone he saw, hoping begging for someone to say the letter was wrong.
But every face gave the same look.
And every voice said the same words.
"He's gone, Kairo."
Shattered, he stumbled home in silence. And as soon as the door shut, the tears broke loose. He collapsed to his knees.
And then memories began to return…
Flashback.
It was evening. The sky was glowing orange. A younger Kairo sat alone on the rooftop, knees pulled to his chest.
His father climbed up the ladder, carrying two cups of tea.
"You always sit here when something's bothering you," he said gently.
Kairo stayed silent. His father didn't press he just sat beside him.
"You don't have to talk," he said after a while. "Just know… I see you. I'm proud of you. I may not always say it—but I brought your favorite tea."
Kairo's eyes began to water.
"…You never say that to me," he whispered.
His father sighed, watching the sun dip below the horizon.
"That's my fault. I thought I had to make you strong… but maybe, you needed warmth more than strength."
Another memory.
Kairo small, running with a scraped knee, crying.
His father knelt in front of him.
"You're allowed to cry," he said. "You're a man. But remember—never stop walking."
And another—
A younger Kairo sat locked in his room, his mother angry at him for something he barely remembered.
But that night… a quiet knock at the door. Then, a small plate slid underneath.
With a note:
"Even when I can't stand by your side, I'm still here."
The flashback ended.
Kairo let out a scream that ripped through the silence of the room.
"NO! This is my fault! AHHHH—I THINK I KILLED HIM!!"
Lyna rushed to him.
"Kairo, please—breathe!"
"How can I breathe when I KNOW I caused this?! I DIED, AND NOW HE'S GONE!"
He searched the envelope again—and found a second letter inside. It was from his father.
"I've been sick for a long time. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to worry. I've always loved you. Stay strong, my son."
Kairo broke.
Tears poured out uncontrollably. He clawed at his hair, shaking violently. Lyna tried to hold him, to calm him—but he pushed her away in his panic.
Then, silence.
He looked at her—realizing what he just did.
"…I'm sorry… I—I didn't mean to…"
She gently pulled him into a hug.
"It's okay. I understand. Let it out."
They sat there together for a long time. Kairo sobbing into her shoulder, Lyna whispering gentle words.
After a while, he wiped his face.
"We have to stop those monsters," he muttered. "We have to stop all of this."
"You will," Lyna said. She gave him water, rested his head in her lap. "You just need to train. And next time you fight… don't let fear win."
"Easier said than done…"
"I know. But you're not alone. I'm with you, Kairo."
He looked up at her. For the first time in hours, he smiled—faintly.
"I don't know how to thank you."
"Just stay with me," she whispered. "That's all I want."
He nodded.
"We don't have much time," he said. "But… I remember that world—the abandoned town with that masked man. Time moves differently there. We can train without wasting real time."
Lyna smiled. "Let's go."
—
They arrived in the desolate world. Dusty, quiet, strange.
Lyna stepped back and said, "Show me your emotions. Imagine someone killing your father. Imagine losing me."
Kairo screamed—and energy exploded from his body. Golden light spiraled around him. The ground cracked.
"He's overflowing!" Lyna gasped.
His powers raged out of control. Lyna rushed forward, tapped his forehead—he collapsed into her arms, unconscious.
She cradled him. Her hands glowed with healing magic.
"I love you too, Kairo…" she whispered. "You've been through so much. Just like I have."
—
A quiet flashback flickered in her mind.
Monsters in masks. Her parents screaming. Blood everywhere.
She clenched her fist.
"No," she said. "This is not the time for pain. It's time to protect."
She looked at Kairo, still asleep in her lap.
"In this world, time is on our side. Sleep, Kairo. Rest. We'll win this together."
Chapter End ⚔️