3 Death

Death comes to everybody. That is a widely known fact.

Throughout history, people have struggled with the concept of death and what happens after it. In popular view, it was believed that the spirit separates from the body and goes back to its creator or not. It was even believed that the spirit will enter a world where all of the souls of the loved ones are. People have been told that when a person dies, they will be judged in purgatory whether they can enter the gates of Heaven or fall to the pits of Hell. This being one of the reasons why people would fear death and would try to live following what the world says is the right thing to do.

As for Cynthia Dorsey, born as Selah Spencer, also known as Luna of the Black Moon Organization, death is only something which is inevitable.

She was raised by Arlo Harrell and has acknowledged him as her only family. And although she found out about her real identity, her biological family was already exterminated long ago. Therefore, she didn't have any ties in the world other than Arlo. She only did what she's used to from childhood. She has seen death countless times but she never expected that her own death would come so soon.

When she jumped out of the building with Arlo, she already knew that their chances of survival were low. On her last ditch of effort, she twisted her body, holding Arlo close to her as they fell.

Has she forgiven him already for lying to her all those years? Has she forgiven him for his participation with the extermination of her family? Perhaps, or perhaps not. Either way she was already alone in that world. But owing to the fact that she has survived in that world for 20 plus years without feeling hungry or poor, this would make them even. If there was such an after life, she wondered if she would meet her biological family there as well. However, since she has caused the death of countless people, she could only smile bitterly, knowing her soul would probably burn in the pits of hell instead. Regrets would always come last.

She was able to cushion his fall, as for her, instant death. Invisible to everyone's eyes, a bright light surrounded her for a moment.

It was not known how long it had been since she died. She could only hear the sound of bells similar to that of the monastery.

'Didn't I die?'

She slowly opened her eyes and as she did so, her heart beat slowly but loudly, several bright lights surrounded her and entered her in 'woosh'.

All of a sudden, memories from her past assaulted her mind as her eyes glowed in bright light.

Scenes from when she was practicing her martial arts with Arlo as her mentor, when she first entered the Black Moon Organization, when she was praised by her predecessors and envied by her colleagues, when she killed for the first time, killing a terrorist. Scenes from when she learned tea ceremony and other skills to occupy her time when she's not sent on missions. Scenes from when she decided to become a physician after she failed to rescue the children who were used as guinea pigs in a laboratory. Scenes from all of her travels, collecting trinkets that Arlo could never relate to. Scenes from when she visited her family's grave for the first time.

It was as if she saw her life in fast-forward.

However, it didn't stop there.

She saw a man in complete armor slashed at her. As if she felt the pain of being slashed by a sword, she clutched her front and grimaced.

"General!" She heard a voice and turned towards it but she didn't see anyone.

She saw a bony hand in front of her, velvety drapes on her bed.

'What is this? Am I being possessed?'

Before it ended, a faint light appeared in front of her and touched her forehead. Memories of being chased by black clothed men and being struck on the chest entered her mind.

Cynthia's heart hurt for the owner of the memory as she remembered the time when she couldn't save those children. She loosened her guard against the light.

The bright light grew brighter and entered Cynthia in a 'woosh'.

Scenes of fifteen years worth of memories assailed her.

When she opened her eyes again, she saw the ceiling. The decorations looked to have an ancient china aesthetic. She then felt her bed that she was lying on to be harder than her own bed. The pillow her head was resting on was hard. She was definitely not in her own bedroom.

Footsteps approaching from outside could be heard. She closed her eyes once again, regulated her breathing. Her last memory was of when she was struck by a man in black. She couldn't feel much energy in her body at the moment so it was best to analyze the situation first. She could be in enemy's territory right now.

She heard the door creaking open. Followed by five pairs of feet entering inside. Two of those were light, which she assumed were owned by women. The others were men.

"Doctor, what do you think? Will she survive?" An older woman's voice could be heard. She seemed to be a middle-aged woman.

Someone heaved a sigh. "Madam, I apologize for my inadequacy. I couldn't save the young miss. She was struck by a heavy blow. Her inner organs suffered most of the damage."

"What?! Have you given her all the treatments and pills?! Have you really done everything to save her?" The woman increasingly became hysterical. She even tried to shake the doctor like a rattle but was stopped by her maidservant that was closely following behind her.

The doctor coughed. "This.. I did everything I could. I'm sorry but she'll be dead soon."

"Noo!!!!!" The woman cried hysterically then fainted.

For some reason, when she heard the commotion caused by the woman, she didn't feel heartbroken for her. In fact, she wanted to sneer so badly at the pretentious woman who just fainted.

"Take your madam to her room." An older man firmly told the maidservant.

"Yes, Old Patriarch." The maidservant bowed as she assisted the woman out of the room.

"Was what you said the truth?" The older man asked the doctor once more.

"General. I am really sorry for not being able to heal your granddaughter. I've done all I could."

The old man who was called General nodded at the doctor. "Thank you for your efforts. My son will give you the payment for all the treatment you did on her."

"Doctor, if you could follow me.." Song Huo gestured for the doctor to go with him outside.

"Thank you, General. Please, call for me if you need assistance next time." The doctor bowed and left with Song Huo.

The General heaved a sigh, feeling miserable at the bad news he heard. Not only is his granddaughter going to die but his eldest son, Song Xia is still unconscious which means his injuries haven't healed yet.

The door opened once again as Song Huo came back, shutting the door behind him.

The General looked behind his son, making sure nobody was outside eavesdropping.

"Speak."

"Father, the ambush was planned by her." Song Huo reported to General Song Qing.

With clenched fist and gritted teeth, all Song Qing wanted to do was to bash the face of the woman who just pretended to faint earlier.

It has been half a month since the incident happened and both unconscious father and daughter were brought from the inn to the Song Clan's residence.

Half a month was used to search for clues to who was the mastermind of the ambush and to search for pills and elixirs to cure both family members.

"Do you believe that she'll die, father?" Song Huo still didn't give up hope that his niece would wake up one day.

"We will not stop looking for pills and elixirs, even if it costs our family's treasury."

"Jia'er, listen to Uncle, alright? You must get better!" Song Huo held the young woman's hand, lightly patting it.

'Even if it costs our family's treasury? Ack! No, don't waste money!!'

The young woman's eyes fluttered open slowly, the hand Song Huo was holding squeezed him in return.

Both men's breath hitched in shock.

Song Jia brought a finger to her lips, signalling them to not make a sound to alert the others. Both men nodded, their mouths hanging open. She smiled faintly at them before she closed her eyes once again.