- one -

I was 12 then when my parents died that day.

It was gruesome,

and I'll never forget it.

//flashback//

I was walking down the streets of my town, bustling with excitement and chatter. Who would've thought that on this very day, the two most important people of my life would soon be dead?

Walking towards a shop on the road, I buy some fruits, herbs, and vegetables needed to make today's dinner. I choose the smaller portions of what I need, so my family could save money by not having leftovers.

I pick a small bundle of lettuce, with a small fraction of garlic, and three small apples in my basket. I place all my items on the little rusted plate that's able to weigh the items I bought. In this store, price depends on weight, the reason why I pick small portions of items I wouldn't need any larger.

I cross my fingers, hoping the total is less than 9 coins, which is the only money I have with me currently. I look up at the merchant in anticipation when suddenly, he speaks.

"10 coins."

I was devasted.

Just one coin less!

I open up my dirtied pouch and take out the 9 coins slowly. While my hand was rummaging to grab the 9 coins I had in my pouch, my fingers glide across another object, cold in temperature.

My eyes glimmer in hope. Maybe I had a spare coin leftover!

I frantically reach out for that one object, hoping to find another coin, but instead, I saw a jade in the shape of a leaf. Not remembering how it got there, my eyes dimmed as they searched the ground for a lone coin or something.

My eyes dart to a shiny golden coin on the floor.

I run to the one object in my sight, ready to retrieve it when suddenly, a foot comes into view. A very familiar foot.

I stopped in my tracks abruptly, which caused me to fall on my knees.

I recognized it instantly as Morlingber's shoe. I shakily turn my head up, as I was on the floor.

Three kids around the age of 13 smirks at me.

"Um, could you guys move your foot a little bit?" I stammer.

"Why?"

Sweat beads form on my head while I point to the golden coin.

"I need that."

They smirk as their small little pea-sized brains think of a devious plan in order to humiliate me.

The other boy on the right of Morlingber chuckles darkly as he says something that I was hoping all this time not to hear.

"Bark like a dog five times, then you'll get your coin."

My face glooms instantly, knowing that I had no choice.

I gulp.

"W-woof! Woof, woof! Woof! Woof!" I bark in humiliation.

I glare at them in the process.

"Oh you're such a cute little doggy, I'll reward you with a coin."

The other boy on the left of Morlingber picks up the coin from behind his shoes, then stands in front of me.

"Open your mouth!"

Embarrassed, I open my mouth, and a cold coin is in between my teeth.

The metallic taste instantly spreads around my mouth, making me want to spit it out.

I was about to until Morlingber glares at me.

"Don't you dare take that out before we leave," he starts to say.

"Or would you like me to do that again?"

My eyes tremble in fear while my mouth quivers at the thought of that one memory.

Fire.

Fire.

Fire.

I remembered that painful memory of burning.

In a fire.

It was a feeling I didn't ever want to experience again.

I would've been burned to death if that person hadn't saved me.

Morlingber's fire magic wasn't very powerful, but when combined with gasoline, anyone would shriek in pain. I was no exception.

I didn't know where he got it, or how he knew about it.

I just knew that I needed to get out of that fire.

I was in so much indescribable pain.

It was about 12 seconds before someone pulled me out of the fire with extreme force, and from that, I could tell that one was good with sorcery.

I was in so much pain that I blacked out, and when I woke up, I was wrapped up with bandages at my house again. I never knew what happened after I blacked out that day, except that Morlingber didn't bully me as often.

He never changed.

The scars were still there after 3 years, and that memory still haunts me to this very day.

Just the thought of it makes me quiver in fear.

I was brought back to reality by the laughter of the trio.

"Look at how scared she is!" one managed to say in their fit of laughter.

They then walked away from me.

I sighed in relief.

I then realized that the coin was still in my mouth.

I quickly take it out and wipe it with my dress, and I stand up.

Morlingber then turns his head around to give me a chilling smile.

I shiver but quickly turn around to give the merchant the last coin.

The merchant looks at me with pity, then offers me a small cheese slab.

"Here. You should take this. Cook something good for your family."

I smile in delight and thank him.

I then skip back home, not wanting to wait any longer to cook my parents a good dinner tonight with the little extra the merchant gave me.

I was thinking about what I should make with the cheese tonight when I'm finally at the door of my house. I knock on the door and shout, "Mom! It's me! Evergreen!"

I hear nothing.

Just silence.

I knock on the door, louder this time.

"Mom?"

I knock on the door more, knocks getting more frantic.

"Mom! Wake up! I got the ingredients!" I shout.

I grab onto the handle, expecting it to be locked, but to my surprise, it wasn't.

Right when the door opened, a chilling breeze glides past me.

I have a really bad feeling about this.

I slowly walk upstairs to my parent's bedroom and open the door slowly.

My eyes widen in utter shock and fear.

On the floor.

My parents.

Blood everywhere.

The scent of their blood fills the house, making me gag.

Who did this?

Who wanted to kill my parents this much?

I don't remember my parents having any enemies.

They were humble people.

Tears stream down my face while my small body shakes silently.

Who? Just who?

"It was me, sweetie."