Chapter 1: Rio

On a sunny day, a cheerful girl with a smile as cheerful as the sun, walk around excitedly, until it halt in front of such a simple yet attractive shop, fulls of different flower with various attractive scent.

"Oh, Rio, you're here again?" a middle-aged woman asked the girl.

"Yes, mommy. I... I love flowers! When I grow up, I want to be like you!" the girl slowly touch the flower with such care, before being picked up.

"Hahaha, okay, Rio. But first, you must be a good girl and stay at our home, okay?"

"But.. I want.. to be with mommy. I'll... I'll not be naughty and just stay here, okay?"

"Tsk.. you're really stubborn, Rio. Okay, I'll let you stay here, but don't do anything that will affect our shop, okay?"

"Yes, mommy."

The little girl interestedly watch how her mother run the shop, and unexpectedly find a troubled man, looking at the flowers with its own unique charms.

"Uncle... do you have a problem picking flowers?" Rio asked, as she observe the man.

"A kid? Yes.. I.. seems unable to decide which flower should I pick." the man perfunctorily answered Rio and still think carefully.

"Is it for true love? Passion? Death ones? or Gratitude?"

"You ask too many questions, little girl, but since you're cute, I'll tell you, but keep it as a secret, okay?" the man kneel down to level his height before whispering to the girl.

"Yes, I promise I'll not tell anyone!"

"It's because.. there's a woman I like, and it's our first date, so I don't know what flower I should give."

"So, will you give it to the one you love?"

"Yes."

"Well, mommy always said to me flowers have its meaning, like this red flowers. It's called rose and it symbolize love and passion. This white was called gardenia and symbolize purity and sweetness and can convey secret love or crush. Well, that's what all I remember from what mommy said. But if.. I were you, I would choose what's come from your heart, because when father always give mommy a flower, mommy truly loved it even though she always said to me secretly that sometimes, the flower father picked was for bereaved loved ones." Rio said as the man was moved by her.

"What's your name... little girl?" the man can't help but take a liking towatds the girl for being so adorable and smart.

"Mommy said to not give my name to strangers, but since Uncle seems good, my name is Rio."

"Hmm.. Rio is great. You actually help me clear my mind, thanks. Here, accept this." the man sweetly said as he pick up a violet flower.

"Do you know what flower is this?"

"No. My mother still didn't say that to me."

"It's called hydrangea, stand for gratitude." the man patted the little girl before picking up a bouquet of red tulips.

Rio went back to the front desk and playfully hold the hydrangea before sniffing it out.

"Rio, how could you accept something from the strangers?" Rio's mother asked, not totally angry.

"But I also don't know, mommy. He just give me this flower because I help him to pick flowers."

"Really? You're such a sweet girl, Rio. Mommy is so proud of you." Rio's mother said as he hugged Rio, when suddenly a sound of gun echoed as the glass shattered.

Continued firing resounded through the small florist, bringing wreck and destruction all over the place, as two figure laid on the floor, with a puddle of blood.

The peaceful street was suddenly become chaotic as people tried to flee in all over direction, with their lives on the risk.

"Mommy, mommy, I'm scared." Rio weakly said as she shake her mother, but she still remain steady.

"Mommy! Mommy!" Rio continue to shake her mother, with tears grow into cries.

"Mommy! I'm scared.. waaawaaaa... Mommy wake up! Mommy, mommy!" Rio continue to cry and was shocked.

"You brat! Be quiet or I'll kill you too! Give me all the money in the cashier!" a masked man with gun pointed at the little girl, asked scarily.

"I.. I'm.. waaawaaa..." Rio was frightened, making her wet herself before crying as loud as she can.

"Damn you, brat! I told you to f*cking shut up, didn't I?!" the masked man was about to clutch the trigger but his accomplice stop him.

"Hey, bro, stop. She's just a kid, and innocent."

"So what?! She's annoying me, so I better kill her?! And what are you saying? Don't tell me you're feeling pity for her, don't you?!"

"Wh..what are you talking about? Of.. of course not!"

"Then what the hell are you still dilly-dallying here and just don't get the money before the police came?!"

"Uncle... please help mommy! Mommy don't wake up! I'm scared, Uncle... please... wake up mommy!" Rio can't understand what the two were talking about or seems to know what's truly happening.

"Don't touch me! And stop crying already!!!" the masked man was getting more and more annoyed, but the other robber has such a soft heart and seem to pity the girl.

"Rob, don't be like that! She's just a kid, you know."

"Who cares about that?! And did you already did what you are tasked to?"

"Yes, and Rob, please tell our boss, this would be my last time doing this. He can kill me if he want but I.. I won't do it again."

"Joey, what.. what do you mean?! Are you fucking crazy?! Is.. it because of this little girl?!"

"Yes! I.. I don't want to do this kind of stuff anymore!" the other man said, as he slowly walked towards Rio.

"Little girl, what's your name?"

"Uncle... I'm scared! Mommy... mommy still don't wake up!"

"Little girl, I'm sorry, but.. you're mom won't wake up anymore.."

"Uncle.. what.. what are you saying? Mommy.. mommy will still wake up. She.. she promised Rio to teach a lot of stuff about flowers... mommy still have dad waiting for her... Rio still needs mommy." Rio said as she shake her mother again.

The robber seems to be struck by what the girl said, and feels heavy inside his heart to see such a cute girl seeing such a scene with such a young age.

"Damn you brat! It's all your fault why he became like this! You should just die, damn you!" Rob said before he pulled the trigger due to anger.

"Rob, no! Don't kill her..." Joey said as he instantly defend Rio and took the shot for her and get hit in the head.

Blood start to flow, as trauma could be seen from the eyes of the little girl.

Rob seeing a comrade die from his hand, became filled with shocked and can't seem to accept what he had done, but a siren suddenly echoed, making him run away.

"Damn you brat! I'll definitely kill you someday! You kill Joey! I'll never forgive you!"