23 Torin's Story (Part 3- End)

Hell on earth.

That's the first thing that came on Dean Mavi's mind when he arrived at Torin's residence.

The neat and tidy house he remembered was gone, replaced with a very messy place. Broken door, shattered glasses and... bloodied floor. Calling it messy was actually an understatement.

His feet took steps slowly, as he approached the dead body of a girl. He reached his hand towards her face in fear. When he saw who it was, he instantly covered his face in shock.

It was Isla, the wife of Torin. Her body was filled with numerous cuts. He almost couldn't recognise her with all the wounds she had. Her clothes were ripped apart, the only thing that covered her is the coat he remembered Torin was wearing this morning.

"What in this world happened?!" He murmured shakily.

He slowly stood up. His face was as pale as a sheet of paper. He was afraid to see more horrendous things.

Then he walked as if he's on thin ice while he looked grimly at the direction of the kitchen.

Upon entering, his heart sank!

There, he saw Torin holding his daughter in his arms, rocking her gently as if she's just asleep. His face was covered with stains of blood that has dried up already.

"Torin... Torin what happened?" He asked, stuttering.

Torin didn't even bother to look at him. He just weakly whispered to Raya, "Shh, sleep baby, sleep." Then repeated it over and over again, denying the death of his child.

The old master looked closely at Raya. Her fingers were gone, her feet was smashed, her face was cut viciously, and her bones were broken. Looking at her properly, it's as if you could feel her torment before dying. Dean Mavi's body instantly shivered in fear, the night seemed a lot colder than usual.

He can barely imagine the nightmare that just happened.

~~~

"When I saw my wife who's lying on the floor and not wearing clothes, it felt as if my heart was being crushed." Torin cried. "I covered her with my coat, hoping it'd give her warmth, but it's useless she's already dead."

He breathed deeply. It took him about a minute before he spoke again.

"Raya my child, I've seen her dying." Torin held his face with his two shaking hands as he continued. "I can still remember the look in her eyes. It was blank, but when I carried her she look relieved."

"I was too late. I knew I couldn't save her anymore. The only thing I could do was carry her closely into my arms. Whispering for her to sleep. Hoping that she won't feel the pain anymore... hoping that she won't suffer anymore." He sobbed.

Luciana could feel his pain. She wanted to comfort the man, but all she could do was stare at him silently as she waited for him to finish his story.

Torin wiped the tears in his face with the clothes he's wearing. He coughed to clear his throat and started to talk again.

"When the Old master came, I was awakened. I held my grief as I slowly put Raya down on the floor, then ran out of the house. I searched the area madly. Not far away, I saw Garth." He gritted his teeth then continued. "When I got near him I knew it was him who killed them. His clothes were still bloody. He's laughing like a lunatic and was even shivering in excitement while still holding a kitchen knife."

Torin paused for a second then said, "I couldn't control myself. I started assaulting him. Every punch that I gave, comes with all the pain I received."

He clenched his hand as he talked. "Dean Mavi arrived. He didn't stop me. He just stared while I was taking his son's life."

"In my extreme grief, I wanted to take from that sick man the same thing he took from me."

"I rushed towards his home, intending to kill his wife and son. Those who tried to stop me we're killed by me."

"When I saw Dax Mavi, his son, I intended to kill him, but his mother stood in front of him protecting him." He coughed once again and patted his chest. "When I saw them, I imagined my wife doing the same to Raya. So I stopped, kneeled there, and just cried."

"Old Master didn't order people to arrest me. He just told me to leave without looking at me. His old figure seemed to aged a lot more."

Torin suddenly laughed, though not a hint of happiness could be perceived from it. His tears continuously flowed. His image as a tough man was replaced by the image of a man in deep sorrow.

"Soon, even though I stopped myself from killing Garth's family, I heard news that his wife died from hanging. The old Master was bedridden and it didn't take long for him to perish as well."

"I killed Garth, forced his wife to suicide, and pushed the Old Master to his demise."

"Tell me, how am I not different from that monster?"

Holding his head while crying, he felt two arms surround his body into a hug. He could feel a small hand caressing his back slowly as if wanting to calm him down.

"Until now I'm still wishing that it was all but a nightmare. Wishing that when I open my eyes, I'll see my wife and daughter and hug them again."

"Are you not disgusted with me?" He asked her with fear. "Will you leave me too?"

"You are my family." Luciana said. Her unspoken words were -- How could I bare to leave you? You are my family, no matter what you did, I may feel disgusted for a while, but in the end it won't change the fact that I hold you dear in my heart.

Torin held her back and felt thankful that the girl was there to accompany his grieving heart. After a lot of years living in coldness, he finally felt the warmth. Perhaps the heavens took pity of them. He gave Luciana to his life, and gave him to hers.