97 Dead End 7

"Are you sure?" Lia's question stopped Nana who was washing the blood off her.

"Didn't you want me to join?"

"I do but can you really leave your family behind?" it was good for Lia that Nana wanted to join her but not at the cost of Nana forsaking her own family.

"It's not like I'll leave them forever," Nana dried her arms and hands on her clothes, "I want to grow and become stronger to help them, that's why I'll join you. Also," Nana looked at her sleeping siblings, "A world where we don't have to worry about our identity… I want to create this for them."

"I see, if you're determined and won't regret it, I'm happy to have you. As for your siblings, I'm sure one of the others will accommodate them with great care."

"Others?"

"The hidden families. Give me your hand," Lia stretched hers out and Nana took it.

"I'm giving you powers. I don't know which one your family has but Xavi might know it," Lia guided a soul piece into Nana and could feel the pain resurfacing. Lia's hand trembled and sweat formed on her forehead. Nana was alarmed, "Lia?"

"I was supposed to come with the others but just like you, I felt weak and helpless, that was why I wanted to prove myself coming here. In the end, I caused nothing but trouble. I'm sorry, I hope you can forgive me," Lia released Nana's hand and smiled faintly.

Nana brought her hand to her chest and wiped her tears away, "You also have it hard. I don't blame you, so don't feel guilty."

"Thank you," Lia pressed the pain down but losing another piece of her soul did more damage than she thought.

Nana quickly brought Lia to the bed and told her to rest. Seeing the children next to her, Lia didn't feel right but Nana pushed her down on the bed again.

Lia had no chance to retaliate and quietly accepted her fate. Soon, she fell asleep. While everyone was sleeping, Nana walked outside. Since Lia gave her powers, she felt a new energy welling up inside of her.

Nana has heard of using one's own lifeforce to draw out the ability yet no matter how she tried, it was futile. The only thing that has changed, was that her back was itchy.

Nana sat on the ground and took off her glasses. She stared at the sky and absent-mindedly ripped off some grass. She would need to wait until the other allies come.

Nana felt excited and anxious at the same time, she has never interacted with other people except for her family. Occasionally a nice man came by and brought them food and drinks, apart from that Lia was the first person she really talked to. It took her a lot of courage to hold a normal conversation with Lia and the content overwhelmed her.

Not far from now, she would be able to explore the world and hopefully, her siblings could also experience life more if they lived with someone else. Experience a life Nana couldn't give them.

The moon shone gently on Nana and her tears glistened. Silence overwhelmed her, drowning out the presence of the ghosts.

***

The next day, Lia awoke, four curious pairs of eyes stared at her. Startled but not showing it, Lia's lips formed a thin line while her eyes blinked.

Once, it was returned by the four pairs. Another time, it was returned again. Whenever Lia blinked, the little children followed suit.

Now, Lia felt the heavy weight on her. The four children surrounded Lia on the bed and their little hands pressed down on her body. Lia had a hard time breathing.

"Morning?" Lia finally pressed out and the kids jumped up on the bed and laughed.

"Don't disturb our guest," Nana scolded them, "Leave her alone!"

"Ok, big sis!" the kids shouted and ran to the kitchen for food.

Groggily, Lia sat up on the bed. From the windows, the sunlight fell on her. The others must have realised now she was gone, Lia held the hand in front of her face and yawned.

"How many times do I have to tell you there's enough for everyone!" Nana scolded her siblings and the volume in the house increased. Lia walked to Nana and Nana started apologising.

"It's fine, don't worry. It's nice to be so lively," Lia used to envy others who had siblings and she still did but looking at them, Lia couldn't help but wonder, "How old are they?"

"The youngest is 4 and the oldest 10."

"Then how old are you?"

"I'm 27."

Lia was surprised. There was a 17 years old age gap between her and the second oldest.

"Are you blood-related?'' This was intruding private matters but the age gap was too big and if the youngest was only 4, around 40 in immortal age then it hasn't been long since the parents should've been gone.

Nana smiled, "They are."

However, Lia found the smile ambiguous and the possibility Nana was seeing and treating them as her own siblings was still present.

If they weren't related and if the Elder of the U family has been gone since Nana was young then for hundreds of years Nana must've lived here alone until she took care of the siblings. However, it was just an assumption. Lia didn't know the truth and Nana didn't seem like she wanted to talk about it. So, Lia dropped the topic and instead said, "Do they always eat so much?"

Nana laughed, "They can't help it. They love eating too much. I don't eat a lot, maybe once a week, so there's enough for them. Oh, do you want to eat too? Wait, I-"

"It's fine," Lia held Nana back, "Let them eat."

Naa nodded and pulled Lia out.

"I've tried to use my power but it's useless."

"It takes a while and Xavi can help you. Do you feel anything different?"

"My back, the spot between the shoulder blades itches but apart from that no."

"It could be that your power manifests from the back," the power will naturally form through a body part. In case of Xavi and Mika through their palm and Susa from her eyes, so Nana might be from her back.

But that seemed like a strange power.

"From the back? Feels weird already," Nana turned to look at her back but obviously couldn't see it and ended up running in circles. Lia was reminded of a dog chasing after its own tail.

It was still morning yet the sun already shone strongly.

Nana and Lia made their way back into the house when something hard hit Lia's shoulder. Perplexed, she turned around and her heart stopped.

It was too early for them to be here, so how…?

"Are these the others?" Nana excitingly stood next to Lia and watched the four figures coming closer in the far.

Lia caught Mika raising his arm with another stone ready to throw at Lia. Lia understood his anger but to be so petty and violent?

Lia dodged to the side and the stone flew past her. Nana's excitement died down and she hesitatingly turned, "Are you sure these are your allies? Not enemies?"

Lia helplessly nodded, "They are. They are just a bit… angry because I left."

"Understandable," Nana didn't know how to react and saw the four people approaching until they finally stood in front of them.

Anger was written on each of their faces. Lia knew she had to apologise but wasn't mentally prepared for the sight. Seeing Susa, Lia understood that Susa might've already noticed earlier the shift in Lia's emotions and her plans to leave, that was why they got here so early.

Clairvoyance was really a pain.