*EMPTY*

"Aria!."

Aria's eyes flung open by the sudden disturbance and the first face she saw was Edmond.

What is going on? Just a second ago she was about to get killed by the doll maker yet now she was here?.

Did Edmond save her? If he did then how?.

"I was really worried." He smiled a little but she didn't smile back and only stared at him, suspicious.

"What happened to me Edmond?." She asked him carefully and he hesitated before replying.

"You fainted while I was talking to Derick for about five minutes."

Aria was trying hard to believe him but those things she experienced felt just too real. She was sure he wanted to kill her. So how the hell did she faint?

"We need to get moving now." He helped her up and she dusted her gown which was now dirty.

The cold night breeze blew gently and Aria turned around to see a faint red light within the trees. She tried to focused her eyes more and squinted it until she saw black smoke wafting up into the clouds from that red light.

"F-fire?." She breathed, panick overflowing her mind.

Why was there fire in the forest?.

Her heart was drumming hardly against her rib cage as she took on her heels, her feets springing from their position.

"Aria!?." Edmond didn't understand why she suddenly ran off until his eyes met the red light which was glowing brighter by the second.

"Damn it." He cursed under his breath and followed her.

Aria didn't care about the tree branches that scratched her arm as she ran across the rough ground, the number of times she stumbled in an attempt to jump a log, all she cared about was that fire wasn't where she thought it was.

It couldn't be

The closer she got to her destination, the more hot it became. Soots were flying in the air and her heart began to beat faster.

She slowly stood in front of a tree as she watched the ravage fire swallow her house up completely, the fire raging as though it could burn off the whole forest.

Her body shook as she took small steps towards it, a blank look on her face.

Her mother was meant to be home by now. Just like always, she'll put the food on the table and start cleaning the house.

Her mother was in there. Her mother was in the fire! She needed to save her!.

She ran towards the fire, intending to jump in but was blocked by someone.

She felt the last thread holding her sanity snap.

"No! My mother is in there! I have to get her!" She banged her fist on the person's chest as angry tears glistened in her eyes.

"You are going to die if you go in there." A familiar voice said and she looked up to see the shadow who looked down at her.

She felt as though she was boiling from the inside"Why? Why is my house on fire? Tell me!."

"You had managed to escape death so it's only normal that death goes for someone else, someone as a replacement."

Arai fumed at his words, the more he talked the more she wanted to just...just wanted to tear him apart!.

"That is my mother! She did nothing wrong! She's innocent!"Her hand curled into a fist as she screamed at him, the volume being consumed by the fire.

"I saved you from the fire, I'm not a saint that goes saving another person who I have no business with." His tone was flat and Aria had heard enough.

"You heartless jerk!." Her voice was low but the bitterness couldn't be hidden.

"You're welcome."

Tears flowed out of her eyes as she fell on her knees, her heart clenched. It all still felt like a dream.

"I will do anything, just please save her." She looked absolutely vulnerable and the shadow bent to match her height.

"I have no control over death, so I advise you refrain from begging me for such a request." His voice held no emotion as more tears slipped down her face, staining her gown which was absorbing it.

"Also, don't ever think of killing yourself." He paused, his voice dropping"Because I will go to the afterlife just to get you back."

"I hate you." She whispered. Never in her life had she felt so much hatred for a single person. She couldn't believe that just one person had turned her life upside down.

It was all his fault.

He didn't reply and instead stood up, straightening his body"Sorry to burst your bubble sweetheart, but I intend to make you hate me even more."

And at that, he disappeared.

Aria was left alone as she stared at the fire burning, the image reflecting in her eyes.

So this was how it felt to watch everything you knew and grew up with burn before your eyes.

With nothing you could do about it. But watch helplessly.

Aria could hear footsteps approaching her from behind and she made no effort to move.

From the corner of her eyes, she saw Edmond who quietly stood beside her and she was grateful for that he didn't speak. She wasn't in the mood to say anything.

His team came a bit later to stop the fire before it could spread in the forest and they finished quite early.

"We have to go." Edmond finally spoke and she looked up to meet his gaze.

"Go where?." Her voice cracked"My home is gone, my mother is dead, I have no money Edmond...where will I go?."Her voice sounded small and Edmond was touched by the sight.

"You can come with me." He suggested and her expression turned to one of disbelief.

"The castle is big enough to house hundreds of people, you not being an exception."

She stood up, her legs feeling weak"Look at me Edmond. I'm a poor commoner with a bad reputation, why would you want to take me where elites live?."

She just didn't get it.

"You have been a good friend to me." He smiled and a sad smile appeared on her lips.

"I just wish my mother had stayed longer." She muttered to herself, giving a final glance at her house which was nothing more than piles of ash, before leaving with Edmond.