Back to Riverlook

I am doing this for Emma. I am not going out of this city without saving Emma. I am going to show her what she did for me all those years didn't go waste. I want her to regret marrying someone else. She will curse herself that she let some idiot marry her instead of me and she will beg_

"Woah woah. Slow down Ace. What on the earth are you even thinking?"

Yeah yeah. Forgot that she can read minds.

"You should save her and say this is in return for helping me cope with my loneliness, got it?"

"Yeah yeah, whatever."

I sighed. I won't say anything. It would be more preferable if I save her without her knowledge. Then I will leave. She will live the rest of her life thinking who was he_

"Ace! Stop this! Why do you think so much? My brain will explode. And Theo, we want you here. We are a team. You are not an odd one. Thomas, Jane will be ok if you don't visit her for two days. For God's sake! These guys!"

We three looked at each other.

"Who asked Mabel to join us?" Theo asked, frowning.

"It was Austin." Thomas pointed at me.

"WHAT?! SHE SAID SHE IS COMING. I DIDN'T ASK HER!" I argued.

Mabel glared at us and walked ahead of us. She acts like a child sometimes. She got angry at us and is walking faster than us. I chuckled at her anger. It kinda reminds me of Emma.

"WHERE ON THE EARTH IS HER HOUSE? WE HAVE BEEN WAKING FOR AGES!" Oops. Thomas is getting hungry.

"Calm down, can't you?" Theo is also getting hungry. I hope there is something to eat at her home.

We walked down the market street. I saw the baker's where we saw that bread and the jewellery shop where I saw that necklace. It feels like it was decades away. But those memories are still fresh and pure.

I spotted her house from afar. But I almost didn't recognise it. It no longer has a garden. All the flowers and butterflies are gone. Her broom is still there, among the rest of the garbage. I still remember my broom ride. I don't think I would ever be able to ride a broom without thinking about her hair flying in the air, her eyes staring at the horizon. What happened here? Did someone die?

I stopped by the door and hesitantly knocked. We all stood there for a while before someone came and opened the door. It has to be his father. He has the same hazel eyes. He looks like a mess. He has dark circles around his eyes. His clothes are all dirty and he looks like he hasn't eaten anything in days.

"Come in, please. I have been waiting for you all. Why are you late?" He said so happily.

What is going on? How did he know that we were coming? Can he predict the future?

"Emma will be back in a bit. She is at school. It is almost time. Where is she?" He anxiously walked to the window and peared outside.

"I totally forgot to get you something. Are you all hungry?" Without waiting for our answer he walked outside.

"Oh dear!" Mabel cried out clasping her hands to her mouth. Her eyes are filled with tears.

"What?" We three asked at the same time.

"You idiots! He lost it." A sob escaped her mouth.

What happened to him? He lost it? What does that even mean? Suddenly someone barged in and looked at all of us. Three clueless men and a sobbing grandma. Enough for him to freak out.

"Who are you people?" he asked, looking at each of us. Can say I missed these drama people. Who is he? I don't think I have seen him before. Or is he…? Oh. My. God.

"Hi. My name is Theodre Dixon. We are here for Emma. Where is she?" Theo said it as politely as he could.

"Oh." His face dropped. He looked at his feet. "You haven't heard? She was taken by the ministry… She is not coming back."

I could feel my breathing getting quicker and my heart beating loudly. She is not coming back? What are they going to do with her? Or is she even alive_

Mabel grabbed my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. That was enough for me to stop overthinking. She is fine. I am going to save her unlike this useless excuse of man.

"Why? What happened?" Theo asked. He is curious.

"She is a curse and Riverlook is in threat if she stays alive anymore. So the ministry took her away." He is sad. "Her father lost his mind that day. Always talking rubbish. I don't know what to do with him. He always runs to me asking for something. I am getting sick of_"

"You are not her husband?" I asked out loud. I regretted it that second.

"No, I am not." he said, trying to laugh it off. "Who told you so?"

"She said she was getting married the last time we saw her." Thomas said.

"She was meant to be married. But it didn't happen. She didn't even like him in the first place. She was forced to marry him."

"Why?" Curiosity is going to get me killed one day.

"Her father borrowed money from a lender. When he couldn't give it back, that lender asked to marry Emma." He sighed thinking about the rest. I can guess what happened later.

"She said she will marry to save her father, didn't she?" I asked and that man nodded. I sighed in defeat.

"What happened to the marriage then?" Theo asked.

"That man died." He said, "He was attacked by a beast."

My eyes grew wide. All three of them turned to look at me as I held back my smile. I am dancing around in my mind. I can't explain what I am feeling right now. It is not polite to laugh right now. I can let it out later. She was getting married to Josh? Oh. My. God. Now I don't regret killing him even a bit. He was meant to be killed; by me, of course. Thank you so much God. You are so kind and understanding. How can I repay you?

"I am Austin Tyler by the way. And you are?" I smiled to block out my laughter of happiness. And it is impolite to ask 'who are you'. This is more suitable.

"I am Oliver Bennett. Nice to meet… Tyler? TYLER?!"

Oops. There he goes. Can't say I missed the reputation I had here. I sighed. Time to leave.

"You are Austin?" We were interrupted by her father's sudden voice. He was here this whole time? He rushed to me and grabbed both of my shoulders. "You are Austin!" He is now so happy. "Wait a moment, please."

He ran to a room and we heard so many things getting knocked over. Suddenly Oliver ran out of the home. We three stood there and watched him running away.

"Are all the people in Riverlook like this?" Theo asked me.

I sighed. It is. No offence. "Pretty much."

"We should get out of here after her father comes back." Mabel said.

"Why?" Thomas asked. "I am hungry!"

"That Oliver just ran to report that Austin Tyler is roaming around the city. You were the cursed child. Did you forget that, Ace?"

"How can I?" I gave out a laugh at the thought of my dad coming running to me and locking me up in that room again.

"Don't worry, you are not alone this time." Theo said as patted my shoulder. That felt so good to hear.

Her father came back to me and placed a piece of paper in my hands.

"You could have just summoned it, you know?" Theo said bored.

"Shut it!" Mabel shushed him by kicking his feet.

"Read it somewhere more safe. I know he is gone to get people. Stay safe." He said as he led us out. We were surprised by his words. He gained back sense?

He led us out of the back door and showed us a deserted passage leading to somewhere.

"Take this path. It is usually empty. Stay safe." He said to us as he started to walk away. "Save my girl, will you?" He asked with pleading eyes. You are not the only person who wants her safe. It is my goal too. I am ready to kill and die for her. Because I know it is worth it. She is not meant to be locked up. Or worse_ Stop this overthinking.

I looked up to see her father's pleading eyes. He is desperate. He needs help. He has no one to ask for. He is alone. I can feel his heart. He is not alone in this. I am with you till the very end. I will protect her up to my last breath. I promise. She is the one I love.

"I will."