A gray-eyed man limped along the side of the road. Red colored his trousers at the left calf. He might be pressing his lips tightly, but his mind kept asking things other than enduring pain. Why would unknown black-robed people ambush the safe house that SURVIVE lent him? Why the guards had stiffened when he came out and had to fight them?
Once he heard Madame Ouden's words, that was when he got his answer. He froze as the faces of one agent after another crossed his mind. A glimpse of Davina's face prompted him to take out his handgun, load it with a silver bullet, and point it at the back of Madame Ouden's head.
"You know very well how Noir Dust works, Madame," he spoke in suppressed anger.
Drey's appearance caught everyone's attention, but did not diminish Madame Ouden's composure in the least.
"So, I'll give you one last chance to explain."
Madame Ouden let out a baleful laugh.
"Ah, so you want to play the hero?"
Drey groaned in pain as an invisible weight fell on his back, forcing him down on his knees.
"Perfect. 'Cause I'm done being on the gray side."
She smirked as she stepped over Drey's handgun. "Now you're forgetting that my power is unstoppable by the human body, why don't I feel rewarded?"
Madame Ouden turned her hand and flashed a purplish light as the distance between her and Drey grew smaller.
"Noir Dust is nothing to me now."
A bluish light threw Madame Ouden into the River of Flowers, making Drey take a deep breath and turn his head to the footsteps coming from beside him. Her shoulder-length hair reminded him of her bold confession regarding Noir Dust. Her firm gaze also reminded him of a young man in the past who said that his power must be belonged to someone other than himself.
Meanwhile, Gabriel approached Alessia who was leaning against the wall, being treated by Veron and Neya. He asked Neya to leave the first aid kit there and told her to help Brissia carry Drey to the roadside.
"Does it hurt a lot, Sia?" Gabriel asked softly.
Alessia shook her head, which made Veron frown. But then, he remembered Drey's words and looked up at Gabriel.
"Did that girl come with a symbol on the nape of her neck?"
"Who? Brissia Niverte?"
Veron's nod drew a thoughtful look on Gabriel's face. "I'm not sure. If it was Harris, maybe he would..."
His words and the two people's attention shifted when they heard Neya's scream. Their eyes widened at the sight of a spear of light piercing through Drey's chest.
Veron got up, running toward him while shouting his name. However, just as Brissia loudly told him to stay away, a strong wind threw him into the window of the building behind Gabriel and Alessia.
"Veron, no!"
Gabriel turned to Alessia who was standing up. He quickly followed her, grabbing her shoulders, pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Listen to me, Sia."
Gabriel's trembling words turned her head.
"I know you're not letting anyone die. I know that. But your husband and I have fought for many things for your happy ending, Sia."
The woman didn't move as Gabriel buried his face in her shoulder with a shaky breath.
"So, please, stay by our side."
She looked behind them. At that very moment, Brissia was fighting Madame Ouden with all her might while Neya carried Drey's body to the side of a building. Purple and blue light collided many times, in harmony with their conflicting desires.
"Do you still love me, Gabriel?"
The man looked up when Alesia said that. Then, Alessia let go of him and faced him with a faint smile.
"If you do, protect them for me, including Ashley."
Just as Gabriel opened his mouth, the woman suddenly vanished, leaving behind shards of light. He flinched when he heard a thud behind him, followed by the crash of a metal object on the ground.
The neon blue light in Brissia's eyes faded in an instant. The wind that was brushing her hair also immediately stopped. Instead of blinding flash of light, before her was a woman with dark orange hair. She slumped onto the ground, clutching a handgun.
"I told you I wouldn't die from mere dust. Why did you waste your precious life to prove it?"
Madame Ouden's cold gaze met Alessia's weak gaze. However, she quickly turned around when she heard a clicking sound coming from Brissia, who was holding her handgun tightly and aiming it at her.
She snorted. "So you asked for your turn. Fine, try!"
Just as she took a step ahead, a man with dark blue eyes appeared out of sudden in front of her, pointing a different gun.
"Sorry, but I'll go first."
Bang!
Veron landed on the ground as soon as Madame Ouden staggered backward. He caught a glimpse of Brissia behind him, who lowered the gun with a nod, before dashing toward Madame Ouden.
The purplish black haired woman shifted her gaze from her hands, which were covered in red, to the dark blue-eyed man who was getting closer to her. She just stared unblinkingly at the man as the transparent shell in front of her blocked the power Veron released in the form of neon blue light.
"What's this for?" she asked coldly. "Did my words about Noir Dust instill a death wish in each of you?"
"Neither Noir Dust and I can defeat you," Veron said with a calm look on his face. "However, I can feel your strength weakening, Old Woman."
Madame Ouden glared at him. She pushed her hands toward Veron, making the dome seem to turn into a strong wave that threw Veron onto the road.
"Hey!"
She turned at her left, aiming her palms at Brissia. While brushing it off, Brissia moved away to distract Madame Ouden.
Slowly, Veron got up. Staggering, he walked over to the woman in Gabriel's arms. While enduring the pain, he knelt beside them, making Gabriel turn around with teary eyes.
"Veron... she—"
Veron nodded before Gabriel finished his words. He put his hand in Alessia's blazer pocket. However, his eyes widened when he found nothing inside.
"What...?"
On one side, Drey laid short of breath next to Neya, who was busy trying to stop his bleeding. He glanced at the cracked antique pocket watch in his hand before sighing softly and closing his eyes.
"I'm sorry... Veron."
"Mister?"
Neya asked him then shook his shoulders gently. However, the man kept mumbled which made Neya's eyebrows furrow deeply.
"No..."
Gabriel looked at Veron who sat with a blank stare beside him.
"I should've found Harris sooner. I should've prevented him and Brissia from bumping into each other in the first place. I should've killed that woman the second I was revived. I should..."
Before he could finish his words, his body fell next to Alessia. That made Gabriel hold his head, just to avoid hitting it on the hard and cold asphalt, even though he could already feel how cold his body was.
"Gabriel."
The man turned to Neya, who suddenly was standing behind him.
"Brissia is our only hope."
Even knowing that, it still jolted Gabriel.
"Should we run?"
Neya's despair silenced Gabriel for a moment. Just seeing the two greatest people he had ever known lying limp before his eyes was enough to prove that Madame Ouden had become stronger than them over time. But from the bottom of their hearts, they knew they shouldn't leave Brissia alone.
"Hide."
Their heads turned to a woman with dark orange hair in Gabriel's arms. With half-open eyes, she continued in a faint voice, "Don't run away like others did. Hiding... won't hurt her or either of you."
"What are you talking about, Sia?" Gabriel asked in a hoarse voice.
"Not everyone deserves a happy ending."
Alessia turned for a moment to Brissia and Madame Ouden's combat. "However, history-makers are always going to exist."
Gabriel's tears fell as the woman closed her eyes tightly. He laid her gently beside Veron before getting up, approaching Neya.
While they were hiding behind a building, Neya tugged gently at his shirt.
"Drey whispered to me something earlier," she paused. "Brissia has gained Harris's remaining power."
Gabriel stared at her, looking confused.
"But didn't Harris have no power?"
They turned their heads quickly when they heard a big splash. Gabriel held his breath when he didn't see Brissia in front of Madame Ouden or anywhere else.
"He had it, but he had given it to Drey a long time ago. And his power will be the deadliest..."
Madame Ouden's crash into the wall of the building caught their attention for a moment. At the same time, a girl with shoulder-length hair floated out of the river and landed slowly on the ground.
"...If it's in the hands of Noir Dust carriers."
Brissia stood before Madame Ouden while holding her scraped knee. Her gaze was fixed on the two people lying stiffly far beside her.
"That's the punishment for those who are negligent towards time."
A soft, yet menacing tone of a woman's voice brought her focus back.
"If you are shameless enough, you will end up worse than them. So while I'm talking nicely—"
"I refuse."
Madame Ouden lowered her palm as Brissia cut her off with a stern look. Suddenly, purple light flashed in her eyes and Brissia's neck was in her grip in an instant.
"You... got rid of my friends and Harris," Brissia said amidst her difficulty breathing, "so why... I have to... hear you talk nicely?"
"The answer is yours."
Brissia's body was thrown onto the road. She coughed while holding her neck. As the purple light shot toward her, she hurriedly raised her hand low, creating a transparent dome.
"What is it?" Madame Ouden chuckled sarcastically. "Do you regret refusing to let me talk nicely?"
"I don't."
"Then quit being virtuous!" she snapped. "There are only heroes and villains in this world, none in between! You choose to defeat me or obey me!"
The sudden pain in the nape of her neck narrowed Brissia's eyes and made her lower her left hand. Brissia's shrinking barrier engraved a triumphant grin on Madame Ouden's lips.
"So long, Niverte."
Brissia blocked her face by crossing her arms as a purplish light devoured them all. The light rapidly expanded in all directions, along with a gust of wind blowing away the darkness.
Gabriel and Neya used their arms to shield their eyes. Until the wind diminished and the light disappeared, that's when they peeked at what had happened.
A girl with shoulder-length hair knelt amidst the dust that surrounded her like mist. She looked down, breathing hard in the gentle caress of the wind.
The wind brushed the nape of her neck and turned the black crow symbol into pieces. Once they were lifted into the air, only a small red scratch remained.
As Gabriel and Neya approached her, the red horizon grew brighter. A soft golden light swept across the quiet district. The regular ripples of the river water glistened under the cloudless sky, echoing the sound of peace.
It might be a new beginning for those who have been hiding. But for those who light their way, it was an ultimate ending.