Chereads / Surviving The Illusions Of Flames / Chapter 17 - 17. Water

Chapter 17 - 17. Water

The lady's eyes widen at Melina's words and her face reddens more from anger. As she is about to shout again, Koji interrupts it, catching their attention by pulling the boy away from the lady.

"Uah! Put me down!" The boy shouted as he kept him in the air with one hand in ease. Swaying him a little to instill more fear as Koji gets the reaction he wants from him.

"How are you causing trouble again so soon?" He asks the boy who now recognizes him.

He quickly gives in, "I-I'm sorry! I lied!"

"Did you heard him?" He turns to Sici for confirmation.

Her lips form a smirk as she acts, "Nothing at all."

"You heard her. Say it louder now," he says.

As fear eats him up, he starts crying, "I.. I'm s-sorry! I won't do it again!"

"Drop him," Melina orders and Koji instantly lets go of him.

"Come on, nothing to see here anymore," he says clapping his hands, controlling the crowd as they start to leave.

Now he drifts his attention to the lady, "This boy is sneaky, madam. I don't know what happened but I can at least confidently say, she isn't guilty of your accusations."

The lady just nods, not understanding what to reply. Melina rolls her eyes and starts walking in the direction he had just come from.

"NOW you let it go? What about your pride??" Sici says and gets no reply in return whatsoever. She was now starting to think why Melina couldn't just take full control and do something about her so called murderer herself since she was taking over so often now.

Koji follows along as he grabs the boy along with him, "W-wha.."

He softly taps on her shoulder as he catches up to her, "Not even a thanks?"

Sici crys inside silently, "I would love to but I can't fucking speak!"

She just smiles back at him, making him laugh like usual.

"That's rude, don't you think?"

Sici shakes her head.

"Not even going to bless my ears with your voice today?" He teases.

Sici instantly shoots him a look of disapproval. She had forgotten for awhile that he kind of left this as his first expression. She then notices the little boy struggling to get out of his hold.

Koji notices her gaze and answers, "This one played the same trick on me as you. I promised to not let it go next time."

Sici shrugs letting them be.

"Missy, help me!" The boy pleads.

Sici lets it slide, not paying attention to his cries for help. Doesn't matter the age, he does need a lesson or better, a punishment to never try this for fun again.

"Pfft. Want to suggest anything?" He asks.

Melina voices the thought in a quick second, "Throw him in the water." Sici immediately puts a hand on her mouth.

"As you wish," he looks around while the boy now has a terrified look on his face.

"Is the system at least willing to help me?" Sici thought in frustration.

[ User May Voice Her Thought If It Is Related To The Clue ]

She tries to slam her head on the screen popped up in front of her only to swing her head as it is transparent. The system takes it as a nod meaning yes.

She feels a little light in her throat. Being oblivious to it, she unconsciously speaks out, "Bitch."

Surprised she looks at him to see if it was heard out loud. Judging from his amused reaction towards her, it takes it as a confirmation. Her attention soon shifts as the system pops up.

[ Invalid To Be Counted As A Clue ]

"Huh? Is the system glitching or something?" Her head starts to hurt.

[ User's Time Will Be Decreased For Wrong Answer ]

[ ... Processing ..... ]

She stands still, chest starting to feel heavier than before. Wondering if she should just give up. Making her question what was she doing anyway. Nothing made sense for her to be here in the first place. Calling her ungrateful when everything around her was being ungrateful in the first place.

Koji waves his hand in front of her to get her attention as she suddenly seemed lifeless, coming to a stop like that, "Hey? Are you listening?"

Her eyes shift to his direction as she thinks, "Fine. At least give me options to talk, could you?"

[ Request Is Being Processed With The Host ]

She shuts her eyes scoffing, "Now it feels like confirming with the host. Truly, what a fucking joke."

"Mister, maybe she feels bad. Why don't you put me down?" The boy says stopping his fake tears.

[ Done Processing ]

[ User's Request Is Approved ]

She just takes the first option as the text box appears before her even before letting the other options be visible.

"In your dreams," she says, "Make it quick, will you?"

"You heard her, right?" He laughs trying to confirm with the boy.

"You two are devils!" The boy gives up pleading for help, showing more of himself.

"Someone's finally done acting," Sici rolls her eyes.

"Did you see any place to throw him in?" He whispers.

Sici gives a soft smile as her response and he just follows along her lead. Getting off far from her location before sure is coming in handy now as she remembers walking along a quiet path beside a river when she tried to explore the opposite way.