Chapter 17: A Promise Broken
The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the small neighborhood where Liang Wei grew up. The sounds of children laughing and playing filled the air, but a young Wei was preoccupied, lost in a moment with his little sister, Liu.
"Look, Wei! I can climb this tree!" Liu exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she scrambled up a low branch of their favorite tree in the backyard. Wei, only a few years older, stood at the base, his heart swelling with pride and a hint of concern.
"Be careful, Liu! Don't go too high! Just come down let's play with the sticks we gathered" he called out, his voice laced with protective instincts. He stretched out his arms as if they could somehow catch her if she fell.
Liu paused, looking down at him with a grin. "Boo Whats the fun in that Gege You're always watching over me, right? You promised you'd protect me forever!"
Wei nodded vigorously, his heart full. "Of course! I'll always keep you safe. No one can hurt you when I'm around!"
Their parents watched from the porch, smiles on their faces as they saw the bond between their children. "You hear that, Liu? You've got a brave brother!" their mother chimed, ruffling Wei's hair affectionately.
The warmth of that moment wrapped around Wei, a feeling of invincibility. They spent the day playing, laughing, and exploring the backyard, oblivious to the shadows gathering just beyond the trees.
As night fell, a strange unease crept into the air. The playful atmosphere turned ominous, and the gentle rustle of leaves transformed into an unsettling whisper. A flicker of movement caught Wei's eye—a flicker of flame dancing in the distance.
"Wowww so beautiful let's go and check it out gege" Liu said as she opened her big eyes wide.
"I don't think we should xiao Liu"
"Why?" she asked, tilting her head, a hint of confusion crossing her face.
"Race you there!" She said without waiting for him to answer as she rushed towards the bright light
"Stay close, Liu!" he shouted, instinctively running after her. But as they neared, the flames reached out with greedy fingers, consuming everything in their path. The sight was horrifying—a nightmare that no child should have to witness.
"Mom! Dad!" Wei cried, his heart pounding as he called for their parents. But the fire raged on, a monstrous entity that twisted and turned, swallowing everything in its path.
In the midst of the chaos, Wei felt a surge of helplessness wash over him. "Liu, we need to get out of here!" he yelled, desperately scanning for a way to escape. But Liu's small hand slipped from his grip as she stumbled back, her eyes wide with fear.
"Wei, I'm scared!" she cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I'm here, Liu! I won't let anything happen to you!" he shouted, his voice hoarse as he fought against the choking smoke and rising panic.
But just as he reached for her, a beam fell from above, crashing between them and cutting off his path. "No!" he screamed, pounding his fists against the ground in despair. He could see her—her small frame silhouetted against the raging inferno, but he couldn't reach her.
As the fire grew, it consumed their home, and all Wei could do was stand helplessly at the edge, watching as the flames enveloped his world. The crackling of the fire drowned out his cries, and the heat scorched his skin as he felt the guilt claw at his heart.
Then, in the aftermath of that terrible night, the echoes of accusations rang in his ears. The familiar faces of his parents twisted with anger and blame. "You promised to protect her, Wei! You let her down!" they shouted, their voices blending into a haunting chorus.
"No! I didn't mean to! I tried!" he pleaded, but his words fell on deaf ears, lost in the whirlwind of sorrow and regret. The vision of Liu, burned and broken, flashed before him, a painful reminder of the promise he had failed to keep.
And with that memory searing into his mind, Wei jolted awake, the chill of reality crashing down around him. Sweat clung to his brow, and his heart raced as he grappled with the remnants of the nightmare. The darkness of the room felt suffocating, a stark contrast to the warmth of his memories.
He turned to the small window, the faint light of dawn creeping in, and whispered to himself, "I will protect you, Liu. No matter what it takes."
"Just a dream," he whispered to himself, but the heaviness in his chest told a different story. Memories of that night, the night he failed to save her, replayed endlessly, echoing through the corridors of his mind.
As he lay back down, he couldn't shake the feeling that the past was catching up with him. The guilt he carried was a weight he could never escape, and with every passing moment, he feared it would all come crashing down again.
He clenched his fists, resolving to find a way to heal Liu's emotional scars. No more failures. He would make things right, even if it meant facing the darkest parts of their shared history.