Chapter 2: Come to Me in Your Next Life
“Lily, don’t close your eyes, I’ll take you home.”
Max stretched out his arms and lifted the almost emaciated Charlotte from the bed.
The intense flame cast a fiery glow on his pale and beautiful face, and bone deep affection and tenderness overflowed within his deep eyes.
Charlotte stared blankly at him, her gaze fixated and unable to shift away.
ddenly, a charred beam, burned through by the fire, plummeted straight down! Acting quickly, Foster shielded Charlotte with his body, the beam hitting his back.
Yet, he didn’t utter a word.
Charlotte could smell the faint smell of his singed flesh. ‘It must be excruciating,‘ she thought, her eyes still fixed on him.
Fragments from the ceiling continued to fall, crashing into Foster one after the other.
The magnificent Fourth Master Foster, elegant and unmatched, now stood covered in soot and
debris.
Yet Charlotte remained in his gentle clutch, safe and unscathed.
She slowly opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but no sound emerged from her throat.
Mustering all her strength, she drew a breath from her chest, straining as she fought to push out the words. Finally, a syllable found its way out of her. “You…” Her voice broke in ragged breaths.
“Don’t…worry…about…me”
Foster heard her. The corners of his lips twitched as he hugged Charlotte even tighter. “I told you; I’l
take you home.”
Tears welled up in Charlotte’s eyes, blurring her vision. With an almost hysterical effort, she managed to utter “You’re… only…going to… die…”
With her as a burden, he couldn’t possibly escape this sea of flames. If he discarded her, an already dying person, he might just have a chance.
we’ll all survive,” Foster’s tender voice tried to reassure her.
1 Gotta Go My Own Way
“You’re so stupid…” Charlotte muttered slowly, an indiscernible trace of tears in her voice.
Then, a large fragment of the ceiling came crashing down.
The exit was now completely blocked.
The flames raged
bending dow.. ercely, relentlessly advancing in all directions. Max tried to push forward,
bending down to shield Charlotte between himself and the patch of ground that was yet to catch fire.
But Charlotte understood that it was too late now; they couldn’t possibly survive. The flames only. rose higher, and it soon became clear that they were only moments away from death.
“You shouldn’t have…” She said hoarsely, warm tears suddenly streaming down from her eyes.
He shouldn’t have come to save her!
He shouldn’t have died there, all for her, a worthless person!
Yet, Max lowered his head, his forehead touching Charlotte’s. Their breaths mingled as their eyes locked.
“Lily, I don’t regret it,” he said as his eyes drilled into hers. “Dying with you, it’s worth it.”
“Max…” Charlotte cried, uncontrollable tears coursing down her tired face. “Max…”
But Max remained calm. “Lily, don’t be afraid. I told you I don’t want you to be alone. My little girl, it would be a pity if you died here alone. So, I’ll accompany you.”
Charlotte couldn’t find the words to respond, but only continued to cry as Max went.
“Lily, I love you. In your next life, can you come and see me?”
Charlotte bit her lip, she wanted to say something, needed to tell him she will be okay, to give him a promise.
But Max’s thin lips met her dried ones in a solemn kiss, abrupt and unexpected. She closed her eyes, and then, darkness enveloped all.
Charlotte’s eyes shot open. She looked around her, at the dilapidated mud buildings at every corner. This confirmed it once more- she had indeed been reborn. She had returned to three years ago, back when she was nineteen.