Lucian lowered himself gently, kneeling down so he could look Rose directly in the eyes. His small frame, no more than a 13-year-old, was smeared with blood, the crisp white of his school uniform stained deep red. He let out a quiet sigh as he watched her trembling, huddled against the wall, trying to make herself as small as possible. Inside, he felt a pang of regret for letting her see such horrors; he hadn’t wanted her to witness any of this, let alone feel the fear and trauma that had now taken root in her.
He softened his gaze, letting a gentle smile play on his lips. “It’s over now, Rose,” he murmured, his voice gentle yet strong. “You’re safe. I’m here, and no one is going to hurt you. I promise.” He extended his hand toward her, palm up and open, an invitation for her to take it and feel secure.
Rose’s eyes, wide and filled with terror, darted down to his outstretched hand, hesitating. She was caught between the storm of emotions surging within her. The fear of what she had just seen, the unsettling sight of blood smeared on his small hands, and, woven deeply into the core of it all, guilt guilt that twisted and weighed heavy in her chest. Here she was, cowering and trembling, unable to control the shivers that wracked her body, while Lucian had been the one to take those bullets, the one who had protected her without a second thought.
She felt weak and helpless, disgusted with herself for acting this way. She was supposed to be the older sibling, yet she was the one shaking in terror, needing comfort from the very brother who had sacrificed his own safety for her. How could she feel so afraid? How could she even let herself look at him with such fear in her eyes?
Rose swallowed hard, forcing herself to find her voice, though it trembled with every word. “Lucy… are… are you really okay?” she whispered, her voice barely audible. She swallowed again, willing herself to speak louder. “Those… those bullets they hurt you, didn’t they? You’re… you’re hurt, and… maybe we should… go to a doctor?”
Her voice faltered, each word soaked with the guilt that burned inside her. She knew Lucian had been in pain when he took those bullets; she could still see the flash of agony that had crossed his face. And now, staring at him covered in blood, her heart twisted, feeling guilty that he had borne it all for her.
Lucian’s expression softened even further at her words. He felt the weight of her concern in her shaky voice, and despite everything, he managed a small smile, trying to ease her worry. “I’m alright, Rose,” he said gently, his tone calm and reassuring. “It stings a bit, but nothing more than that. I promise. It’ll heal up.” He tried to keep his tone light, despite the faint twitch in his lips truthfully, the pain was sharp and relentless, but he wouldn’t let her know that. Not now.
His hand remained extended, patient and steady. “Come on,” he coaxed softly, his gaze never leaving her. “Hold my hand, Rose. I’m here.”
Rose’s eyes drifted down again to his outstretched hand, stained with blood. Her heart pounded, her stomach twisting at the sight. Blood smeared his small fingers, and though she knew he had gotten hurt because of her, the sight triggered a flood of fear and unease. Her hands, which she had tightly clasped around her knees, trembled as she slowly began to lift one. Each movement felt heavier than the last, the psychological weight nearly unbearable as she reached toward him.
Finally, her fingers brushed his palm, hesitating for just a moment before she let herself press her hand into his. A strange, cold wetness met her skin, sending a shiver up her spine. The realization that it was blood it hit her hard, leaving her heart pounding with a new wave of fear.
Her hand trembled as it rested in his, but Lucian, sensing her hesitation, gently brought his other hand to cover hers. He sandwiched her hand between his, offering a small but steady warmth, grounding her. He held her hand firmly, letting her feel his presence, his quiet strength radiating through the gentleness of his touch.
“It’s alright, Rose,” he said in a low voice, soothing and calm. His eyes held hers, unwavering. “I’m here, and you’re going to be alright. I’ll take care of everything.”
Lucian gently clasped Rose’s trembling hands, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles in slow, reassuring circles. He looked directly into her eyes, his expression so calm and steady that it seemed almost surreal in contrast to the chaos they had just survived. He could feel her hesitation, her lingering fear, and her guilt woven into every shaky breath she took.
“Rose,” he began, his voice soft but firm, “holding your hand like this… it means something, you know?” His gaze didn’t waver, and for a moment, the world around them melted away. “I know it’s hard. I know that feeling scared is… something none of us can fully control. But, please, Rose…” He paused, gripping her hands a little tighter. “No matter what happens, don’t let go. I’ll be here, always, no matter what. I just want you to trust that.”
Rose’s eyes began to mist over as he spoke, and she suddenly felt that pang of guilt hitting even harder. She couldn’t stop replaying the moment when she’d let go of his hand the instant she heard that gunshot her reaction had been out of pure instinct, but it felt like a betrayal. Her lips quivered as she tried to find words, her voice so low it was barely a whisper. “Lucy… I… I never wanted to let go,” she managed, the words trembling from her mouth. “It just… it happened so fast, I was scared.”
Lucian shook his head gently, his smile still soft. “It’s alright, Rose. Really,” he assured her. “I don’t blame you. I just… I just want to know that, from now on, we’re in this together. I’ll be there, and nothing no fear, no pain, no one will get between us. Can you trust me on that?”
He held her gaze, waiting. It wasn’t just a request; it was a plea, one that held the depth of his heart. And despite the blood that stained his hands, his face, even the air around them, he was asking her for something pure. Rose’s eyes filled with tears again, this time not just from fear or guilt, but from an unexpected gratitude that made her chest feel heavy and warm all at once.
She nodded, a small but genuine smile breaking through her trembling lips as she tightened her grip on his hands, feeling a surge of strength she hadn’t known she had. “Yes, Lucy,” she whispered, her voice cracking as fresh tears fell. “I… I trust you. I promise, I won’t let go again. Ever.”
Lucian’s serious expression softened, his eyes filling with a rare warmth that seemed almost out of place on his young face. “Thank you, Rose,” he said quietly, the weight of her words settling over him like a shield, strengthening him in a way he hadn’t expected. He took a deep breath, knowing that he, too, had made a promise. “I’ll never let anything happen to you,” he whispered. “I’ll always be there. That’s my promise to you.”
There was a silence between them, one that wasn’t empty but filled with a quiet understanding. Finally, Lucian reached out his pinky, that small gesture somehow managing to carry the weight of his words. “So… we’re partners now,” he said with a soft laugh, a touch of childhood innocence returning to his voice, “we’ll have each other’s backs, no matter what. Okay?”
Rose blinked, taken by surprise, but slowly, a smile found its way to her lips. The tears still shimmered in her eyes, but this time they weren’t from fear. She raised her own pinky, looping it around his, sealing their promise. “Deal,” she whispered, her voice soft but steady. “You’re my little brother, Lucy… and maybe sometimes I’m not the best at being the big sister, but I’ll be there for you too. I promise.”
They held their pinky promise a moment longer, each drawing a sense of calm and assurance from the other. Lucian gave her hand a light squeeze, watching the tension in her shoulders begin to ease, the lines of terror on her face slowly softening.
For Rose, this moment became something to cling to. In all the terror, confusion, and shock that the day had brought, this was her one bright spot. And though she knew that some memories from today would likely haunt her, this was one that she wanted to hold onto forever.
Lucian looked at Rose, his expression softening as he gently held her trembling hands. He could feel her fear, her shock, and how deeply today’s traumatic events had affected her. Despite his calm exterior, he felt a heavy sadness settling in his heart; this wasn’t something he wanted to do, but he knew it was the only way to spare her from the agony that would otherwise haunt her.
“Rose,” he began, his voice soft and warm, “I’m about to do something… something I believe is best for you.” He paused, choosing his words carefully as he continued to gently rub her hand, as if hoping the warmth could somehow ease the coldness of what was to come. “There’s a chance that you might… forget this promise we just made,” he said, looking deeply into her eyes, his gaze filled with a mixture of regret and tenderness. “But please… hold onto it here,” he said, placing his other hand gently on her chest. “Even if your mind forgets, let your heart remember. Sometimes… the heart holds onto things that the brain can’t.”
She blinked up at him, a small frown creasing her brow, confusion flickering in her gaze. “What do you mean, Lucian?” Her voice was hesitant, a little tremor weaving through her words. He could see the weight of the day bearing down on her, the exhaustion in her eyes, yet there was also a glimmer of trust.
He hesitated, struggling to find the words that would make her understand without deepening her worry. “Rose, I know today was… overwhelming,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t want you to carry these memories the blood, the violence, the fear. I don’t want these images to haunt you. You’re strong, Rose, but some memories… they aren’t worth keeping.”
The confusion in her gaze grew, her eyes searching his as she tried to process what he was saying. “Lucian… are you saying I should forget all of this?” Her voice held a note of desperation, a quiet pleading.
Lucian met her gaze, his heart aching at the uncertainty and fear in her eyes. “Yes,” he said, voice steady but sorrowful. “I don’t want these memories to become scars. You deserve peace, Rose. I don’t want you to relive today in your mind over and over again. If you let me, I can… I can help make sure you don’t have to.”
The words sank in slowly, and Rose’s eyes widened slightly as she tried to grasp his meaning. “But… I don’t understand. How can I just forget something like this?” Her voice was barely a whisper, a mixture of disbelief and confusion.
Lucian’s gaze softened further as he reached up, gently placing his hand on her head. “Sometimes,” he said quietly, “letting go is the kindest thing we can do for ourselves.”
She opened her mouth to say something, but the words caught in her throat. Lucian’s hand was warm, reassuring, and it was as if his very presence was calming the storm of emotions inside her.
Then, in a voice so low it seemed like he was speaking to the air itself, Lucian murmured, “Max… use that one-time reward, and remove her today’s memories.” His voice was quiet, but resolute.
A strange shiver ran through Rose, her eyes widening in both confusion and fear. “Lucian… what are you…?” she managed, her voice trembling. A part of her wanted to ask what he was talking about, to understand, but another part was paralyzed by an indescribable feeling of loss, as if something precious were slipping away.
Lucian glanced down, his eyes filling with a sad determination as he seemed to speak to himself again. “Wait… you can only seal those memories for this life?” he muttered, frowning slightly as if listening to an invisible reply. “That’s fine,” he finally said with a sigh, looking relieved but a little resigned. “Just make sure… make sure she never remembers, not like she is going to have another life lucian chuckled.”
His words hung in the air, laced with a quiet finality. Rose looked up at him, her mind trying to piece together his words, but her thoughts were already beginning to blur, her vision softening around the edges. “Lucian, I… I don’t want to forget…” she whispered, though her voice grew weaker.
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“It’s okay, Rose,” he whispered back, his voice filled with warmth and reassurance. “Just trust me. You’ll be free of this… and I’ll carry these memories for both of us.”
Her eyes struggled to stay open, but his hand was warm on her forehead, soothing and comforting. She blinked, trying to keep him in focus, but her vision was fading, her mind slipping into a strange, gentle darkness. She could just barely make out his face, his gentle smile the last thing she saw before everything went black.