Chapter 51 - it's his punishment

[20 minutes before the explosion]

"That Uno will surely be surprised knowing you as Luciano." not turning his head to Seraphina, a knowing smirk formed on the corner of his lips. He could imagine the drama that will take place soon, knowing Ace's personality -- Riggs can't wait to watch the dramatic look on his face with a popcorn in his hands.

"Don't tell him just yet." Seraphina meekly responded to him.

"Eh? Why not?" Riggs was making a conversation whilst shoving the rest of the white powder substance to the chemist of this life ruining inventions.

"It's his punishment…"

'For dying.' Seraphina finished her sentence internally. Though she enjoyed annoying them all this time, Seraphina could not still believe how loyal Ace to him to the extent of sacrificing his life to protect her in her previous life.

But the fact that he died because of her, as if someone stabbed her heart remembering the lifeless eyes of Ace, Seraphina will never forgive herself. After all, it was her fault. Being part of the underground society is like being trapped to the shackles of hell -- now you're alive, the next minute you are shot dead or worst. But dying along with the people she had interactions with without a fight, pained her.

Although she was given a chance to travel back in time, too much information of her previous life and the future events are still too much for her to absorb. Not to mention, little by little the after-effects of going back in time after she experienced her gruesome death finally appearing. One of them is losing her sense of taste probably because in her past life --her tongue was cut off. It actually doesn't matter to her as it was the least of her concern -- putting it in a positive way, she eats whenever she's hungry no matter what the taste since she will never know anyway.

Also, her pain tolerance became unbelievably high. She was not sure of how severe her weird body condition can take but now, it became clear to her that even if a bullet impaled her, it will bleed but the level of pain is not any much painful as a prick of a needle and only made her feel uncomfortable -- makes her question if everything is still real.

Shrugging the thoughts in the back of her head -- may it be reality or just her fantasy, she wanted to drag all the felons that posed threat to the people she cared about back to hell. Thus, as long as her body and mind are still intact and in good condition, all she needs to do is keep herself in check as she always does since the beginning of her second life.

The chemist's eyes rolled as he took to much drugs -- choked to his death.

"Ey boss, he couldn't even finish the whole bucket." turning his head to Seraphina, Riggs panicked -- dashing to her who seemed to lose her balance.

"Boss! What --" caught her on time, he slightly wiggled her. Her eyes weakly blinked struggling to keep her consciousness intact. Due to the blood that clad her whole being, Riggs hadn't noticed Seraphina's condition.

All the revelations that dropped into his face made him feel like in a roller coaster ride forgetting that Seraphina basically fell off the cliff. Even to him, he didn't land unscathed. Removing her bloody thick looking jacket, his eyes widened at the sight of her body. She's bleeding all this time and seems like she's also been shot on her shoulder.

"Dammit!" at a speed of light, he grabs the first aid kit Ace prepared for him. He's done everything he knew in his little knowledge in medical training to stop the bleeding. He wipes her face clad in blood revealing the bloodless look on her lips. She is as pale as white as she loses too much blood.

"Ship their bodies…" she muffles. Apparently, Riggs was not listening to her as he immediately carries her making his way to the exit. Due to the adrenaline rush, even carrying Seraphina his speed did not falter nor slow down.

Successfully leaving the building, Riggs was so fast that he manages to run two kilometers away in just a few minutes, whilst reaching an odd-looking phone but before he can press the end call button --Seraphina mumbles,

"Don't tell grandpa…"

One minute after that, a huge continuous blast of explosions lighted up the blinding darkness of the island.

---------

When the group of Ace reached the place that can be considered safe, the continuous booming of the factory was as still loud almost making their eardrums bleed. It went on for a couple of minutes until the last boom was heard when the fire started to spread. Fortunately, the wet velvet ground due to the heavy rain slowed down the spreading fire.

*scrush scrush*

"Sir we found the girl and his colleague" The voice of the man from the walkie talkie was not heard by elder Hong as the sudden loud explosion traumatized their ear, almost robbed their sense of hearing.

Not receiving any response from elder Hong's end, the man kept on reporting whilst concerned to their chief's safety. When they finally regained their hearing, they heard the man speaking from the walkie talkie.

"Sir, are you alright?! Sir?!"

"Yes, how was your end?" elder Hong coughs as the thick smoke coming from the burning building rapidly reached them.

"Sir, we've found them. We've already rushed them to the border."

Feeling relieved to the news, elder Hong's expression turned solemn. Gather everyone and call for reinforcement, we can't let this fire spread throughout the island. Ace not saying a word starts going back to the route they came from.

"Hey, won't you help us out?!" one of the men that were accompanying them spoke, seeing his retreating figure.

"I don't want to get high." not turning his head, he mildly increased his voice to make his words audible to them.