Chapter 248: The beginning of the experiment -side story 1

Timo came here to find his sister, but this news shattered him as well, how could he tell Lini?

"Why…?"

"Because you and your sister aren't suitable. Now leave."

"Wait! Please, help me find my sister! She's got lost! I can't find her alone and-"

"Why should I bother? It's your job to take care of it, you should've asked Maria rather than me. What a joke. Whatever happens to your sister I couldn't care less."

BANG

The gates shut and the guards threw Timo who begged and pleaded onto the streets away from the mansion. Slumped onto the ground, Elder Z's words rang in Timo's ears aand hatred, despair and devastation gnawed on his sanity. He couldn't rely on Elder Z, so... Maria! He had to find her!

Timo slowly rose to his feet and like a corpse staggered through the lonely alleys. Until he further and further strayed from the centre of the capital.

"Hey, you," a random guy approached him, "I've heard you've been looking for your sister."

If Timo was in a calm state, he'd notice the suspicious words but he wasn't, so hearing this, he instantly jolted and grabbed the male, "Yes! You seen her?"

"Yeah, come with me."

But in the dark alley, in the outskirts of the bright and floating dream of the capital, a nightmare spread horror all across a particular area.

"Brother," lying in a pool of blood, breathing the last breath in his arms, Lini passed away and with it, his whole world broke down, shattered and crumbled into pieces.

All his fault. Everything was his mistake. Every decision he took was the wrong one and so life faded out of Timo. Especially his eyes seemed like they were constantly burning in the underworld.

***

In the city, next to the capital, in an abandoned piece of land, a small mansion carried many secrets. In one of the dark rooms underground, a girl was tied to a chair in a tiny cell as the lanky man viewed his proudest achievement.

Once the girl woke up, her eyes widened and fear gripped her body.

Trying to escape, trying to free herself but unable to do so.

"Lini, from now on, I'll be your big brother," as the lanky man's voice faded, as his knife cut deep into her skin, she realised her freedom… it was gone and hell fell upon her.

"Don't worry, your real brother is still alive. He's probably hugging your fake corpse by now. You see, your new brother actually has powers as well but of course, Lini's a good girl and won't tell anyone, right?"

Intense pain gripped Lini's body but she could only squirm and bite on the cloth her mouth was stuffed with.

"But if Lini's not good. Your brother will be in danger. Don't you want to save your brother, protect him? Don't you wish you could have power? The power to steal other powers? Steal my power and make it yours? Strip me of my power, so you can do the same to me? Lini, desire power, only this way can you and your bother live."

And so, each day, the lanky man groomed Lini to bring her desire to a boiling point until Min became the Ghost King and the lanky man, the Ghost King's assistant.

Inside the palace, the lanky assistant was able to experiment more. He hit a breakthrough as Lini manifested her desired power and as he figured out a way to transfer her powers to his. So for the next ten years, Lini was confined in another dark room with tubes sticking all out of her body connecting to a vitrine.

Lini has long mentally died. Each time a test subject was brought in, not even pity could she feel for them or herself.

One day, the experiment succeeded. A guy named Noel was tricked by the lanky assistant and lost his power, but at that point, Lini has long ceased to recognise anything that was going on.

Until-

"Poor thing," a hand gently caressed the cold face of Lini. Lia stared at these blank dead eyes and one by one removed the tubes. The girl was still breathing. Lia couldn't imagine the pain this girl went through. Although no one better than Lia did.

"Eri."

"Yes, your majesty," Eri still felt awkward around Lia. It has been a few days since Min was defeated but Eri felt like a traitor even now towards Lia. If it wasn't for Noel mentioning the creepy face when he was confined in the vitrine, Lia would've forgotten about this.

"Don't you think she reminds you of someone?"

Eri took a closer look before she gasped, "T-Timo?"

"She does look like him."

"Now that I think of it, he mentioned he had a sister who died actua-"

"Yes, the assistant must've created fake corpses like he did with Noel."

Eri had always shared a slight sentiment with Timo, since they both cared about their siblings. If Eri's brother would suffer like this-

"Did Min know and deceived Timo all this time?"

"Didn't he do it with Leo too?" Lia bitterly said and gently carried the girl in her arms.

She was nothing but bones. Her skin was sunken in and had taken a sickly colour. The assistant must've kept her barely alive, using her for something like this.

Lia wished she would've tortured him a bit more but at least this innocent girl was alive.

"We'll head to Maria's place."

"Yes!"

Since Maria could heal, there was hope Timo's sister could be nurtured back to life. Also since Maria was the closest to Timo, it felt like only she had the right to care about his sister, after all, until the bitter end, Timo and Lia were still enemies. But Lia wouldn't blame his sister for anything. She was also a victim.

A few dozen years later.

"Your highness!" Lini skipped to the pavilion all healthy and happy. When she came back to consciousness, her memories overwhelmed her and hatred, panic and fear took over but through Maria, she slowly learnt what happened and through the others, she has learned how much her brother adored Maria. She could see why. Having Maria as her sister-in-law would be perfect.

"You came? Join us," Lia beckoned Lini to have a tea party with all the other council members. Lini also adored Lia and didn't blame Lia or anyone else for her brother's death. It was obviously the assistant's and the previous Ghost King's fault.

Suddenly, Lia asked, "Do you ever wish to see your brother?"

"Of course! I want to see them getting married!"

At this Maria turned bright red. Lia liked Lini a lot as well. This girl had a teasing nature and was mischievous as well.

She reminded Lia of Yano but most of all, this girl could keep Zero at bay. They got along well.

"Don't steal my biscuits again!" but Zero was actually annoyed at Lini. A- she stole Lia's affection and B- she was just so annoying!

"Don't be like this. Don't be like this, you're a great cook and can make these at any time,"

"Hmpf!"

The afternoon passed by quickly and in the evening Lini and Maria snuggled together in bed.

"Today was fun! Every day is fun!" Lini nestled herself in Maria's embrace and smiled.

"You don't grow up, do you?"

"Should I?" Lini saw Maria's smile and then mumbled, "Brother would like me to stay this way."

Yet Maria still heard it, "He'd like you to grow up and enjoy your life as you want."

"I already do!"

"Ok, o-'' suddenly the door was ripped open, "Miss! Miss!"

An attendant stormed in, all red and out of breath, "Someone's here to see you both!"

"Who? At this hour?"

"It's very urgent! Quick!" with that, the attendant wanted to rush off but a familiar voice appeared, "No need to rush. I'm here. Thank you."

Maria and Lini sat confused on the bed as the figure stepped into the room.

1, 2, 3 seconds passed and their eyes widened as the handsome male wore a gentle and loving smile. Lini was the first to recover, "B-Brother, how?"

With tears, she went to hug him.

"How, is what I want to ask, but Lia, that woman, had me reincarnated again. So, surprise. I'm glad you're here. I'm so sorry," Timo tightly held Lini and fell to his knees.

"I'm so sorry," his heart-breaking whispers made everyone tear up, "I've heard briefly what happened... I-I-"

"It's ok, brother, I'm back and from now on, everything will be alright!" Lini planted a kiss on Timo's cheeks before she removed herself from his embrace and cheekily said, "I guess I'll sleep in my room today. Brother, I'll talk to you tomorrow!"

Then she closed the door and dashed off leaving only Timo and Maria alone in the room. Maria was also crying but she couldn't stand the burning gaze of Timo and looked away while mumbling, "I'm … glad you're back."

"Really?" with big steps Timo approached Maria, "You better be. I've been thinking about you even while I was dead. Did you miss me? Tell me, did you?"

Shyly, Maria nodded, "A…lot."

"I see," without even waiting, Timo grabbed Maria's hand, pulled her to him and then passionately kissed her.

Shocked Maria, didn't know what to do but as Timo held her so tightly, as his lips hungirly yearned for hers, as his warmth seeped into her, Maria hugged him back and returned the kiss.

Yes… everything was perfect at this moment and will be in the future.