"What happened?" Tom howled. She slowly, grudgingly opened her eyes, seeing that she had been put on a stretcher. Tom and the leader’s blurred figure appeared in her vision. She winced at the intensity of his voice, sending a pleading gaze, hoping he would lower his tone.

Tom’s bloodshot eyes made contact with her own, his glowered expression immediately turned soft as he switched to a hushed voice and brought the conversation outside.

Bring me to my soul room, she demanded while closing her eyes again.

The serene blue sky shone bright, soothing lights down on the green grassy hills that extended endlessly to the horizon. A frail white-haired figure sat on top of the tallest hill.

Memories of the battle knocked impatiently on her mind, wanting to enter. She, however, couldn't bring herself to accept them, she would have to bear with the fact that she had come close to knocking on death's door, that she had to expect more of such events in the near future.

Despite wishing for the contrary, she remembered clearly the smell of seared flesh from supersonic vibrating blades, the painful yell of Liam as her force knife sliced through his arm and the blood that sprayed on her face as a result.

What if I have to take someone's life? The horrifying question paralyzed her. Closing her eyes, she wished back to the life of her previous world. A quiet, safe and comfortable life devoid of physical violence, one that she spent in the warm embrace of her loved ones.

She shook her head, clearing the wishful thoughts, it was her new life and she had to make the most of it, no matter how short it would be. She tried to relax her body, hoping for the merciful flood of sleep to take over.

Tom Price sighed deeply inside his limo, next to him was the sleeping Ellowyn. her fragile figure was still wearing the ragged hospital gown. Various cuts and scratches littered its surface, her left ankle was wrapped in a small layer of transparent bandage, her left arm and calf were bruised.

His glistening eyes gazed at her, unable to ignore as the flickering street light spilled through the window, illuminating the two rivers of tears flowing down her beautiful, sorrowful face. He was lost in thought, recalling the dreadful events that almost took Ellowyn away from him.

While spies and traitors were common in Eve, he was shocked that they have infiltrated his loyal team, they must have concluded of Ellowyn’s importance and had set out to capture her so as to blackmail him. He had a few suspects in mind, it was either the Allied Church or the Freedom of the One, both had savage and cruel goals, stopping them was the reason why he strived to earn this position for they had taken away and broke his family. Moreover, he had blamed himself the most for making such a mistake, he could have bought the clothes himself and bring it to her.

He shut his eyes, it wasn’t the time to push the blame around, he had to face the harsh reality, Ellowyn will leave his family. It was obvious that no child of her age would agree to stay after having to suffer such traumatic events. His heart ached every time he thinks about how she had suffered. He wanted to cuddle her into his arms but was afraid that she would push him away in hate. I suppose I deserve every hit that she would give me. He chanced, hugging her tightly.

His eyes widened as a small gasp escaped from her lips. He pulled her out of his embrace and looked into her sleepy, bleary eyes. “I’m sor” “Its alright”.

Her eyes immediately regained focus as she interrupted his pity speech. After spending an entire lifetime reading soapy novels and watching chick flicks, she already knew where that was going and decided to save time by telling him her decision so as to ease his conscience right then. She gave him a bitter smile.

She planned to speak to him as equals. In her past life, she knew of how cherished she was by those around her. Her sickness had often tried to make her feel useless, but she had long defeated this inferiority complex. For she had decided to be their pillar of emotional support.

Every day, she would counsel and listen to their voice, of them telling her of what their life had been and perhaps help them solve their own insecurities. She had done so not out of pure passion and love, but mostly because she had not wanted to be everyone’s pity ball.

“To be honest, I have all the reasons to get mad at you right now, I have just gained my freedom and just from being with you, I almost lost my life. But it was me who accepted to be your adopted daughter. I knew that I will have to face grave situations such as this, I simply wasn’t prepared for the fact that it had to happen so soon.

Please don’t vex yourself, I am in no way mad at you, I know that you must be quite shaken yourself, seeing one of your own loyal men turn against you”. Her wispy but unwavering voice carried her resolution.

Her smile turned more gentle as she read his thoughts. “No, Tom, Dad, I won’t leave. While I do admit that I was quite scared of that incident, I have already agreed to help you, changing that decision now would break my heart just as much as it would yours. Even when I’m only adopted, You are my family, I will love and cherish you as my own and I do hope that you would do the same”. She declared.

He smiled wryly.

“Does Alice know of that incident?” She asked.

“No, it was kept secret from the public and I was too distracted to do so. I will contact her now”. He answered shamefully.

“Please don’t, them knowing what happened to me will only hinder our relationship. I won’t be able to reach her if all I get from interactions are their pity and worried gazes. I want to approach my new family naturally so that I can understand them more and vice-versa. I’m already a big woobie as it is”. She requested.

He didn’t bother to hide his surprise and was then gawking. “Ellowyn, I know that this is hard for you, but...” Ellowyn interrupted him with a piercing gaze, her limpid eyes grew larger by the second, overwhelming him with her plead.

He gulped, unable to fight the begging look that reeks of innocence, finally giving into a long sigh, looking back at her serene eyes. “You are an odd one. You have the maturity of an adult and yet the innocence of a child. I know that story you fed to Clive was a good lie.

Don’t worry, I won’t force you to tell me, but I’m rather curious myself. I hope that you would tell me about your past one day. And what is a woobie?” He asked, his tone a hint of intrigue.

She blinked, she had accidentally used a word from her old world. “A woobie is someone who had been in a very sad and pitiful background, he or she is very likely to get sympathy and pity from those who knew of that history”. She tilted her head, her eyes a look of mischief.

“And for my past, would you have believed me if I told you that I’m from another world?”. She said playfully.

He shook his head, “No, Ellowyn, I supposed I would not, you should get some rest, we will arrive in a few hours”. He said, his smile gentle. She nodded before drifting off to sleep. Another world huh? He mused, silently considering the possibility.