Chapter 1 Bloody ephialtes

"Happy birthday dumpling" he said melodically, his rough voice was much softer than before. That girl's eyes widened with surprise and the tears didn't even hesitate to fill them up. Her enticing emerald eyes shone under the moonlight as she stared right back into her lover's love filled eyes.

"I know I'm acting fast, it's just that I can't wait, I really can't. So here I go" he said with a sly smile, his face brightened up with happiness and thrill. He was standing on his knees, on the sea beach, his phone displayed 12:00 am and he said,

"Will you marry me Jasmine? And be my better half?" He asked, the sharpness and determination in his voice showed his sincerity and seriousness.

Jasmine's ears perked up and body jolted up in happiness when those magical words escaped from his mouth even though she knew this was coming the second he knelt down. Her eyes landed on the shining ring in the red box which was on his hand and a new wave of happiness hit her. It somehow made her feel wanted, loved and cared.

After losing her parents and brother it was hard for her to survive alone in this messed up world without any support. Her parents spoiled her and her lil brother that made her situation worse when they left without any word, without even a goodbye.

She was nineteen when she met him, her world, her Chris. Others would say she is crazy for falling in love with her bully but only she knows him, the real him. He did bully her but her emerald eyes and her naive heart did something terrible to him that made him lose himself and fall for her. Love is tricky and hard but is lively and full of happiness.

"I-I" she stuttered, feeling overwhelmed with her own emotions. Her mouth went dry but her whole body was sweating, not because of fear but because of this unexpected surprise. Her body went still because of that newborn happiness.

"Yes Chris! I'll marry you. I want to be your better half and i want you to be mine" she let out while wiping her tears of joy with the back of her hand but her eyes refused to stop them.

Within seconds she was in the air, with his veiny arms wrapped around her slim waist and his head in her chest as he swirled her. Her hands on their own wrapped around his neck as she held him closer.

"I knew it, Hell! But I was nervous, you know? I was literally shivering, Gosh!" he said while chuckling, talking to his soon to be wife who is in his arms now.

"Ohh! The big boy Chris was nervous. I remember someone saying that he is afraid of nothing" she teased him while making weird faces, taunting him with his own words.

"Are you mocking me dumpling?" He asked and put her down, their hands wrapped around each other's body.

"What do you think?" She asked back while smirking.

"Oh dumpling, you are playing with fire" he said while smirking back before his hands moved to her underarms, tickling her. Jasmine laughed out loud while squirming and thrashing in his arms, tears cascaded down from her eyes because of his tickling.

"NOO, I'm sorry Chris. I'm so-sorry" she blabbered like a crazy woman while laughing like a lunatic.

"God! someone here is apologizing." He chuckled before leaving her, only for her to attack him like a madwoman.

"Now the tables have turned Mr Chris. Now are you going to say sorry or suffer?" She asked while jumping on him, making both of them land on the ground.

"Uff.. woman, I'm sorry okay? Now leave me or people will think you are harassing me" he said while blinking innocently at her.

They both looked into each other for a second before bursting into laughter. She got off from his body before laying next to him, watching the full moon that lightened the night with its glory.

"You are crazy," she muttered breathlessly.

"And that's why I love you dumpling" he said before pulling her into his embrace, placing his arm under her head.

"I love you too" she mumbled back softly. Her voice sounded like honey and the way she said it sounded..... genuine.

"I hope we'll stay like this forever, me and you, like this." She said while hugging him tightly.

"Me too. I want to hold you closer to my heart like this every day and night, dusk till dawn, I want you with me, I want you to fill my colorless life with your smiles and kisses, I want you to hug me whenever I feel down and calm me with your sweet words whenever I feel angry. I want you to say I love you every morning and night before and after sleep and I want to say the same to you too, that I LOVE YOU......" He said. Those words were from his heart. He was still staring at the moon but his focus was on something, precisely someone else.

"Don't ever leave me Chris" she said all of a sudden, her voice was desperate and full of sadness. Her sentence only made him pull her extremely close to him, letting her hear his heartbeat.

"I'll never dumpling, not until this heart of mine stops to beat"

Jasmine woke up from her sleep breathing heavily. She looked around and her eyes set in the clock which displayed 3:30 am. She sighed before pulling the blanket out of her as she got up from her bed and made her way towards her window. She stood there, watching the night sky, full of darkness. The dark clouds hid the moon making her unable to see the light, they hid the moon behind the darkness just like she was forced into the darkness, the ugly reality of life, that life is not full of happiness but is harsh and unbearable.

She opened the window and instantly closed her eyes, feeling the cold breeze hitting her pale skin. It was kind of soothing, soothing her inner pain, like telling her everything will be alright but she knows... She knows that her dead boyfriend won't come back no matter what.

"Why did you leave me alone in this world Chris? Why did you leave me too?" Her voice quivered but her eyes, they were dry and dead. No tears were there, neither any emotions, there's no tears left to cry.

"You know what, they were right when they said promises are nothing but the sweetest lies" she chuckled recalling the times she used to ignore those words. She thought that was some made up lies and the world is not at all cruel but look what destiny brought her.

"You are right God, I'm an idiot, a big one. I really thought I'll get a chance to live my life like I wanted but look what I became. I'm nothing now, I'm a big zero. I failed Chris, I failed in my life. I'm sorry dad your girl is not strong, I'm sorry mom." She whispered the last part just like she does every time precisely every night. It has become a habit of hers. Waking up after a nightmare and chanting the same things like a mantra. But her eyes, they refused to shed tears.

Her heart was broken, beyond repair but her eyes, they were dead. Because of her promise... To him. It was his last wish, for her to not cry. He always wanted her to stand for herself, like a brave and strong woman and he was partially successful.

She blinked her tears away before closing her windows as she made her way towards the night stand which was adorned by a beautiful photo frame. Her eyes softened at the sight and the corner of her lips curled up a little. There he is, laughing wholeheartedly, his eye smile was something worthy watching. He was looking at her while she was busy playing with the kitten. It was an unexpected click and the most precious one. Her once perfect life, him.

She slowly traced the picture and her fingers stopped near his face, absorbing his every feature. Two years, it's been two years and she still can't digest the truth, that her dear lover is no more, that he is murdered. Her eyes turned bloodshot remembering his dead body covered with blood. His eyes, they were afraid, afraid of leaving her..... Forever. She still remembers the way he held her hands tightly, above his heart till he took his last breath. He never left her... At least not until he took his last breath.

"I promise Chris, I'll find your murderer. I'll make sure he gets the worst punishment and will beg for death. This is my word"

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