Chapter 185: Kelly

[Silverspire.]

[Asheville Estate — Thirteen Years Ago.]

​"Kelly! You must stay inside, no matter what happens, do not come out!!" A black-haired woman clad in heavy, blood-spattered combat armor yelled in a urgent, panicked whisper, staring down into the tear-filled eyes of her ten-year-old daughter.

​"AHHHH!!"

​"NO!!!"

​"HELP ME!!!!"

​The horrifying, agonizing screams of estate guards and servants echoed violently from right outside the bedroom door. Little Kelly’s small body trembled non-stop, her hands clutching her mother’s arm tightly in sheer terror:

​"Where... Where is Dad?" She stammered out, her breath hitching.

​The armor-clad woman dropped heavily onto her knees, letting her blood-soaked broadsword clatter against the polished floor, and pulled her daughter into a desperate, crushing hug, fighting with everything she had to hold back her own rising tears:

​"Your father is currently out of the country... Don’t worry, my love, he will be back to protect us soon." She pulled back from the embrace, grabbed Kelly’s small wrist with firm, gentle force, and guided her quickly toward the thick, solid-wood wardrobe at the corner of the room, carefully easing her inside: ℯℯ𝑙.

​"Okay, listen to me... Be completely quiet, don’t make a single noise... Remember the song I always sing to you? Our lullaby?"

​Kelly, shivering violently in the darkness of the wardrobe, gave a slow, fragile nod:

​"Alright... Start singing it with me."

​"Um... The sleepy world is growing still, / The night winds whisper on the hill..." Kelly began reciting in a tiny, trembling voice.

​"...So curl up tight, my tiny star, / I love you just the way you are. / The silver moon begins to glow, / To guard my sweet girl down below." Her mother continued soft and steady, her eyes locked lovingly onto her daughter’s face as she slowly brought the wooden doors closer together.

​"So sail away on velvet wings, / And hear the song the night sky sings. / Hush now, darling, close your eyes, / Beneath the quiet, starlit skies," her mother whispered, finally pulling the wardrobe doors completely shut, sealing her safely within the shadows.

​Turning back toward the center of the room, the woman snatched her broadsword up from the floor, casting one final, fierce glance over her shoulder at the cabinet hiding her child.

​GRAAAA!!!!

​Kelly flinched violently inside the dark wardrobe as a deafening, inhuman roar rattled the room, followed immediately by the shattered explosion of the heavy bedroom door. A massive, horrifying humanoid Lizard-Monster burst into the suite, its scales dripping with gore as it brandished a massive, jagged broadsword.

​"Get out of my house!!" Her mother screamed, lunging forward with explosive speed and bringing her heavy blade down toward the intruder with all her strength.

​BAM!!!

​The violent collision of steel against steel sent shockwaves of raw physical energy tearing through the bedroom, shattering glass and splintering the surrounding furniture.

​Peeking through the tiny crack between the wardrobe doors with wide, horrified eyes, Kelly kept repeating the familiar lines like a desperate prayer:

​"Un... Until the mo... morning brings the light, Mama’s got you safe tonight..."

​BAM!!!

​Her mother’s defensive aura gave out, and her body flew backward into the solid stone wall with crushing force, coughing up a violent mouthful of fresh crimson blood as she slid to the floor.

​Kelly clamped both hands over her mouth, her tears overflowing as she watched the monstrous lizard stomp slowly toward her broken mother. The creature reached down with a massive, clawed hand, gripping her mother’s neck tightly and hoisting her high into the air.

​As her life faded, the woman turned her head slightly toward the wardrobe, catching her daughter’s eye through the thin crack, and offered a soft, peaceful, heartbreaking smile just as the monster opened its jagged jaws wide.

​"Sob... Goodnight... Sob... My little... love, good..."

​BAM!!!

​Kelly’s eyes went completely wide in absolute, soul-shattering trauma as the Lizard bit off her mother’s head in a single, sickening crunch. She could only watch in frozen terror as the creature casually tossed the headless corpse to the stone floor, crunching down on the remaining skull in its bloody maw.

​At that exact, unbearable instant, something deep within Kelly’s mind snapped—an emotional shut-off switch slammed down inside her soul—and she collapsed unconscious onto the wooden base of the wardrobe.

​’Mom... Why... Why...’

​GRAAAAA!!!!!

_

​"AHH!"

​Kelly gasped loudly, sitting bolt upright on the wide mahogany bed, her entire body drenched in cold, heavy sweat.

​"What...?"

​"Kelly?!"

​Before her bewildered mind could process her surroundings, Juliana threw her arms around her, pulling her into an intense, overwhelming embrace. Kelly blinked, completely dumbfounded. She slowly turned her gaze around the opulent room—Sara was standing right beside the bed with a soft, relieved expression, and standing directly in front of her was Asher, watching her with a warm smile. Glancing toward the open double doors, she saw Tang, Jessica, and Viper standing attentive.

​’Was that... My lost traumatic memory?’ She thought, her gaze lowering down to Juliana, who was already sobbing openly against her shoulder.

​"Sob... You are finally awake!! It has been two full days already!!" Juliana murmured through her tears.

​Kelly blinked again as the fog in her head cleared. She distinctly remembered the moment she collapsed on the floor during her sudden Awakening episode two days ago—even though she had lacked physical control over her body back then, she had remained faintly aware of everything happening around her.

​But right now? Her mind felt entirely whole. She felt incredibly good—perhaps better and clearer than she had in her entire life.

​Kelly slowly looked up at Asher, her wide eyes reflecting deep, unreadable emotions: "Did you... really do this for me?"

​Asher nodded his head softly, his warm smile widening: "I promised that I would heal and cure the three of you. I’ve finally completed the very first step of that promise."

​Kelly stared at him, completely lost for words. A profound, overwhelming tide of gratitude surged through her chest, leaving her at a loss as to how she could ever truly express her thanks to him.

​After that tragic day thirteen years ago, her father had eventually returned from his expedition, only to break down into complete emotional ruin upon finding his wife’s mangled body. Overwhelmed by unbearable grief and survivor’s guilt, he spiraled into a bitter, violent alcoholic. Whenever his drunken rages took hold, he vented all his buried pain and frustration on her... By the time she turned seventeen, years of heavy drinking and chain-smoking finally caught up to him, and he collapsed dead on the living room floor.

​Following her father’s passing, she took sole control of the struggling Asheville Corporation, working relentlessly to rebuild it into one of the most dominant business conglomerates in Vaeloria... until the catastrophic incident on Doomsday Island flipped her entire world upside down once again.

​Reaching up, Kelly gently patted Juliana’s back: "If you keep squeezing me this tightly, I might actually pass out and go right back to sleep." She teased in a soft, quiet voice.

​The gentle joke instantly made Juliana gasp and let go of her. "I am so sorry! I just got way too excited seeing you awake," she said, quickly wiping the tears from her cheeks.

​Kelly offered her a warm nod, then swung her legs over the edge of the mattress, stepping off the bed to stand directly before Sara. Without a single word, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her in a deep, affectionate hug.

​"I missed you so much, Sara... Don’t worry about anything. I will support Asher with everything I have, and together, we are going to cure you completely," she whispered softly.

​Sara could only nod gently, wrapping her arms around Kelly’s back. Even if she rarely show her inner feelings, seeing Kelly—the one woman in her life she truly considered her cherished elder sister—restored to complete health was the single happiest moment she had experienced in years.

​After a long two minutes, the two wives separated, and Kelly turned her steps toward Asher, bringing her feet to a stop right in front of him.

​She looked up at his face, her heart fluttering softly: ’He really has become so much more handsome, reliable, supportive, and strong... Having such an incredible man as my husband is truly a blessing.’

​She stepped right into his space, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and resting her ear gently against his steady, warm chest. As a single, silent tear of pure gratitude rolled down her cheek, she softly whispered:

​"Thank you... Husband."

​{DING!!!!!}