The Ring of Rebirth

“Check out this place, it’s beautiful!” Tiff grinned as she and Nick wandered onto the cliff, holding hands, “We have three days left before we have to go back to the base. Let’s just enjoy the limited free time we have.”

We don’t even have an hour left, let alone being free, Nick thought bitterly.

“Of course, we need to experience as much as we can.” He still put on a smile, “And this place is perfect! You chose well.”

He peeked at her and saw her beaming, he could sense delight radiating off her. Despite her usual smiles, Nick knew she hates imprisoned life in the Organisation. This is the moment in which she’s feeling free and truly happy, and he’s about to deprive her of it. What kind of monster is he?

They stood near the edge of the cliff, staring at the orange sun sliding off the sky. This is the last time he can enjoy the shocking and picturesque nature. Nick has only some minutes before he’ll stop breathing, stop smelling, stop tasting, stop feeling…

He’ll vanish in the world as if he has never been here. No one will remember him at all. Maybe Tiff, but when she thinks of him, there’ll only be loathing or aloofness. His existence has accomplished nothing for the society, and the bloodstains on his hands will never be washed off. Moist oozed into his eyes, and he blinked it away frantically. He knew this is bound to happen, so why is he still behaving this way?

“Nick, the Ring of Rebirth is on me. After we’ve handed it up to the Organisation, I will talk to the Commander about us quitting together. If he agrees, maybe we can get a place ourselves after that?” Tiff turned to face him, holding his shoulders and gazing into his eyes with an excited glint in her own.

“Sure, that would be great.” Nick wore a broad smile, “Where’s the Ring of Rebirth?”

“Here.” He saw her straining to hide her smugness.

His eyes lingered on the red box before he slid it into his pocket. He was hankering to admire what rings Tiff had chosen, but he knew he would be hypnotized by it. He doesn’t want to bust the whole play because of his curiosity again.

Nick knew his girlfriend is vigilant and has a great intuition, so he can’t just stab her like she’s a normal person. He needs to pick an instant in which her defence is the lowest.

He bent down and kissed her, sliding a dagger out of his sleeve behind Tiff’s back. A beam of orange flashed pass as he twirled the sharp blade in his hand, aiming its point at his girlfriend. Sorrow crept up again, this is the last time he’d taste the sweetness of her lips.

Nick closed his eyes. No matter how many times he has told himself to be decisive, he still dithered. He has to do it. This is the only way for him to make up for his mistake, even though merely a small part of it can be made up.

He needs to be quick to reduce her anguish. Nick’s fingers tightened on the handle before piercing it into her. His hands were dripping blood as Tiff gasped beside his ears. He retracted the blade and tossed it onto the grass, knuckles sore when he unclenched them.

The girl’s wheeze was a boulder that hung across his shoulders, weighing him down. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying with all his might to shove the messed-up sentiments away. If he wants to do this, then he can’t let his emotions bother him. He needs to be ruthless.

“That was easy,” Nick shook his head to mock, straining to curl the corner of his lips, “Never let down your defence. Have eleven years of training taught you nothing?”

Please take in his words! He crossed his fingers behind his back. Be careful in the Ring of Rebirth, don’t over-trust anyone and don’t leave your back unprotected. He knew Tiff would gradually let down her defence to someone when they’ve spent a long time together. Though being in a situation like this, Nick can’t remind her of her weakness, so he buried it in his words, hoping she’d think it through afterward.

Tiff glowered at him as she stumbled a few steps back, her legs trembling. She became paler and paler as blood poured out of the hole penetrated from her back to her stomach. Her eyes screamed the accusation with her lips quivering.

Nick gulped as he met her glare. It cut him deep, but he knew he deserved it. Though did he make the right choice? To hurt Tiff instead of telling her the truth? He tried his best to convince himself that he did. Hate is easier to let go than love. Short-term pain is better than a long-term one. He pinched his arms behind his back. He has already started on this path, which means there’s no turning back. He’d have to keep going.

Nick quickly pulled up a smile to cover that instant of remorse, hoping Tiff is too stunned to notice. Then, he recited the speech he prepared, making edits along the way.

“I don’t know if I should call you naive or stupid, my dear, do you really think the Organization will let you leave? The never let anyone leave. The ones you believe have left were dead! They brainwash you into thinking that they would let you go whenever you want. When for truth, they dispose you as soon as you show any tendency of leaving. Or, they trick you into doing a few more missions for them before killing you. You are sixteen, how could you not know what the Commander and the whole Organisation is doing?”

Please take the cue and don’t come back from your mission world, Nick prayed internally. Stay in the Ring of Rebirth! Realize how sinister the place we grew up in is, and don’t ever return.

He repressed all the thoughts and acted like he’s out of his mind, “Come on, don’t look at me like that, honey. This is humanity! We are prone to selfishness since birth. I suppose you want to know why I did that to you, right? I guess I can tell you since you are dying anyway. I plan to sell the Ring of Rebirth on the black market, which can get me billions of dollars, then I’m going to escape overseas with the money. I’ll live happily ever since while you rot.”

Nick discerned from Tiff’s eyes that she was wounded by his words. Her legs shook more violently, and she edged toward the brink of the cliff. He knew at once what she’s attempting to do. His chest lightened slightly that he doesn’t need to shove her off himself.

“You think you got that ring?” Tiff croaked as she held her stomach, blood trickling out of her mouth.

“What do you mean?” Nick narrowed his eyes suspiciously as he rehearsed.

He snatched the box out and flipped it open. The two wedding rings dazzled him as he held them in his hands. He couldn’t seem to tear his eyes away from them. How amazing they would look on Tiff and himself? His fingers gripped firmly around the box, knuckles turning white.

According to what he planned, he’s supposed to chuck them away to clear the last tinge of love that might have left in Tiff’s heart. Nick gritted his teeth as he gazed at them. No matter how exquisite they are, their worth is still not even close to his girlfriend’s life.

He flung it onto the ground, stomped on it, and hurled it off the cliff. His heart throbbed as he reminded himself to act vicious.

“Tiffany!” He spat through his teeth, sounding venomous, “Where is it?!”

The last look she shot him contained so much despair and detestation, Nick was overwhelmed in that second.

Everything around him evaporated and he was surrounded by the sea of blood. Waves were hurled high over his head, surging toward him. He soon submerged into the rust-smelling water and his chest ached as he thrashed about to stay afloat.

When the cool breeze slapped him into reality again, Tiff was already gone.

The sun has disappeared behind the mountains in the distance, only emitting the last thin shade of orange to the world. The bushes rustled to cheer, and small animals scurried around to prepare for the dominance of the oncoming night.

Sometimes, death is a blessing, a permanent way to escape the guilt and whatever you are unwilling to face. It’s by the time he goes, too. Nick closed his eyes and smiled in content.

Good luck, Tiff. And so sorry for everything.

He heard a faint gunshot somewhere far away before darkness engulfed him.