The torches in the underground chamber that had imprisoned Julian were now completely extinguished. Julian was enveloped in darkness, devoid of a single glimmer. His breath felt like it was choking him in his throat. The oxygen seemed to be draining from him.
Julian tried to move, but his steps felt heavy, as if a heavy iron bar were holding him down. Julian's thoughts continued to spin wildly, replaying the horrific execution he had witnessed.
"Gilas… Please open the door," Julian pleaded weakly. His breathing had been unstable for a while, and even the hand that was pounding on the iron door that locked it tightly had gone limp.
Slowly, an illusion appeared like a clear silhouette before Julian's eyes. It was something Julian couldn't remember, but it felt real because his body responded with an equally intense fear.
The place remained dark. However, the fishy, putrid smell began to fade, replaced by a pungent, charred aroma. The darkness was slowly dispelled by the flames that had come from nowhere. Black smoke billowed, and the heat began to sting Julian's skin. Julian's body, sound asleep, was forced to stare wide-eyed at the flames that would devour Julian without a trace.
"Julian, run..."
Julian curled up on the damp floor. He covered his ears with his hands, which continued to shake violently.
Whose voice was that? A faint female voice connected with Julian's mind, along with the image of a woman embracing him. Not his grown-up self, but his still very young, clueless self.
The memory resurfaced in Julian's mind, something he had forgotten. How could he have forgotten? So, who was that woman?
Julian's heart ached as the woman's soft, confused voice came to mind. Her gentle embrace, why did he feel like he missed her so much?
"Julian, run away…"
A very clear voice, slowly fading. There was something Julian remembered, the moment the woman had found a way out for him to escape the flames before he could breathe. Suddenly, the ceiling of the room collapsed, burning the woman, while Julian could only stare.
The darkness that now engulfed Julian brought him back to a past life he couldn't remember. He seemed to be watching his own foolishness until someone grabbed his hand and led him away from the flames and the woman who had saved his life.
"Mother!"
The sound of a final scream pierced Julian's eardrums. He remained curled up, trying to clear the puzzles that kept coming back to him. He clutched his hair, trying to hurt himself to break free from the illusion.
The darkness engulfed Julian in a terrifying, recurring sequence of events. He was drowning, helpless.
"Fire... Hot... Gilas, help... I.... I—I'm scared."
***
The iron door sounded heavy as it opened from the outside. The golden light from the rekindled torches greeted Julian, who was curled up in a miserable mess.
Gilas stood in the doorway. His expression remained unfriendly. Cold, menacing, and his aura was more than a little intimidating. His eyes remained imperious, unwavering as Julian slowly touched his shoes.
"Gilas … I'm scared…" Julian muttered.
Gilas's figure resembled a death god, enjoying the scene before him as Julian showed his weakness. "Stop pretending, Julian!" Gilas said. His voice was firm, hoarse, and tinged with worry, even as it echoed throughout every corner of the Red Mansion.
"Mom! Mom! Don't leave me," Julian murmured.
Julian didn't react. He was still trapped in his own illusion of a forgotten memory, or rather, someone deliberately making him forget the tragedy.
"Save my mother..."
Julian was still babbling. Gilas knelt before the man, frowning. He touched Julian's sweaty face. "Your mother isn't here," Gilas said.
"Ahhh! Hot! Hot! Fire! Help, there's a fire!" Julian screamed.
Gilas cupped Julian's cheeks. He moved Julian's head, trying to shake him out of his past illusion. "Julian, there's no fire here. Open your eyes," Gilas said. "It's just you and me here," he added.
His tightly shut eyelids began to open. Julian felt the warmth of Gilas's hand touching his cheek. "Gi—Gilas..."
Gilas nodded flatly. "Yes, it's me."
Gilas glared. His eyes, still burning with anger, had dimmed. He didn't know whether to be happy or not. Julian suddenly embraced him, embracing him while he was terrified and trembling. The embrace was tight. Gilas wanted to return the hug, but then he felt afraid. Afraid that the comfort was just an illusion, trying to play a trick on him.
"Please…" Julian buried his face in Gilas's shoulder. "I'm so scared here. Take me out, Gilas. Please," Julian begged.
Julian burst into tears. Gilas' heart was completely broken. He let the man continue to hold him, even getting up and cradling Julian in his warm embrace.
"Okay. I'll take you out," said Gilas.
Julian's legs wrapped around Gilas's hips. He still held the man tightly, as if the fear within him hadn't yet dissipated. Calmness still lay buried beneath.
"Close your eyes," Gilas asked.
Gilas led Julian out through the terrifying corridors and iron bars. This time, he made sure Julian didn't see the horrific scene he had deliberately shown him a few hours earlier at sunset.
The stuffy air was gone. Julian was free from the prison that had traumatized him. The Red Mansion was far from sight. Gilas brought Julian back to the luxurious, gilded cage. The air was warm, free, and utterly comfortable—a stark contrast to the terrifying Red Mansion.
Gilas laid Julian down on the comfortable king-size bed. He didn't call the maid. He personally grabbed a towel and warm water to wipe Julian's body, removing every ounce of dirt from his skin.
Gilas changed Julian's clothes, allowing him to rest comfortably. He turned his back on Julian, but the man grabbed his hand. "Don't go. I'm scared," Julian pleaded softly.
"Go to sleep. I'm not going anywhere," said Gilas.
Gilas stared at Julian's lips. He leaned down and kissed them softly. "I hope you're happy with the gift I gave you," Gilas whispered.
Gilas held Julian's hand. The warmth he gave calmed Julian's agitated feelings. He took a black box from his coat pocket and placed it beside Julian as the gift he had whispered.
***
Julian frowned. The intense sunlight shone through the window. He opened his eyes to find himself back in the golden cage he'd been created to imprison. His wounds had been treated, his clothes had been changed. The only thing unchanged was the chains that bound his feet.
"Eh?" Julian shouted.
Julian found a black box beside him. He didn't dare touch it, even though his curiosity was high.
"Gilas! Gilas!" Julian shouted.
Silence...
Gilas didn't answer. There was no sign of anyone other than Julian in the room. Julian sighed. His head felt heavy. Cold sweat beaded on his temples.
"Why am I cold?" Julian muttered.
Julian simply stared at the box, which seemed to be beckoning him to open it. The punishment he'd received last time at Gilas's hands had left him with no courage to touch anything that wasn't his.
"Are you awake?"
Julian looked up. He didn't realize the door had opened until Gilas was already in front of him. "I—I..."
Gilas picked up the box that caught Julian's attention. He placed it on Julian's lap. "It's a gift for you. You can open it," Gilas said as he sat down beside Julian.
"Gift? For me?" Julian frowned in disbelief.
Gilas nodded.
Julian opened the gift box. The box's color alone held a mystery. Julian fell silent. He took one of the contents from the black box Gilas had given him. His hands trembled, his face pale. It contained several photos of a woman holding a baby as it grew to a certain age.
"This face…" The woman's face in the photo reminded Julian of his illusion. The same face, the same laugh, and the same hurt feelings. "Gilas, what do you mean?" Julian asked.
"Don't you recognize the woman in the photo?" Gilas asked.
Julian shook his head.
Gilas touched Julian's cheek. He stared at him intently. "She's your mother."
Degh!!!