2.8

"Sister...?"

Shi Zixin turned around to see the pudgy Gang Xiabo step forward, his thick lips falling open in shock.

"What...what happened?" Gang Xiabo asks, looking at Shi Zixin. Shi Zixin rose from where she knelt, unsure of what to say.

"I'm sorry..." Shi Zixin begins, "for your loss."

Gang Xiabo's face contorts in anger as he runs up to Shi Zixin and grabs the commander by the shoulders.

"Who's the bastard who did this to my sister?! Who?! Who?!"

Guards immediately went to pull Gang Xiabo off Shi Zixin, but Shi Zixin only watched with a flat face. Angry tears were silently sliding off the brother's face.

"Guards, let go."

The men let go of Gang Xiabo, allowing the beefy man to fall to the ground, helpless. Shi Zixin walked to the man and knelt down, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"I will not let your sister's death be buried by the war effort," Shi Zixin swears. "The person who did this horrible crime will pay the price and be arrested-"

"No." Gang Xiabo shakes his head. "I will be the one to deliver the final blows to that bastard. He'll suffer just as my sister did."

Gang Xiabo looks at Shi Zixin, fire burning in his beetle eyes. "This is the one thing you can give me, Commander Shi. Please."

The request sounded pleading, almost as if Gang Xiabo wanted something to hold onto and this was it. Shi Zixin didn't hesitate to nod.

"Of course. As long as you allow me to certify who the criminal is first, you may have your way."

Gang Xiabo bows their head deeply. "Thank you, commander."

"But," Shi Zixin interrupts. "There is a condition."

Gang Xiabo looks up in confusion.

"What is it?"

"You must be head of the investigation," Shi Zixin adds. Gang Xiabo gives a sarcastic scoff.

"That doesn't sound all too bad," Gang Xiabo says. "Deal."

"Good. I'll give you the next 10 days off to mourn, so you may take Doctor Gang's body back home. Report back to camp when you return-"

"I don't need to mourn-"

"Your family will need you there. This is an order."

I can tell that Gang Xiabo needs time to grieve as well...

Gang Xiabo gives a brief nod at this, his face still swollen and patchy from his brief crying outburst. "Thank you."

"You are dismissed," Shi Zixin nods, allowing Gang Xiabo to leave and prepare for the journey home. Shi Zixin turns to the other soldiers in the tent.

"Prepare one of the spare carts to take Doctor Gang to her resting place."

"Yes, commander!"

The four soldiers set to work as Shi Zixin leaves the tent, keeping her expressionless mask on as she faces the people who had gathered around the tent.

"Go back to work!"

They quickly scurry, whispering among themselves. Shi Zixin lets out a deep sigh, walking to the morning meeting. This was going to be a long day...

=

At dusk, Shi Zixin reentered her tent and slumped upon her bed. She stared down at the ground, emotions waving over her. Wiping her wet eyes quickly, Shi Zixin leaned back on her cot, resting her head on the hard pillow.

Was this...my fault?

That night, Shi Zixin couldn't sleep. She found herself back out with Fu Junjie, drinking tea from that strange box once more.

When did I get here...?

"Commander Shi!" Fu Junjie waved her hand in front of Shi Zixin's face. Shi Zixin quickly startled, looking at the girl with confusion.

"Yes...?"

"Are you feeling alright?" Fu Junjie asks, concern laced on her face. Shi Zixin shortly nodded.

"I'm just..."

Fu Junjie's face darkens. "You're thinking about that doctor's death...aren't you?"

Shi Zixin hesitantly nods.

The girl sighs. "I knew it. Her body was...unsettling. I can't imagine how it felt..." Fu Junjie sympathizes, glancing aside at the commander. "You two were close?"

"No." Shi Zixin's response was quick. "I just..."

"Just what?"

"I just saw her...last night..." Shi Zixin finally says. "She was so...alive. And when I woke to find her dead in the morning..."

Fu Junjie sighs. "I'm sorry you had to go through that, commander. But things will get better."

Shi Zixin's face hardens. "It will after we catch the perpetrator. The camp isn't safe with a predator capable of murdering a comrade in their sleep wandering around. The sooner that bastard is caught, the sooner Doctor Gang will rest in peace."

"Agreed," Fu Junjie says while lightly sipping her tea. "It'll reinstate the balance of the camp. It will also show any possible spies that we mean business."

Shi Zixin sips her own tea, glancing up at the night sky. "If I find the killer before Gang Xiabo, I'll personally give them the cruelest death imaginable," Shi Zixin swears. "No one touches anyone in my camp without their crimes being returned tenfold."

Fu Junjie slightly smiles at this as she sips her tea. "Alright, commander. I'll stand beside you on this."

=

Unfortunate bumps. Jagged ridges. Peeling skin.

The hand moved away from the girl's face, unbelieving of what she felt. Her face felt lighter without the bandages, but...

"It'll take some time getting used to this," a man's voice called out, somewhere to her left. "For someone so young, it'll be especially hard. But, you'll learn to live again."

"But I'll never fully recover." Her voice felt distant from her own body, somewhere out in the void.

The doctor didn't respond. A hand clamps down on the girl's shoulder, causing a light shiver to run down her body.

"Honey..." her aunt cooes. "This pain is only momentary-"

She was cut off by a sudden feeling of pain as if she had been shot by arrows all over her body. The girl recoils, head lifting upwards as smoke-covered skies shroud her vision.

She looked forward now, seeing herself standing in front of a familiar blond man. In the distance was a burning castle, smoke covering the whole sky.

"You're nothing," the blond says, voice taunting the girl, "nothing, nothing, nothing."

The girl remained silent, staggering forward as blood poured from her lips. She trudged past the body of Amelia, feeling her feet stick with the blood of her friend.

The girl now stood directly in front of the man, staring up at him. Sticking her right hand forward, she went to grab his hair, and-

Shi Zixin woke up, her right hand's fingers twitching. Calming her unsteady breathing, Shi Zixin stared up at the ceiling.

'008.'

'Yes...?'

Shi Zixin closed her eyes, preparing for the worst.

'Be honest with me...am I responsible for Gang Meili's death?'

008 remained silent for a moment, before spitting out an answer.

'Yes.'

Shi Zixin felt her whole body tense and herself wince, pain blossoming in her chest.

'Will you tell me who the killer is?'

'I cannot. Unless you're willing to pay points for a truth scroll, I cannot reveal who the perpetrator is.'

'If I tell you who I guess it is, will you confirm it?'

'Yes. I am allowed to do that.'

Shi Zixin nods briefly at this, still feeling the pain in her chest.

'008?'

'Yes?'

'Once I get the main goal completed...can I...' Eman couldn't find the right way to phrase it without feeling horrible.

'Yes, you may. It will not affect the status of your end goal.'

Eman feels a sense of relief at this, though she knows the main goal is still far away.

'If I can ask, why do you ask?'

Eman's lips crinkle in disgust. 'I can sense that something is going on behind the scenes, and I need to figure it out before it's too late.'

=

Hi everyone! Quick a/n

This chapter's fanart is on behalf of rainbasket, starring the Hub's Jara and Lucor. Thank you for the great art!

Secondly, I'd like to say that over the next week, I'll be across the country. Currently, my computer is broken and I can't take it with me, so I won't be able to post a chapter on the fifth.

I will have just enough time to type up another Q/A. I know that a few chapters ago there was one, but a lot has happened since then. I will also be posting a surprise as well, so be sure to read it!

Please comment any questions you have for the Q/A and I'll answer them!

Thank you for all of your love and support! Please vote, comment, and add Villainess to your library if you like this story!