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00:00:01Get out! Don't come back!
00:00:04The night of my first shift at 18, my two older brothers brought home a 12-year-old orphaned Omega.
00:00:16My alpha brother seized the rare healing herb I'd spent all my savings on,
00:00:20herbs meant to ease my first transformation, and gave them to her instead.
00:00:33You're strong enough. You don't need such precious herbs.
00:00:37My beta brother snarled with fury, pointing toward the door.
00:00:41Get out! Don't come back!
00:00:45I said nothing more, just grabbed my packed bag and left.
00:00:49They assumed I was merely throwing a tantrum, that I'd return in a few days.
00:00:55My brothers, finally free of my presence, took the orphan girl on an international vacation to the Caribbean islands.
00:01:01I'd always dreamed of visiting.
00:01:03Many days later, when they returned to the pack, they were shocked to discover
00:01:07I'd accepted an offer from the neighboring pack's head healer.
00:01:12This herbal research mission means 15 years of complete isolation from the outside world.
00:01:17Once you step inside, you'll never be able to come back.
00:01:21I accept.
00:01:24That night, they fell apart.
00:01:27Just this once.
00:01:29Please.
00:01:33The day I accepted the head healer's offer happened to be the full moon festival.
00:01:38The most sacred day for werewolf families to reunite and celebrate together.
00:01:44My mentor walked me to the door of the healing chambers.
00:01:47He voiced gentle as she offered her final advice.
00:01:52In five days, you'll begin your 15 years of isolation.
00:01:56Apple, remember to say proper goodbyes to your family.
00:01:59The Northern Territory was always cold.
00:02:01I stood on the street corner for what felt like hours,
00:02:04finally gathering enough courage to attempt mind linking with my brothers.
00:02:13Unsurprisingly, they had blocked my mental connection long ago.
00:02:16With a sigh, I pulled out my phone and called my alpha brother, Riker.
00:02:20Twenty years as siblings should count for something.
00:02:26After the third failed call, I left a voicemail, my voice trembling slightly.
00:02:31Riker, it is Ember.
00:02:34I know you don't want to see me, but...
00:02:37Can we have one last meal together tonight?
00:02:40Just this once.
00:02:43Please.
00:02:45There was a long silence on the other end before the call disconnected.
00:02:49Then I heard his cold voice from the receiver right before he hung up.
00:02:52Don't call me again.
00:02:54We're all here, taking care of her.
00:02:57Swallowing my pride, I dialed my beta brother, Axel.
00:03:02This time, after an eternity of ringing,
00:03:04he deigned to answer, like he was granting me some grand favor.
00:03:08Afraid he'd hang up, I rushed my words.
00:03:10It's Full Moon Festival today.
00:03:11Could we...
00:03:12Could we celebrate together at home?
00:03:16Silence stretched across the line.
00:03:24I carefully added.
00:03:25I bought gifts for everyone.
00:03:28I even found a moon goddess dress for Willow, her favorite style.
00:03:37Willow was the omega orphan my brothers had adopted.
00:03:40Thanks to you, Willow hasn't even been released from the hospital yet.
00:03:48We're all here, taking care of her.
00:03:51How dare you even mention celebrating Full Moon Festival.
00:03:54I pretended not to hear the disgust in his voice.
00:03:57Then I could bring the gifts to the hospital?
00:03:59We could celebrate there while looking after her.
00:04:02Did that work?
00:04:03I'd never begged like this before.
00:04:05After an uncomfortable pause,
00:04:07Willow's sweet, childish voice broke the tension.
00:04:10I want the moon goddess dress.
00:04:12I immediately replied.
00:04:14I'll bring it right over.
00:04:15Afraid they might refuse again,
00:04:17I quickly ended the call.
00:04:24Sis, let me help you put it on.
00:04:26After ending the call,
00:04:28I detoured to the mall to pick up the gifts I D pre-ordered.
00:04:31Over the years,
00:04:32I D worked hard and saved $150,000.
00:04:35Every penny now spent on these presents.
00:04:37For Riker, my alpha brother,
00:04:38I bought a precious healing crystal.
00:04:40As the Pac-S warrior, he was prone to injuries.
00:04:43For Axel, my beta brother,
00:04:44I found an ancient spell book he D been coveting for his magic studies.
00:04:49And then,
00:04:50the moon goddess dressed for Willow.
00:04:52I D always wanted one like it for myself,
00:04:54but could never justify the expense today.
00:04:57I D gift it to Willow.
00:04:59This was my last festival with my brothers,
00:05:01and I wanted them to be happy with all the presents collected.
00:05:04I hurried to the hospital.
00:05:07Axel glanced up at me when I entered.
00:05:14I took out the moon goddess dress from the gift bag
00:05:16and held it up with a gentle smile.
00:05:18Sis, let me help you put it on.
00:05:21I said softly,
00:05:22my voice full of eagerness to please.
00:05:24The fabric looks beautiful on you.
00:05:27Come, I'll help adjust it.
00:05:28Axel glanced at me,
00:05:30hesitating for a moment.
00:05:33All right.
00:05:35He finally said,
00:05:35though his tone was clearly reluctant.
00:05:37I quickly walked over,
00:05:39carefully helping Willow into the shimmering silver dress,
00:05:42my fingers gently smoothing the fabric around her shoulders.
00:05:46Did you deliberately buy her a dress this long,
00:05:48you know how clumsy she is?
00:05:50Willow, young and excited,
00:05:53twirled in the dress,
00:05:54her face lighting up with delight.
00:05:56It's so beautiful!
00:05:57She exclaimed,
00:05:59spinning too quickly.
00:06:00I couldn't help but glance their way.
00:06:07That is when Willow tripped over the long hem of the dress,
00:06:10stumbling forward with a small cry.
00:06:12In an instant,
00:06:13Riker rushed to catch her before she fell.
00:06:16Be careful.
00:06:17They said together,
00:06:18their voices laced with concern,
00:06:20lost in memory.
00:06:21I forgot to look away,
00:06:23until Axel,
00:06:24after making sure Willow was stable,
00:06:25sensed my gaze and looked up,
00:06:27his eyes warm with worry for her just seconds before,
00:06:30turned ice,
00:06:31cold when they met mine.
00:06:32Truthfully,
00:06:33it hurt more than I wanted to admit.
00:06:35Let me fix the hem,
00:06:36it's too long.
00:06:40But in my haste,
00:06:42scraping my palm against the rough hospital floor.
00:06:47What are you doing?
00:06:48Did you deliberately buy her a dress this long,
00:06:51you know how clumsy she is?
00:06:58Are you really so jealous that you can't even see us helping Willow without making a scene?
00:07:04My words caught in my throat.
00:07:12No, I...
00:07:14The dress is perfect.
00:07:16I just need to be more careful.
00:07:18I pushed myself up,
00:07:20wincing at the sting from my scraped skin.
00:07:22Axel looked down at me coldly.
00:07:23Are you trying to seem pitiful now?
00:07:26Are you really so jealous that you can't even see us helping Willow without making a scene?
00:07:31The accusation hit harder than the fall.
00:07:36I said nothing,
00:07:37rising silently from the floor on my own.
00:07:40Blood beaded along my palm,
00:07:41but I hid it behind my back.
00:07:43The hospital room soon returned to their happy atmosphere without me.
00:07:49Last week,
00:07:50everyone in my class was talking about
00:07:51how beautiful the Caribbean seas are.
00:07:54When I grow up,
00:07:55I want to see them too.
00:07:56I'll definitely wear this dress on the beach.
00:07:59Axel stroked her head affectionately.
00:08:02Why wait until you're grown?
00:08:03It's no big deal.
00:08:04We can go see it this year.
00:08:05Riker chuckled softly.
00:08:07Perfect timing.
00:08:08Both of us have time off at the end of the year.
00:08:10We'll take you.
00:08:11Their conversation flowed easily as they discussed travel plans.
00:08:14Within half an hour,
00:08:15they'd even booked the flights.
00:08:22What?
00:08:24Willow cheered and jumped excitedly,
00:08:26leaping into Axel and Riker's arms.
00:08:31After a while,
00:08:32she seemed to suddenly remember I was still there.
00:08:34She tilted her head and asked me,
00:08:38Sister, do you want to come too?
00:08:40I remembered that I needed to tell Riker and Axel about my departure.
00:08:44I can't.
00:08:44In a few days,
00:08:45I'm going to the Shadow Packs.
00:08:48Those things aren't our concern.
00:08:49You don't need to tell us.
00:08:53The words,
00:08:54I won't be coming back for 15 years,
00:08:56died in my throat.
00:08:57I swallowed them back down.
00:09:00Willow wants to leave the hospital tomorrow.
00:09:02After her injury,
00:09:03caused by you,
00:09:04staying elsewhere isn't convenient.
00:09:06I'm planning to have the housekeeper prepare a guest room.
00:09:09I'm Kendal Strischinghouse,
00:09:10Mr. Sun would dress gloom in those Kluvers.
00:09:12Before he could finish,
00:09:13I spoke softly,
00:09:14Let her have my room.
00:09:16Axel stopped mid-sentence.
00:09:18He seemed to think he'd misheard.
00:09:20He stared at me for a long moment,
00:09:22his eyes filled with disbelief.
00:09:24What?
00:09:25After a moment of stunned silence,
00:09:28Riker also frowned.
00:09:29You don't need to be like this.
00:09:31I know you're petty,
00:09:32but once Willow's wounds heal,
00:09:33she can move back to her own place.
00:09:37You still have your big brothers.
00:09:39Let her move in.
00:09:41She's young and needs care.
00:09:44It's inconvenient for you both
00:09:45to keep running back and forth.
00:09:49Besides,
00:09:50I haven't spent much time at home
00:09:52these past few years.
00:09:53The master bedroom would suit her better.
00:09:56His expression darkened,
00:09:58probably still thinking
00:09:59I was putting on an act.
00:10:05Axel helped Willow
00:10:07back into the hospital bed.
00:10:11Grabbed a storybook
00:10:12and sat down beside her to read.
00:10:16Just like countless times
00:10:17over these past years,
00:10:19I had once again become
00:10:20the awkward,
00:10:21unwanted presence.
00:10:29When I spoke,
00:10:30my throat hurt.
00:10:33I'm leaving.
00:10:34No one responded.
00:10:36I suddenly remembered many years ago
00:10:38when our parents were killed in a fire.
00:10:40Axel had held me,
00:10:42his eyes blood red with grief.
00:10:44With that same gentle voice,
00:10:45he'd comforted me trembling.
00:10:50You still have your big brothers.
00:10:52As long as your brothers are here,
00:10:54you'll always be our little princess.
00:10:59Liar.
00:11:00For some reason,
00:11:01my nose suddenly stung
00:11:02with unshed tears.
00:11:04Where exactly do you plan on going?
00:11:07I rushed back to school that night
00:11:09and went straight to the lab
00:11:10to finish an experiment
00:11:12I'd been working on.
00:11:18I only had seven days left.
00:11:24In those seven days,
00:11:25I needed to wrap up everything
00:11:26Both studies in personal matters.
00:11:28In North City,
00:11:29I worked almost the entire night.
00:11:38The next morning,
00:11:39after a brief nap,
00:11:40I returned home.
00:11:50The master bedroom
00:11:51needed to be cleared for Willow.
00:11:55The Omega Servant
00:11:56helped me pack my things
00:11:57into the guest room,
00:11:58grumbling indignantly.
00:11:59When has the pack air
00:12:01ever moved out
00:12:02to let an outsider
00:12:03have the master bedroom?
00:12:06It's fine.
00:12:07I won't be staying here
00:12:08much longer anyway.
00:12:11Behind me,
00:12:12an icy voice
00:12:13suddenly broke the silence.
00:12:14Where exactly
00:12:15do you plan on going?
00:12:17His expression was ice cold.
00:12:18His gaze fixed
00:12:19on my fully packed suitcase.
00:12:22The barely concealed
00:12:23anticipation
00:12:23in her eyes
00:12:24was impossible to miss.
00:12:26Don't worry.
00:12:28Once I move out,
00:12:29I won't come back.
00:12:30For a moment,
00:12:30I considered telling them the truth.
00:12:32Those things aren't our concern.
00:12:34You don't need to tell us.
00:12:37Suddenly,
00:12:37I didn't dare speak openly anymore.
00:12:39This way,
00:12:40when I finally left,
00:12:41I could at least lie to myself.
00:12:43I could pretend
00:12:44they simply didn't know
00:12:45I was leaving
00:12:45rather than admit
00:12:46they didn't care.
00:12:47I spoke with feigned casualness.
00:12:50I'm just moving my thumbs
00:12:51to change rooms.
00:12:52Like I said,
00:12:53the master bedroom
00:12:54is for Willow.
00:12:56Willow won't be staying here.
00:13:01You pushed her down the stairs
00:13:02just days ago.
00:13:04Do you think we'd feel comfortable
00:13:05letting her live
00:13:06under the same roof as you?
00:13:07Then I'll move to campus housing.
00:13:09I truly hadn't meant
00:13:11to provoke him.
00:13:11With my departure imminent,
00:13:13I just didn't want to make
00:13:14things difficult
00:13:15for them anymore.
00:13:16This is your room, sister.
00:13:19I can't take it.
00:13:28Don't worry.
00:13:29Once I move out,
00:13:31I won't come back.
00:13:32Willow immediately couldn't help
00:13:33but lift the corners of her mouth.
00:13:35Realizing her slip,
00:13:36she quickly lowered her head.
00:13:49Who are you threatening?
00:13:53If you want to leave,
00:13:54then leave.
00:13:56Did you think anyone
00:13:57would beg you to stay?
00:14:04I said nothing more
00:14:05and continued packing
00:14:06my belongings.
00:14:07Having lived in this home
00:14:09for over 20 years,
00:14:10I had accumulated
00:14:11too many possessions.
00:14:18If you've got the nerve,
00:14:19don't ever come back.
00:14:37after all these years of drama,
00:14:39we'll finally have some peace
00:14:40and quiet.
00:14:41Don't come crawling back
00:14:43when you can't last
00:14:43three days on your own.
00:14:56from now on,
00:14:57whoever dares to open the door
00:14:59for her can leave with her.
00:15:08My eyes stung so badly
00:15:09I could barely open them.
00:15:11I couldn't tell
00:15:12whether it was rain
00:15:13or tears blurring my vision.
00:15:15Red began to seep
00:15:16through the sleeve
00:15:17of my soaked coat.
00:15:22Sister, I'm sorry,
00:15:23please don't go.
00:15:24If you don't like me,
00:15:25I can be the one to leave.
00:15:44I can be the one to leave.
00:15:45You can't get soaked
00:15:46in the rain.
00:15:52I tried to smile
00:15:54but couldn't quite manage it.
00:15:56My wolf was already weakened
00:15:57from the old burns
00:15:58and I'd been exhausting myself
00:16:00these past days.
00:16:19Derek, what are you implying?
00:16:23With effort,
00:16:24I looked up after a moment.
00:16:26I recognized Derek,
00:16:27the alpha of the shadow pack.
00:16:29He'd been working tirelessly
00:16:31to solve the problem
00:16:32of silver poisoning
00:16:33among werewolves.
00:16:34But the silver poisoning project
00:16:36was too important.
00:16:37The research materials
00:16:38could be leaked.
00:16:40It required isolation
00:16:41from the outside world
00:16:42for at least 15 years.
00:16:44which is why I.D. refused
00:16:46many times before.
00:16:47This time was different.
00:16:48I had accepted
00:16:50because there was nothing,
00:16:51no one,
00:16:52outside worth staying for.
00:16:54Leaving so quickly.
00:16:56I see you've found yourself
00:16:58powerful protection.
00:17:06Why do you still acknowledge
00:17:08them as your brothers?
00:17:10In a few days,
00:17:12you'll be leaving anyway.
00:17:13Alpha!
00:17:27What am I implying?
00:17:27Derek, what are you implying?
00:17:39What am I implying?
00:17:43What am I implying?
00:18:11You're injured and they throw you out
00:18:12in this downpour?
00:18:15I truly don't understand
00:18:17why you came back
00:18:17just to be treated this way.
00:18:26They used to be very good to me.
00:18:31Really?
00:18:33They used to be
00:18:34very, very good to me.
00:18:43ever since I could remember,
00:18:45my parents were rarely home.
00:18:58When I was six and just starting
00:19:00elementary school,
00:19:01I was bullied by classmates
00:19:03because I was smaller
00:19:04because I was smaller
00:19:04and weaker than them.
00:19:07It's okay.
00:19:08Big brother will protect evil.
00:19:15The next day,
00:19:16he went to my school
00:19:17and beat up all the bullies.
00:19:22The teachers caught him
00:19:23and punished him
00:19:24by making him serve
00:19:25as a combat training partner
00:19:26for the elite alpha wolves.
00:19:44This is nothing.
00:19:46Brother loves combat training.
00:19:47When I finish,
00:19:48I'll be stronger
00:19:49and better able to protect
00:19:50my little princess.
00:20:03We walked home together
00:20:04after his training.
00:20:06When we arrived,
00:20:07the Omega Servant
00:20:08was on leave.
00:20:14Riker had already prepared
00:20:15hot, delicious food.
00:20:19Wash your hands.
00:20:20Dinner's ready.
00:20:34Whenever I played too roughly
00:20:35and got seriously hurt,
00:20:37trying to sneak back home
00:20:38without telling anyone,
00:20:40he would silently roll up my sleeve
00:20:41and treat my wounds.
00:20:52It's okay.
00:20:53Just blow on it
00:20:54and it won't hurt anymore.
00:20:57Be more careful next time.
00:21:02Until I turned 12
00:21:03and saw the Caribbean
00:21:04on television,
00:21:05Axel promised to take me
00:21:07to see the ocean
00:21:08and Riker booked tickets
00:21:09for the three of us.
00:21:21Before the tragedy,
00:21:22my parents were developing herbs
00:21:23to enhance werewolves'
00:21:25self-healing abilities.
00:21:26When word leaked out,
00:21:28they became targets of hatred
00:21:29from other pharmaceutical companies.
00:21:31The arsonists set fire
00:21:33to the research lab
00:21:34in the early morning.
00:21:38As they burned to death,
00:21:39a brave warrior
00:21:40had rushed into the inferno
00:21:41trying to save them,
00:21:42but was also burned alive.
00:21:44That warrior left behind
00:21:45an orphan's.
00:21:49Axel and Riker
00:21:50spent six exhausting years
00:21:51searching
00:21:52until they finally found
00:21:53that child in an orphanage.
00:21:58Six months after
00:21:5912-year-old Willow
00:21:59was brought to the packhouse,
00:22:01I went for dinner
00:22:02with classmates
00:22:02and ran into
00:22:03the orphanage director.
00:22:05Actually,
00:22:06the real Willow
00:22:08died of heart disease
00:22:09in the orphanage
00:22:10when she was only
00:22:10three years old.
00:22:12The Willow you took in
00:22:13is another orphan girl.
00:22:15She also had heart disease
00:22:16and couldn't afford treatment.
00:22:17I felt so sorry for her,
00:22:19so I let her take
00:22:20the dead child's place
00:22:21hoping your brothers
00:22:22would pay for her
00:22:23medical bills.
00:22:23I'm so sorry.
00:22:25I deceived you all.
00:22:27Get out!
00:22:31I rushed home
00:22:32only to find Willow
00:22:33breaking my things again.
00:22:35It was my last
00:22:36remaining family photo
00:22:37with all of us together.
00:22:45Just like countless times before,
00:22:48Willow crouched
00:22:48to pick up the pieces,
00:22:50then held up her cut hand,
00:22:51looking pitiful
00:22:52so Axel
00:22:53would comfort her.
00:23:00Get out!
00:23:15Ember,
00:23:17your arrogance
00:23:18and willlessness
00:23:19need to stop.
00:23:20I told them
00:23:21everything I'd heard.
00:23:22Then I saw
00:23:23Willow's panicked expression.
00:23:24I thought at least
00:23:25her illness
00:23:26had been cured.
00:23:28Ember,
00:23:29why can't you
00:23:29accept Willow?
00:23:30her father
00:23:31burned to death
00:23:32trying to save our parents.
00:23:33She's his only
00:23:34flesh and blood,
00:23:36his only concern.
00:23:37Doesn't your conscience
00:23:38hurt when you
00:23:38make up these lies?
00:23:43A month ago,
00:23:44Willow used her old tricks
00:23:46and broke my necklace
00:23:47that contained
00:23:48my mother's ashes.
00:24:04Ember,
00:24:05if you can't live with us,
00:24:06then get out!
00:24:08They took Willow
00:24:09to the hospital,
00:24:10leaving me behind
00:24:11despite my injuries.
00:24:13I returned to school,
00:24:15moved into the dormitory
00:24:16and continued
00:24:17perfecting my herbal
00:24:18research notes.
00:24:19The next day,
00:24:20while heading to the
00:24:21library with Derek,
00:24:22I ran into Axel
00:24:23and Riker.
00:24:24I pretended not to see them,
00:24:26found a seat,
00:24:27opened my notebook
00:24:28and continued writing
00:24:29word by word.
00:24:44Be good now.
00:24:46In a few days,
00:24:47we'll be off
00:24:47to the Caribbean.
00:24:56Hearing their words
00:24:57made it hard
00:24:57for me to breathe,
00:24:58so I got up
00:24:59and went for a drink
00:25:00of water.
00:25:13When I returned,
00:25:14my notebook
00:25:14was in Willow's hands.
00:25:16Axel and Riker
00:25:17had gone to get books
00:25:18from the shelves.
00:25:30She immediately
00:25:31threw herself
00:25:32dramatically to the floor,
00:25:33hitting her forehead
00:25:34on a chair
00:25:35and screamed out
00:25:36in pain.
00:25:50Ember,
00:25:51why did you push Willow?
00:25:54It was a Sawyer
00:25:55I'm in shut,
00:25:56Elbert!
00:26:08Your notes were torn up?
00:26:14This can't be possible.
00:26:16Willow wouldn't.
00:26:24Let's go.
00:26:26How strange.
00:26:27I should have been furious.
00:26:29I should have lost control
00:26:30like countless times before,
00:26:32screaming at Willow
00:26:33or even striking her.
00:26:34Then I should have
00:26:35fought bitterly
00:26:36with Axel and Riker
00:26:37as they defended
00:26:38and indulged her.
00:26:39But in this moment,
00:26:40I only wanted to leave.
00:26:42I had argued with them
00:26:43for four years.
00:26:44Four years of
00:26:45countless arguments.
00:26:46Always with the same result.
00:26:48Now,
00:26:48I didn't want to fight anymore.
00:26:50In a few days,
00:26:51I'd be gone anyway.
00:26:54Give me the notebook.
00:26:55I'll try to restore it for you.
00:26:57Don't bother.
00:27:13Amber, what's...
00:27:14What's going on
00:27:16with you lately?
00:27:18His voice carried
00:27:19a trace of anxiety.
00:27:20I just reached out
00:27:21and gently removed his hand.
00:27:33Willow is just young.
00:27:34If she really did tear it up,
00:27:36it couldn't have been intentional.
00:27:38So that was it.
00:27:39He was afraid
00:27:40I would resent Willow
00:27:41and push her down the stairs
00:27:42again in anger.
00:27:43And here I thought that,
00:27:44just this once,
00:27:46he might be willing
00:27:46to take my side.
00:27:48I felt the corner
00:27:49of my mouth twitch,
00:27:50amused by my own foolishness.
00:27:55It's fine.
00:27:56Don't worry about it.
00:27:58Riker rushed forward,
00:28:00perhaps trying to stop
00:28:01the closing doors,
00:28:02but it was too late.
00:28:07Before leaving,
00:28:08I checked my luggage
00:28:09one last time.
00:28:11At noon,
00:28:12Derek invited me to lunch
00:28:13to discuss
00:28:13the silver poisoning
00:28:14research project.
00:28:30As we left the restaurant,
00:28:32Riker suddenly called me,
00:28:33I answered,
00:28:34but he remained silent
00:28:35for a long moment.
00:28:37Thinking he might have
00:28:38called by accident,
00:28:39I was about to hang up
00:28:40when he finally spoke.
00:28:42When are you coming home?
00:28:44I was taken aback.
00:28:46I couldn't help but wonder
00:28:47if he had meant
00:28:48to call Willow instead.
00:28:49Still,
00:28:50I replied,
00:28:52I'm busy at school
00:28:53lately,
00:28:54so I won't be coming back.
00:28:56What about tonight?
00:29:00I didn't understand
00:29:01his sudden interest,
00:29:02but I made up
00:29:03an excuse anyway.
00:29:07I have plans
00:29:08with classmates tonight.
00:29:10Another long silence
00:29:12followed.
00:29:13After a while,
00:29:15he awkwardly continued.
00:29:16Today is Axel's
00:29:18and my birthday.
00:29:19I was momentarily speechless.
00:29:21For many years,
00:29:22I had been the one
00:29:23planning their birthdays,
00:29:24buying cakes,
00:29:26booking venues,
00:29:27selecting gifts
00:29:28months in advance.
00:29:29But this year,
00:29:32Emberl prepared birthday gifts
00:29:34for you both.
00:29:34You'll see them
00:29:35when you get home.
00:29:36He explained that he had
00:29:37sent Axel and Riker
00:29:38a package containing
00:29:39proof of my acceptance
00:29:40into the 15-year
00:29:41isolation project,
00:29:43along with recordings
00:29:44of the orphanage director,
00:29:45confirming Willow's
00:29:46identity fraud.
00:29:51I laughed softly
00:29:52and shook my head.
00:29:53Whether they believed it
00:29:55or not,
00:29:55I no longer cared.
00:29:57I picked up my packed
00:29:59suitcase and booked
00:30:00the next available flight.
00:30:01I left school
00:30:03and went to the airport
00:30:04with Derek.
00:30:12As the plane climbed
00:30:13to 30,000 feet,
00:30:15everything in North City
00:30:16gradually disappeared
00:30:17from view.
00:30:19The day I officially
00:30:20prepared to enter
00:30:21the Classified Research Institute
00:30:22was my third day
00:30:24after arriving
00:30:24at the neighboring pack.
00:30:26The Institute's
00:30:26director Chen
00:30:27took us all out
00:30:28for lunch.
00:30:28By the end,
00:30:29many sitting around
00:30:30the table
00:30:30had reddened eyes.
00:30:31Director Chen
00:30:32told us to make
00:30:33one last call
00:30:34to family or friends,
00:30:35then added seriously.
00:30:38If you're afraid
00:30:39or reluctant,
00:30:40it's not too late
00:30:41to back out now.
00:30:44People around me
00:30:45began taking out
00:30:45their phones to dial,
00:30:47with occasional
00:30:47muffled sobs
00:30:48breaking the silence.
00:30:49I sat quietly
00:30:50for a long while
00:30:51before finally
00:30:52taking out my phone
00:30:53and opening Facebook.
00:30:56I checked and saw
00:30:57that Axel
00:30:58had updated his status.
00:30:59They had taken
00:31:00Willow to the Caribbean.
00:31:01In the photos,
00:31:02Willow wore
00:31:02the beautiful
00:31:03moon goddess dress.
00:31:04She looked back
00:31:05at the camera
00:31:06from the endless beach,
00:31:07her eyes crinkling
00:31:08with happiness.
00:31:11Emble,
00:31:12make a call.
00:31:13After this,
00:31:14who knows,
00:31:15who knows how many years
00:31:16will pass
00:31:16before you get
00:31:17another chance.
00:31:18I clutched
00:31:19my phone tightly,
00:31:20my knuckles
00:31:21turning white.
00:31:24After a long while,
00:31:26I finally dialed.
00:31:28Sister,
00:31:28do you need something?
00:31:32Where are they?
00:31:34You mean my brothers?
00:31:35They told me
00:31:36to answer the phone.
00:31:37They said they don't
00:31:38have time to talk
00:31:39and I should just
00:31:39take a message.
00:31:41From the background
00:31:42came Axel's
00:31:43raised voice.
00:31:44Turn off your phone
00:31:45and come here.
00:31:46Willow's voice
00:31:47took on a pleased tone.
00:31:48Sister,
00:31:49what did you want anyway?
00:31:50I can pass along
00:31:51a message.
00:31:52By the way,
00:31:53didn't you put
00:31:54a box at home?
00:31:55My brothers said
00:31:56they didn't need
00:31:57the birthday presents
00:31:57from you,
00:31:58so I threw
00:31:59the box away.
00:32:00You won't be angry,
00:32:02right?
00:32:03My heart gradually
00:32:05grew calm,
00:32:06finally feeling free
00:32:07of any lingering
00:32:08attachment.
00:32:09Nothing.
00:32:10After everyone
00:32:11finished their calls
00:32:12and lunch,
00:32:12we began entering
00:32:13the research institute.
00:32:15Just one door
00:32:16separated us
00:32:17from the outside world.
00:32:20I removed my
00:32:21SIM card,
00:32:22broke it in half.
00:32:23I stepped through
00:32:24the doorway
00:32:25without looking back.
00:32:33After only a week
00:32:34in the Caribbean,
00:32:35Axel decided
00:32:36they should return home.
00:32:38As the full moon
00:32:38festival approached,
00:32:40Willow insisted
00:32:41they stay for the holiday,
00:32:42saying there would be
00:32:43special celebrations
00:32:44in the Caribbean.
00:32:49Axel instinctively
00:32:50wanted to refuse,
00:32:52even though the pack
00:32:53had started their
00:32:54holiday break,
00:32:57and he had no work
00:32:58left for the year.
00:33:04For reasons he couldn't
00:33:05explain,
00:33:06this trip abroad
00:33:07felt like something
00:33:07was missing.
00:33:08Though they'd only
00:33:09been away for seven days,
00:33:10it felt like they'd
00:33:11endured a much longer
00:33:12period.
00:33:20He tried to think
00:33:21of a good excuse
00:33:22to go back.
00:33:29Before he could
00:33:29formulate one,
00:33:31Riker spoke up gently.
00:33:34We can come back
00:33:35in a time
00:33:35if you want to play more.
00:33:40I have pack business
00:33:41to handle
00:33:42that can't be
00:33:43delayed any longer.
00:33:45Willow,
00:33:45still caught up
00:33:46in the excitement
00:33:46of the trip,
00:33:47protested.
00:33:49But just recently
00:33:50you told Ember
00:33:51that you wouldn't
00:33:52be handling
00:33:53pack business
00:33:54during the
00:33:54Full Moon Festival!
00:34:00Riker fell silent,
00:34:02seeming guilty
00:34:02as he looked
00:34:03out the window.
00:34:06Willow sneered,
00:34:08dropped her
00:34:09new stuffed toy,
00:34:10and ran out.
00:34:14Axel looked
00:34:15at the teddy bear
00:34:16abandoned on the floor.
00:34:17Somehow he remembered
00:34:18that this was
00:34:19the exact style
00:34:19Ember had loved
00:34:20as a child.
00:34:23What had Ember
00:34:24been like
00:34:25when she was little?
00:34:26Axel tried to recall
00:34:27but realized
00:34:28he could barely remember.
00:34:29All he could picture
00:34:30was Ember shouting
00:34:31and crying,
00:34:32demanding Willow leave.
00:34:37Occasionally
00:34:37when Willow
00:34:38damaged her things,
00:34:39she would lose control,
00:34:42but then quickly
00:34:43compose herself,
00:34:44saying calmly
00:34:45and coldly,
00:34:48It doesn't matter.
00:34:50It doesn't matter.
00:34:50She increasingly
00:34:51preferred staying
00:34:52at the school dormitory.
00:34:53Sometimes Axel
00:34:54would run into her
00:34:55on campus.
00:34:56One moment
00:34:57she'd be laughing
00:34:57with classmates.
00:35:00The next upon
00:35:01seeing him,
00:35:02her expression
00:35:03would immediately
00:35:03become quiet
00:35:04and uncomfortable.
00:35:05Axel picked up
00:35:06the stuffed animal
00:35:07from the floor.
00:35:08He suddenly felt
00:35:08like he had lost
00:35:09something important.
00:35:10When had he lost it?
00:35:12That willful,
00:35:13affectionate Ember.
00:35:13When had she disappeared?
00:35:19Riker's somewhat
00:35:20cold voice
00:35:21interrupted his thoughts.
00:35:22I'm going back tonight.
00:35:24If Willow wants
00:35:25to stay and play,
00:35:26you can continue
00:35:27with her.
00:35:29Axel looked up
00:35:30abruptly,
00:35:30seeing what seemed
00:35:31like unease
00:35:32in Riker's eyes.
00:35:33The same unease
00:35:34Axel felt
00:35:35in his own heart.
00:35:37And one.
00:35:39If you're serious,
00:35:40does your mercy,
00:35:40I'm going back
00:35:41tonight too.
00:35:42Riker said
00:35:43nothing more,
00:35:44silently packing
00:35:45his luggage.
00:35:50Throughout the
00:35:51return journey,
00:35:52Axel's forehead
00:35:53kept throbbing
00:35:54for some reason.
00:35:55When they arrived
00:35:57home,
00:35:57Ember was nowhere
00:35:58to be seen.
00:36:00The housekeeper
00:36:01came out
00:36:01to greet them.
00:36:05Axel,
00:36:05Ember hasn't
00:36:06returned yet.
00:36:07The housekeeper
00:36:08shook her head.
00:36:09Newdu hasn't
00:36:10returned yet?
00:36:12Miss hasn't
00:36:12come back
00:36:13at all.
00:36:16It's been
00:36:16over a week.
00:36:17Tomorrow is
00:36:18the full moon
00:36:18festival.
00:36:19How could she
00:36:19not be back yet?
00:36:20The housekeeper
00:36:20who had worked
00:36:21for the family
00:36:22for many years
00:36:22and had a soft
00:36:23spot for Ember
00:36:24replied coldly,
00:36:25I wouldn't know.
00:36:32She'll come back
00:36:33eventually.
00:36:34Brother,
00:36:35forget about that.
00:36:36Come see the new
00:36:37storybook I bought.
00:36:39You can read it to me
00:36:39tonight.
00:36:43Axel suddenly felt
00:36:45irritated.
00:36:48Now she clearly
00:36:49didn't care that
00:36:50Ember had been
00:36:50gone for days.
00:36:52How much sincerity
00:36:53was there in her
00:36:53constant use of
00:36:54sisters?
00:36:59Since the master
00:37:00doesn't care about
00:37:00Miss anymore,
00:37:01why even bother
00:37:02asking?
00:37:03Those words
00:37:04pierced Axel's
00:37:05heart like an
00:37:05invisible thorn.
00:37:07Willow complained
00:37:08under her breath.
00:37:11She's a grown woman.
00:37:12She's not going
00:37:13to get lost.
00:37:19With a cold face,
00:37:20he walked
00:37:21straight upstairs.
00:37:22Behind him,
00:37:23Willow wailed
00:37:24dramatically.
00:37:27Brother,
00:37:28did I say
00:37:29something wrong?
00:37:31Won't you read
00:37:32my storybook
00:37:33anymore?
00:37:42You're in
00:37:42sixth grade.
00:37:44Can't you read
00:37:45by yourself?
00:37:46Willow's
00:37:47aggrieved crying
00:37:48started immediately.
00:37:49In the past,
00:37:50Axel would
00:37:50certainly have
00:37:51turned back
00:37:51to comfort her.
00:37:52Whenever she
00:37:53cried,
00:37:53he would
00:37:54fulfill any
00:37:54request she
00:37:55made.
00:37:56He had
00:37:56always thought
00:37:57that not
00:37:57being good
00:37:57to Willow
00:37:58would be
00:37:58failing his
00:37:59parents and
00:37:59failing the
00:38:00warrior who
00:38:00had tried to
00:38:01save them.
00:38:06But it had
00:38:06been four
00:38:07years.
00:38:08Four years.
00:38:09He had
00:38:09catered to
00:38:10Willow's
00:38:10every whim,
00:38:11shown her
00:38:11extreme care,
00:38:12convinced he
00:38:13was doing
00:38:13right by the
00:38:14warrior who
00:38:14had perished
00:38:15in the flames,
00:38:16trying to
00:38:16save his
00:38:17parents.
00:38:17But what
00:38:18about Ember?
00:38:18What about
00:38:19his own
00:38:19sister?
00:38:20Axel went
00:38:21upstairs and
00:38:21stood in
00:38:22front of
00:38:22Ember's
00:38:23bedroom.
00:38:25He pushed
00:38:26open the
00:38:26door to
00:38:27find it
00:38:27completely
00:38:27empty.
00:38:29He went
00:38:29in and
00:38:30looked around,
00:38:30only now
00:38:31realizing she
00:38:32had taken
00:38:32so many
00:38:32of her
00:38:33belongings.
00:38:34A sudden
00:38:34unease
00:38:35welled up
00:38:35inside him.
00:38:43Opened
00:38:44his phone,
00:38:45scrolling back
00:38:45and forth,
00:38:46finding no
00:38:46missed calls
00:38:47or texts
00:38:48from Ember.
00:38:48No updates
00:38:49on her
00:38:50social media
00:38:50either.
00:38:51Nothing at
00:38:52all.
00:38:53Why hadn't
00:38:54she come
00:38:54home yet?
00:38:55He scrolled
00:38:56through his
00:38:57contacts list
00:38:57repeatedly,
00:38:58finally giving
00:38:59in and
00:38:59calling
00:38:59Professor
00:39:00Zhang,
00:39:01Ember's
00:39:01academic
00:39:01advisor.
00:39:02The call
00:39:03connected
00:39:03quickly,
00:39:04Axel
00:39:04beat around
00:39:05the bush,
00:39:05talking in
00:39:06circles for
00:39:06a while.
00:39:20Finally,
00:39:21awkwardly,
00:39:22he asked.
00:39:23Has Ember
00:39:24been giving
00:39:25you any
00:39:25trouble
00:39:25these past
00:39:26few days?
00:39:27Professor
00:39:27Zhang's voice
00:39:28was confused.
00:39:29Emberl?
00:39:30How could
00:39:31she possibly
00:39:31give me
00:39:32any trouble
00:39:33now?
00:39:37For some
00:39:37reason,
00:39:38Axel's temple
00:39:39suddenly began
00:39:40throbbing
00:39:40intensely.
00:39:41Isn't she
00:39:42away with
00:39:42you on
00:39:42business?
00:39:48She hasn't
00:39:49returned yet,
00:39:49has she?
00:39:50There was
00:39:51a long
00:39:51silence
00:39:52before the
00:39:52professor's
00:39:53voice came
00:39:53back,
00:39:54heavy with
00:39:54undisguised
00:39:55sadness.
00:39:57Axel,
00:39:57what kind
00:39:58of joke
00:39:59is this?
00:40:00Yes,
00:40:01I escorted
00:40:01Ember there,
00:40:02but how could
00:40:04she possibly
00:40:05come back
00:40:05with me?
00:40:08The bedroom
00:40:08fell into a
00:40:09silence so
00:40:10complete you
00:40:11could hear a
00:40:11pin drop.
00:40:12He felt like
00:40:12he had
00:40:13misheard
00:40:13something.
00:40:14What did
00:40:14the professor
00:40:15mean?
00:40:15How could
00:40:16Ember possibly
00:40:17come back?
00:40:18His breathing
00:40:18quickened,
00:40:19his heartbeat
00:40:20thunderous in
00:40:20his ears.
00:40:21It was as if a
00:40:22string in his
00:40:23mind had
00:40:23suddenly been
00:40:24stretched to
00:40:24its limit,
00:40:25about to
00:40:25snap at any
00:40:26moment.
00:40:27Axel's mind
00:40:28went blank.
00:40:29After a long
00:40:29moment, he
00:40:30picked up the
00:40:30phone.
00:40:31I don't think
00:40:32I understood
00:40:32you.
00:40:33What did
00:40:33you just say?
00:40:34The voice
00:40:35on the other
00:40:35end grew
00:40:36increasingly
00:40:36distant in
00:40:37his ears.
00:40:38That mental
00:40:38string finally
00:40:39snapped.
00:40:40Others might
00:40:41not understand
00:40:41but you,
00:40:42Axel.
00:40:43How could
00:40:43you not
00:40:43understand?
00:40:44If you
00:40:44hadn't
00:40:44withdraw at
00:40:45the last
00:40:45minute,
00:40:45Eber
00:40:46wouldn't
00:40:46have
00:40:46gotten
00:40:46that
00:40:46position.
00:40:51Emble
00:40:51told me
00:40:52you withdrew
00:40:52for that
00:40:53girl.
00:40:54Willow,
00:40:54right?
00:40:55Axel's
00:40:55face drained
00:40:56of all
00:40:56color.
00:40:57Despite
00:40:57the winter
00:40:58chill,
00:40:58cold sweat
00:40:59beaded on
00:40:59his forehead,
00:41:00never before
00:41:01had he felt
00:41:01such overwhelming
00:41:02fear.
00:41:02He fumbled
00:41:03frantically
00:41:03to end
00:41:04the call,
00:41:04but his
00:41:04fingers had
00:41:05no strength.
00:41:05The words
00:41:06he'd heard
00:41:06replayed in
00:41:07his mind
00:41:07like a
00:41:07curse.
00:41:08How could
00:41:08you not
00:41:09understand?
00:41:10Wasn't
00:41:11it your
00:41:11last minute
00:41:12withdrawal
00:41:13that created
00:41:14the vacancy?
00:41:15For
00:41:15Willow's
00:41:16sake?
00:41:17No,
00:41:17no,
00:41:17that wasn't
00:41:18right.
00:41:19His name
00:41:20had originally
00:41:20been on
00:41:21the participant
00:41:21list.
00:41:25He had
00:41:26decided to
00:41:26withdraw because
00:41:27he couldn't
00:41:28bear to leave
00:41:28Ember,
00:41:29with their
00:41:29parents gone.
00:41:30He worried
00:41:31Riker wouldn't
00:41:32take proper
00:41:32care of his
00:41:33little Ember.
00:41:34As Ember
00:41:34had said,
00:41:35someone in
00:41:36this world
00:41:36had to make
00:41:37sacrifices,
00:41:38just like their
00:41:39parents had.
00:41:40So he had
00:41:40made the
00:41:41difficult decision.
00:41:42But as the
00:41:43departure date
00:41:43approached,
00:41:44he couldn't
00:41:44overcome his
00:41:45personal attachments,
00:41:47couldn't find
00:41:47the strength to
00:41:48leave.
00:41:48It wasn't
00:41:49because of
00:41:49Willow.
00:41:50How could
00:41:50it possibly
00:41:51be because
00:41:52of Willow?
00:41:52Ember actually
00:41:53thought he'd
00:41:54done it for
00:41:54Willow.
00:41:55Was that why
00:41:55she had chosen
00:41:56to take his
00:41:57place?
00:42:23Axel,
00:42:24you can't
00:42:24possibly not know.
00:42:25Ember even
00:42:26made a final
00:42:27call to you
00:42:27before entering
00:42:28the research
00:42:29institute.
00:42:34No,
00:42:35she didn't
00:42:35contact me.
00:42:37They had been
00:42:38siblings for over
00:42:38twenty years,
00:42:40even if things
00:42:40had grown distant
00:42:41between them.
00:42:42Even if her
00:42:43heart was filled
00:42:44with resentment,
00:42:45she should have
00:42:45at least said
00:42:46goodbye before
00:42:46entering a ten-year
00:42:47closed research
00:42:48program.
00:42:48so she must
00:42:50not have
00:42:51gone.
00:42:51That's
00:42:52impossible.
00:42:53I was in
00:42:54the private
00:42:54room and
00:42:55saw it with
00:42:55my own
00:42:56eyes when
00:42:56I stood
00:42:56up.
00:42:57I knew
00:42:58them.
00:42:59She
00:42:59dialed
00:42:59your
00:42:59number.
00:43:01It was
00:43:01last
00:43:03Saturday
00:43:03around
00:43:04noon.
00:43:04noon.
00:43:34Willow had
00:43:35insisted on
00:43:36taking many
00:43:36photos and
00:43:37excitedly played
00:43:38until nearly
00:43:39dawn before
00:43:40returning to
00:43:41the hotel.
00:43:50Turn off the
00:43:50phone and
00:43:51come here.
00:43:57So, at that
00:43:59moment, had
00:44:00Willow really
00:44:01been looking at
00:44:01photos and
00:44:02videos?
00:44:49It wouldn't matter
00:44:50if she ignored
00:44:50him.
00:44:51if she was
00:44:51cold toward
00:44:52him, even
00:44:53if she had
00:44:53caused
00:44:53trouble.
00:44:54He could
00:44:55forgive her
00:44:55for trying
00:44:56to drive
00:44:56Willow away.
00:44:57He could
00:44:58forgive her
00:44:58for pushing
00:44:59Willow down
00:44:59the stairs.
00:45:01Suddenly, he
00:45:02felt like he
00:45:02could forgive
00:45:03anything.
00:45:04If only she
00:45:05would come
00:45:05back.
00:45:06Just come
00:45:07back.
00:45:40and willow is
00:45:41gone.
00:45:42She's gone.
00:46:02She'll come
00:46:03back eventually.
00:46:05She's a grown
00:46:06woman.
00:46:06and she's not
00:46:07going to get
00:46:07lost.
00:46:22She left with
00:46:23Derek.
00:46:24I checked the
00:46:25school security
00:46:25cameras.
00:46:26She was dragging
00:46:27her suitcase,
00:46:27leaving with
00:46:28Derek.
00:46:32Do you understand?
00:46:35Do you understand
00:46:36what I'm saying?
00:46:38She went, she
00:46:39went with Derek.
00:46:40Derek, do you not
00:46:41know what he's doing
00:46:42now?
00:46:42Don't you know?
00:46:49As the Pax Alpha,
00:46:51Axel himself,
00:46:52along with senior
00:46:53colleagues,
00:46:53had personally
00:46:54reviewed and
00:46:55approved the list
00:46:55of participants
00:46:56for the 15-year
00:46:57classified herbal
00:46:58research project.
00:46:59Derek's name
00:47:00had been on that
00:47:01list.
00:47:05I'll go look
00:47:06for her, bring
00:47:06her home.
00:47:07Tomorrow's the
00:47:08winter solstice.
00:47:10Every year for
00:47:10the holiday, she
00:47:11always stays at
00:47:12home.
00:47:14Why did you
00:47:15have to listen
00:47:15to Willow?
00:47:17Why did we
00:47:18have to go to
00:47:18Norway?
00:47:19We had promised
00:47:20to go to the
00:47:21northern forest.
00:47:22Ember had
00:47:23agreed to the
00:47:23northern forest
00:47:24trip.
00:47:26If we had
00:47:27gone there,
00:47:28if we had
00:47:29gone, maybe
00:47:32she wouldn't
00:47:32have wanted
00:47:33to leave.
00:47:35Stop pretending!
00:47:36Axel, how
00:47:37long has it
00:47:38been since you've
00:47:38truly cared
00:47:39about evil?
00:47:44What about
00:47:45you?
00:47:46Did you
00:47:46ever care?
00:48:11it's not that I
00:48:12don't want to
00:48:12tell you.
00:48:13For this
00:48:14classified research,
00:48:15a part of
00:48:16those directly
00:48:17involved, no
00:48:18outsider knows
00:48:19the specific
00:48:20location or
00:48:21progress of the
00:48:22research.
00:48:22In notes from
00:48:23Surrey, will it
00:48:24Chamblay, I only
00:48:25escorted Ember and
00:48:26the others to
00:48:27Snouth City and
00:48:28had a final meal
00:48:28with them.
00:48:30That, when they
00:48:31departed for the
00:48:31research institute, I
00:48:33longer had the
00:48:33right to follow.
00:48:36The actual of the
00:48:37institute is almost
00:48:38certainly not in
00:48:39South City.
00:48:42There must be a
00:48:43way, I'll think of
00:48:43something, find a
00:48:44solution, we'll find
00:48:46her somehow.
00:48:53Forgive my
00:48:54bluntness.
00:48:55Your parents died
00:48:56because their
00:48:57research was
00:48:57compromised.
00:48:59Inadequate security
00:49:00allowed criminals to
00:49:01find an opportunity
00:49:02to strike.
00:49:04This time, before
00:49:05the research
00:49:06concludes, no
00:49:07outsider will be
00:49:08able to find
00:49:08them.
00:49:14I'll find a
00:49:14way.
00:49:16If you make a
00:49:17public search for
00:49:17evil, you could
00:49:18put her in danger.
00:49:19Axel, don't forget
00:49:20what happened to
00:49:21your parents.
00:49:22If you truly care
00:49:23about evil, respect
00:49:26her choice.
00:49:55In the frigid,
00:49:56snow-covered night,
00:49:57Axel was finally
00:49:58alone.
00:50:00No, there was
00:50:01one other person.
00:50:02He turned and
00:50:03saw Riker standing
00:50:04beneath the tree
00:50:04behind him.
00:50:05Their eyes met
00:50:06under the cold
00:50:07streetlight, and
00:50:08in each other's
00:50:08gaze, they saw
00:50:09the same utterly
00:50:10shattered hope.
00:50:34As long as your
00:50:35brother is here,
00:50:36Amber...