Power of Runes-Chapter 88: Bad Dream

In a small apartment that was just large enough for two people to live comfortably, a storm was brewing.

This morning, a war was bound to happen.

Not a real one, of course.

Nancy stood near the sink, arms folded tightly across her chest, her expression sharp and serious as she stared at the innocent-looking tube of toothpaste like it had committed a personal crime.

"You did it again," she said in a voice that held both accusation and disappointment.

Ash was brushing his teeth, half-asleep and fully unaware. He turned his head slowly with a blank look in his eyes and replied, "Huh?"

She raised her hand and pointed directly at the toothpaste, her tone sharper now.

"The toothpaste. You squeezed it from the middle again."

Ash took the toothbrush out of his mouth, foam clinging to his lips, and gave her a tired shrug.

"It’s just toothpaste, babe. What’s the big deal?"

Her eyes narrowed as she responded, "No. It’s chaos. I don’t like it, and you know that. But you still did it anyway."

Ash let out a short breath, his lips curling up into a small, mischievous smirk as he said through the foam, "I am chaos."

She rolled her eyes and replied, "You’re a walking red flag. With a pretty face, unfortunately."

Ash grinned, clearly pleased. "So you admit I have a pretty face."

Without missing a beat, she picked up a towel and threw it at him.

He quickly ducked, avoiding it, then said dramatically, "You’ll miss me when I’m gone."

Nancy raised an eyebrow. "You live here. You’re not going anywhere. Except, maybe, to the couch if you keep talking."

Ash gasped, putting a hand to his chest in mock betrayal.

"My own girlfriend is exiling me from my room?"

They stared at each other, the tension dissolving almost instantly.

Then, in perfect sync, both of them burst into laughter, the argument forgotten as quickly as it had started.

Still chuckling, Nancy walked over, took the mangled tube of toothpaste, and began fixing it properly.

While smoothing it out, she mumbled just loud enough for herself to hear, "Living with you is such a chore... but I don’t actually hate it."

Her voice softened toward the end, carrying more meaning than she let on.

And just then, while she was still focused on the tube, Ash leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek—still with foam on his lips.

She recoiled instantly and yelled, "Gross!"

He pulled back, completely unfazed, and grinned at her reaction.

"You’re welcome."

***

"Where are you going?" Ash asked, frowning slightly as he saw Nancy walking toward the door, already dressed up and tying her hair with practiced ease.

"I told you yesterday, didn’t I?" she replied while slipping on her shoes. "I have a job interview today. It’s kind of important."

Hearing that, Ash mumbled just loud enough for himself to hear, "It would be better if we just opened a shop together and ran it side by side..."

Of course, Nancy didn’t catch that part.

He stepped forward, his voice softer this time.

"Do you really have to go today? I don’t know why, but I don’t feel like letting you go."

Nancy paused for a second, then turned to look at him with a smile that made something warm settle in his chest.

"Come here," she said gently.

Without hesitation, he stepped closer.

She leaned in and gave him a slow, affectionate kiss on the lips that lingered just long enough to make the room feel quieter.

Even after it ended, Ash wrapped his arms around her and murmured, "I still don’t want you to go, though."

"I know," she said softly, her eyes now closed as she returned the hug. "But I still have to."

Ash was silent for a moment, then suddenly lit up as a thought sparked in his mind.

"How about this—I’ll come with you. While you’re in the interview, I can just wait outside. That way, we still go together."

Nancy blinked, caught off guard.

"But don’t you have to go—"

He interrupted, not even letting her finish.

"It doesn’t matter. I don’t know why, but I just don’t want to be away from you today."

That answer pulled a rare blush from her, soft and rosy on her cheeks.

She looked at him for a second longer, then finally nodded.

"Alright."

***

"So, how did it go?" Ash asked as soon as he saw Nancy stepping out of the building, her expression calm but unreadable.

"It was fine," she said, walking straight into his arms.

He hugged her tightly, as if that simple gesture could make the day better for both of them.

They began walking back home together, steps relaxed and slow under the golden hue of evening.

"Let’s eat something outside today," Ash suggested casually, glancing at her with a hopeful smile.

"Um... I don’t know..." she mumbled, her voice unsure.

Noticing her hesitation, he chuckled and reached out to hold her hand.

"Don’t worry about the money. I got paid today for that part-time gig I took last week."

Nancy pouted, puffing her cheeks just a little.

"But shouldn’t we be saving up for our wedding? You were the one who said we need to be careful with money."

So cute... seriously, this is illegal level cute.

Unable to help himself, Ash reached out and gently pinched her cheeks.

"Hey! Don’t do that in public!" she swatted at his hands, face turning pink.

"Heh, sorry! But I mean, how can I not? You’re just too adorable."

"Hmph!" she huffed and looked away.

"And that grumpy face you’re making now? Even cuter."

"Shut up, idiot!"

They bickered the whole way, their laughter light and teasing, until they finally reached a small restaurant tucked into the corner of the street.

They ate a simple but satisfying meal, full of smiles and quiet glances.

As they walked out, stomachs full and hands still linked, Nancy pointed across the road in panic.

"Hey, look."

Ash followed the direction she was pointing and froze.

A little girl had slipped away from her mother’s hand and was now running straight towards the road—towards the traffic—while the pedestrian light was still red.

Without a second thought, Ash sprinted forward.

His body moved faster than his mind could catch up. He scooped the child up in time, wrapping his arms around her just as she reached the middle of the road.

But then—

A sound tore through the air.

Tires screeching.

A horn blaring.

And then—

The truck.

Was coming straight at him.

W–what...?

Time slowed for a moment.

Just when he thought he’d be hit, something yanked him forward—rough and sudden.

BAAAM!

The truck hit something.

No—Someone.

Ash scrambled upright, adrenaline surging, his vision swimming. He turned his head.

And everything inside him froze.

Just a few meters away, a body lay sprawled against the concrete, crumpled like a discarded doll. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

A pool of red slowly spread beneath her, staining the ground, her clothes, everything.

His heart dropped.

His legs refused to move.

"N-Nancy...?" he whispered, voice trembling.

The world around him vanished—the honking cars, the shouts of bystanders, the crying child in his arms—all faded into silence.

Only she remained in his sight.

Ash’s body moved before his mind could catch up. He shoved the girl into the arms of a bystander without a word and sprinted.

"Nancy... Nancy—no, no, no..."

He fell to his knees beside her, hands trembling as he lifted her upper body into his arms.

Her clothes were soaked—dark red spreading like ink in water. Her breathing was shallow, barely there, like a whisper that was fading with every second.

"Please," he whispered, his voice cracking. "Nancy, I’m sorry. I should’ve— I didn’t mean for this to happen—please, stay with me."

She smiled.

Even now, in pain, her lips curved gently. That smile—soft and warm—cut deeper than any blade.

"It’s... not your fault," she said, voice barely above a whisper, fragile like glass about to break. "You... saved her... right?"

Tears rolled down Ash’s cheeks. He couldn’t stop them. Couldn’t even think. He held her tighter, blood smearing across his arms, but he didn’t care.

"No—no no no no— please," his voice cracked like glass beneath a boot. "You’re okay. You’re going to be okay. I’ll get help—I’ll carry you myself—just stay with me, please."

She coughed softly, crimson staining the corner of her lips, yet she smiled through it.

A smile that shattered him.

"Ash... I’m so tired..."

"No. Don’t say that," he begged, pressing his forehead to hers. "I’m sorry. I should’ve run faster—I should’ve seen the truck—I should’ve—"

Her fingers brushed his lips, weak and trembling.

"Stop... please..."

He choked on a sob.

"This isn’t fair," he whispered, voice hoarse. "We were supposed to get married... open that dumb little shop I always talked about... argue over toothpaste and eat street food every weekend. You said you’d pick out the curtains..."

Nancy let out a breath that sounded more like a sigh than life. "I remember..."

"Then why?" His voice rose, wild with pain. "Why now? Why today of all days?! You were just going to an interview! I was just teasing you! This wasn’t supposed to happen—!"

Her hand moved to his cheek, gently wiping away the tears flowing down like a storm.

"I’m glad... I got to see you smile... one last time."

"No... Please don’t..."

"I need you to promise me something..." she whispered.

Ash nodded, frantically. "Anything. Anything you want. Just stay awake, okay?"

"Don’t carry this guilt," she said softly. "Don’t blame yourself for what happened. Live... for both of us, alright? Keep moving forward. Even if I’m not there... live like I still am."

His hands clutched her tighter as he sobbed. "I don’t want a world without you in it..."

Nancy’s voice grew weaker. "Can you... kiss me... one last time..."

"No—please—don’t make this the last one, dammit—!" he broke, his voice raw. "Don’t leave me..."

Her eyes, dimming like the final flicker of a candle, locked onto his.

"Please..."

Ash leaned down, pressing his lips against hers—soft, lingering, full of everything he wanted to say but couldn’t.

Desperation, apology, grief, love. A thousand emotions spilled into that single kiss.

And then—

She stopped breathing.

Her hand fell from his cheek.

And silence... swallowed the world whole.

"NANCYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!"

His scream echoed down the street, raw and ragged, filled with disbelief and breaking bones of grief.

And the sky above, so blue just a moment ago, felt impossibly far away.

***