I Am Tired Of Being A Hero
Chapter 290: Empty

Chapter 290: Empty

He was dead. Anouk did not need to even open his eyes to confirm. It was one of those times that he just knew. The thunder had pierced through his heart, the energy so great that it shattered his body.

There was no way he could have survived that lightning. There was something incredibly strange about it.

He was dead. His stomach lurched at the thought. His parents, Arlen, and Rey, he had just gotten the news that she was pregnant, would it be a nephew or niece? He never told his family just how much they meant to him.

Hopefully, with the new baby, they would not have time to think of him as much.

Anouk swallowed and opened his eyes. Countless men and women got off a long boat and stepped onto the shore. Like a long snake, they slowly moved forward, at the end of the line, more people would step off the boat.

Some of them would weep. Some would curse, others stared in astonishment and the older ones would shake their heads and sigh.

They were all dead.

Some people, they did not feel human standing next to the line. Their faces were expressionless. They wore asymmetrical black robes embroidered with three round black and white patterns.

He looked around him, he was also on a boat but there was nobody on his boat.

No, even his boat was different from that other boat. Its slightly curved hull was made of dark polished teak wood that had aged into a warm patina. Intricate carvings of lotus flowers and other motifs adorned the sides of the boat. The boat had a small, open cabin with a woven bamboo roof offering a nice shade.

The boat reached the shore and Anouk stood up. He could not feel the boundless energy that had always filled his chest, he was really dead.

He should probably join the line. Was it strange, how much peace he felt in this place? Maybe this was the reason that everyone had always said that hell was the final resting place for a soul.

He wanted to step out of the boat but at the same time, he did not want to. He had a feeling once he stepped out of this boat, he could no longer...

No longer do what.

Someone was standing at the shore. His back facing Anouk. He wore a white robe that fluttered in the wind.

Anouk wanted to get close to this person, "Excuse me, Sir?"

The person turned to look at him. Long black hair that fluttered in the wind, a silk black stripe covered his eyes.

Just like the day in the classroom. Anouk felt spellbound. Just like the day he met Malik.

He had been decisively trying not to think of Malik. Trying not to think of Malik, holding his body all alone.

After ten years, he had gotten the love he so desperately craved and he had lost it so quickly.

Anouk was tall with an expressionless face but at this moment he trembled and sank back on the boat.

When he had finally found him, he was going to take him home and make a plate of garlic chili noodles for him. It was Malik’s favorite food so he had tried several times to learn it. The expression on Malik’s face, he had been looking forward to it so much.

After a few moments, Anouk lowered his head. Low sobs finally came from deep in his throat; they were suppressed just as he tried to suppress the trembling of his shoulder.

However, how could it be contained?

"Malik." He called softly.

He was alone. Malik would never come back to look at him. He would not gently comb his hair or be angry with him again. He would not leave his clothes scattered around the room or stock the fridge with his favorite snacks.

A hoarse sob tore at what was left of his self-control, he moaned in pain like a dying animal.

There was a sign above him and then an identically gentle voice sounded, "You still sound so beautiful when you cry." Cold fingers wiped away his tears, they were so gentle like they were caressing a most precious treasure, "But I still prefer it if you only cry when I am fucking you."

**

The Heavenly Tribulation did not stop, changing its direction to charge towards Malik. They emitted a terrifying aura as if they wanted to flatten this world.

Malik looked up, he could not see but his perception was always great. He could sense the lightning, sense its energy that was out of this world but he was not concerned about it.

He could not sense Anouk. He could not feel his lover in this realm anymore.

Even when he had left, he could always sense Anouk.

"Empty." He muttered.

Everything was silent. The wind held its breath, birds froze mid-flight, people halted mid-steps, wide-eyed and slack-jawed as if the entire world leaned in, waiting.

Malik walked towards the place where he had felt Anouk last. He bent down, his hand reaching out to the cold ground. However, he could not feel anything, there was nothing left for him to even touch.

His hand scratched on the ground, digging into the asphalt. For the first time in his life, Malik was so self-aware of his blindness. He could not see, he could not see anything.

It was as if darkness had covered his eyes, digging into his throat.

"Ah!" He tried to gasp. His ability, consuming and invisible radiates outwards in waves around him.

And minds shattered.

People on the street clutched their heads screaming. Newscasters stammered nonsense on the TV. In hospitals, patients ripped out IVs, their eyes rolled back as they wailed.

"Malik."

Someone called out in his mind.

The voice was filled with worry.

"Malik. Anouk is in the Netherworld. You must control yourself."

Control himself. Why? Why should he do that?

"If the world is tethered to you while you receive your tribulation, everyone in this world would die. Including Anouk’s parents. Malik, if they die, Anouk wi never forgive you."

Malik was silent, "Ravi."

"Yes."

"I can’t see." Malik’s voice was so vulnerable.

"Then close your eyes."

Malik felt someone tying a black silk over his eyes and then disappearing.

"Ravi, he is mine. Not King Yama’s."

Malik felt Ravi’s incredulous emotion but he did not say anything.

He stood up, dusted his clothes and raised his head.

"Come."

The terrifying bolts of lightning directly struck his body.