It was a pretty old story.

But for you, let me unveil the story one of the 7 siblings.

Where the trees are the highest place on the ground surface,

When you don't have to pay to drink clean water, and

How dark it is when the night comes, hiding everything in sight.

Fortunately, the 7 siblings are living in that kind of timeline and one of them held a special ability none ordinary person would have. Every single thing he touches, he could see them. The past that held within.

Like right now,

The infamous hot and cold twins are having a serious debate over the culprit of the cookie stash that Air had sealed away from his siblings.

"I told you. iTs. NoT. ME!" Api denied, throwing his arm all around as Air accusing glare fixed on him.

"You leave me no choice, hot-headed shrimp." he sighed, pulling out a Daun from under the table like a trump card.

"Oh, c'mon! It's only a cookie!!"

"Daun, can you check out the cupboards?"

"Aye~" the second youngest pull the chair to the cupboard, checking the containers there.

And he see it.

Api's face were flashing before him, wide grin plastered on his overjoyed face. Taking off the lid and filling his mouthful of cookie, he somehow loss his balance and fall to the ground with a loud rattle.

"Api eat them all! He even fell off the chair!"

"How can you make sure if what Daun said true?" Api huffed. Both of them glanced back at the latter.

"I-I'm... *hic*... not lying.. " Round wide eyes getting glossy as he sniffed at the sudden accusation. Api panicked. "H-Hey, of course you're not! Okay! Fine! Yes it was me!" he patted Daun's back, calming his little brother down. His back getting more sweaty, feeling the chill of Air's glare piercing his back.

"A-Air... It was an accident, I swear...-"

And there's another time where his ability helps others a lot.

"I'm pretty sure I left it here last time..." Tanah sighed, searching around the living room for something. Daun placed his hand on the mentioned table where Tanah had last seen his 'thing'. As if a point of view from the table, he saw Tanah placed a book on it before turning to the noise from the kitchen. Soon after, a wild Angin appear, on the chase from Cahaya and has toppled down the table. The book slide away under the couch.

Daun crouched taking the book or precisely, a diary. "Ah, thank you Daun! You're a saviour!"

"No biggie hehe~" he held the book close to him. "What's in it~?"

Yet, every positive value has a price in negative terms...

"Daun, can you help me pass the sword in my room?" Petir asked, tying his shoe at the front door. Daun nodded, getting to the eldest room and holding the sword's handle.

He felt like he was zapped into it, into a memory that held in the past.

The blood trickle down the blade and on his feet, a person with their throat slice open. Blood sprayed on him the moment the blade swing through the person chest.

But the memory were brief, he was pulled back to reality. Jerking his hands away from the handle.

I-Isn't Petir was supposed to be a hunter?

Petir...isn't a murderer.

"Daun?" Petir called out for him.

"A-ah... okay!"

The sword given to him hastily. Petir glance at the younger one, not expecting to see the tears shimmered in his eyes.

"Petir..." his lips quivered, gulping down the bravery into him. "...is a good guy...r-right?"

The question left unanswered.

Petir's heart faltered when Daun flinched at his sudden pat on his head. "It was necessary." he said and left.

After that day, Daun ask Cahaya for a pair of glove.

He learned his lesson. That sometimes, there are some stories must be left untold. He kept his doubts at bay, treating his siblings still the same as always. After all, blood is thicker than water.

Or so he thought.

"Angin..." Daun trembled in the second eldest embrace. Warm tears trickled down to his chest. His sobs muffled with his face tucked into Angin's clothes.

Outside, Petir slaughtered like there's no tomorrow. Scream of terror continues from one to another until what left is only dead silence. His hood making a good job hiding the blood that drenched him to his shoes. What's left of the town is his own flesh and blood now.

"How dare you to step in this house!" Api's rage are clear. But it was just that once his voice could be heard before the sound of Tanah cry out to Api and heavy object crashed to the ground. Soon for sure, the sounds of fights begun.

Daun clenched Angin's clothes tighter.

A warm hands cupped his face. He gazes up to the warm smile of Angin. He wiped the tear-streaked face with his thumb, protectively tucking Daun between his arm. "It's okay." he said.

"He won't harm us."

Angin rested his forehead on Daun's. Identical chocolate eyes bored into him, unwavering. "Daun...do me a favour?"

.

.

.

"No..." Tanah whispered.

His hand grasp tightly onto Petir's boots. He could no longer feel the pain aching on his abdomen and he knew, soon he joined the others as well.

Api lay cold in Air's dead embrace. Throat slit open and a stab through the chest. Cahaya also nearing to his last breathe. The stabs on his back to protect Tanah earlier seems like a waste now. But he tried.

Petir did not move any further, but he didn't plan to stay any longer. Knowing his cue, Tanah gaze up to him. His skin tremble, breathing hardly. "Finish it."

Granting the wish, the blade cut through his flesh with a satisfying squish. The scarlet liquid squirt up to his face, which he didn't mind to wipe it off. He stood before the door.

The knob turned and the door creaked open. Angin stood there blocking the entrance. His eyes darted to Petir's back, scanning the mess he did before looking back to the culprit.

"Seems like, I somehow trampled before the death's door."

"Run."

His legs running like a slave.

"Don't ever look back."

His eyes couldn't oversee the bodies scattered around the town.

Why? Why he have to do this? What's in the name of sin, that all of these people had done?

"But, if I did that-!"

"I know." Angin's calm voice makes him shuddered. Daun start to weep again and this time Angin hold him tightly. This hug...will soon lost its warmth.

"You'll know." he whispered. "You will always know why."

He stopped. Breathing heavily for air, standing in the very middle of the town square. The clock tower struck 6 in the evening, bell chiming, signaling the dusk has arrived.

It didn't took that long for him to wait for Petir. Dipped in the scarlet liquid of his very own flesh. Their eyes met, acknowledging each others presence.

Daun reached for his short knife he tucked on his belt at the very same moment Petir strike, swinging the sword inches before his chest. The knife blade make a satisfying clank meeting the sword's tip. Daun noticed the slacking in his movement, taking the chance to duck and sweep him off his feet. Petir avoided it the last seconds, jumping away by launching himself with a backflip using Daun's leg as a board. Daun yelp, feeling like he just crushed his bones, immobilize him.

Daun fully aware he is in no winning chance in fighting Petir. The only ones that he would have a difficult job killing him will only be Cahaya or Tanah. He is no match to fight him. And yet... why is he holding back?

Petir crouched before him, his gaze calculating and his left arm resting on his knee, while the sword is tucked back into it's sheath. Daun pointing his knife out, when Petir simply twisting his wrist making the tip rest just below his own chin. Daun's breathe shallowed, knowing how near he is to his doom.

"Before..."

"H-huh?"

"...you asked me...if I was a good guy, right?" Daun stared silently at Petir's silhouette against the dimming sky.

"Do I still look like one?"

"N-no.." his lips trembled at Petir's dead gaze. He nodded, without warning, he turn his hands back to its original state, grasping tightly pointing at his heart.

"That's right." he said. "So, kill me."

What was that?

Is he sick? Yet he can't. He can't bring himself to kill him.

A sudden grab to his back holding him tightly. Using his other free arm wrapped behind his back, Petir moves forward.

"P-Petir!"

The tip of the knife dug into him. Blood slowly soaking the front of his clothes. Petir winced, but his lips kept sealed, slowly nearing forward. "No...Petir don't...nonono..." Daun panicked. His hands sandwiched between them and the blade has fully tore through his chest. Petir grasp on him are tight, his head resting on his shoulder and the blood ooze out from his mouth. Daun noticed the lightness on his hand that holding the knife.

"Daun..." he slurred.

"Sometime's...its...necessary..."

Petir patted his back one last time.

"Finish me."

and he did it.

He thrusted the knife through his back, the blade sticking out gleam dimly under the hiding sun rays. Petir's head lolled to his side and his one arm hug lay limp.

Its funny how he have the thoughts running in his mind now about their little joke on Petir is the worst hugger of them all.

Unlike Angin's warm embrace, Petir's cold.

Placing Petir to lie at his side, Daun took off his gloves. Taking the sword handle and pulling it off it's sheath. He needs to know it. All these sick massacre. He sees them. Everything that caused this madness.

"I heard that in our village, there is a special ability wielder who can look to one's past." said the king. "Petir, bring them to me at once."

"Pardon, my highness. I must inform you no such person exist from the rumors." Petir declined. He can't let his highness know the whereabouts of his brother.

All this time, he did all the dirty task given to him to keep his family safe. Far from the knowledge of the king. Has he found out? Has his plans backfired? Fully aware for the power deprived of the king, he will use the ability for something sinister. No context needed to elaborate.

"If so, then." he sipped his wine "I will make the villagers to speak."

"Petir, go to the village at once. Find me that person. To those that remain silent, execute them at once."

"But your highness, this is our people!"

"We need to cleanse our own, to know which is worthy among them. If they block my path to my glory, then they are nothing but a waste of space." he bellowed. "Or do you have any objection towards my command?"

"No. Not at all your majesty."

"Splendid. Do as you're told." he grinned. Petir bowed to him before silently walking out from the place. The king glance outside the window towards the small village view

"I expect a great performance from you."

That's the end of the story of the 7 siblings. Was it ignorance that save them or loyalty bring their end? It's up to the one that is left to remember the tale.

a/n:

wrote this one way back on March, anyway heyyyyyy~

no. the hiatus curse is not lifted yet qwq