Aster Veren
Episode 176's

- Esther

"Uh, this really hurts ...," I muttered feeling a great throb in my head from hitting the car seat hard enough, as Hans stopped the car speed abruptly.

The front of the car I was riding in with Hans was badly damaged by hitting a roadblock.

"Miss?" He immediately opened my car door.

I saw fresh blood flowing out of his forehead, it seemed like Hans' head was also hit by the steering wheel. "Let's get out of here before they realize we're out of the car." He said as he pulled my hand, forcing me to run with him.

It's really hard, my body doesn't want to move according to my wishes. My head is also throbbing, it hurts. My gaze was blurry and I had to force my body to move so as not to trouble Hans. The road we passed was quite quiet because there were no settlements.

Shortly afterwards I heard an explosion coming from the direction of the car we had left on the side of the road. Papa ... I'm really scared right now, my mind remembers Dad. Wishing Dad came to save me and hugged me to calm me down.

"Come, miss!" Hans exclaimed, immediately pulling my body into a small street and hiding behind a large trash can, crouching in the corner of the trash can.

I heard Hans's breathing hunt down, even his heartbeat sounding to my ears as he hugged my body tightly. I feel like crying right now, so Hans could risk his life just to protect me. He didn't even let me go alone and stay with me.

"Quick find them! Just kill it when you find it." The stern voice of a man managed to make my heart race even more.

"Why is his help late?" Hans muttered to me the reflex of squeezing clothes on his chest. I don't know why I feel like the longer I have trouble breathing. It feels so crowded.

The feeling I feel right now, I'm sure I've experienced it. And this is very familiar to me, a sense of tightness that slowly becomes this ... what– my disease relapses? At a time like this? But the doctor said ...,

"Calm down, miss, I'll bring the lady back safely." Hans' whispers tried to calm me down with his breath still slightly hunting.

"Uh, Hans ... me, huh this? Se–sesak. My chest asphy–sick." My whisper tried to catch my breath as much as I could along with the cold sweat on my palm.

"No–nona?"

"Hans ...," I whispered again beginning to limp.

"Quiet down! To–please calm yourself, miss. Slow breath, miss, it's okay. I'm with miss, I won't leave miss. It's okay, miss, don't be afraid." He said softly after easing his panic for a moment, then I felt Hans hand start rubbing my back gently in his arms.

"How's it?"

"Nothing!"

"Find the right!"

"Don't worry, everything's fine, miss. Don't mind their voices, just focus on your breathing." Hans said as he realized I was distracted by the voices of the bad guys.

***

- Kalea

"Don't stay away from me, Leah!" Papa was still busy replying to the enemy's attacks that continued to shoot towards us.

Their numbers are quite a lot and I'm very worried about Aster right now. I really couldn't calm down after seeing the car I knew burning by the side of the road. Whose car was it if not one of the cars Dad gave to Aster.

They may openly hunt Aster and intend to eliminate him. They're stupid, aren't they? My grunts inwardly, watching a group of men taking cover behind a black car. Made the car a shield while they fired bullets at us.

"You need help?" Dad's voice over the phone call that Papa loadsspeaker.

"No! Just find your daughter there!" Replied Papa was still focused on shooting at the enemy, helping Papa's subordinates who were directly approaching to bend them.

"Don't rule me!"

I spread my eyes around, looking for a way to get out of where I am. I really can't stand being silent without doing anything. I don't know why I feel bad, and I want to find Aster soon.

Aster ..., my mind is getting worried about her.

I saw him forcing himself to run with his alarming condition. "Aster!" My screams immediately ran after him, but he didn't seem to hear my call.

"Gee!" Shouted Papa I don't care.

"Aster!" Shouted me once more, trying to stop his pace. But it didn't work.

***

- Carel

"What's right?" I couldn't distract myself from the television. My eyes widened in surprise when I saw the news that was broadcasting a crime case.

I saw the road conditions look chaotic, there was even a broadcast of cctv footage that managed to catch the action of several cars that were careless, chasing one car that was speeding to avoid the pursuit of the three cars behind it.

Then I saw the police go down the street, follow the four cars from behind. Making the street atmosphere more crowded.

I grabbed a cup of tea in front of me and intended to drink it, but I paused when I saw the broadcast where the three chase cars were shooting at one car in front of him.

"They're crazy, aren't they? It is possible to use dangerous weapons on the streets openly in such a hole." I muttered again putting my teacup when I saw another broadcast showing the current condition of the car being chased by the three cars behind it.

I saw the condition of the car was already burning on the side of the road, my eyes immediately widened in surprise when I saw the license plate of the car I recognized.

Shortly after the news was broadcast, I immediately got an incoming call from Kalea. The boy called me and told me about Aster who was in danger of being targeted by many enemies of the Veren family.

I who thought I saw the wrong thing immediately rushed to the scene of the crime to make sure.

"May she be okay,"

***

- Esther

Hans.., my inner self feels guilty for leaving her in that place alone. He was battered for protecting me, but he immediately asked me to run away and leave him.

Of course I didn't run away easily, because even now my body feels all the pain. They really intend to kill me and torture me first before finishing me off.

I don't know how many times they grabbed my hair and slapped me with their hands. The corners of my lips were sore and my cheeks were sore, even my head could not stop pulsing right now.

"Arrgh.. My chest hurts too!" My growls were on my sidelines, feeling so frustrated with my current situation.

I hope Hans is okay, I continued in my heart. I hope those people don't finish him off.

"Aster!" The sound of someone possessing my sense of hearing along with his hand grabbing my wrist, made me startled and nearly strayed as he pulled me from behind.

"I ..," he continued with an irregular breath, then without warning he immediately hugged my body making me reflexively push him back, forcing him to let go of his embrace.

"Aster?" His murmur made me realize the female figure before me, though blurry. I believe this female figure standing before me is Kalea.

"Calm down, it's Kalea. I ...," he continued pausing his words for a moment, "why is it like this?" He asked as he grabbed my face, then turned to my hand, making me notice the blisters on both hands.

"Those people—they're really outrageous!" The cry sounds annoyed. I vaguely saw Kalea looking at me worriedly, and it made my feelings worse. Things I didn't want to think about suddenly filled my head and it was so annoying.

"Don't .. stare at me like that!" I almost whispered, trying to hold back my annoyance at the look of pity he showed me.

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Thanks for reading...