Once Again - Prologue

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Aunt:

(Shouting) Why can’t you do anything right?! I already took you in and raised you after your mother abandoned you! And this is how you repay me?

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Leian:

(Sign language) “My job has a problem right now, so they can’t pay well for the moment, Auntie… But don’t worry. I’m working hard.”

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Aunt:

Working hard?! You useless scum! No dinner until you pay your rent in this house!

(She storms out.)

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Leian:

…

(Again… Guess I’ll die early.)

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Her phone vibrated.

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7:00 PM.

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Leian:

(At least my next job has free food… hehe.)

Minutes later, she entered the restaurant through the back door. The place was chaotic—everyone rushing.

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Kate:

(Sign language) What took you so long? The dishes are piling up.

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Leian:

(Sign language) Sorry. My other boss demanded more work.

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Kate:

(Sighs) As usual.

(Sign language) Finish your tasks first.

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After the exhausting shift, Leian clocked out at 11:00 PM and headed straight to the 24/7 grocery store for her next job. Her body begged her to stop, but she forced herself to keep moving.

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Dan:

(Writes on paper) Remember the guy I told you about yesterday? He came back. He was looking for you.

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Leian:

(Writes back) Yes? Why?

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Dan:

(Hands her a paper bag) He told me to give you this.

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Inside the bag was a book.

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The title made her breath hitch.

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“The Emperor’s Daughter.”

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The same story her mother used to tell her every night.

Why would a stranger give her this?

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Her shift ended at 2:00 AM.

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The streets were dark. Silent.

As she walked home, she counted her money—separating what little she could keep and what she had to give her aunt.

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At the bus stop, she noticed four men walking toward her.

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She didn’t panic.

They’ll just pass by, she thought.

She was wrong.

One of them pulled out a knife. The others blocked her escape.

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Man 1:

Oi. She can’t hear or scream.

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Man 2:

Perfect.

(Smirks.)

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They grabbed her.

Rough hands. Tearing fabric.

Leian struggled, trying to scream—yet no sound came out.

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Man 3:

(Laughing) Scream all you want, little lady. No one will hear you.

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Tears streamed down her face.

She kicked one of them hard between the legs.

He screamed.

When she tried to kick another, her leg was grabbed.

The man she kicked earlier lunged forward—

And stabbed her.

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Once.

Twice.

Again and again.

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Seventeen times.

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Blood soaked the pavement.

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The men fled, leaving her behind.

Leian tried to call for help.

She couldn’t speak.

She tried to text.

Her vision blurred. Her hands trembled.

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Leian:

(What a horrible way to die…)

(At least… I won’t have to work five jobs a day anymore.)

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She looked up at the sky.

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(God… if you really exist… if reincarnation is real…)

(In my next life… please be kinder to me.)

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