Chapter 27: Soft Landing
"Everything is dust and will return to dust."
The flames spread, devouring the roof, while the wind carried the heat towards me. As I fell from above, I was in the prime spot to watch my house go up in smoke. Sigh... I didn’t even have time to create any memories there before it was already gone. You could say it didn’t last long. What a sick joke life is. I don’t even have time to mourn it. As soon as I hit the ground, in a few seconds, the deadly game will begin again.
The fall certainly wouldn’t kill me thanks to my body reforged by the Awakening, but I wouldn’t land unscathed. Maybe a few broken bones along the way... But something down below caught my attention. An idea crossed my mind: it might work.
With a sharp tug, I pulled the chain, bringing the shooter towards me. She struggled, but I easily disarmed her. I grabbed her in my arms and whispered in her ear:
"After you, my lady."
Then I released her towards the old man who was still napping. I used her body to slow my fall. Her form cushioned the impact, and I landed with relative gentleness.
"Now that’s what I call a soft landing."
Just then, a rat perched on my shoulder couldn’t resist making a sarcastic comment:
"If you keep this up, you’ll be single for life."
"It’s a man’s duty to show gallantry towards a woman," I replied, stepping off her.