Renee's Pilgrimage

"Save her, Renee!" Xia Lun said urgently.

Renee stared in shock, then immediately cast Holy Healing. "Okay!"

Warm, dry holy light appeared and enveloped Tina's back in an instant. But this time, the light that had never failed them had no effect.

White light settled on Tina's Trench Coat like falling petals, unable to sink into flesh that had already lost its life.

Tina was already dead.

The metallic-smelling blood slowly spread beneath her like a red rose opening, tiny bubbles forming tender thorns beneath its petals. Tina's eyes had gone still. A withered petal spiraled down and landed on her lashes.

Xia Lun sighed and crouched. He picked up the bloodstained petal, then gently brushed his palm over Tina's eyelids, closing those beautiful violet eyes. Just as Tina had knocked aside a bullet with her Throwing Knives and killed Abby herself, her death had taken Xia Lun completely by surprise. He suspected her mental collapse might have caused heart failure.

Whatever the cause, Tina's death stirred something in him.

Xia Lun took a deep breath, suppressed the emotions rising inside him, and turned to Renee.

The warm white glow slowly faded. Renee stood with her head bowed, staring blankly at Tina's body. Her small fist, held against her chest, trembled. Xia Lun suddenly had a terrible feeling. Was Renee about to break down too?

Renee's fingers dug deep into her palm, as though she could no longer feel pain.

Tina's final words echoed through her mind: But the one who died was a dog.

What did she mean by that?

Was Tina calling herself a dog? Or Abby? Or was she insulting me?

Renee wanted an answer, but Tina's sudden death had made that impossible.

Her chest felt tight. A misty sense of loss gripped her heart, and emotions