"Isn't it scary...to be ready to die at such a young age?"

**************

Nathan's POV

Five months align, a temporal refrain,
A cryptic clock ticking, a transient bane.

My fingers tightened around the pen as I scribbled down the last verses wandering through my mind. Words, an endless stream, always seemed to overflow within me—too many, too much.

Not a farewell, but a plea unknown,
In the verses whispered, a plea to atone.

Writing, for me, became the vessel to release this torrent of thoughts, a means to navigate through the chaos that has inhabited my mind since I was so little. Scripts and poems were my refuge, allowing me to externalize the messiness within.

Follow the whispers of the harvests past,
Fields of shadows, where memories cast.

In the realm of ink and parchment, I found a sanctuary, a canvas where the craziness in my mind could find expression. The process of transforming the tangled mess of emotions into verses, though cryptic at times, felt liberating. Each word, each line, became a conduit for the release of the pent-up complexities I carried.

Yet, in the riddles, a desperate plea,
A silent call, echoing, save me.

I sucked into a deep breath but it got hitched midway and my eyelids dropped down as I tried to find a stable ground to settle on. Everything within me, outside, and around me was shaking.

I tried to breathe, exhale, and inhale, but it was getting harder and harder to formulate one normal breath as the days ticked by.

So fucking hard.

It leaves me aching, depleted, agonized in such a way...almost like I could taste the blood gathering over the scarred tissues etched to my lung.

My eyelids glided open. I rested the pen and the notebook aside before I pulled the neck of my sweatshirt down, enough to see and feel the big scar running over my chest, the surgery's scar, the one I looked at in the mirror, day after day, time after time, as I convinced myself to hate him, loath him and everyone around him.

Alastor told me that Nikolas was the one to start the explosion.

A lie.

He told me he was the one to kidnap me afterward and hurt me.

Another lie.

He told me that he was the one to kill my dad.

My dad.

My—

I scoffed. At least that one wasn't a lie.

I suppressed every other thought when I heard footsteps inching closer, my gaze flickering and meeting Noah's as he paused to a stop there. A strained breath pushed off my failing lungs and I got up to my feet, fixing my sweatshirt as my eyes fell on the notebook. Instead of taking it along, I left it there. Maybe he will read it. Maybe he will understand. Maybe he will come and stop me, save me before I cross another line. Maybe—

And even if he doesn't, what's the worst thing to happen?

Five months, Nathan. Only five months.

Judging by the way I am feeling lately, it could be less even.

I abandoned my notebook and turned around, striding forward just as Noah unlocked the door and allowed me to get out. His eyes fell on my face, his gaze harboring so much rage, so much anger, but also confusion because I looked...slightly normal. Like me, he expected Nikolas to unleash his wrath.

But, he didn't.

No, the fucked up thing is, he protected me. He shielded me away.

He is insane.

Noah's jaw tightened, his gaze leaving me and flickering away as we walked down the corridor. I pushed my hands into the sweatshirt's pockets, feeling cold, chills cascading down my spine and prickling beneath my skin.

"There are cameras, you know," Noah spoke, finally granting me the pleasure of hearing his annoying voice.

"I know."

"So?" He questioned as we reached the main gate, pausing and turning around to face me. If he had a choice, he would gladly put a bullet in my head right at this moment, but he wouldn't. He is smarter than that.

"So?" I returned his question.

"They will see me," He grated out.

I nodded, "Exactly, I want them to see you help me," I added, smiling.

My words fed the fury in his eyes and instead of throwing a punch to my face, he turned around and pressed the code, allowing the metal to slide and us to get out. Told you, he is wise; which is why I like him. I like smart people. Stupid people annoy me.

Stupid people play on my nerves.

Stupid people make me want to rip their skins off their bones.

Stupid people like Christian are forcing me to do this.

The night wasn't overly late, yet the surroundings appeared deserted—empty of the usual presences. It seems that Noah dealt with whichever guards were here because no one interrupted us as we left the bunker and walked away. Noah reached his car and I paused there, trying to catch my lost breath without being too obvious about it. Fucking hell, even walking is becoming a task.

Noah's eyebrows pulled closer, questioning why I stopped, "Come on, let's go before anyone gets here," He urged, being smart. See, he is kinda cool. Imma add him to my will.

I leaned my back against the car, getting comfortable, and extended my hand, "You got a cigarette?"

He gave me a look of disbelief, a look I get from almost everyone, the are-you-mentally-normal look, the what-the-hell-goes-inside-your-messy-brain look.

Like I said; Words. Too many of them. Too much. That's all.

"Come on," I whined, "I haven't smoked in so long."

A soft exhale escaped his chest, and his hand slipped into his pocket. Retrieving the packet, he pulled out one, placing it alongside the matchbox in my waiting palm. "Thanks," I responded with a giddy grin, slipping the cigarette between my lips and igniting it with the flame.

I handed him back the matchbox as he lit one for himself. He doesn't usually smoke, but every time I light up one, he does too for some unknown reason.

Wow, talk about me being a bad influence...

Leaning against the car beside me, he fixed his gaze ahead, lost in contemplation of nothing in particular.

I turned my eyes away from him, drawing the toxins deep into my lungs in a single, daring breath—enough to saturate my weakened lungs. It felt like a gamble with fate, a subtle challenge, pushing him to the edge. Daring him to take me earlier. If only.

Raising my head, I directed my gaze towards the starlit sky, where the moon hung full, round, and white—beautiful in its luminous glory. I always loved the moon. A subtle smile curled at the corner of my lips, acknowledging the passing time. I have four more full moons to watch. Just four.

"What do we do now?" Noah asked, not once looking at me, mentally preparing himself for the worst.

I exhaled a small cloud of smoke, a fleeting plume that seemed to freeze in the cold air before dispersing into the void between atoms. "The only people I cared about," I began, holding the cigarette between thumb and forefinger, extracting it from my mouth, "They lied to me, tricked me, and worked behind my back."

"But," I continued, dropping the cigarette to the ground, its flame still dancing. Stepping over it, I extinguished and stole its little flicker, "I can't bring my father back from the dead and question him...I can't hurt him and punish him like I want to."

A palpable shock emanated from Noah, his gaze locked onto me as he grappled with the weight of my words. I can inflict pain on Alastor though, he is next on my list after this, for deceiving, for manipulating me, but truth be told, I never gave a fuck about him so his betrayal doesn't sting as much, "The other one is alive though, breathing still and I can hurt him."

My eyes met Noah's. "I'll bring him, and you," I declared, "You bring me the girl."

******************

Nikolas's POV

My gaze remained fixated on the computer screen, the one projecting footage from just an hour ago. One fucking hour ago.

That's all it took for everything to unravel back again.

My fingers clenched over the edge of the desk, jaw ticking as my eyes fell on no one other than Noah himself. I knew it. I fucking knew it. An inkling whispered that something was awry with him, yet Alex and Emma brushed it away, trusting him for some damned reason.

I would love to see their reactions now.

"I told you to fucking stay here, didn't I?" I grated out, my eyes leaving the screen and falling on Ronald, my hard glare and my threatening step forward had him cowering back.

"Something came up," he mumbled and I fought myself so as not to punch him in the face again, "Or else I would've not left," he rushed a hand over his face, frustration seeping through every edge of his body, "I have a life too, you know," He grumbled out.

"I told you he was unstable still," I shot out, my hand on the side curling into a fist, the worst scenarios cooking up in my head, the worst, "He could do anything."

There is no stopping him. That little devil dancing in his eyes is capable of everything, he can hurt anyone, he can kill and obliterate. I know what it feels like; to have voices whisper in your ears, to have their hands wrap around yours, pull you into the darkness because you have no one, no reason to stay under the gut-wrenching striking light.

Nerves twisted me in their little fingers, eating at my insides. My attention returned to the screen and I hit replay; out of all the objects, my eyes fixated on the notebook he left on the bed. His gaze lingered on it, a fleeting moment of hesitation crossing his features before he chose to abandon it and turned to walk away.

Lines got etched between my eyebrows and without questioning, I rounded my desk, leaving the office and striding to the cell he occupied less than an hour ago, "Nikolas, wher—"  Ronald's voice trailed from behind as he attempted to catch up with my pace.

I marched into the cell, leaning and picking it up. My confusion and frustration deepened as I discovered its contents—each page adorned with an intricate tapestry of verses, and poems.

Random. Chaotic. Out of order.

Not a solitary page was left untouched, each bearing the weight of heavy words and emotions. My fingers traced the inked contours, each line a whisper, a plea, a reflection, an inner map of his intricate messy self.

God, who has this much to say?

Amidst the sea of verses, my gaze finally found the very last page, the concluding poem. The ink, still fresh, brought to life what I supposed was his departing message.

My eyes went over every line, focusing on the very last few, my eyebrows pulling closer as I read and reread them over and over again;

Yet, in the riddles, a desperate plea,
A silent call, echoing, 'Save me.'
Beneath the verses, a truth concealed,
A plea to halt, before fate's fate is sealed.

Beside me, Ronald paused, his eyes flickering over the words, clueless and unable to decipher the meaning hidden between the lines. His idiotic brain seemed incapable of grasping the nuanced dance of the verses. Ignoring him, my eyes ascended, fixing on the verse preceding this one, where words interwove to form the sentences that followed;

And in the shadows, a companion I take,
A soul wronged, a bond to remake.
To hurt the unjust, a score to settle or forsake...

My jaw clenched, my fingers tightening over the papers, "Christian," his name escaped my lips, a deduction as I reached the conclusion of precisely who he was after.

"What?" Ronald asked.

"He is after Christian," I mumbled, the notebook slipping from my hand as my mind tangled in a web of thoughts; where would he go, where would he take him, and what more could he do?

My thoughts were abruptly interrupted as the phone in my pocket vibrated. Retrieving it, a new wave of anxiety washed over me as her name flashed across the screen. She rarely called, never really, so—

Without overthinking, I answered, pressing the phone to my ear, "Lilly?" The shock mingled with worry seeped into my voice. 

She kept silent but I heard the low sniffle, the little hiccup, the agony in her little whimper, and my heart unraveled, crashing down to my stomach, "Lilly, what's wrong? Are you okay? Are you crying?" The questions tumbled out one after the other, my mind conjuring up the worst scenarios, "What happened?"

"Can you...can you come here?"

Her weak voice shattered me, "Yeah, yeah, of course, are you at your apartment?" I was already pushing past Ronald, who stood in my way, questioning and I rushed out of the bunker altogether.

"Yes, I am."

"Okay, I am already on my way," I headed toward my car, unlocking it, "I will be there as fast as I can, okay?"

"Okay," she whispered, and the pain vibrating from her words clung to my chest, squeezing my heart and sanity.

"Lilly, what happened?" Now that Nathan was out, my mind was on overdrive.

"Dad and...and Chase, it's..." Words failed her, and I closed the car's door, starting the engine, "Please...just come here."

"Okay, okay, we can talk about it when I get there," I assured her, "Just stay where you are, okay?"

"Okay," Came her whisper before we hung up and I pulled the car onto the main street. I looked past what happened earlier today and dialed Alex instantly, but it directed me to voicemail. I tried again, but still, no answer. What the hell—

Focusing solely on the road, my sole objective was to reach her as fast as possible. I accelerated past cars, consciously pushing back the rising tide of worry threatening to consume me. Upon arrival, I hastily parked the car and descended, making my way to her block and then her floor.

Standing before her door, I attempted to gather myself. Pressing my eyes shut, I inhaled deeply before finally knocking.

When no response came, and no approaching footsteps echoed, I knocked again.

Calling her name, a surge of anger and distress pressed against my chest as silence persisted.

My anger skyrocketed. I'm going to kill Alex and that boy, I never liked him anyway.

"Lilly!" I called for her again, my voice rising as I banged my fist on the door uncontrollably. I was ready to fucking tear it apart at the mere thought that she was hurt inside.

The door across opened at my loud banging and I sensed someone stepping out.

I whirled around, my eyes falling on him and the fury slammed into me, the rage blinding me as I strode forward, my hands clutched into his shirt, harshly slamming his body into the door, "What the fuck did you do?"

Anger at my reaction reflected off his blue eyes and his hands landed over mine, prying them off him, "It's none of your business," He said, "And get your hands off me!"

Oh, like his father, he's got some balls on him, but I am going to crush them after I crush his handsome face.

"She called me crying, it was something about you and now she is not answering the door, so you better answer me before I put a bullet in your head!" I shot out, my voice bellowing into the hallway, my fingers still tight over his shirt as I pushed my fists into his chest, pushing him further backward. I wanted to fucking rip him to pieces.

My words had something tremble within his gaze but he covered it up right away, "I said get off me!" He snapped, his tone matching mine and finally, he managed to push my hands away. Anger flickered all over his features, it tightened the muscles of his jaw, fire blazing through his eyes and twitching his fingers as he curled them into a fist, "What's between me and her is none of your business, you better keep that in your damn mind!"

Oh, he has a death wish...

"If I am only holding back from making your brain explode all over the place is because I kind of...kind of like your father, so you better watch your fucking tone," I grated out, venom dripping with each word, the look in my eyes had grown-up tough men crumble beneath me but he...he didn't seem to care.

"Tell me, what the fuck did you do?" I added, ready to bash his head if he doesn't fucking answer me.

His eyebrow raised; almost like he was in disbelief at my audacity to question him and he took a fucking step forward, "Who do you think you are?" He grated out, a threat in his tone.

"Someone who knows a hundred seventy ways to kill you and make you bleed," I gave him the answer. You know what, make it a hundred seventy-two.

His jaw ticked, a scoff escaping him, seemingly unfazed. He pushed past me, his shoulder harshly brushing mine as he advanced toward her door. The jangle of keys in his hand tightened the lines over my forehead—her house keys. Does he have a damn key to her place?

Trying to push aside that unsettling fact and him entirely, I retraced my steps to his side. He knocked once more, and when the deafening silence persisted, worry etched every contour of his face. He placed the keys in and opened the door. Like me, he sensed that something was just...not right.

I got inside right away, my eyes darted around, freezing in place when they landed on the shattered chaos on the floor. Glass fragments filled the kitchen's floor, a broken bottle of wine painting the carpet with its red texture, reminiscent of spilled blood and my heart clenched so fucking tight as I beheld the tangible aftermath of an unseen storm.

In a haze, I looked all around, every room, every corner. Chase, like me, searched everywhere, calling her name, the panic settling deep into our bones, his words hitching midway when his gaze fell onto her phone, carelessly discarded over the couch.

Something so negative spilled from the walls and into us; our eyes met and we both came to the same realization. She wasn't here. Her phone is here. The house is messed up. Something was so fucking wrong.

My mind screamed one word. Nathan. Nathan was free. He is after Christian. Christian, who is...fond of Lilly. And then there is Noah. Fuck, fuck...

I was about to rush out, and head for the security guards downstairs to prove my theory but Chase was faster and he hurried out too. I followed as he landed on the first floor, rushing toward the receptionist, "Did you see Lilly leave?" he asked the guy sitting there.

He shook his head, "Uh, no, I-"

"Who else visited her today?" Chase asked, interrupting the guy.

He shrugged ever so cluelessly, "I was on a break, I just got here a-"

Without waiting to hear more, Chase rounded his way around the desk, not so gently pulling the guy off his chair, "Chase, hey, what are you-" the guy attempted to impede him from accessing the computer. However, Chase's hand firmly gripped the guy's shirt, curling over it, and forcefully pushed him away, slamming him into the wall. He was on a rampage, it left me...kind of startled.

"If you want me to knock you unconscious, you'll stand in my fucking way, you get that!" He grated out, a warning in his tone, fury in his gaze before he harshly let the guy go, making him stumble backward.

He turned around, going through the computer and directly to the footage. I reached his side, watching along as he skipped forward, the camera unveiling scenes from the block's entrance, capturing everyone who entered.

Chase hit pause, his fingers tightening over the desk's edge, both of us registering the familiar face that stepped inside the building not that long ago; Noah. Of course.

My theory, now validated, needed no further confirmation. With urgency coursing through me, I rushed outside, heading for my car. I pushed the worry aside, channeling all of my emotions into anger. I focused, thinking more deeply as I tried to decipher their location. Thoughts collided, a chaotic amalgamation, and then I recalled Emma's words from when Nathan held her captive.

She spoke of a farm, situated a bit distant from the city's heart.

Nathan's poem pushed to the forefront of my brain;

Follow the whispers of the harvests past,
Fields of shadows, where memories cast.

A farm.

Isaac did own a sprawling farm at the city's fringes. Could it be the same?

It almost feels like he left me a cryptic message on purpose, a clue, leading me right to him. But why?

I shook the thought away for now and roared the engine to life, fixating on one destination. However, before I could pull the car onto the street, the passenger seat opened, and Chase slid inside. My eyebrow raised, shooting him a what-the-fuck look.

"You know something," he said, shutting the door and settling beside me, "Don't think I'll stay back."

I ignored him and pulled into the street. My thoughts focused on one person only.

She is okay. She will be okay. I'll make sure of it and I will fucking kill anyone who'll stand in my way.

*****************

Lilly's POV

"Lilly—"

Someone was calling my name but for some reason, I couldn't get enough strength to open my eyes.

Darkness flirted at the edge of my vision, and I felt like I was suspended, not flying, not floating, but sinking—sinking, sinking, deeper into the abyss of a very dark sea. So dark. Unseen forces tugged me, undeniable as it pulled me down, further and further—

I couldn't breathe.

"Lilly!"

A low whimper escaped my lips, and I summoned every ounce of strength to pry my eyes open. It felt like I was battling against water, struggling to push myself upward. Up, I needed to go up. My eyelids lifted, catching a fleeting glimpse of light, only to fall again. Just a little more, I pleaded with myself, just a little—

"Lilly, please just wake up," The soft worried voice, the familiar voice, came from somewhere near. Summoning every ounce of determination, I propelled myself to the surface. A rush of oxygen flooded my burning lungs, and finally, my eyes opened.

I blinked, and before me stretched a room adorned with a distant fireplace. The orange-blue flames pirouetted, crafting a soft symphony. The ajar wooden door allowed the cold air to weave inside, its icy fingers scratching at my skin. Shivers cascaded down my spine, burrowing beneath the surface, and I shivered once more.

I blinked again, trying to understand.

My eyelids dropped down, tired, so energyless, exhausted. Where am I? Where was I? What happe—

Dad. My fight with Dad. Chase. Broken glass on the floor. Crying. Breaking down. Noah. My eyes shot open, wide as reality unveiled itself slowly. Oh my god, Noah...

The realization crept in—the sensation of being tethered to a chair, my wide gaze fell into the restraints, the ropes binding my arms to the chair. Panic clawed at my chest, and I struggled against the restraints, the gravity of the situation finally settling in.

As my senses sharpened, the realization struck that I was not alone. My wide eyes, emerging from the haze of confusion, shifted from my tied-up hands and darted to my left. Shock seized me once more. Just a few meters away, he was tethered to a chair like mine. A low gasp escaped my lips, catching in the tense air. A bruise, new and fresh, was engraved on the side of his chin, the cut brutal. Now and then, a few blood droplets fell from it, staining his white shirt.

"Christian," I mumbled, caught in disbelief and utter bewilderment.

His gaze swept across my face, the lines between his eyebrows furrowing as he attempted to discern my state—checking for bruises, searching for any sign of harm. Finding none, the weight of exhaustion bore down on him, and the back of his head sagged against the chair, the drug's influence taking a firmer hold.

"Where are we?" I whispered, my eyes scanning the room—the wooden walls and the seemingly cozy surroundings masking the reality of our confinement.

"Who—"

"Nathan," Christian answered before I could finish my question, his eyes aimlessly staring at the door, waiting for the inevitable.

I pressed my eyes shut. Oh god, Noah, how? Why?

I will not let anything happen to you. His last words rang in my head. Did he mean them? Or just like everyone I know, did he lie and manipulate me too?

He was helping Nathan? All this time?

The weight of betrayal bore down on me, pressing so intensely that I lost sense of all my emotions. My eyelids drooped, yearning to descend back into that dark sea. However, the creaking sound of the wooden door compelled me to open them once more, and my gaze fell on Nathan as he strolled inside, followed by...Noah.

Our eyes locked, mine too shattered to place blame, too weary to formulate a reaction. Sensing that, he purposely averted his gaze away, the muscles of his jaw twitching with raw ferocity.

"Well, well, if it isn't the infamous Romeo and Juliet," Nathan said, his voice cheerful, as if this was just a casual encounter, "What's up guys?" He asked, his smile genuine  as his eyes flitted between us, "Missed me too much, I know, it's been a while."

"I am gonna kill you, you know that, right," Christian grated out, his voice drained too, but the rage in his eyes was unmatched.

"Ahh, thanks, that's so sweet," Nathan said, pressing a hand over his chest, feigning appreciation.

His gaze left him and settled on me, he smiled again, "Hey, little one," He said and my expression remained neutral, devoid of any reaction, no flicker of shock, panic, or fear. I couldn't find it in me to summon a normal response.

Maybe he will finally do it, kill me and I will sink back into that dark sea. Just peaceful.

"Why is she here?" Christian asked, his voice shifting, more harsh now and he pulled himself, straightening his back, ready to rip the ropes and march forward on Nathan, "You said you wanted me, and here I am," His jaw clenched, his eyes on Nathan's, daring and challenging him, "Let her go," He stressed out on each word.

Nathan chuckled, "You know that I couldn't care less about her," He said, leaving my side and walking closer to his, "She could live or die, breathe or suffocate, I don't give a damn," He added, so carelessly, "But you see, the thing is, for her," He pointed at me, his smile fading and in its place, something wild, unhinged settled, "Because of her, you betrayed me."

"Still, me, it was me, I did it, I turned my back on you, not her, so let her go and we will settle this between you and me, once and for all," Christian said, trying to find a way for me out of this.

Nathan shook his head, "No, you see, I learned this new thing from Nikolas," He said, "And he...he was right," Lines furrowed between his eyebrows as seemed to recall something, "When you want to hurt someone, you don't go for physical pain," He added, resting his palms over the chair's armrest, looking down at Christian, "I can break your face, your arms and legs, but...that pain will fade away with time."

"But if I hurt her," His tone dropped down, more lethal now, "If I kill her," Every word served its purpose, it fed the fear and the anger in Christian's eyes. His whispered threats hung heavy in the air, followed by two men striding inside, pausing a few centimeters away, awaiting their orders, "If I make them do to her what your father did-"

A groan rumbled from Christian's throat and without thinking, he pushed and thrust his head forward, harshly slamming it against Nathan's, "If you dare touch her, I swear to god I will kill you!" A low gasp parted my lips; The collision of their heads and Christian's harsh words vibrated into the whole room and bounced back as a formidable echo.

The force pushed Nathan away, just a few inches. My eyes widened as blood, crimson, and red, gathered at the side of his forehead, a few drops tracing down his temple. Christian, bearing a similar bruise, seemed indifferent. Fire licked at his eyes, and the frustration of his helplessness spilled and unleashed upon the scene.

Calmly, Nathan brought his hand up to his forehead, gently wiping at the blood. He looked at his hand, and his expression flipped—from the cheerful, psychotic one to that of a madman possessing the power to annihilate and obliterate. "You weren't supposed to do this," he murmured, the words a haunting whisper that lingered in the charged air.

But his next words sent shivers down my spine and I felt everything in me crash, "Take her out of here," He didn't even turn to look at them, his gaze focused solely on Christian as he added, the corner of his lips pulling up in a sinister smirk, "She's all yours."

My eyes widened when the two men stepped forward toward me but Noah pushed his hand up, stopping them. His gaze, an enigma itself, pushed closer, a silent whisper, as he reached me. With a tenderness that belied the storm within, he leaned down, unraveling the ropes that bound my arms to the chair. His expression was so neutral, so cold, and I wanted to cry.

I gazed up at him with such raw weakness as he freed my wrists, seeking answers, urging him to look at my eyes, to face me, to give me answers. His hand curled over my arm, pulling me up from my seat, a bit harsh as he pushed me behind him, his back facing me as he faced Nathan, "What should we do to her?"

My heart sank into the void at his unwavering cold tone. My breath hitched and my gaze fell, my eyebrows pulling closer as I saw a knife held in his palm, cloaked behind his back and concealed from everyone but me. He inched his hand closer to me, urging me to take it. Without thinking, I rested my hand over his and took the knife, hiding it underneath my sleeves.

"The guys know exactly what to do, Noah," Nathan said, a silent warning in his voice so as not to fuck this up.

In stunned disbelief, I fixated my eyes on the back of his head, witnessing the tension that gripped his shoulders as he nodded in agreement.

"Fucking hell, no! Leave her, Nathan, she didn't do anything!" Christian shot out in bewilderment, his eyes wide and terrified settled on mine before they flickered to Noah, "For the love of god, Noah!" He pleaded, attempting to shake him back to reason, but maybe...maybe Noah was already on my team.

He asked me to trust him. Maybe I should.

Noah turned around, his expression an unreadable canvas. He moved closer, his hand enveloping my arm with a grip that spoke of both possession and protection, "Use it," He ordered, "Stab me too if you have to, Lilly," he whispered; his voice a faint murmur, low enough for me to question if it is even real.

He pushed me toward the other two, instructing them, "Let's go," and one of them seized my arm, his hand harshly encircling me as they dragged me away. Christian's desperate screams at Nathan echoed behind us as we left the cabin, walking into the ominous expanse of the farm.

My throat bobbed, heavy and strained, my hand hidden under my oversized sleeve, desperately holding onto the knife. My only salvation. I inspected my surroundings, one guy had a grip on me, the other a bit behind us, and Noah ahead of us, but close enough. The three of them had me sandwiched in such a fucked up way.

I sucked into a deep calming breath, it was not the time to fall weak. I can go for the guy grasping my arm, he is the closest. It will give me the chance to push away. And if Noah is really on my side, he will handle the rest. Maybe that's what he meant...

And if not, then what's the worst to happen? They will hurt me either way...

Come on, Lilly. You can do this.

One, two,

three...

I slowed my steps, resisting the force urging me forward, a silent plea for Noah to pause too. "Come on, move!" The guy beside me barked, his impatience palpable. His command echoed enough to make Noah freeze in his tracks ahead of us.

Seizing the opportunity, I moved fast, riding the surge of adrenaline as I let the knife slip down my sleeve, plunging it with all my strength into the man's leg. The pain compelled him to release his grip on my hand, and before I could think, Noah's hand closed around my arm, pulling me away from them, pushing me away, and shielding me safely behind him.

He is on my team. I knew it!

Noah wasted no time. He retrieved the knife from the man's leg and thrust it into his gut. The assailant staggered backward, groaning in pain and agony. The other guy lunged at Noah, both engaging in a chaotic brawl, punches thrown and bodies contorting in the struggle.

I watched up close, scared for Noah, and checking if I could do anything but he closed the distance, disarming the second guy with a swift, calculated move. Every step he took, every punch he dodged, and the way his body reacted with precision, were a testament to his training and experience.

The knife clattered to the ground, leaving the man defenseless against Noah's onslaught. The fight escalated and with a final strike, Noah kicked the guy backward before he reached for the knife on the ground, he lunged forward with determination, driving it into the guy's stomach, twisting and twisting till the man fell into a whimpering bloodied mess to the floor.

Noah stepped away from the two injured men and came to my side, his hand curled over my hand, tightly clutching into me as he pulled me along, "Come on," He said with an urgency that kept me silent, following along as he dragged me away.

We ran and ran till we reached what looked like a deserted barn. Our footsteps echoed softly against the creaking floorboards. The weathered wood groaned in protest as we walked further inside, the wavering structure provided a sanctuary against the chaos awaiting us outside.

"There are men all around the property," Noah explained his choice of place, "We should lay low for a while, or till your father or Nikolas get here," He added, too sure that they will.

His hands, strong and steady led my way further in till we reached an excluded abounded spot. Noah found an alcove tucked away from prying eyes; a refuge within the barn. Hay bales, both fragrant and time-worn, provided a makeshift cushion against the rugged floor as we sat down, exhausted.

Noah's shoulders remained tense, the weight of the recent events etched across his features. His shaky hand rushed over his face before roughing through the tousled strands atop his head. I couldn't tear my gaze away, caught in a whirlwind of emotions—lost, confused, but above all, thankful. So thankful.

He sensed my gaze and turned toward me, his eyes meeting mine. A frown creased his forehead, concern etched in every line. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice lowering to a gentle murmur.

Physically, yes, I was. I nodded my head, "Yeah," I said, "You?"

He gave me a nod, but like me, he only meant physically. Other than that, he was a mess too, like me. We were both tangled in the aftermath, navigating the chaos within us.

His throat moved, a subtle bobbing of his Adam's apple, and he whispered, "Do you trust me?"

I nodded my head, "At this moment, I think I trust no one but you," I confessed in a low weak whisper.

Worried lines etched over his forehead and he reached for my hand, wrapping my trembling fingers in his warm grip, "I told you, I would never let anything happen to you," He said.

"But you were helping him?" I asked what's been nagging on my mind, "All this time?"

He gave me a shameful nod, his jaw tightening and he looked away from me, but his hand stayed over mine, needing something to keep him from falling over the edge, "I had to, Lilly," He said, his head tilted down, "He has my mother captive, he...keeps threatening me with her."

"Your mother?" I asked in shock. I don't think he ever talked about his family to me.

He only ever told me that he grew up in the family...my family.

He nodded, "Yeah," Air pushed off his chest and he turned his head back to me, "Even though she walked away when I was just a kid, I couldn't-" He shook his head, "I can't let her die, Lilly."

"I tried to be smart about it but Nathan is no piece of cake," He added, struggling with something profound deep down, "God, especially when it came to you, Lilly, I couldn't...I couldn't let him hurt you, I always tried to find a loophole."

"That time in London?" I asked, recalling the time I thought Christian kidnapped me, the time Noah got hurt while trying to save me.

"It was me," He said, "I indirectly made Christian learn that Nathan got to you," He confessed, "Despite everything, I knew that Christian wouldn't hurt you, not in the physical sense at least."

"And when we were in Italy?" I asked, recalling the time Christian got to me before Nathan did, "You also told Christian that time, too?"

Noah nodded, "I did."

"Nathan is unhinged, Lilly, he is capable of doing unspeakable things to you, I had to do something, and Christian always felt like the safer choice."

I nodded, understanding, and true to his notion, every time, I came out of it unharmed. All thanks to him.

I tightened my fingers over his own, "You didn't do anything wrong," I assured him, hoping to erase the guilt gnawing at his features, "Anyone would do the same, anyone would choose to protect his parents," I added, sensing his fear of the impending danger, "We will explain it to dad and to Nikolas, they will understand." They were both stubborn as hell when it came to my safety but I will convince them, one way or another.

He shook his head, "It's not their reactions that I am worried about, Lilly."

And then, it made sense in a way, "Emma?" I asked and he nodded, "She'll hate me, and I am not sure I can live with that," The rawness in his words almost made me tear up again.

I shook my head, "She won't," I said, "She will understand your situation too," I added, hoping for that because I wasn't entirely sure.

His eyes settled on mine, shaking his head, "I know her, Lilly. The one thing she hates beyond measure is to be betrayed and I betrayed her, I betrayed her trust," He said, fear and guilt painting his face in vivid hues, "She did so much for me, she gave me everything, for god's sake, she was the closest thing I had to a mother figure, and look at what I did in return..."

Emotions so raw pushed and pulled within his brownish eyes, hanging by the threshold and ruining my already weakened heart. I brought my hand to his face, resting it on his cheek, "If you feel like this, it means she feels the same, Noah, and I can assure you a mother always forgives, she won't hate you, she can't hate you, she will forgive you, I am sure."

My dad held a tiny grudge against me but my mother forgave me without a second thought, even though I brutally hurt that day with my words.

Noah pressed his eyes shut, overwhelmed by the weight of everything, as a lone tear descended down his cheek, "Everything feels like it's falling apart," his voice trembled. The tear, or perhaps the weight of his words, clenched my heart so tight that tears welled up in my eyes too, blurring my vision.

His forehead met mine, needing someone to lean into and I felt the warmth of his tear against my fingertips, "We will handle it," I attempted to be the positive one, my tears cascading down my cheeks as I tenderly brushed away his own, "We will figure it out, okay? Whatever it is, together, we'll fix it. You are not alone, Noah."

He pried his eyes open, staring directly at my own and everything in me halted, my thoughts and the beating of my heart. Maybe I was always blind, or maybe he hid it very well from me, but now, at this fleeting moment of weakness, I saw it, I finally saw it in his gaze, in his tortured broken gaze, I saw it etched deep down into every feature of his face, I felt it in his heart that's beating too quick and too fast, ready to jump out and into my palm.

The panic that erupted all over my face had him edge back so fast, my hand falling from his face as he purposely built distance between us, "I am sorry," He mumbled, rushing a frustrated hand over his face.

Oh god.

I wanted to hit myself. I brought my hands up and covered my face, feeling stupid, embarrassed and all out of sorts, "It was never Sally, was it?" I asked into my hands.

I always thought he liked Sally, the way we spent time together, the three of us back in college days but no, I was just too damn blind.

"No, Lilly," He mumbled, honestly admitting, "It was never Sally."

I kept my face covered, "I am sorry," I mumbled, not sure what I was apologizing for.

A low chuckle came from him, "What are you apologizing for, you silly girl," he asked.

I lowered my hands down just a bit and peeked at his face between the gaps of my fingers, "I was always throwing my messy love life in your face," Whether it was Christian or Chase, I've shared it all with him, while indirectly, I was hurting him.

He smiled, so soft and tender, it broke my heart beyond measure and more tears fell from my eyes, "Hey, come on," He brought his arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer, a friendly gesture, because he always treated me with uttermost respect and understanding, he was the best, "I never said a thing because I was never gonna act on it Lilly," He said, "I am your...bodyguard, I wasn't ever gonna become...more than that."

"You're not my bodyguard, you are my best friend," I mumbled as I leaned into him, his embrace still warm, still comfy, still the shoulder I could lean into anytime, "And I really love you, you know that, right?"

He tightened his arm around me, "And you're my best friend too, Lilly," He murmured, dropping a soft kiss over the top of my head, "And I love you too," The rawness buried between those three words made me press my eyes shut and more tears seeped through. I knew that whatever he felt was entirely pure. I could feel it, so pure and innocent.

Probably, he never loved anyone...that way, before.

My shattered heart was too broken, too pained to feel, to understand. How could anyone love me, seriously? He deserved so much better. I am too messed up for someone like him, too messed up for anyone to be honest.

I let my eyelids drop down, "Can we stay here for like a month or a year?" I mumbled, "I am not ready to go out and face my life," I added, "Or face everyone."

I wanted to be far away from all of them.

Especially from Dad and Chase.

I titled my head up to look at Noah and he seemed to have the same struggle, not ready to go out and face Emma yet, "We will have to go out and face it in the end, anyway."

"It's inevitable," I mumbled, pressing my lips into a thin line and he nodded.

I sighed, "Who knew my biggest dream was to stay stuck at an abandoned barn," I mumbled with a suppressed groan and Noah chuckled lowly, agreeing.

But there, amidst the rustic scent of hay and the faint rustle of straw, we both found a momentary peace.

The calm before the storm.

Because in the end, we both will have to go out and face our mistakes.

"Will Nathan hurt him?" I asked Noah, a part of me worried still for Christian's well-being.

"I don't think so," Noah said, on some level understating the enigma that is Nathan, "He cares about him, in his own messed up way."

"What should we do now?" I asked, edging back to look up at Noah's face.

A low breath pushed off his chest, "We'll wait for a bit, then I will go out, check around, and if it looks safe enough, I will try to at least get you out of here."

My eyebrows pulled closer, "And you?"

He shook his head, "I can't go, Lilly, I can't run away, he still has her."

"And I am not leaving here without you," I said, "Also, we can't," I shook my head, "We can't leave Christian behind."

Noah's eyebrow raised, "You are not going anywhere near Nathan again, you saw what he was ready to do to you," He said, his voice firm, "I will get you out of here and I will deal with the rest."

"But-" I was about to object but Noah shook his head before he got up to his feet, wiping the hay stuck to his pants, "I will look around, you stay here, don't get out till I come back, you get that," He added, his voice stern, taking on the bodyguard tone and I shot him a glare.

Leaving me tucked away behind the hays and straws, he moved with determination and headed out of the barn. My throat constricted, and I rose, reaching the barn's door with trepidation. I peeked outside, the worry eating me alive because Noah was ready to put his life in danger for me and I wasn't going to allow that.

The door swung open just in time to hear Nikolas's authoritative harsh command, "Don't you dare move!" The words, a fierce warning aimed at Noah, widened my eyes. Without a second thought, I sprinted outside, landing in front of Noah, shielding him behind me, "No, no, put the gun down," I pleaded in panic, my eyes fixated on the deadly barrel, poised to harm him.

"Lilly," Nikolas uttered, shock and relief entwined in his voice as his gaze scanned every inch of me.

"I told you to stay inside, didn't I?" Noah scolded behind me. I shuffled back, delivering a swift kick to his shin, "Be grateful I came at the right time; he would've killed you."

"I am still going to do it," Nikolas growled, eyes shooting daggers at Noah as he advanced, "Lilly, move out of the way."

My arms extended, forming a fragile shield before Noah, "No, put it down, he's on our side, he saved me, so, put the gun down," My plea anchored Nikolas's gaze on me once more. Hesitation played on his features, his jaw ticking, and my eyes softened, "Please," I whispered, "He is with us, you can trust him."

Listening to me, he slowly lowered his arm, though the anger lingered in the lines of his face. His gaze remained fixed on Noah, "You let Nathan out—"

I nodded, my explanation rushed, ready to defend Noah, "He has his mother; Nathan threatens him with her. But...but still, he didn't let Nathan hurt me," I added, attempting to convey the complexity of the situation, "So, stop glaring at him like that."

A heavy breath escaped his chest, and he holstered the gun in his pants. Closing the distance between us, his steps no longer carried a threatening aura. As he approached, his eyes drank in every detail of me, and when he was close enough, his arms enveloped me, pulling me into a tight embrace. A small smile crept onto my lips as he cradled the back of my head. "You scared the shit out of me, you know that," he murmured into my hair.

"I tend to do that a lot," I whispered into his chest.

When we pulled back, he gazed down at me, still ensuring I was unharmed. I nodded my head, "I'm fine, really."

He nodded his head and I couldn't help but ask, "You came alone?" Where is Dad?

At my question, Nikolas's jaw ticked, annoyance overshadowing his features, "No, I came here with your fucking boyfriend."

My eyes widened, "What?" I exclaimed, shocked, "Chase is here?"

He nodded and my heart skyrocketed, "Where is he?" I asked in panic and Nikolas said ever so casually, "We split up when we got here."

I gasped, "You left him all alone?" I shot out, "He could get hurt!" Oh my god, oh my god...

Nikolas nodded, "Yeah, I was actually hoping for that."

My eyes grew wider and I playfully punched his chest, "Seriously!"

Confused, his gaze fell on how I punched his chest, "Oh my god, we should find him!" I shot out, the panic tightened my chest at the mere thought of Nathan or any of his men catching him first. 

"No, you," Nikolas looked at Noah, his voice stern and warning, "If you want me to trust you, you will take her out of here," He pulled his keys and pushed them at him. Noah caught them and Nikolas added, "My car is over there," He pointed at a far distance, "Get her out of here, now, I will go and deal with Nathan and Christian."

"Once I have Nathan, I will find out where your mother is and will get her out," Nikolas said, a promise woven into his words, a commitment to return the favor, "Now, get Lilly out of here."

Noah nodded his head, "But-" I was ready to protest but the hard demanding look in Nikolas's eyes made me shut up, "Come on," He said and Noah pulled me along, going in the opposite direction as Nikolas headed for the cabin Nathan and Christian are in.

When we were far enough from him, I looked at Noah, "I am not going till we find Chase," I said, firmly. No way I am leaving him alone in here. Nikolas would literally just let him die and not care. Unbelievable!

Noah's lips twitched and he nodded, "Okay, don't worry, we won't leave lover boy behind."

I slapped his arm, glaring, "Stop calling him that," I said and he chuckled lowly.

My gaze flickered all around the vast land and my shoulders slumped down; it was really late and so dark, casting an impenetrable shroud over the search for him. Why did he get here in the first place? Is he stupid?

The moonlight spilled its faint glow over the farm, casting long shadows that seemed to dance with the rustling leaves, leading our way as we wandered through.

The night held its breath, and a chilling breeze whispered through the swaying branches. The danger lurking in the shadows felt palpable as if the very air was charged with an impending storm. Noah sensed that too, because his grip over my hand tightened, almost too protectively, almost like he was scared the night would swallow me and take me away from him.

I tightened my hold back, assuring him that I was okay, that everything would be okay-

Midway through our walk, flickering flashlights cut through the darkness, and the crunching sounds of grass echoed loudly as a group of men emerged from behind the bushes. Through the cold, dark night, they found us. Acting on instinct, Noah pulled me behind a tree, shielding me just as the fire left their guns.

A low gasp echoed from my lips as my back harshly collided with the tree's trunk.

The jarring metallic scent of danger hung in the air, Noah's wide eyes flickered from me and peeked from behind the tree into them.

"We saw you, let the girl go!" One of them barked, his voice hard and demanding, slicing through the chilling air.

My fingers curled over Noah's shirt. He looked down at me and shook his head, assuring me, "Don't worry," He mumbled but the fear scratched at my insides. I saw them, there were six of them. At least six. And he is just one man. I was terrified for him to the point I was ready to walk out and let them take me again just to leave him alone.

Noah pulled his gun out, securing it in his palm, ready to get from behind the tree shielding us, "I will distract them, and you, run that way, as fast as you can, and don't look back," Noah ordered, his voice low but demanding and I shook my head, my grip tightened over his shirt, clutching into him and keeping him in place before he goes risking his life for me.

"No, no, not happening, wait," In a panic, I rambled on in a hurry, "Don't you dare," I grated out, "Don't you-"

"Lilly," He said, his hand coming over mine, holding it and trying to pry it off me, "I told you, I am not letting anyone hurt you, okay, listen to me."

I shook my head, my jaw tightening, "No, you doofus, no, it's not me I am worried about," I grated out, "There are more of them, you can't distract them, they will kill you!"

"Let the girl out or we will fire!" The same guy snapped again, the crunching of grass becoming more wild as they strode forward with determination, ready to drag us out of our hiding. 

"Look, look at me," I said, urging Noah to look at me, he was more than ready to walk out and face them all alone, "I will get out, they won't kill me, okay, they will just take me and you will go and get Nikolas, okay?" I said, this plan seemingly much better than his.

His eyebrows pulled closer, "Are you fucking insane," He hissed, looking at me like I am crazy.

I nodded, "I am," I said, "But there is no way I will let you hand yourself to them either, you get that," I added, "If you are walking out, then I am coming too."

"Lilly, for the love of god!" He said, frustration seeping into his features and I shook my head, "I am not letting you die for me, you get that," I grated out, my eyes wide in warning, "I won't forgive you, Noah."

"Firing will start in three—" The man spoke again, counting down and Noah sensed the urgency, "You trust me?" He asked and I nodded.

"Two—"

In a swift motion, Noah's hand curled over my arm, pulling me behind him, "Okay, okay, I am coming out, hold the fire," Noah said loudly to them, coming from behind the tree to face them, "I will give you the girl," He said, his grip so tight over my arm.

The men stood at a distance, not too close to discern their features but not far enough for us to make a certain escape. The man who was barking orders a couple of seconds ago raised his hand, urging them to pause their fire but their aimed guns didn't waver, ready to shoot us any second now.

"Put your weapon down, and hand us the girl," He said, the threat in his voice so convincing I shivered when he added, "Or you will die."

"When I say go, we run to the left," Noah mumbled, so low, just for me to hear, "As fast as you can, Lilly, okay?"

"Okay," I mumbled.

Noah let go of my arm and brought his arms up, feigning surrender, "Okay," He said, loud for them to hear.

"Put the weapon down!" The man shot out impatiently and Noah slowly brought his gun-wielding hand down, pretending to be ready to drop it to the floor, then he said, "Now, Lilly, go!" He shot out and I listened to him, I trusted him, trusted that we both, we both would run to the left, together, so I sprinted, running only to halt, my breath hitching when I didn't feel him beside me, when I heard the gunshots firing, when my whole world came to shattering halt.

Noah didn't run with me. No, he fired at them, distracting them as I ran and they...they did too. They fired back at him too.

Blinded, by the fear, by the shock, by the fucking darkness of the night that couldn't let me see a thing, I whirled around, ready to go back to him. I didn't care for the fire, for anything, for anyone, I needed him alive, and if he was gonna get hurt then I should too.

He shouldn't die, he can't die, not...not for me.

It all happened so fast, god, I couldn't hear, I couldn't see, I couldn't feel. Someone grasped my arm, pulling me back from the firing bullets, harshly pulling me. I thrashed against him but he pulled me, he did till my back crashed into his hard chest. Someone screamed. The fire ceased. The firing stopped. But...the scream, the scream wasn't my own, no. I lost my voice.

It was as if the world had silenced itself, leaving me trapped in a soundless void. Panic clawed at my throat, rendering me mute. I couldn't speak, I couldn't think. Someone screamed. Not me. So loud, the agonized voice shattering my whole world again. Someone rushed, pushing between the men, reaching for Noah as he staggered backward, falling onto the ground, but she clutched into him and he fell into her embrace.

Agony seized my chest, an unbearable weight pressing down on my very soul. I wanted to rush forward to him too but couldn't. My legs weren't moving. I couldn't move. Frozen in the midst of this hurricane.

"No," I whispered, refusing this, all of this, everything.

"Lilly," The man who clutched me, who held me back spoke and I turned my head around, my gaze flickering up, meeting the eyes, so similar to my own in almost everything, "Dad," I mumbled so weakly.

Lines etched his forehead as he stared down at me, as his eyes flickered up and went to Noah, to Emma as she held him. Bewilderment and confusion ate at his expression and then I realized that those men, they weren't...they weren't Nathan's men.

No, they were our men.

And they hurt one of us.

They hurt Noah.

They hurt...no, maybe, maybe they even...killed him.

*************************************

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