Ella's POV

With a weak heart still pounding with the known fear and trembling legs, I moved towards him. His lying numb body was making me wince in pain. His arms, which once used to hold me, to hug me, to give me the hope and strength, were now lying coldly on his sides. His lips which once used to kiss me, to told me thousands of times how special to him I was, were now bruised. His smiling face, which once used to twist my heart, making my strings to pull, making me to lose my senses, was now all wounded and swollen.

"Is he-" I tried to ask.

"Not yet," Dad stated, looking at him with hatred and disgust.

This helped me to ease a bit but still, the sight was cruel enough. This sensation was horrible. Him lying unconscious in front of me, not moving, not smiling, not holding me, was the dreadful of all.

"Xai-" I whimpered holding on to his hand. A huge lump in my throat not allowing me to speak and my face stained with tears.

I let out a shaking breath. "Xaiden!" I whispered, shooking him. "Get up! You, " I bit back a sob. "You. Xaiden! You can't do this to me." Tears trailing down my eyes and I bit my lip to control them but nothing was of use now.

"Xaiden! Get up! Stop scaring me!" I continued to call him but he wasn't responding. His hands were cold, his eyes, those tantalizing grey eyes - the light in my darkest life - they were shut.

"Dad! Why isn't he waking up? Wake him up! I want him to see me, I want him to hold me. Dad! Please, help him." I looked at my dad. My eyes pleading. I was begging, I was begging for his life. I couldn't let him die. My dad looked at me with rage and then tightened his fists. He turned his face not saying anything. 

"Dad!" I called him again. "Dad, I love him."

"Ellen! You don't know what love is. This isn't love. It's your fantasy. A teenage fantasy!" My dad growled, making me flinch. He was scaring me and this was the first time, he had talked to me like this but still, it didn't stop me.

"Dad! Please." I continued to plead. "Dad-"

"Do you even fucking know who the heck is he? He does not love you! He's just here to kill you!"

His words came blowing as my eyes widen. "What? No! I..." I paused thinking of what to say. Whatever dad was saying, it was not making sense; this was complete crap. Why would he do something like that? He could never hurt me. He loves me. "You are lying. And... And I don't care who he is. I love him. He loves me."

I stood up, standing in front of my dad. My heart was breathing crazily and deep down, I knew my mind was pondering on this question. Who was he? He never told me about his past or his family. He never talked about his and I never talked about my family. We never discussed our families. We lived in our present, we never talked about our pasts or darkest parts. And I knew, deep down, now, this thought was making me afraid too. Who was actually Xaiden Emiliano? Who was the guy whom I dearly fell in love with? What was his truth, his reality?

"Bullshit! He's your enemy, Ellen. He came here to kill you!" Dad shouted. As his words registered in my mind, my legs became numb. My heart, which was already feeling the pain, got another blew. If, just if this was true, then my world would be shattered down. He was the reason I found this happiness in my life and now, if this was true, he'd be the one ending it too.

"No! No!!!!" I shook my head. "No, no, no, no, no! You!" I grabbed onto the couch to steady myself. "I don't believe you!"

"I..." I gulped down the huge lump in my throat but nothing was helping now. This thing, whether it was a lie or a truth, was too much to bear.

"I don't believe you," I murmured. "You are lying to break us apart. I know."

I knew. Dad was lying. It's one of his plans to drive us apart but I won't let this happen. I won't let him succeed this time. I was not letting Xaiden go. I was not stepping back. Not anymore.

"I..." I took in a deep breath, trying to compose myself for the sake of us. "I'll ask him myself. I'll confront it with him." I stated.

"So, save him or today," I continued, "You'll be losing your daughter too."

I glared, not stepping back this time. He stared straight in my eyes and I could see the burning rage in them. His jaw tightened, his teeth gritting in hatred. But this didn't stop me. I guess mafia blood was really running through my veins, making me bold and strong.

"Fuck!" He groaned and kicked the chair, beside him, into the wall. "Get him a doctor!" Dad growled to one of his men and stormed out of the room. As soon as he left, my legs gave up. I let out a breath I was holding in and collapsed on the floor. My breathing was rapid and every cell in my body was shivering. This was the first time I had stood up against my dad. I wasn't even able to stand like this when he said not to pursue my dream career. But now, I stood straight and fought with him, and this was terrifying.

I noticed my mom seeing me while standing near the door. I looked at her. She shook my head as if highly disappointed and then left. My heart hurt seeing my parent's expression and their disappointment and resentment. This was all new to me. I was always a perfect daughter but now, Xaiden made me do things I never did before.

I rested my head beside Xaiden and sobbed. "Xai-" I said whimpering. "Please, don't let it be what dad says." I cried, whispering. "Xaiden! Please, don't make me hate myself more."

I held onto his hand as tears were trailing down my eyes. I brought it closer to my face and rested my head on it. I closed my eyes. But this didn't help me with all the questions jumbling up in my head.

Xaiden's POV.

I felt a deep pain in my left arm and it made me winced. I tried to turn around but my body screamed up with pain. I felt as if needles pinning in my whole body and my face felt numb. The smell of disinfectant was too strong to make me nauseous.

Where was I? I couldn't comprehend. The last thing I remember was, getting beaten and about ready to be killed. I remember dark, blood-stench rooms with chains, and then, I remember being smashed to a floor. Someone grabbing me by my neck making me difficult to breathe and then I remember a phone ringing. After that, everything went black.

Was I alive? And how? This wasn't something usual. This was strange. How in the world I survived that tortured prisoned life? How in this world of no mercy, this unusual act was shown to me?

I opened my eyes but closed them instantly. Opening them was hurtful. My face was aching with pain and as I breathe, every muscle in my body hurts. I knew if someone else would have been here in my place, he would have been dead by now. I was trained to survive the worst situations but this situation was more than worst. I was all helpless with nothing else than my inner strength. If I was alive now, that meant my body tolerated all the torture and pain, letting me live.

I tried to move my hand but it felt heavy as if someone was lying on it. I opened my eyes and winced in pain. My eyes roamed around the plain brown-coloured room.

"He's up!" I heard someone shout and turned my head to the left to see two guards standing beside the door. One of them shouted to someone outside. I furrowed my eyebrows. I looked at my side to see a drip stand and a drip was attached to my left hand. Where was I?

"Xai-"

And then, I heard the most familiar voice.

"Xaiden!" Her voice came again. This mere sweet voice of hers was enough to make my heart beat. I turned my head right to see the most beautiful vision in front. Her. Ella, smiling sadly at me. Her blonde hair was a mess tied up in a bun and her emerald eyes filled up with tears. Her lips quivered and it felt like she was trying hard to control her tears.

If this was a dream, then please let it continue. I don't want to wake up. I wanted to see her, to hold her in my arms, to kiss her and tell her once again how much I love her.

"Xaiden!!!" She cried my name out. Her eyes closed as she continued to cry while holding onto my hand close to her face. This was not a dream? And if it wasn't, how come I was here? And how she was beside me?

"E- Ella," I whispered, tightening my hold around her hand. She whimpered.

"Ella," I called her name again but she continued to cry.

"El-"

"I hate you, Xaiden. I hate you." She sobbed. "I hate you for doing this to me."

I was confused. What was she saying and what was happening? How was I here and how was she here?

"Ella," I lifted my left hand and held her shivering arm. I pulled her closer and rested her head on my chest. I winced in pain as she lied down but I didn't let her go. I freed my hand and placed it on her back. I gently caressed her back and she continued to cry.

"You," she said between sobs. "you could have been," she paused again. Her voice muffled and it felt like it was hard for her to say the next words.

"Hush. I'm fine. Stop crying." I comforted her. I knew she was worried and the way her body was trembling, I knew she was scared. I tightened my hold around her and planted a kiss on her head. "I'm fine, " I said again to make her believe it.

This girl here was making my heart flutter and despite knowing how terrified and scared she must have been, I felt a bit happy. This was selfish of me but I was happy seeing how much she loves me. Her worry, her care was making me smile wider. It made me realize how much she loves me and how much I love her.

Her trembling slowed down and her breathing went to normal. Her sobs quietened but she didn't move. "Ella?" I called her name.

"Hmm, " she hummed trying to get up but I tightened my hold.

"Stay."

"You, you are hurt."

"Not anymore," I whispered still holding her in my arms.

"I want to see your face," she said and I loosened my grip. She sat up and looked at me. Her eyes again welled up.

"I... I am so sorry," she said trying to hold in her tears.

"I'm fine. And you don't have to say sorry. I'm sorry," I paused, holding her face. "I'm sorry for making you worry. I'm sorry for hurting you like this."

She shook her head. I smiled and wiped the tears from her eyes with my thumb.

"You know, I love you," I whispered, smiling. She nodded. "And you know that I won't ever hurt you."

She nodded sniffling. "Now, where's my smile? I want my Ella to smile. Greet me with a smile." I tapped her nose gently. She nodded and her lips curled up in a sweet smile. A sweet sad smile.

"I love you," I whispered again. I wanted to say those words again and again. I wanted to tell her how special she was to me. She was my life and now I knew, she was the reason why I was alive. She was smiling while holding onto my hand.

"Ella," I called her name once again. I missed holding her like this, I missed calling her name. I always wondered how would it feel to see her the first thing while waking up. Although this wasn't exactly a happy dream but it was enough to make my heart beat crazily and my body to embrace her tightly.

I looked at her dearly and once again whispered, "I love you."

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Argh!!! Can I have an Xaiden, please!!!

God!

So Xaiden is in the house!!! ;)
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Check out her work. She's amazing!!!

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Love,
Anna.