Lucian stood amidst the aftermath, his breaths shallow and ragged, the weight of what had just happened pressing heavily on his chest. His hands, stained with blood, trembled slightly as he took in the scene the lifeless bodie in front him, the silence broken only by his own heartbeat thundering in his ears. He looked toward Rose, who sat huddled in the corner, eyes squeezed shut, body trembling.
She looked small and vulnerable, a stark contrast to the chaotic scene around them.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Lucian softened his voice as much as he could. “Rose,” he said gently, trying to mask the tension in his voice, “please stay here, don’t move. I’ll be back in a few moments. I promise, nothing will happen to you. Just… trust me, okay?”
Rose’s eyes fluttered, her eyelashes wet with tears. Her entire frame was shivering, her breaths shallow as if she were fighting to contain the fear that threatened to overwhelm her. She didn’t dare open her eyes at first, not wanting to see the horror that had unfolded in front of her. Her mind couldn’t comprehend the sudden violence, the smell of blood thick in the air.
She hadn’t known fear like this before a fear so raw and so suffocating that it felt as though she couldn’t breathe.
Lucian took one last look at her, feeling a pang of guilt settle deep in his chest. He wished he hadn’t had to expose her to this, to something so horrifying. But there was no other way. The danger wasn’t over, and he knew he couldn’t leave any threats behind. So he turned, giving her one last look of reassurance before facing the doorway, bracing himself for what he had to do next.
Rose slowly, reluctantly opened her eyes, her vision blurring as she took in the scene before her. The man on the floor lay twisted, his face forever frozen in an expression of shock, his eyes staring unblinkingly at the ceiling. Blood seeped from the deep gash at his neck, pooling around him in a dark crimson circle.
Her stomach churned as she looked at the severed arm and the stains on the walls, the remnants of a violent confrontation that felt surreal, like a nightmarish hallucination. She held her arms tightly around herself, hoping that if she just squeezed hard enough, the fear would stop. But it didn’t.
She forced her gaze upward, away from the bodie, and found herself staring at Lucian’s back. His white school shirt was now soaked with blood, the fabric torn and marked by four dark, bloody bullet holes. More blood matted his hair and stained his shoulders a grim testament to what he had endured.
A sense of heartbreak and horror flooded her, realizing that he had borne this pain in her place, taking every wound meant for her without hesitation.
Her hand flew to her mouth, stifling a sob that rose unbidden, the tears she had held back now streaming freely. She couldn’t stop staring at him at the boy younger then her,her little little brother who had protected her, who had shielded her even at the risk of his own life.
The image of his blood-soaked back was etched deeply in her mind, filling her with a kind of pain she had never known before, one that was both sorrowful and shameful.
Lucian walked forward, his steps slow and steady, his figure resolute as he approached the doorway. As he moved, the katana he’d been wielding suddenly vanished from his hand, dissolving into thin air as if it had never been there. In its place, a sleek, black rifle appeared, materializing out of nowhere, resting confidently in his grasp.
Rose watched the transition with wide eyes, unable to comprehend the magic or technology behind it, but she didn’t dwell on it for long. Her gaze was locked on Lucian’s small back which looks so big and heavy as he was carrying so much weight, on the blood that seeped through his shirt a haunting reminder of his sacrifice.
He didn’t turn back to look at her, his focus solely on what lay beyond the door. But Rose, feeling a surge of panic, extended a trembling hand toward him, her fingers reaching out as if to call him back, to stop him from going any further. She opened her mouth to stop him say no please don’t go, but no words came. Her voice was locked in her throat, caught between fear and desperation.
She wanted to tell him not to go, not to face the remaining danger alone. But her voice failed her, leaving her in helpless silence as he walked away.
Her outstretched hand slowly fell back to her side, her body slumping against the wall as she watched him disappear through the doorway. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions shock, terror, guilt, and an overwhelming sense of helplessness. She couldn’t believe the events of the past hour; it all felt so far removed from reality, like a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from.
Her gaze drifted to her own hand, still shaking uncontrollably. Her fingers were cold, numb from the adrenaline and the horror of everything she had witnessed. How did it come to this? she thought, her mind struggling to make sense of it all.
Her heart ached, guilt weighing heavily on her as she realized how powerless she had been, how she had frozen in fear while Lucian had risked everything to protect her.
With a shuddering breath, she looked at the empty doorway once more, feeling a hollow ache in her chest, the uncertainty gnawing at her
Rose sat pressed against the cold wall, her mind a storm of conflicting emotions. She couldn’t remember how much time had passed five minutes? Ten? Maybe even more? The silence weighed heavily, broken only by her own shallow breaths and the relentless pounding of her heartbeat. Her gaze was locked on the door, both terrified of what might come through and desperate for it to be Lucian.
She hugged her knees tightly, feeling utterly lost. Her tears had finally stopped, but her expression remained blank, eyes vacant, staring as if she could somehow will her brother back into the room.
Dark thoughts crept into her mind like unwelcome shadows. What if he didn’t come back? What if something had happened to him out there? What if… he had fallen victim to those men? The horrifying possibilities gnawed at her, amplifying her anxiety until it felt unbearable.
Just then, she heard footsteps in the hall, the sound soft but distinct against the quiet. Rose tensed immediately, clutching her knees even tighter. Her heart pounded faster, caught between relief and fear. The steps grew louder, closer, and she squeezed her eyes shut, as if bracing herself for the worst. ƒreewebɳovel.com
Please let it be Lucian, she silently begged, though her hands trembled at the thought of facing him covered in blood once more.
Then he appeared, stepping cautiously into the room. It was Lucian. He looked exhausted, his school uniform shirt stained with even more blood than before. But his expression had softened his eyes no longer held the steely determination she’d seen earlier. He was looking at her, concern etched into his face, and the slightest hint of relief.
Lucian took a deep breath, taking in her appearance her wide, terrified eyes, her trembling frame huddled in the corner, the haunted look in her gaze. The sight hit him harder than any blow. The horrors she’d just witnessed had taken a toll, leaving her scared and fragile. “Rose…” he began softly, keeping his voice as calm and gentle as he could manage. “It’s okay now. It’s all over.
There’s no one left. You’re safe,we are safe.”
His words were meant to reassure, but Rose couldn’t move. She sat frozen, hugging herself tightly. A fresh wave of dread rose within her. He had killed them all of them. The realization brought an intense mixture of relief and horror. The very brother who had protected her now stood before her covered in blood, having taken the lives of those men.
She wanted to look away but couldn’t. A deep-rooted fear kept her rooted, unable to meet his eyes yet unable to pull her gaze from him.
Lucian saw her flinch when he took a tentative step toward her, the fear flashing across her face as if he, too, was something to be afraid of. He halted, the hurt evident in his eyes. His heart sank, guilt and regret twisting his expression. He didn’t want her to feel like this, to look at him like this. He knew she was scared, overwhelmed, traumatized.
And it was because of what she had seen, what he had done. He wished desperately that he could take it back, that she could have been spared from witnessing such violence.
“I… I’m sorry, Rose,” he said, his voice tight with remorse. “I never wanted you to see any of this… I didn’t want you to go through something so horrible.” He paused, unsure if his words even reached her, and tried again, softer this time. “It was my first time… too. I didn’t want it to be like this. I’m… I’m sorry.”
He took a slow step forward, then stopped when he noticed her body tense further, shrinking back against the wall. Lucian’s hands dropped to his sides, a resigned sadness settling over him. I’ll fix this, somehow, he thought, though he felt helpless standing there, watching his sister recoil from him.
The pain in her eyes was more than he could bear, and the anger within him flared anew not directed at her, but at the men who had brought them to this point. They had taken away her sense of safety, left her scarred, and forced him to become someone he hardly recognized.
Trying to compose himself, Lucian held his hand out, and as if summoned from thin air, a sleek, black phone materialized in his grasp. Rose’s eyes widened slightly, though she was too drained to react with much more than a faint look of confusion. She had seen this odd ability before but had been too overwhelmed to process it.
Now, as he dialed a number, her gaze fell upon him again, unable to look away. He exuded an odd sense of power, something she had never noticed before, as he stood there covered in blood, a sense of purpose in his eyes.
The phone rang, and after a moment, a voice picked up on the other end. “Hello?”
—-
Hey everyone, your favorite author here! I wanted to reach out because I’m at a bit of a crossroads with Lucian’s story, and I’d love your input.
When I first started writing, I planned for Lucian to have just one heroine by his side. But since it’s you all who are going to read and enjoy the story, I want to know what you think.
Would you prefer:
– A harem for Lucian?
– A single female lead to be his one true partner?
You can also suggest who you think should be the main heroine (though, of course, the final decision will be mine).
Your next chapter is on
Let me know your thoughts below – your votes and suggestions really matter!