“Love is a fire that burns unseen,

a wound that aches yet isn’t felt,

an always discontent contentment,

a pain that rages without hurting”

                  - Luís Vaz de Camões

    The soldiers were ready…I was ready. This is it. Lives are on the line, but the one life who matters the most is the one in the most danger. The one soul mine has been searching for, the one life who makes the darkest of days seem bright, whose presence makes my heart sing. I would do anything and everything for her, to hold her in my arms again. I need to tell her, and it is my personal mission to be sure she knew.  

   With my heart pounding, I calmed my breath, giving my men the signal. It’s go time. One by one, we ran towards the building. The once silent night was now a barrage of gunfire. Tactfully, the soldiers and I took down the men guarding the perimeter of the west entrance. We rushed in, my mind fixated on one thing: getting to Scarlett. As Alexi darted down the staircase, I could see the fear in his eyes. With the bullets raining down on us, he moved too fast for me to get a clear shot.

   We finally started down the staircase after clearing the west wing. Each step taking me closer to her. My men separated, giving me cover to get to Scarlett. The large metal door resembled those from a bank vault. I tried the door, hoping it would be easy and be unlocked. Of course, it was not. My hands moved as swiftly as they could, lining the hinges with C4.

   “Fire in the hole!” I yelled, making sure everyone was taking cover.

*Boom. Boom. Boom.*

    The once sturdy door fell to the ground, smoke billowing all around.  

   My heart dropped; my entire being enraged at the vulgar sight. Alexi holding down Scarlett, violating her, attempting to take what she refused to give, what was mine. She was barely conscious. I raised my rifle, ready to shoot.

   “Fucking stand, you son of a bitch!” I roared at the coward.

   But he was ready for me. Raising a pistol to Scarlett’s head, giving me a vile grin. He jumped up, using Scarlett as a shield, the barrel digging into her scalp. I watched helplessly as she shuddered in pain, not able to stand alone. My stomach tensed; eyes narrowed. Resentment for the men who did this to her overtook my mind.

   “Shoot me, she’s dead.” Alexi announced, cocking the gun. What a little coward.

   “Let her go Alexi, it’s over!” I commanded him, my finger on the trigger, waiting for the opportunity. His crazed eyes darted around, searching for a way out.

    “Drop your fucking weapon!” He yelled back.

   “Alexi, you know I can’t do that.” With that, he smacked the gun on to her temple. Droplets of blood dribbled down Scarlett’s forehead. A squeak eluded her blood-spattered lips, making my chest tighten. I lowered my rifle, out of fear for her life. Alexi had lost his mind. “Okay. Okay. Calm down.” I reached my hand out. “Give me your gun. I’ll help you get out of here alive.”

   “Why? So, I can rot in a jail cell? No thanks. Not Interested.” His words were fast and filled with fear.

    “Luca, stop this.” Scarlett finally spoke, her voice broken and in pain. My heart physically ached seeing her like this.

   “Shut up!” He shoved the barrel into her scalp once again. Her moans of pure agony made me angrier by the second.

   “Okay, calm down. Here, I’ll set my rifle down and we can just talk, okay?” My voice was calm as I hunched over. Trying anything possible to get him to redirect his gun. In that moment, I watched in alarm as Scarlett screamed through the pain, grabbing Alexi by the arm. Pushing through the extreme hurt, using his weight, she threw him over onto his back.

   I had to act fast, jumping on top of him and shielding Scarlett, who collapsed against the wall. Her breathing labored, her eyes threatening to shut at any moment. Blood stained her delicate skin; bruises and lumps enveloped her long legs. Cuts and gashes covered her face, the swelling changing her appearance.

*BANG BANG*

    His pistol went off several times, illuminating the dimmed room. I saw nothing but red, digging my thumbs into his eye sockets and banging his head against the cold, unforgiving concrete ground. The pistol went flying into the darkness of the room. Somehow, he wrapped his leg around me, pushing me off. We both stood, Alexi spitting blood. “You’re not getting out of here alive.” I told him, lunging at him with all my weight, pushing him into the hard wall.

   “I’m not going alone.” Alexi grunted, wrapping his arms around mine. Punch after punch, straight to his face. All my rage, all the pain, the unyielding need for revenge, all let out in that moment. Even as his body fell to the ground, I continued, stomp after stomp.  

  “Mason!” Her beautiful, yet pained voice called to me, stopping me from the onslaught of violence. I stared down, blood pooling around Alexi’s lifeless head, then scanned over to Scarlett, lying on the ground, shaking, trying to hold herself up.

  “Scarlett.” I ran over to her, being gentle not to hurt her. I pulled her in. “It’s going to be okay.” My heart was full with her in my arms again. For the first time since she was taken, I could breathe. “I’m here now. I’m here.” Tears built up behind my eyes. “I’m so sorry I let this happen.”

    “Don’t apologize. It’s not your fault.” Every single word from her sweet lips made my heart relax.

   “I was so scared I lost you.” I pulled back, drowning in her mesmerizing green eyes. “Scarlett, I love you.” A weight lifted off my chest, saying it out loud, finally having her close to me again.

   Tears fell down her bruised cheeks. “I love you, Mason.” Her face fell into my chest. Carefully, I lift her lips to mine, taking in her sweet taste.

*BANG*

   Pain rushed down my spine. I turned to see Alexi sitting up, the pistol in his hand. How? I turned, shielding Scarlett, lifting my rifle.

*BANG BANG, BANG BANG*

   Alexi finally dropped to the ground for good, each bullet striking him in the chest. Blood sprayed onto the walls behind him, each bullet exiting out his back. There’s no coming back from that. I turned back to see Scarlett’s face again, my body falling to the ground.

   “Mason! No!” Her voice was all I could hear as a blanket of darkness took over my vision. “Mason, wake up!” Her voice was all that kept me holding on. “Stay awake. Please!”

    Everything went dark and silent.

           There will be an Alternate ENDING to this chapter, and the following chapters once it’s finished! Stayed tuned 😊 Thank you so much for reading! You guys have no idea how much it means to me, getting my work out there for others to enjoy <3. Please leave a like & comment. 😊