Chapter 42 Over The Door of Hell

Elena Davis,

“Arius is the leader of the Mafia?” My world froze hearing Nicole’s words as everything I knew about the man I love was just a mask, nothing else, everything I knew about him was wiped away as the footmarks from the beach after a tide. Tears were brimming in my eyes; I raised my shaky hand over the wall to support my body. I should have asked him before, shouldn’t have fallen for him. What do I do now? The memories of us were flashing continuously in my mind, scaring me with the reality this fate brought in front of me. I wasn’t prepared for this.

“Elena? Are you there?” Nicole called, taking a small step towards me, creasing his forehead with confusion. His voice brought me back from my maze making me stand in front of truth which I don’t want to accept at any cost. I need to leave now or I will get stuck here with his murderers.

“Ahhhhhhh” I screamed in fright as nearby vases scattered all over the floor breaking the subtle silence with a thunderous noise which made me shiver. Terrified me, I started running back towards the staircase in hope of escaping through this hell. My head became heavy; all this indigestible information couldn’t process in my mind. I was feeling suffocated. My lungs were on fire, stealing as much air as possible to run. Every wall of the corridor creeped me out, forcing me to believe it.

“She must have known, we have to stop her.” Marc yelled while speeding up towards me joining Nicole. I was running as they wanted to kill me, ignoring a few poking glass pieces in my feet. I heard them screaming in Italian loudly. Beads of sweat are rolling over my forehead but my legs won’t give up and keep running towards the main door which was shining in that dimly lit hall. Golden border of the door was calling me; it would lead me towards my freedom and far away from these unethical people who never had thought twice before taking someone’s life.

I was about to open the door but I dumped something heavily which threw me harder over the floor. A thing of metal fell on the floor with his metallic ringing. I raised my eyes to watch what happened. A bodyguard was standing in front of me and his gun was in front of me. He launched himself to grab it, but my body reacted involuntarily to grab it quickly. I don’t know what am I doing or going to do?

I was shivering, my lips were trembling and my lungs were doing their best to keep me alive. My brain had stopped functioning properly long behind and the only thing I knew was nothing was in my control. My Body was acting without my permission and I held that gun with my shivering hands towards that bodyguard. Streams of tears already reached up to my neck, drenching everything in their path. That bodyguard raised his hands and took a step away from me. Despite that, my figure took its position on the trigger.

“Stop, Elena Stop.” Nicole yelled from behind. His heavy run was scaring me, making my heart rate suddenly escalate, but his feet stopped, giving me a moment to breathe. He looked worried.

“We can talk about this.” Marc added, forwarding his hands in the air , taking a small step towards me.

“Stop” I screamed in fright, taking a few more steps away from them leaning on the closed door frame. They stopped immediately, glancing at my shivering hand holding a gun. They took a step away, holding their hands in the air.

“My Arrii- ma Ma.” I was struggling to complete a sentence with meaningful words, my breathing was uneven, I couldn’t interpret anything around me nothing was in my control as it was just a nightmare and I will get up usually wrapped in his warm arms with his constant and heated stare over me but I believe this nightmare had became my destiny which I have to bear until the end or I have to find a way to get out of this.

“Calm down, Elena. Everything is alright.” Nicole responded. He was looking directly into my eyes, which nothing had a trace of the murderer which I was searching for, but am I capable of believing him? No. The answer came straight away. I shook my head. Not the man I trusted in my life couldn't be truthful with me. Then how can I expect anyone to agree with someone’s words?

I heard the sound of boots stepping towards me and I got alerted within a blink of the eye. My senses were at their highest peak. That bodyguard who was standing not far from the door frame was launched towards me. His hand was approaching me.

“Ahhhhhhhh” I screamed loudly as I heard the sound of a bullet fire and my entire body pushed over the door with a thud. I opened my eyes and saw him lying on the ground holding his shoulder in one hand, evident in pain. Have I shot him? I don’t know. I don’t have any control over the surroundings I am in.

The crimson blood of his oozing rapidly from his shoulder creating a tiny puddle over the floor drenching the carpet, making it shine in the dim lighting of the hall. Did I really make him bleed? Nicole and Marc rushed over him to check his conditions. Nicole was inspecting his wound, tearing his t black t-shirt. My hands led me to the handle of the door and I pushed open it, ignoring all of them, because freedom was the only thing my mind was begging me for. I heard the sound of Marc yelling something, but it just increased the speed of me.

I could see the dark pitch forest in front of me, inviting me as I belonged there. The moon was still hanging on the black canvas, helping me with its tiny light encouraging me to achieve what I was logging off. Peebles were poking in my legs at every step I took with but I knew if I stop then I can never come out from it. I can never be the prisoner of Arius, or should I say, mistress. I don’t want to be with him leaving my self respect aside.

I was tired; the beating of my heart was clearly audible in my ears. My energy was on the verge of vanishing, but my legs weren’t going to listen to me at any cost. Tears and sweat were already dripping from my face and here I was running, holding a shaky gun in my hand. The green forest I used to admire from his room had swelled me, but it was dark black, making no difference resembling the sky. Leaves were getting scrambled under me, but I was running and just running. I threw the gun aside when I assured that Marc wasn’t following me here.

Forest was so dense that he must have lost his track with me. I fell on the dirty ground as I knocked out my breath, deciding to stop for a few minutes before I again left this place. All energy had already left my body; I was lying and coughing vigorously, putting my hand over my chest. My entire throat went dry; tears were rolling down my cheeks, marking its way out from the dirt, leaving the traces behind. With support of a branch I made myself lean over the tree resting my head to compose myself a bit but it didn't seem possible. I realized my legs were bleeding drops of blood coming out from already torn skin; I didn’t know until that moment that my legs were burning in pain. My left hand was also bleeding because it got scratched over a tree when I fell. I was shivering because of the cold as strong breezes were cutting all my skin, making me feel like it was made up of a knife.

I was alone in that dark cold forest in the middle of night. Sounds of insects were breaking the silence just to remind me how deadly this place was. Even the moon wasn’t visible due to the denseness of the forest , making me terrified of my decision. How can I accept it? I sobbed hard, struggling to take my next breath and got up with difficulty. I have to leave now or they will definitely send someone to find me.

Before I could take a step, the rustling of leaves passed a shiver over my spine, and I realized a periodic heavy sound of someone approaching me clutched my heart. I glanced up from my dizzy vision; a dark figure was standing far from me. Holding a branch of a tree for support, I tried to see clearer flickering my eyelid, but it wasn’t helping at all. Even in that darkness, its presence was clear as he ruled the kingdom of darkness. He was one with darkness but still managed to stand out from it too. I could feel his raged gaze over me and it was burning my skin, making me hesitant to take the next breath.

I took a step away from him but landed on the forest floor, motionless with a thud. My legs haven’t any energy at all to take a step. I was taking a lot of effort just to control my breathing as trees felt like moving, getting blurrier at every passing moment. That dark figure was approaching me slowly, crumbling dried leaves holding deadly cold aura as he was daring me to stop my movement. A known green pair of eyes came into my view when he picked me up.

Arius……