Bound Beneath the Moon [ONC 2021] ✔

Chapter 18

Erie didn't visit me last night. But then again, she's probably so stressed right now. She's so focused on trying to impress my parents for the final challenge I think she trained all.

    All the suitors learned in advance that the final challenge was going to be a fight between themselves. Erie and Jhorlauhin weren't even in the same bracket, but as expected, they're the final two. Erie's desperate to prove herself. In her past fights, she's barely been putting in any effort. Bags are under her eyes and she's been yawning occasionally. But she's winning. She was determined to get her revenge.

    We're in the final match. Erie's on one side of the arena, Jhorlauhin on the other. In their hands are guns, but they're modified. Instead of killer bullets, it's a bundle of electricity meant to give the other a shock. A few hits with one knocks you out.

    Everyone is quiet. The whole stadium is on edge. When the buzzer rings, chaos breaks out.

    Jhorlauhin runs towards Erie at full speed, she's backing away. Even within close range of each other, Erie's trying to not get hit. She's avoiding punches, kicks, event bullets. Her strategy is weird, it's like she's trying to lose. She can't win by running away from him. Jhorlauhin is simply smirking. He's enjoying this too much. It makes you realize how much of a coward he is.

    Erie's at the edge of the arena. If she falls, that's it. No one will consider her as my bride.

    I want to scream, tell her she's got this. She can beat him, I know it. But I'm so frightened she's going to fall I can't speak. I'm paralyzed. A suitor fell out of bounds earlier and he had to be escorted out on a stretcher due to broken bones.

    But her head turns to me. Even though the wind is blowing hair on her face, I can see her precious, loving smile. She reaches a hand under her trench coat. She pulls out a metallic purple alite flower and tosses it to me. It floats down, the wind doing most of the work. I reach out to grab it, but it just flies into my palms. I can still feel her warm touch on the flower. It's freshly picked, too. You can tell because the stamen are still curled like the petals and they're glowing a soft yellow. And not a single wrinkle in the stem or a flat petal insight. She was trying to keep the flower safe until she got to me.

    When I look back up at her, Erie's already turned away. She tosses her gun over the edge of the platform, cracks her knuckles, and starts storming towards Jhorlauhin.

    Mom gasps excitedly. Even though she loves seeing Erie fight, she can't stop with the remarks.

Jhorlauhin is too confused to make a smart move. Now he's one the offensive trying to dodge her kicks. Like the pathetic bitch he is, he doesn't drop his gun to make the fight fair. It's the only thing he's trying to use. But Erie's so fast and agile none of them hit her.

I can't hold back the dreamy sigh. This is the woman I fell in love with.

Jhorlauhin finally gets a hit, though. Erie lets out a pained cry and falls to the ground. Jhorlauhin smirks. He says something to her, crouching down to say something to her. Of course, he wants to torment her. It doesn't surprise me. But what does surprise me is Erie grabbing him by the throat.

She forces the gun from his hand and tosses it as far as she can, right off the platform. She forces him to the ground, holding him down while her arm is around his neck. He's struggling to try to fight her off, but it doesn't work. His punches become small breezes against her skin and just like that, he passes out. Just like that, She won.

Erie won.