Protected by the Beast ✔

21

Thank God I finally got time amidst studying and rehearsals to complete and publish this chapter!

My shout out goes to Bulgaria, England and France 😍😍😍 comment your country and I'll give a shout out;-)

Riley's POV

*

Hot, desperate pants left my lips.

The swoosh of air and chirping of birds in the skies and trees teased my ears as I ran past another wide tree. I couldn't look back even if I wanted to, it was too close.

How did I even keep running? It had been chasing me since forever.

A snake was chasing after me.

It was red, with striking eyes that terrified me to the core. I kept running and it didn't relent in its chase either.

"Riley!"

My eyes widened. That voice. He was always there for me when I needed him.

My eyes blurred. "Dan. You're here."

For a moment, I stopped running and looked around for him.

"Riley! Don't stop. Don't turn around. Keep running!"

I wanted to do as he'd instructed, but I was suddenly transfixed. A snake was wrapped around his left leg. He was wearing a white shirt, like he'd worn on the fourteenth of February when he was first shot.

It was a great thing he'd survived that gunshot, and we couldn't afford to allow anything happen to him again.

"Dan...there's a snake wrapped around your leg."

"Don't worry about me baby girl, just keep running. I love you." He shouted.

"Dan! I-I'm sorry, I don't know how to help." I sobbed. I was a pathetic girlfriend. Even with the family issues he had, he was always there for me while I never did anything for him.

"You loving me is enough help. Just leave. One of us has to sacrifice himself, so just like before, I chose you to live."

"But babe-"

"Go Riley! Fucking leave please. Stop punishing yourself! You should get escape and be happy. Get help. I don't want to see you like this!" Tears were running down his cheeks as he spoke.

I couldn't move a muscle and right in front of me I watched the snake climb him and bite him in the chest!

"No! Please don't! Not again! Not in the chest! Dan!"

"Ahhhhh." Dan shouted in pain, his voice overpowering mine.

"Dan!" I screamed. "Hang on. I'm coming."

Why was this happening again?

Why him? Why us? Why couldn't we ever be happy?!

Trying to take a step forward, I fell on the bed of dried leaves, exhausted and drained. I couldn't get up as well. There seemed to be a force holding me down.

"Riley. I'll distract it. Just leave."

I raised my head up to see the red snake that was behind me earlier on now wriggling as Dan held onto its tail. The snake was reaching its head at me but Dan kept a tight hold on the tail.

"Dan...please, stop it. Stop it from coming close...to me. So I can have strength to help you leave here. Throw it away so we can run away from here together." I struggled to get up.

"Help me help you baby. Run. Never look back. I love you Riley, but try and forget me so you can be free."

His words registered in my head.