Test of Faith

Chapter 78

It had not taken Mirabella long to slip away from Charles - she merely blended into the raging crowd. Once he had ridden ahead of her did she turn her horse around and gallop away.

She steered her horse around the fleeing citizens, as well as attempting to avoid the numerous shells that bombed the city. He's become so reckless...what has happened to the Brotherhood?

She managed to return to the fort unscathed, and she patted her horse's neck in praise. Mirabella then began forward at a quick pace, avoiding the piles of debris as the bombing surged on.

It was difficult to hear anything other than the explosions and distant screams, but she ventured on anyway, determined to find them. 

Her horse suddenly reared back and cried out when a large shell landed on the fort, and she was thrown off. "CAZZO!!" 

Mirabella landed with a heavy thud on the ground, but she forced herself to get up and push on. She heard a distant voice yell angrily over the commotion, urging her to race forward through a tunnel. 

There was a dim light coming from around the corner, and the voice grew louder as well. Haytham! Mirabella nearly crashed into the wall with how fast she raced around the corner - there! 

Her heart dropped at what she saw before her - Connor was pinned to the ground by Haytham. He held the boy by his throat and was glaring down at him hatefully, but she could still see it. The glinting light of the silver-coloured Blade - she knew what was going to happen.

"NO!!"

Her shriek had caught the men's attention, which allowed her to lunge. Mirabella charged forward at top speed, her wide eyes glued to Haytham's shocked expression.

Connor's own shock melted away into rage, and his eyes shifted back to Haytham as he raised his Blade. She let out a terrified yell before she leapt forward with her arms outstretched towards Haytham.

Mirabella roughly crashed into him, and the two of them skidded and tumbled across the ground. Connor quickly scrambled to his feet, gasping for air and coughing as he massaged his throat.

Haytham was lying on the ground, distracted by his shock. He got to his feet once he spotted Connor, and he faced his son. 

Connor's eyes were gazing past him, however, his expression mixed with anger and pity but also sadness. Haytham followed his son's gaze until he saw Mirabella splayed across the ground, unmoving. 

"Mira!" He collapsed at her side, his knees landing in her growing pool of blood. He gathered her up in his arms, feeling her heavy breathing. 

Her pale eyes were wide in fear, and she coughed up blood. "H...H-H...." she rasped, her eyes shifting to Haytham. He did not care that she could see his tears, he was focused on the heavily bleeding stab wound in her chest. 

"I...it...h-hurts-s...." she whispered out. Haytham's breath hitched, and neither of them realized Connor had slinked away.

"Mira...I told you to leave...." he whispered, touching her cheek. She smiled weakly, coughing again, and a tear slipped down the side of her face. 

"I...c-couldn't l-let...y-you do this...o-on your o-own...." Haytham let out a choked cry, shutting his eyes tightly as he cradled Mirabella in his arms. 

This can't be real...it can't be...oh, Mira...I'm so sorry....