Overthrown

Chapter 24

Thoughts of our time together play like a movie in my head. Was he really serious about being his forever? If only I could warn him; I just hope that I can spend as much time as I can in his arms before this all ends. Before this all comes crashing down on top of me, before my inevitable death. Nikolai doesn't know that forever with me won't be that long. I hope he won't be heartbroken by my ultimate demise. I hope that he can move on from me, finally able to settle down with a woman he can grow old with.

Visions of him with a woman flood my mind; They are playing with their children and my heart aches. Nikolai's son looks just like him. He's running through the yard calling out, "Daddy! Watch me!" His wife turns towards me and I see her growing belly but I can't see her face. I squint in an attempt to focus on the blurred face but I can't make out her features. Who is this woman living a life I can only dream of?

I watch as he walks up to her with a proud smile before caressing his hand along her bump. He kneels down and places a kiss on it before speaking, "My little princess. Daddy loves you so much." He looks up at his wife smiling before standing, "I love you, my Angel." I feel my jaw drop and my eyes begin to water, he has moved on. My feet propelling me forward and I can't stop myself. I'm only feet away but they can't see me. That's when I notice the woman's face. Her features becoming more clear as I get closer.

His wife smiles at the words that come from his lips. My chest throbs in agony as I see my face staring back at him. The mysterious woman is me. I remain hidden as I watch the life that I could have from the shadows. I can feel the joy beaming through the waterfall of tears descending down my cheeks. That's when I notice someone just barely out of sight. A man is lurking in the distance slowly approaching my family. A sinister smile plastered across his face that I could recognize anywhere, Jason.

Trying to shout but the words are caught inside, I feel my throat closing as I scream. He pulls a knife from his suit jacket and terror rips through me. Immediately trying to sprint to save them but I can't. My feet are stuck like they are in cement and they won't budge.

NO! God please don't hurt them! I thrash and fight to rip my feet from the earth beneath me. He is only feet from them but they don't see him coming. Why can't they seem him?! It is as if he is invisible, he is standing right behind them and yet no one notices.

My body is shaking, I'm choking as I cry but nothing comes out. That's when the unthinkable happens, he turns towards my hiding spot and whispers, "You see princess, I told you that you would never escape me. And now they will pay the price."

Turning back towards my pregnant self and laughing before he plunges the knife into her swollen belly. That's when I feel an excruciating pain from my stomach. I look down and see a slash across my abdomen, blood is pouring from the open wound. I cling to the gash trying to hold the blood in to no avail.

He laughs as he walks towards my child still playing in the yard blissfully unaware of who is hunting him. Screaming "NO!" as hard as I can but silence. My body flails as I try to break free but it only opens my wound wider. I don't care though; I must save my family. Even if it kills me.

NO! NO! NO! NO! Please God, not my baby, don't hurt my little boy!

"MITCH!" I hear my name being called in the distance but I can't focus on that. My baby! "MITCH!" The voice is getting closer, louder calling out my name again. "MITCH!" My eyes squeezing shut as hard as they can. I can't watch this! I can't watch as my family is killed in front of me. "MITCH!" The voice calls again, it's Nikolai shouting out to me. His voice is full of fear, I need to know.

I open my eyes in a panic and Nikolai is staring at me only inches away. His eyes terrified watching me as my head thrashes against the pillow quickly scanning my surroundings. It was another nightmare. That was the worst one yet.