His Entertainer

Chapter 22

               NORMAN FERNANDO POV.

The gunshots ripped through the air, my heart leaping into my throat.  Knowing they came from upstairs sent a wave of pure, unadulterated terror crashing over me. Eve was up there. The cries that followed—agonized, desperate—nearly stole my breath.

I raced upstairs, a frantic animal driven by fear and panic. The locked door felt like a physical blow, threatening to knock me unconscious. "Ivy, Eve, open up!" Carlos's voice, strained and desperate, was the only thing keeping me from collapsing.  Eve, my love, I thought, hold on.

Taking a shaky breath, I gathered what little strength I had left and smashed the door.  There she was, my Eve, sprawled on the floor, blood blooming around her.  I reached for her, my fingers finding the frantic rhythm of her weakening pulse.

"Can you hear me? Please, don't leave me," I pleaded, my voice choked with despair. "Come back, I still need you."

"Call a doctor!" I screamed, the words a raw, desperate plea. The love of my life was slipping away, and I was powerless to stop it. My world fractured into a million jagged pieces.

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                        IVY SILVER POV.

Even wrapped in Hermann's coat, a bone-chilling shiver wracked my body. I don't know how long I stood frozen in the corner, the sounds of gunshots and screams echoing in my ears.

"Ivy, watch out!" Her scream, her cry, the sickening thud of a bullet tearing through flesh—it all replayed in my mind, a horrifying loop. Her closed eyes, the spreading stain of blood, the chilling silence that followed her last breath—all of it clawed at my soul.

My sobs were ragged, my tears unrestrained.  She was dying, and it was all my fault. I had killed him, yes, but it was too late. What had I done when she was shot? I'd sat there, paralyzed by fear, letting my emotions consume me. She'd pushed me aside, sacrificing herself to save me. Now, she was dying, and the weight of it crushed me.

Why me? The question echoed in the hollow chambers of my heart. What's wrong with me? Why do I lose everyone I care about?

Tears choked me, an unending torrent of grief and guilt. I was drowning in self-recrimination, the weight of my actions crushing me beneath its unbearable burden.

"Ivy, it's okay," Hermann's voice, soft yet firm, broke through the fog of my despair. He gathered me into his arms, and for once, I didn't resist. I was utterly helpless, my body and mind exhausted by the relentless onslaught of grief.

He stroked my hair, holding me close. "I killed her," I whispered, the words a broken, agonizing confession.
He gently raised my head, his gaze meeting mine, his breath warm against my cheek.  "No. You killed him. You tried to save her," he said, his voice steady, his words like anchors in the storm. "You tried to protect her."
His words, infused with a quiet strength, began to chip away at the crushing weight of guilt.  He held me tighter, the familiar scent of his cologne, the solid feel of his arms around me, offering a fragile sense of safety.

[The nightmare]

I found myself walking down a sun-drenched street, a simple green dress—my favorite—swirling around my legs.  A plastic bag hung from my hand.  I walked into a beautiful house, family portraits smiling down from the walls.

"What took you so long?" My brother's voice, sharp with annoyance. My mother's soft giggle.  "Leave the poor girl alone, I'm sure she went to see Wilmert again," she said, her voice softer than ever, her hug warm and comforting.  "My little girl," she murmured.
"Our little girl," my father's voice corrected, his arms enfolding me in a protective embrace.
"I love you," I smiled, my gaze falling on my brother's disgusted face. He rolled his eyes, picking up a glass of water.

Then, the world shifted.  The sun vanished, replaced by a cold, malevolent moon.  The warmth of the day turned to a biting wind, the sky darkening with ominous thunder.

Mom… Dad… Jorome?  Where were they?

Only the echo of my own voice answered.  Panic clawed at me.  I was alone, trapped in a silent, suffocating house.  The beautiful home transformed into a fiery inferno.  I struggled with the locked door, the flames licking at my heels.  A masked figure appeared in the window, his voice a chilling whisper.

"Distraction must be eliminated," he said, raising his gun.

"Ivy, watch out!"  A shout, a shove, and then… silence.  I stood, unharmed, the bullet having missed me. The masked man remained, his laughter echoing in the burning house.  I looked down. My mother, father, brother, and Eve lay bleeding on the ground.

"No…"  The word escaped my lips, a silent scream of despair.  "Noooo!!!"

I woke with a gasp, sweat clinging to my skin, my heart a lead weight in my chest.  Hermann's voice, low and soothing, pulled me back from the abyss.

"Come down." he whispered. "It's just a nightmare."  He pulled me closer, his arms a comforting haven in the lingering darkness.

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NB, Ignore any grammatical problems.