Their Runaway bride

Chapter 24

Back to present

I get up from the couch that I had been sitting since I started giving them my life history.
The two of them just sat there, like they have been petrified.
"And that's the reason why I need to end this, for if I don't do this, many would lose their lives and I am tired of seeing others die for me" I say.
They both didn't say anything for a while.
"Keethana, you only have thirty minutes left and then we'll come and get you" the girl outside days.
"I really can't wait to start playing this game" a girl, who had also arrived while I was busy talking.
It was morning already and soon, I would have to make a decision.
I walk over to the window and open the curtain a little and what I saw terrified me.
The children have now increased in number, there were almost twenty of them now and all with his special weapon at hand. I think they are trying to rid of the whole city instead of a single house now.
I only sighed, not feeling afraid anymore.
I look back at the two to see that they are standing before me, all with tears in their eyes.
They two pulled me into a hug at the same time.
"You are really strong, you have gone through all this alone but now we will stand by you" the mother says.
I froze a bit before pulling away from them.
"That is the problem, I don't want anyone to lose their lives because of me, don't you understand" I say.
"Yes, we do, but whatever it is, we cannot let those men win now can we?" Naeemi asks.
But they have already won, since day one. I knew that this was inevitable, no matter how I tried to escape it.
"Not to talk they would hurt you" she adds.
I smile weakly at them. It really sores my heart to see that people still care about me even after all this.
"I still have to go, that's the only way that the whole world would be saved" I say weakly.
"If sacrificing myself means that the rest of the world would be saved, then I'm ready to do that" I add.
"But why, why are you giving up now, you have fought all these years and now, you are just going to make all that go to waste?" Naeemi's mother asks.
I lowered my head. Yes, I have fought all these times but what did it resulted into, many people losing their lives.
I opened my mouth to speak but tonny and Lily walk into the room. Seems like they have woken up.
They stood there, staring at each of us one by one as if they have sensed the tension between us.
"Yay, keethana haven't left, can we play hide and seek today?" Lily rushes over to me.
That if you add, is another reason why I am ready to give up. How could my conscience be able to watch this beautiful smile fade away.
I crouch to her position and place my hand on her cheek.
"Yes, of course we'll play" I say.
"Me too, I want to play" tonny chimes in.
"Ok, you too can play" I say, smiling widely at him.
"Now, I would hide and you'll find me" I say.
They both jumped happily.
I look up at the two. They are looking at me as if I had lost it. Yes, I think I did too but it's ok.
I would cherish these last free moments I have in my life with those kids.
"Now, you turn around and count to hundred and then you should come and find me" I say.
"Keethana, you have five minutes, tik tok" the children outside reminded me just how little time I have left.
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. I could feel the tears in my eyes but I managed to contain them, at least for now.
I made sure to hide where they could find me easily.
"Ninety nine, hundred, we are coming" they call out.
Just like I wanted, they didn't take long to find me.
"You don't know how to play hide and seek, we found you so easily, when Lily and I are playing, we have to take a long time to find each other" tonny says, laughing hard at me.
I laughed together with him as well.
"Now, why don't you two teach me, you hide and I'll try to find you" I say.
"Ok, now I'll count to hundred an then I'll come, hurry, go and hide" I say.
They both panicked and tried to hide away.
I finally let the tear to roll out of my eyes for I know that is the last time I would be able to see such smiles.
Naeemi places her hand on my shoulder. I turn to face her.
"You know, you really didn't have to do this" she says.
"I have to" I gave her the short answer.
Their mother comes closer. She pulls me into a hug.
We stayed like that for what seemed like forever.
"One minute left, fifty nine seconds..." They started the seconds.
I pull away quickly. Now's the time for me to leave.
"Please, take care of them" I say and head to the door.
They also follow me as well.
"Ten, nine, eight..."
"Stop" I call out to them.
"See she's out, should we stop counting then?" one of the children asks.
"I am coming with you" I say.
They all smiled at me. The same fake and animated smile was planted on their faces. I couldn't help but feel pity for these children as well. They also didn't choose life for themselves.
"But on one condition" I add.
They both started looking at each other.
"If you dare hurt even a fly in this place, then I would leave and trust me, this time around, you would not be able to find me, ever" I say in a loud voice, knowing very well they are hearing me.
A few minutes of silence passed by and then, the children just started walking towards the gates till only two were left.
Let out a sigh. At least this time they kept their end of the bargain.
A moderate space craft shadowed the house and I knew that was my ride. A light illuminated down and the two children walk into the light. They stopped, waiting for me.
I turned around once again and I see the mother and daughter trying to hold their tears as well.
"Take care" I whisper.
I turn around and walk over into the light.
As soon as I stood, we are lifted up to the space craft.
Right before I was sucked in, I see tonny and Lily walk out of the house.
I hold my ears, trying to tell them I'm sorry.
**********
Finally, I walk of the space craft. Here I am, back from where I started.
Nothing has changed since I left in seems.
I look up to see Mr Svaboda and Volodymyr standing by the door. Spear wasn't with them.
My heart almost thumped out if my rib cage in fear of what they would do to me.
They started walking over to me and I closed my eyes, waiting for it to unfold but instead, they just pulled me into a hug.
"We've missed you so much" they say at the same time.
I just gave them a weak smile.
They pulled me into the house and just like the outside, the inside was still the same, just that it was docorated.
It's like they saw the confused look in my eyes.
"You like it, I know you would" Mr Svaboda says.
"What's all this for, you don't need to celebrate my return you know" I say, finally getting back my voice.
"No, it's your wedding today" Volodymyr says.
"What!" I exclaim.
But I am already married to Mr Svaboda.
"You are getting married to Spear in an hour, so go and get ready quickly" Mr Svaboda says.
Before I could say a word, I was whisked away.
But now, I am not at all surprised by their animalistic behaviors.
I was married to the father and at the same time, they are trying to marry me off to the son
**********
Here I am, walking down the aisle once again and to make matters worst, Mr Svaboda was the one walking me down.
To think how disgusting that is is an understatement of the year.
All I wanted to do was run the other way but how could I do that when the whole world is here to witness my union with Spear.
I gulped looking up.
To me, it wasn't only Spear standing by the alter but my distruction, my Nemesis, my calamity, in short, everything horrible.
But this is my life and I have to accept it as it is.