My Beautiful Nightmare (Mafia Series: Book 3)

39: Runaways

We went to Rockford Hospital.

I run towards Chase which is currently being rushed to the emergency room. I tried to held his hand but the nurses pulled me away. I saw Travis running towards us and immediately checked Chase.

"Take him to the operating room." Utos niya sa mga nurses na agad namang sumunod. He walked towards us, napatingin ito sa katabi ko at sakin.

"Take her to emergency room, she has a stab wounds." Utos nito kay Nightmare. Napatingin naman ako sa katawan ko, hindi ko na napansin at hindi ko manlang naramdaman. Nightmare pulled me away and took me to the emergency room.

Agad naman akong dinaluhan ng mga nurse at doctor. Tinahi nila ang sugat ko, it was not that deep and I can still function well. I don't know if it's just because of adrenaline.

Si Nightmare naman ay tahimik lamang nakatingin, tila malalim ang iniisip.

My mind was still blank, and don't even know why is he here.

It was supposed to be his wedding night.

He stopped infront of me and leveled his eyes on mine.

"Okay ka lang ba?" He asked.

I was holding my tears back but I can't. He suddenly hugged me tight, I could smell his perfume and his warm embrace was enough to comfort me.

The only thing that could ease away my pain.

"I'm sorry I was late." He whispered.

I suddenly felt all guilt inside me. He was supposed to get out of it, he was getting married, he was supposed to be free tonight but he went back because of me.

I don't have the energy to answer. I couldn't find the right words to answer.

"I want to see him." He helped me stood up. He was behind me while I walked towards the operating room. I saw Archer standing behind the closed doors, he was silent and serious. Beside him was Sif and Pierce. They were all silent and nervous, waiting for answers.

Just exactly when we arrived, Travis went out of the operating room. We all went to him, he paused and breathed deeply.

"I'm sorry. He didn't make it."

Those words echoed throughout my system. I lost my energy, I fell down but Nightmare was fast to held on to me.

All of us run inside the room and we saw him lying on the bed, tubes connected all over his body, and the monitor shows straight line.

I walked towards him and held his hand tight. It was cold. He was always used on holding my hand, assuring me everything's alright, his hand was usually warm and comforting but now, it feels empty and cold.

"Chase wake up." I whispered.

But when I got no response, I knew it was real.

I felt like my whole world just collapsed. When I was down and empty, he was there, he never left. He said he will never left me.

We were together through my ups and downs, someone who has never left since we met, someone who believed in me during those times I doubted myself.

"Chase." I called him again. I can hear Sif crying which even broke my heart. He was with them since they were kid.

He has served Donovan with all his life but I failed him. I was supposed to protect him, I was supposed to be the one lying here not him.

"C-chase, please." I cried loud, I cried until my heart felt empty. I fell down to my knees and cried even harder.

--

We were all wearing black, looking at the coffin right infront of us. His face was peaceful, and he was smiling in the picture. I laughed in my mind, Chase solemnly smile but in this picture, he was smiling perfectly.

Everyone bowed down to him and thanked him for his service. I roamed my eyes and saw them crying. Pierce was hugging Sif to comfort her.

Archer was just silent, he never shed any tear but for sure, he was breaking inside. They never got the chance to do their bet to fight each other.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry Chase." I whispered, looking at his coffin.

They already buried him under, everyone started to leave, but I was left standing there. Unable to say anything, unable to move.

"Mauna na kami." I just nodded at Pierce and Sif. They both walked away, and Archer remained on my side.

No one was speaking between us.

"It was the Brothers." He said, coldly.

Napakuyom ang kamao ko sa narinig ko.

"Thor and Loki was behind the attack."

I was broken but those words broke me even more. I had no words to say, everything was my fault. Thor and Loki was here because of me. I was the one who created them, I created monsters.

"I'm sorry." I whispered enough to let Archer hear it. He faced me and tapped my shoulder.

"Don't blame yourself. You did your best."

He said trying to comfort me but I cannot be comforted right now.

"Iwan mo muna ako." I said coldly. I heard him sigh but eventually left me alone.

I stared right infront of me and just feel the cold air touch my skin.

Pakiramdam ko ay ubos na lahat ng luha sa mata ko. Chase was always here when I cry, but now he's the reason why I'm crying.

I hugged myself to keep me warm, but I suddenly felt warm hug from behind. His arms around my neck and the other one around my waist. He pulled me closer to keep me warm, his warm breath and minty smell, his presence was the only thing that comforts me. He doesn't need to speak, just him, standing there is enough.

He did not say anything at all. Since the day it happened, he didn't say anything. He stood by my side silently.

"This is probably what you feel that made you want to leave underground." I whispered softly, enough for him to hear me.

"I'm sorry if I left you alone." He whispered without answering my question.

I understand Nightmare now. The feeling of seeing your colleagues die infront of you, the feeling of wanting to escape in this hell, not wanting to look back, not wanting to do anything with the underground.

We were standing there for almost 30 more minutes when we decided to go. He drove for me, I told him I want to go to Sylvester and he just followed.

I went inside the house while Nightmare was left outside.

It was gloomy and sad. I suddenly remember how we first met, and how annoying he was. I can even imagine him glaring at me and rolling his eyes while making a coffee.

I saw the old man standing on his balcony, staring at nothing while drinking a glass of alcohol. I stood beside him.

"I'm sorry." I started. He faced me and smiled.

"Don't blame yourself, Aphrodite. Since the day we served Donovan, we oath to die for it. I'm proud of my son."

I hugged him and heard him sob.

After few minutes, I took a step back and took out my necklace. I removed it from my neck and  put it in his palm.

"I..I c-can no longer do this." My voice broke. He was shocked and was about to return it to me but I took another step back.

"Y-you cannot leave them." He said.

I just bowed and left.

I was consumed by guilt and pain and I don't have anything in my mind but to just run away. I just want to leave, I don't want to look back.

I saw Nightmare leaning on his car, smoking and staring at me.

I walked towards him and stood infront of him.

He threw his cigarrete away, and waited for me to tell him something.

"Let's run away from this world."