Carl, a tormented outcast facing relentless bullying and neglect from those closest to him, meets a tragic end in a car accident. But his journey is far from over. A celestial being appears in the afterlife, offering Carl a chance to be reborn in a...
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Carl POV:
After our lips met, we found ourselves walking down the street together. Mia's voice carried a touch of concern as she admitted, "I'm truly sorry for losing my cool earlier, for getting so angry when you mentioned Jack. And for hitting you... does it still hurt?"
My response came with a gentle smile, "No need to apologize, really. In fact, the pain has completely vanished, thanks to that magical kiss we shared."
Mia blushed, her cheeks turning rosy, as she took my hand and gently rested her head on my shoulder. Lost in her affection, I walked alongside her, oblivious to my surroundings, enchanted by the warmth she radiated.
As the clock struck 8 pm, the time had come for us to part ways. However, just as we were about to bid farewell, Mia received a text message from her mother, who was requesting Mia to swing by the grocery store to pick up a few essential items before heading home.
With a desire to seize every chance to be with her, I suggested that I accompany her to the store. After all, it was only a few miles away from where we were, and it gave me the perfect opportunity to spend more time with her.
Upon arriving at the grocery store, Mia swiftly retrieved the list of items her mother had shared through WhatsApp.
The store itself maintained a relatively quiet atmosphere, with only about 10 to 20 customers scattered around.
As Mia and I gathered the items for purchase and approached the billing counter, two masked individuals made an unexpected entrance through the store's front doors, instantly capturing the attention of everyone present.
In a shocking turn of events, one of the masked figures opened fire, targeting the store owner stationed at the billing counter. The horrifying sight sent shockwaves through the store. Blood began to spill, and panic quickly spread, causing the shoppers to scatter in a frenzy.
Frozen in the moment, I found myself facing another masked man, his attention focused squarely on me. His gun was aimed at me from a distance, and though fear gripped me, I remained speechless and immobile. Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, its sound echoing through the air.
Witnessing my helpless state, Mia jumped into action, swiftly pulling me to safety just in the nick of time. Thanks to her quick thinking, I managed to evade the danger and regain my composure.
As he continued to pursue us, firing shots in our direction, we fled, racing through the chaos and seeking refuge behind the store's shelves.
As Mia and I reached the end of the row of shelves, fully stocked with products, we turned the corner and unexpectedly collided with Aaron, a friend of Mason's. His words rushed out in a mix of surprise and relief, "Oh my god, it's you two! I thought they had arrived."
Mia quickly surveyed the surroundings and added, "I believe one of those masked men is making his way toward the small room around the corner, but I've lost sight of the other one."
Aaron's response was hurried, his hand slapping against his forehead, "Damn it... I warned them not to go in there, but they didn't listen and went straight into that room."
Mia questioned promptly, "Aaron, who went into that room?"
He explained with a grim expression, "A mother and her two innocent children. Right now, their lives are hanging by a thread."
As they spoke, I sank to the ground, my eyes remaining open, burning with a mix of anger and helplessness. Flashbacks of that dreaded night played before me, as vivid as ever.
Before I could fully lose myself in the memories, Mia's voice broke through my thoughts, calling my name loudly, "Carl, what were you thinking back there? If I hadn't been by your side, you'd be dead."
In a voice that I struggled to keep calm, I replied, "They're the ones who killed Jason, and shot me in the hand last summer."
Mia's eyes widened in shock, clearly taken aback by my words. She inquired, "Carl, how can you be so certain they're the ones responsible for Jason's death?"
With an intense stare, I looked into Mia's eyes, my voice edged with anger, "Because I'm the one who marked him with that scar on his hand."
Mia and Aaron exchanged bewildered glances, their confusion mirroring the chaos that surrounded us. Meanwhile, the masked men is relentlessly attempting to break through the door on the opposite corner.
The store had transformed into a nightmarish scene, tainted by the flowing blood of innocents, reminiscent of when Jason's blood had spilled on me during his brutal killing by them. I began to realize that these masked men might be the root of my struggles, the very reason why I had become burdened with so many issues.
In spite of my lingering fear, an unyielding determination began to take over. A compulsion to confront my past, to address the wrongs and make a stand, surged within me. My body moved of its own accord, driven by a potent mix of justice for Jason and a need to break free from the chains of fear.
I rose to my feet, facing the storm within and outside, and declared, "I'm going to save those kids, but I cannot do it alone. I need both of your help."
