Life Beyond the Doors

Chapter 78: Ask

Marlin nodded numbly, still in shock from what had just happened. She couldn't believe that Aiden was dead, and she couldn't believe that Ethan had killed him. But she knew that he had done it to protect her, and she couldn't help feeling grateful to him.

"I killed him... my own brother...", Ethan bite his lips.

"It was fate. It's definitely not your fault, Ethan"

Slowly, Ethan walked towards her, and Marlin realized that he was still holding his sword.

"What now?" she asked, not sure what to expect.

Ethan's face grew rigid, and Marlin could sense that there was something he wasn't telling her. She looked into his eyes, searching for some clue, some indication of what was going on in his mind. But all she saw was a deep, intense emotion that she couldn't quite name.

Before she could say anything else, Ethan swept her into a tight embrace. She could feel his arms around her, holding her close, and she gasped in surprise at the sudden intimacy of it all. She could smell the musky scent of his cologne, and it made her heart skip a beat. In that moment, all of her fears and doubts melted away, leaving only a sense of warmth and longing.

"Marlin," he whispered into her ear. "There's something I need to tell you."

She looked up at him, her eyes wide with anticipation. She could sense that this was going to be an emotional moment, and she braced herself for whatever he was about to say.

"I don't know what the future holds," he began, his voice low and intense. "But I do know that I want to be with you. I want to rebuild this world together, to make it a better place for all of us. And I know that I cant do it without you.But-

She wondered what he had to tell her, and feared it might be something that would break her heart. But before he could say anything, she wanted to know how Ethan knew about the hidden door.

"How did you know about the door?" She asked, looking up at him with curiosity. It was also for changing the topic.

Ethan looked at her for a moment, his eyes taking on a faraway look.

"I remembered ," he said finally, his voice soft. "A few hours ago, when I was with Mathias and Everi. Everi mentioned something about you telling her about a magical door that could lead to another world. And it all came flooding back to me."

Marlin smiled in relief, grateful that she had confided in Everi. She had struggled to trust people in this world , but her friend had proven that she was worthy of her trust.

"Thank you, Everi," she thought to herself. "You were right. I should trust the people around me who really care for me."

But she could tell that Ethan had something else on his mind, something that was weighing heavily on him. She waited for him to speak, sensing that this was going to be a pivotal moment in their relationship.

Finally, Ethan took a deep breath and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Marlin listened in awe as Ethan explained how he had managed to open the door to the other world. She couldn't believe the extent of his dedication and bravery. It was clear to her now that he would do anything to protect her, no matter what the cost.

"Your wish was to visit the world your mother and me went to?" she repeated, her voice soft with amazement.

Ethan gave her a gentle smile. "Yes," he said. "And that's how the door was opened for me. I was given a glimpse into their world, and it was beautiful beyond words."