Writing My Way Out

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Lena awoke in a haze, her mind shrouded in darkness. She could feel someone's tears dampening her cheek, and a tight, desperate embrace held her close. It was as if she was drifting in and out of consciousness.

As her senses slowly returned, Lena realized that it was Lucian who held her. His face, once marked by confidence and resolve, was now stained with blood. It was a gruesome sight, and his eyes were red-rimmed from tears.

He was howling, his voice filled with anguish, calling out to her as if willing her back from some distant abyss. "Lena, please," he begged, his voice breaking. "Come back to me."

His grip tightened as if afraid she would slip away again. "You can't leave me," he whispered, his voice trembling. "I can't bear to lose you."

The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, and they found solace in each other's presence. The bond between them had deepened, and they were left to navigate the uncertain path that lay ahead, together.

In her fragile state, she began to utter his name, almost a whisper. ''L-Lucian..''

When their eyes met, Lucian's gaze held an expression of disbelief and raw vulnerability. It was as if he had been a child, terrified and lost. "Please," he whispered, his voice filled with desperation. "Don't leave me again.''

Lena's heart swelled as she took in the depth of Lucian's emotions. She hadn't expected him to react this way, to be so vulnerable and open about his feelings. It was a revelation, a glimpse into the true extent of their connection.

His fingers brushed against her cheek tenderly, his touch gentle as he spoke. "I thought you died," he admitted, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and lingering fear.

She managed a weak laugh, attempting to lighten the heavy atmosphere. "I thought I died too," she joked, but her words did little to ease the turmoil of emotions within Lucian.

Suddenly, a memory flashed in Lena's mind, and she remembered Vida. Panic gripped her, and she began searching the area frantically, her eyes darting in every direction.

Lucian, noticing her distress, pointed toward a woman in the distance. Lena's gaze followed his direction, and she stared at Vida with a mixture of horror and uncertainty. It was unclear whether Vida was alive or dead.

''She's alive. I couldn't kill her because the book of rituals is still with her. She is hiding it,'' he said, his words a response to Lena's unspoken concerns.

But his attention quickly shifted from Vida to Lena, his eyes filled with a mix of relief and frustration. ''Why did you leave without me? You were so stubborn.''

''I had to,'' Lena replied, her voice soft but resolute.

''What would I do if she managed to kill you?'' Lucian's voice trembled with worry.

''She should have... But she couldn't. ''

Lena's eyes widened, and she gasped, her hand clutching at her chest, feeling her heart pounding in her ribcage. The shock of the situation was settling in, and it was overwhelming.

"Because without me, everyone would disappear too. I am the creator of this realm.'' She added.

As the weight of her words sank in, he couldn't deny the logic behind it.

His voice, when he finally spoke, carried a sense of awe and agreement. "It does make sense," Lucian admitted, his own realization aligning with hers. "You're the creator of this realm, the author of their existence."

Lena sat while Lucian helped her by holding her back. Lena started creating words, narrating what she wants Vida to do.

''Awake!" Lena said. Vida sat, her consciousness slowly coming back. Her surroundings were unfamiliar, and as she looked around, she saw Lena sitting before her, her eyes filled with determination.*