1 MONTH LATER
"I have to see that you're okay, even if you kill me..." Alina muttered outside the apartment where Ben lived.
God damn!
He saw her!
He started running like a madman towards her.
She got scared…
Tried to run away…
But how could she run away?...
How could she run when her body wouldn't allow it?...
She was still weak... Too weak to face Ben's fury.
He reached her!
Grabbed her by the shoulders and pinned her to the wall…
"Do you know what happened that night after you left, you damn bastard?!" he tightened his grip even more. "Do you know I could have died?!... I could have died because of you!"
His eyes were shooting sparks…
And her?
She couldn't listen anymore…
The screams were just buzzing in her ears…
And his face?...
His face before her was becoming paler…
Starting to look through a haze…
And then…
The masked face collapsed onto his chest…
The girl collapsed…
Collapsed into his arms.
He widened his eyes…
"Rose!"
He hugged her tightly, not allowing her to fall to the ground…
Swiftly he grabbed her and removed the silk, thin piece of dress covering her shoulders…
A bruise became visible…
A bullet wound.
"My Rose!" Ben shouted.
"Rose! My Rose, what is this?!" he gently placed his index finger on the wound. "What happened to you, Nightbird?"
He lifted her into his arms.
"We're going to the hospital, sweetheart! Hang in there, please!"
Alina, barely looking, caressed his face.
"There..." she pointed to a hotel named “Black Pearl”. "Take me there..."
"My Rose? Why do you want to..."
"Please, Beny..."
‘Beny?... Ah, those beautiful lips... Ah, that feminine voice... Ah, My Rose!’
…
She had her palm pressed against his shoulders…
Calming his racing heartbeats.
She parted from him, even as he, very carefully, laid her on the bed in the hotel room.
‘And should I lie down next to you? Will your tender hands continue to caress me? Will I feel
your touch?... Your warmth? Your palms, without those silky gloves...’
"My Rose, how are you feeling now? Are you feeling better?"
She took his hand... Invited him to come closer…
Slowly covered his eyes…
"Even with closed eyes, I see you..." she moved her hands over his ears. "Even with covered ears, I hear you..."
"My Rose, I..." his breath quickened.
"Could you, please... Bring me a glass of water?"
‘Why do I feel like this?... Why, My Rose?... Why does it feel like my soul is being torn from my body when I have to part from you?’
"Of course." He stood up, reluctantly left her alone, and went downstairs to reception.
…
"I'm back, my Rose..."
He left the glass on the table…
"My Rose?"
The bed empty…
He hurried to the bathroom door... Entered…
She wasn't there…
No trace of her, no sound of the Nightbird…
Gone... Flown away…
Flown away somewhere far... Somewhere Ben wouldn't think to look for her…
But she didn't leave without a farewell…
On the bed, she left a fresh, young, newly blooming burgundy red rose.
YOU ARE READING
THE ETERNAL FIRE
RomanceThis is a story about two people. About the victim and the bully. About pain and happiness, joy and sadness. Can all that is forgiven be forgotten? Does age justify the act? If a child murders someone, will he be forgiven because he is a child? If t...
