The Remnants Of Forgotten Love

chapter 18

"For you my love, I'm ready to burn."

(Liam's pov)

The old sedan smelled of leather and engine oil. Its beige upholstery, worn from years of use, invited me and isla in, It's worn out steering wheel feeling rough under the touch of my fingers, as I took control of the car, while isla made herself comfortable on the passengers seat.

"Let's change the seats after we have reached halfway there" Isla said.

"Alright"

After driving through the bustling roads of the city for hours, we reached the roads that are not much busy, and with beautiful scenery, but despite this scenery there was something even more beautiful, isla. Resting her head on the window, sleeping peacefully, while the air kissed her face, making her hair fly.

We decided to take turns while driving, but I can't wake you up when you are sleeping so peacefully.

Will it be ok if I just enjoy this beauty a little more? And with that thought I put the car on third gear from fourth gear. Wanting to look at you for a little more, wanting this moment to last as long as it can.

But my luck doesn't seem to like me, as this peace doesn't last for long.

The car jumped, letting out a screeching noise, breaking away from the control of break or the steering wheel,
Making isla and me jump, isla screamed, hitting her head on the dashboard.

"Isla!" I screamed, worried, hoping she didn't get any injury.

My arms instinctively covered Isla, holding her close as if I could shield her from the chaos of the screeching tires and the jarring halt. Her scream still rang in my ears, and all I could think was, "Please, God, don't let her get hurt."

"Isla!" My voice was laced with panic. The car had finally stopped, and there she was, right against me. I could feel her heart pounding just as hard as mine.

She whispered my name, "Liam..." It was barely audible, but it cut through the fear. It was awkward, this sudden intimacy, and I could tell she felt it too. I let her go, the space between us now filled with a tension that hadn't been there before.

Clearing my throat, I asked, "are you ok? Did you get hurt?" I asked, looking at her, worried.

"Yeah I'm ok, I just bumped my head a Little" isla said, massaging her head softly. "what about you?" She added, looking at me. concern visible on her face.

"Oh I'm good" I replied, and sudden silence again filled the car, this silence, seems to be choking me, will she hate me now? Because I... because I hugged her suddenly without her permission? Various thoughts filled my mind.

I mumbled an excuse about checking the car. I needed to get out, to breathe, to escape the intensity of that moment, from the chokhold of my thoughts.
Stepping out into the night, I tried to focus on the car, on anything but the lingering warmth of her against me. I checked the tires, the engine, anything to keep my hands busy. The car was fine. Was it just a scare and nothing more then that? But inside, I knew it wasn't the car that had my heart racing-it was Isla.

I slid back into the driver's seat, the silence of the car pressing in around us, isla finally decided to put an end to this silence, "is everything OK?" She asked.

"It seems so, but let's try starting the car" I said,
Turning the key in the ignition, I willed the engine to life, but it only responded with a series of futile clicks. A sigh escaped me; we weren't going anywhere-not without help.

"We need to find a mechanic," I sighed, worried about spending the night in the middle of nowhere. It was already night now, I don't think anyone will pass by at night, i have to do something, I have to get isla somewhere safe

Isla's voice was firm, "I'm coming with you."

"No, it's not safe. You should stay here," I countered, the protective edge in my voice sharper than I intended.

She frowned, "I'm not staying here alone, Liam. I'm coming with you."

"But we are in the middle of nowhere Isla, we are basically in a forest, who knows what we might face ahead" I reasoned, not wanting her to go out on these unknown roads at night.

"All the more reasons for me to go with you Liam"
"Who knows what will happen when you are alone, atleast if we are together, I can help you" isla reasoned, in a firm voice, not showing any signs of backing down.

I sighed, "but someone have to stay here right?
What if we both go to look for a mechanic, and in the meantime someone steals our car?" I asked, and isla went in thinking.

"OK then, I will leave now, and you lock all the doors, don't get out of the car, and if anyone tries to harm you, just kill them, I'll take care of the rest" I said before leaving, taking her silence as a yes.

"OK ok" she laughed, her laugh putting my heart at ease

"You too, take care of yourself, and if you encounter any problem that you can't solve, just run away, ok?" She said, making me chuckle a bit.

"Ok"

I exit the car, and waited for her to switch on the lock of the doors, and after making sure, I began walking turning on my flashlight, isla and the car faded in the distance and under the darkness that covered the sky tonight.

our phones are as good as dead, because there's no network, I hope I find some help soon, and return to her.

But... did this accident happen because I... because I wanted her at that moment? Because of my selfishness? Am I the cause of all this?
Am... am I the reason that we are stuck here?
The owner did say that we can't be in a relationship... that I can't chase her...
but I... my feelings for her keeps on growing deeper with every new day...
So did this happen because of that? A warning?

Isla... I'm sorry... because of me... your sufferings just increases...

as I walk into these woods, this road, I'm greeted with nothing but darkness, no sign of anyone living here.

darkness around me and and the darkness in my mind, seemed to haunt me, and consume me at the same time.

The thoughts in my mind are acting like fire, burning everything, only leaving pain behind, a fire that doesn't feel like it will go down, a fire, that feels like it will eat me.

As the fire inside me increases, I feel a stinging pain in my chest, a pain too painful that it made me fall to my knees, the cold road came in contact with my knees, the darkness surrounding me, the wind kissed the trees around me, making their leaves rustle, singing a haunting song, my flashlight flickered and went off, the moon, that was now the only source of light, too, was covered by the clouds.

It felt as if the universe had
decided to bury me right now, right here.

In the midst of this haunting moment, in the midst of my death in process, came a scream, tearing through everything around me, everything that seemed to be taking me to my death, a scream that not only reached my ears but the heart as well, the scream that was able to put out that fire that was consuming me just now.

It did save me from that haunting fire, but this scream gave me another fear. A fear over which I would very much prefer this fire.

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Hello 👋🏻
Thankyou for reading and voting.
How do you think the story is going?
Feel free to share your thoughts as it will also help me decide what to do later, and I was like doubting if it's even good... so...