Beyond The Sacrifice

Chapter fifteen

Marcel's POV

Clara's voice breaks through the chaos, a whisper full of desperation. "Marcel, no, please."

The weight of her plea fuels a fire inside me. With a roar of defiance, I summon every ounce of strength I have. I cut through the ropes with a burst of power, my muscles straining against the tight bonds. The ropes snap, and I charge at the leader, my rage a blinding force.

"You honestly thought I would surrender that easily?" I snarl, slamming into the leader and shoving him away with all my might. He stumbles, and I turn back to Clara, my heart pounding in my chest.

But before I can even blink, I hear a whip—a crack that pierces through the noise of battle. Clara gasps, and it's a sound that freezes me in place. My world narrows to a single, horrifying image: Clara, her eyes wide with pain, a knife in her chest, blood staining her clothes. 

"Clara!" I scream, my voice raw with anguish. I sprint toward her, every step a desperate plea for the nightmare to end. My heart pounds, my breath comes in ragged gasps as I reach her side. Loric holds her before she falls and pulls the knife slowly out of her. 

"No, no, please, don't you dare," I beg, my voice breaking. "Please, little rose, no."

I gather her fragile body into my arms, cradling her against my chest. The blood seeping through her clothes is a sickening, dark stain against my own. I shake my head, tears streaming down my face for the first time ever. The world around me crumbles, dissolving into a blur of grief and disbelief.

"Clara, please," I whisper, my voice trembling. "Stay with me. Don't leave me."

Her eyes flutter weakly, her breathing shallow and ragged. Her hand reaches up, barely touching my face. I can see the life slipping from her, and it feels like my own is being torn apart with each passing second.

The battle around us fades into the background. All I can focus on is Clara, her blood, her pain. I hold her close, my heart shattering with each breath she takes, each painful gasp.

"Don't go," I pleaded, my tears falling onto her face. "Please, don't leave me."

But as her eyes close, her body grows limp, I know that I'm losing her. The thought is unbearable, a weight I can't possibly carry. At this moment, everything else is meaningless. The only thing that matters is Clara, and life slipping away from her.

"Clara..." I choke out, my voice barely a whisper. "I love you my little rose."

And as I hold her in my arms, the world around me crumbles, leaving nothing but the crushing weight of loss and the echo of her name on my lips.

The pain is a raw, endless abyss. I let out a gut-wrenching scream, a sound torn from the depths of my soul. My body shakes uncontrollably as I bury my face into Clara's neck, sobbing, my tears mixing with the blood staining her skin. Each sob is a stab of agony, each breath a reminder of her fading warmth.

Then, amid the chaos and the darkness of my despair, a strange, brilliant light begins to shine. The light seems to wrap around us, filling the space with an ethereal glow.

I remember suddenly that a mountain deity is granted one wish in their lifetime. The thought is a fragile thread of hope, barely holding me together as I look up through my tears.

A figure emerges from the light, dressed in flowing white robes. His presence is calm, regal, and somehow otherworldly. He moves toward us with a serene, knowing gaze.

"Marcel," the figure says gently. "You have one wish left. What is it you want?"

The words are barely a whisper, but they cut through my torment like a lifeline. I look at Clara's lifeless form, and my heart aches with the weight of what I've lost, and I can't bear the thought of letting her go.

"Bring her back," I choke out, my voice breaking. "Please. Bring Clara back to me."

The figure nods, his eyes filled with a gentle understanding. "Your wish is granted."

As he speaks, the light intensifies, enveloping Clara and me. My breath catches, hope battling with the fear in my chest. I hold Clara tighter, praying, willing her to come back to me.

Slowly, the light fades, and I feel a change. Clara stirs in my arms, her breathing becomes steady, and the colour returns to her face. I can't believe it. I pull back slightly, my tears mingling with the joy I can barely contain.

"Clara?" I whisper, my voice trembling with hope. "Are you...?"

She opens her eyes, and the look of confusion and relief on her face says it all. I can't hold back any longer. I pull her into a tight embrace, my tears of grief now turning into tears of overwhelming joy.

"Thank you," I whisper to the figure, who nods and slowly fades away.

Clara is back, safe in my arms. The relief is indescribable. I hold her close, feeling her warmth, her heartbeat against my chest. Everything else fades away, and all that matters is that she's here with me again.

To be conitued...