The War.

Chapter 42: Not Again.

-~•***•~-

"Pleaseee," Ella begged, her eyes wide with hope.

"Princess, no," Mia replied calmly, shaking her head.

"I'll be safe, I promise!" Ella insisted, her voice growing more desperate.

Mia sighed, her expression softening but still resolute. "It's dangerous."

"But I train with you! I'll be fineee!" Ella continued, her tone bordering on whining as she tried to sway Mia.

"Then someone comes with you," Mia said, her voice firm.

"Miaaaa," Ella groaned in frustration. "Pleaseee, you always say I should be stronger, so why not let me try?!"

Mia's face darkened slightly, her protective instincts kicking in. "You could be kidnapped again."

"I'll bring a gun!" Ella exclaimed, as if it was the most obvious solution.

Mia glanced over at Charlotte, seeking her input. Charlotte raised an eyebrow, clearly torn. After a brief hesitation, she nodded.

"Does this mean I can goo?" Ella asked, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

Mia sighed, knowing she had to let her go at some point. "Fine. Just be careful."

"YAYYY!! Thanks, I love youuu!!" Ella shouted, throwing her arms around Mia in a quick hug before bouncing off toward the door.

Mia handed her a gun and a coat, her eyes lingering on Ella with concern as she left.

- * -

It started to get dark, and Ella knew she needed to get home or Mia would kill her. "Shit, I can't see," she mumbled, fumbling through her bag for the flashlight.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed her from behind. Her heart raced as she felt the strong grip; she knew those arms were all too human.

"Oh no, no, no, no. Not this again," she thought, panic surging through her veins.

Instinctively, she reached for her gun, her hands shaking as she drew it. With a swift motion, she fired at the man gripping her, the bullet hitting him squarely in the shoulder and causing him to fall over in pain with a pained cry.

Ella's breath hitched in her throat as adrenaline surged through her. She had a split second to react before another shadow lunged at her from the darkness. She aimed and fired again, her shot finding its mark in the chest of a second assailant, who crumpled to the ground without a sound.

But as she turned to face the last figure emerging from the shadows, her heart sank. Her gun clicked ominously—empty.

No more bullets.

The realization crashed over her like a cold wave. Panic gripped her, clawing at her insides as she backed away, her eyes darting between the dark silhouettes that surrounded her.

The man shot her in the shoulder, his creepy smile unwavering as he smirked at her, relishing the fear that flickered in her eyes. Pain exploded in her shoulder, and she gasped, falling to her knees. Tears
streamed down her cheeks as despair engulfed her.

"No. No. I can't do this again. No. Please let this be a dream," she thought, frantically shaking her head, trying to will the nightmare away.

Just as her vision blurred from the pain, she felt a cold kick to the side of her head, darkness swallowing her whole as she collapsed to the ground.

-~•^^•~-

"She's one of them, isn't she?" I heard a voice murmur nearby. My heart sank; it was another one of those men who were after Mia.