𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 | RAFE CAMERON

Fifty three | D A R K N E S S

      As we were running through the sand I started to lose JJ and Kie. "Guys!" I shout but no response. I continue making my way through the storm trying to find a way out and finally I do, I run into a ruin where I find Kie and JJ. But there was also Groff.

I stood frozen, my eyes focused on the scene unfolding before me. Groff and JJ faced off, their eyes locked in a stare. Groff's voice trembled, as he uttered a haunting phrase, "It's a shame... you and me." JJ's head shook, a movement that spoke volumes.

Time seemed to slow as I watched. In a flash, Groff's hand darted out, and I saw the shine of metal as he plunged a blade into JJ's stomach. "You should have given me the rope to climb out the well." He pulls the knife out of JJ abdomen.

JJ's eyes widened in shock, his face contorting in agony as his body fall back onto Kie. I felt like I was moving through quicksand, as I struggled to process what I was seeing. The sound of JJ's breathing, the gurgle of blood in his throat, it was all so eerily haunting.

I couldn't tear my gaze away from the horror in front of me. Groff stood over JJ, the knife still clutched in his hand, his eyes vacant, as if he too was trapped in this nightmare.

I felt the air leave my lungs, as if I was the one who'd been stabbed. JJ, my dear JJ, why didn't I act faster? Why didn't I stop this? Why didn't I just draw my gun and shoot Groff before the knife went into him? I felt like I was drowning, unable to move, unable to save him.

As I stood there, frozen in shock, Groff's eyes darted towards me, and with a sudden move, he turned and ran. My eyes lingered on JJ, but as I saw Kie cradling him, I knew JJ was safe, for the moment. My priority shifted to Groff, and I took off after him, my gun drawn.

I ran through the ruins, my anger fueling every step I took. I could see Groff's figure through the sand, and I had a clear shot of him so I raised my gun, firing shot after shot, but my aim was wild, my hands shaking with emotion. Bullet after bullet whizzed past Groff, none of them hitting their target.

But I didn't stop. I kept firing, kept chasing, until finally, one bullet found its target, ripping through Groff's hand and sending him crashing to the ground. I skidded to a stop beside him, my gun still trained on his head.

"You...you monster," I spat, tears in my eyes, I was ready to shoot him dead. My mind went back to the airstrip when I had planned to kill Ward and missed my target, but not this time, this time I had a clear shot.

Groff looked up at me, his hands pleading. "Please... don't do this." He muttered.

I shook my head, I've already made my decision, "Go to fucking hell." I spat, I then clicked the trigger, ready to end this, but the weapon clicked empty.

I was out of bullets...

The sound snapped Groff back to reality, and with a grin, he tackled me to the ground. We rolled around, punching, kicking, and clawing at each other, our fight fueled by raw emotion.

As we wrestled, Groff's hands closed around my throat, squeezing the air out of me. I waved my arms around, desperate to break free, but his grip was too strong.

That's when I spotted the blue crown lying nearby, abandoned from Groffs hands. I grabbed it and jammed it into Groff's eye, possibly blinding him. He yelped in pain, releasing me, and I took advantage of the distraction.

I scrambled on top of him, my hands closing around his throat, and I squeezed. I didn't think, I just acted, fueled by my anger for JJ. I held him in a tight grip, hell, I'd be glad if I could break his neck with my grip. My eyes were blazing with anger, and his face turned purple until he kneed me in the stomach, throwing me to the side.