The Unholy Bride: In God's Name, I Kill

Chapter 29: Hide And Seek

"S-Scarlette..." I murmured, my voice trembling. My eyes welled with tears, blurring my vision as if trying to shield me from the horror that unfolded before me.

My breath hitched, and a muffled hum filled my ears as though submerged in water, while I stared at the little girl lying before me. She was bleeding, her soft eyes locked on mine. My gaze darted over her fragile body, finally fixating on the deep crimson stain spreading across her stomach, growing larger with each passing second.

My mind was a haze, drowning out every coherent thought I desperately needed right at this moment. All I could grasp was that Scarlette had thrown herself in front of me, her small body acting as a shield against the speeding bullet fired from her father's gun.

Everything happened so fast... One moment, I blinked, and the next, she was bleeding.

Her small hand grasped my finger, trembling, as a harsh cough sent blood splattering from her mouth. "M-Mawy..." she whispered.

My skin felt numb, yet the muscles and bones shielding my heart felt fragile, as if they were cracking with every breath I took.

The air itself seemed toxic; every inhale burned like I was drowning, my lungs struggling against the weight of it.

"H-Hey..." I gently held Scarlette's hand, terrified that even the slightest movement might cause her pain. "W-Why did you... I-I told you not to go out."

"S-Sowy," she coughed blood again. "Sowy, Mawy."

I shook my head, tears falling with every motion. "Don't apologize."

"Sowy," she whispered once more, her voice barely a breath as the energy slowly slipped away from her.

I brushed her cheek gently, my hands now covered in blood, leaving smears of it on her soft skin.

"S-Scarlette, please... don't close your eyes. I-I would be... I... Mary would be so mad if you closed your eyes."

I knew she understood me because she blinked, trying with all her might to follow my words. But her body was betraying her. Her lips and fingertips lost their color, her breaths shallow, as if her lungs were being drowned by her own blood, and her grip on my finger weakened with every passing moment.

"We need to get out of here, Scarlette," I said, my voice strained as I pushed myself to my feet and carefully lifted her into my arms.

I scooped her up, wrapping my arms around her fragile body, not caring that her blood stained me. But as I tried to move, my legs gave out, and we both collapsed to the floor. Dropping to my knees, I crawled toward her, a tear of frustration slipping down my face as I bit down hard on my trembling lips.

How foolish of me to think I could carry her when I couldn't even stand on my own.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Roman slowly approaching, his calmness only fueling my anger. How could he stay so composed in a moment like this? He drew closer, his gun still aimed at me. His arm didn't show any sign of tiring, and I knew he wouldn't hesitate to end me if I didn't escape. But I couldn't leave Scarlette...

"AAAH!" I screamed, dropping to the ground and shielding my head with both hands as he fired again.

My heart pounded in my chest as my eyes flicked between Scarlette, her father, and the path where I could flee. I couldn't decide, knowing that every choice carried its own danger.

I squeezed my eyes shut, pressing my eyelids together as tightly as I could. Time was running out, and I knew I would die if I didn't decide...

Clenching my fists, I ran, my mind screaming at me with every step, the bullets whizzing past, tearing through walls and shattering everything in my path as they missed.