Eternal Scent Of Heaven.

Chapter 15

Inside, the man recovered and lunged at Elowen again, fury blazing in his eyes. He grabbed her by the shoulders, slamming her against the door. Elowen's head hit the wood with a thud, pain exploding behind her eyes.

"Stop fighting me!" he snarled, trying once more to force a kiss on her.

Elowen twisted her head and bit down hard on his lip. He yelped in pain, releasing her reflexively to clutch his bleeding mouth.

The sounds of approaching footsteps and authoritative voices outside gave Elowen a surge of hope. She pounded on the door with renewed strength.

"Help! I'm in here! Please, hurry!" she screamed.

With a final, loud crash, the door burst open, campus security officers pouring into the room. They quickly subdued the man, pulling him away from Elowen and restraining him.

Elowen collapsed to the floor, sobbing in relief as Marcus and Kathy rushed to her side.

"It's okay, you're safe now," Kathy, her face pale with shock, added softly, "We're here for you."

Elowen looked up at them through her tears, her voice trembling with gratitude. "Thank you," she whispered.

Marcus's eyes locked onto the man who had been attacking Elowen. His normally calm demeanor was replaced by an unyielding rage. The sight of Elowen, terrified and vulnerable, ignited a fire within him that he had never felt before.

The security officers quickly restrained the attacker, pulling him away from Elowen. But for Marcus, this wasn't enough. His protective instincts surged, and he marched toward the man, his fists clenched and his jaw set in a hard line.

"Marcus, no!" Kathy shouted, but her words fell on deaf ears.

Marcus grabbed the man by the collar, yanking him away from the security officers. "You think you can get away with this?" Marcus snarled, his voice low and menacing. Without waiting for a response, he delivered a powerful punch to the man's face.

The attacker stumbled back, blood trickling from his nose, but Marcus didn't stop. He unleashed a barrage of punches, each fueled by his fury and the need to protect Elowen. The security officers tried to intervene, but Marcus's anger made him unstoppable.

"Mr. Hernandez, stop! You're going to kill him!" one of the officers shouted, attempting to pull him back.

Marcus shrugged off the officer's grip and continued his assault, his normally composed exterior shattered. "You don't touch her! You don't touch anyone like that!" he roared, landing another punch to the man's gut.

The attacker doubled over in pain, gasping for breath, but Marcus didn't stop. He was blinded by his rage, his only focus on making the man pay for what he had done. Kathy, seeing her brother's uncontrollable anger, rushed to his side.

"Marcus, please! Stop, you're going to hurt yourself!" she pleaded, grabbing his arm.

Finally, Marcus paused, his chest heaving with exertion. He looked down at his bloodied knuckles and then at the attacker, who was now barely conscious. The security officers took advantage of the moment and pulled Marcus away, holding him back as the attacker was handcuffed and led out of the library.

Marcus's breathing was heavy, his eyes still burning with fury. He turned to look at Elowen, who was being comforted by Kathy. Her tear-streaked face and trembling body brought him back to reality.

"I'm sorry," Marcus muttered, his voice hoarse. "I just couldn't let him get away with it."

Kathy, still holding Elowen, nodded understandingly. "I know, Marcus. But he's going to face justice now. You did what you could."

Elowen looked up at Marcus, her eyes filled with gratitude and fear. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You saved me."

Marcus's anger began to dissipate, replaced by a deep concern for Elowen's well-being. He knelt beside her, his expression softening. "You're safe now. I promise."

As the officers led the attacker away, Marcus and Kathy stayed with Elowen, providing the support and comfort she needed after the terrifying experience.

They were all in the nursing clinic waiting for Viola and Ben, since they were informed later about El. The nursing clinic was quiet, the only sounds being the soft hum of the air conditioner and the occasional rustling of papers. Marcus, Kathy, and Elowen sat together in the small waiting area, the tension between them palpable. Marcus's knuckles were still slightly swollen and bruised, a reminder of the rage that had consumed him earlier. Elowen, wrapped in a blanket, sat close to Kathy, her eyes downcast and her body trembling slightly.

Kathy put a comforting arm around Elowen, whispering soothing words. "It's going to be okay, El. You're safe now. We're here for you."

Elowen nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you, Kathy. Thank you, Mr. Hernandez. I don't know what I would've done without you."

Marcus, who had been staring at the floor, looked up at Elowen. His face stoic with concern and guilt. "I'm sorry I didn't get there sooner. I wish I could have done more."

Elowen shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "You saved me. That's more than enough. I was so scared..."

Kathy squeezed Elowen's shoulder gently. "You're incredibly brave, Elowen. What you went through... it's unimaginable. But you're safe now, and we're going to make sure you get the help you need."

Just then, the door to the clinic opened, and Ben and Viola rushed in, their faces etched with worry. Viola immediately went to Elowen, enveloping her in a gentle hug. "Oh, tesoro, stai bene?" (Oh, sweetheart, are you okay?) she asked, her voice thick with emotion.

Elowen leaned into the hug, feeling a sense of safety and comfort. "I'm okay now, Viola," she said, her voice still shaky.

Ben comes near Marcus, nodding at him. "Thank you for being there, Mr. Hernandez. I can't imagine what would have happened if you hadn't been."

Marcus nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and lingering anger. "I did what I had to do. We need to make sure he pays for this."

Viola, still holding Elowen, looked at the group with determined eyes. "We will make sure he faces justice. But right now, Elowen's health and well-being are our top priorities."

A nurse approached them, her expression kind and professional. "We've completed the initial examination. Elowen is physically fine, though she's understandably shaken. We recommend a few counseling sessions to help her process what happened."

Elowen nodded, her grip tightening on Kathy's hand. "I think I'd like that. I just want to feel normal again."

Kathy smiled warmly at her. "We'll be with you every step of the way, El. You're not alone in this."

Ben looked at the group, his expression serious. "We need to make sure the college takes this seriously. They need to improve security so this doesn't happen to anyone else."

Marcus agreed, his voice firm. "Absolutely. I'll talk to the administration and make sure they understand the gravity of the situation."

Viola nodded in agreement, then turned her attention back to Elowen. "Ti riportiamo a casa, tesoro." (Let's get you home, sweetheart). You need rest and to be surrounded by people who care about you."

Elowen gave a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, all of you. I don't know what I'd do without you."

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