Stella Starlet

Purgatorio

Our wedding reception continued and my heart warmed at Carlisle. He just seemed to have a pure happiness that radiated off him.

The sun was going to set soon and rays of orange light shrouded the estate's backyard. It was the perfect day.

Carlisle and I swayed the soft music, foolish grins on our faces. It all felt like it was too good to be true.

That was my mistake. It was too good to be true.

The sound of gunfire and yelling ricocheted in the air.

Next thing I knew, all of Carlisle's men began to fall to the floor, blood spewing from their gaping wounds. All that remained was Carlisle's family and my mother.

Carlisle pulled me roughly behind him, reaching into his tuxedo for his pistol.

We were then surrounded by forty men, all pointing machine guns at us.

Out from behind them hobbled Enzo, his tuxedo from that night tattered and shredded, blood staining his skin and his dirtied white shirt.

"You always think you're one step ahead of me." He let out the laugh of a truly sick man.

We were no match, Carlisle's men were all shot down. We were outnumbered. I had a sick feeling in my stomach over how this was going to end.

"Enzo, please stop this. I'll go. I'll go with you. I'll do whatever you want. Just . . . please don't hurt anyone."

"You think I want you still? This isn't about you, love. This is all revenge. But, since you asked so kindly, there is one way I'll call off my men and leave without hurting the rest of you."

"Whatever it is, I'll do it."

Carlisle gripped my arm tighter. "Don't you fucking dare," he warned through gritted teeth.

Three of Enzo's men walked over and all pointed their guns to Carlisle's torso.

I ripped my arm out of his grasp and walked over to Enzo.

"Stella, don't!" Carlisle yelled.

Enzo laughed as he pulled two pistols out from his jacket. He handed me one. I was confused.

He chuckled and then held his against my skull. He spoke in my ear. "Point the gun to your head."

My breathing quickened as a tear fell down my cheek.

He then moved his mouth away from my hear and spoke louder. "Shoot yourself or Carlisle dies."

"Don't do it! Please, don't do it!" Carlisle pleaded.

"Five."

My hands started shaking.

"Four."

I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears.

"Three."

Each tear chased another.

"Two."

I gripped the gun tighter.

"One."

I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath.

Then the sound of a gunshot rung through the air, deafening me.

Was I dead? Did I do it?

But when I heard a scream and sobbing, I knew that, I was in fact, still alive.

I finally opened my eyes and there stood Enzo before me, a wolfish grin on his face.

"Too slow, love."

He moved out of the way and I saw Carlisle on the floor, blood seeping out of a gunshot wound in his forehead.

At that moment, my legs did not work anymore and I fell to the floor.

"No. No. No," I whimpered as I dragged myself over to his body.

"Please, wake up. Please," I pleaded as sobs racked my body.

Valentina was on her knees, screaming in mental agony.

More rapid gunshots echoed in the air and, like in slow motion, all of Carlisle's family and my mother's bodies convulsed as each bullet hit their flesh. Even as they fell, more gunshots ripped through them.

I screamed out but I was no use. Everything was silent except the sound of the breeze rustling the leaves.

Enzo's men then picked me up by my arms and began dragging me away. "No! Get the fuck off me!" I screamed. I clawed. I kicked. I struggled.

I felt the butt of a gun collide with my head and I welcomed unconsciousness with open arms.

-

I woke up in a bedroom, hooked up to machines. The sound of beeping filled the air.

After looking around, I realized I was in Enzo's bedroom. I began to scream in fear and agony as memories began to flood back into my mind.

Two doctors ran into the room to see what the commotion was.

"Miss, please, calm down."

"What the fuck is going on?!" I exclaimed.

"You're waking up from a coma."

I stopped.

"No, I was kidnapped. I . . . my wedding. Carlisle." My breathing began to become heavy and the beeping sound began to increase.

"It's very common to have vivid dreams during a coma that seem like reality. You've been in a coma for four months."

No. No. No.

I didn't just 'dream' that all. I couldn't have.

"You overdosed on cocaine and went into cardiac arrest and then into a coma. We've been keeping you stable here."

I felt like my heartbeat stopped. I didn't understand what was real at that moment.

"Miss, everything was a dream."

Enzo then came into the room and saw me. He ran over and gripped me in a tight embrace.

"I thought you'd never wake up."

I flinched at his touch. I thought he was evil. I thought he had killed my husband, Carlisle.

But he didn't.

None of it was real.