Hope In Their Eyes: book 2

Chapter 16: Old Enemy

"Ryan, you bastard!" I punched him in the face hard and kneed him. He fell to his knees but got right back up and charged at me again, he tackled me and laid multiple punches on me. "You didn't think it would be easy." He kicked me in the ribs and repeatedly kicked me. He then yanked me up by my shirt and threw me down the first flight of stairs.

I groaned in pain as I realized he got tougher. "You don't know how long I've been waiting to ruin your happiness, it disgusted me watching it, how does it feel Sam?" I tried getting up again but he kicked me hard in my ribs and I fell back down. "You got everything special while we just sat and you bossed us around." He laughed harshly. He grabbed me and threw another punch but not before I caught his fist and punched him in the chest, knocking the air out of him.

"Maybe the universe figured you didn't deserve it." I quickly sent another punch to his chest. "You are nothing special Sam, what will you do when Landon kills her?" He sent a swift kick to my stomach sending me back into the wall. I stood up quickly and threw a hard punch to his jaw and he stumbled back.

Sky's voice came from the stairs screaming my name in fear. "Sam!" I heard struggling coming from the upstairs and I went to scurry up the stairs but Ryan stopped me yanking my leg. We tumbled down the stairs all over again hitting the hard metal stairs. "Looks like your beloved is almost gone," Ryan taunted.
I struggled to stand, my ribs injured even more by the fall. I let out an angry grunt losing my patience. He pulled out a knife," I was saving this til I was ready to kill you, looks like this is the end of the road for you." He lunged at me and I dodged the knife just as it hit the stairs. I slowly stood up as he lunged at me again but it was a late dodge and it sliced my upper arm.
A sharp pain forced its way up my arm but I refused to show any weakness. "How about I cut you until you bleed out?" He laughed at me coldly as he tried cutting me. "Your not as strong as you use to be Sam, what's up with that?" He mocked me as the blade slashed the air.
"That's what you think," I scowled. I won't let him stop me from saving her, I won't lose her this time." But yet, it was killing me, because she was yelling for me in desperation but she was out of my reach. That's when I felt a harsh punch to my head and my vision went black spotted as I fell back. He lunged at me to plunge the knife in my abdomen but I barely stopped him as he pushed hard to stab me. "Give up Sam, it's over but don't worry I'll watch over Sky as my own girl." He chuckled in a harsh tone. We all knew at school how Ryan treated the women he dated in school, he would beat them until they ended up in the hospital, he wasn't only a women beater but also a complete lunatic as we see it. Sometimes, I wish to be back in that school where everything was so simple with Sky. I now regret everything I did to get to this path in life, I took the wrong road like most teens and I wish I could take it back for her.

She would be safe with me and we would be a normal loving couple. " I really wish this could have ended differently but you leave me no choice man, goodbye." I kicked him with harsh strength and he tumbled down the stairs roughly, till he landed on a flat part of the stairs in a pool of blood. I turned my head as a river of  blood drizzled down the stairs. Clearly, my old friend was gone and now only laid the man who harmed me and my girl.
I felt no remorse for the man that laid there but only for the man that was my friend. I turned my back and ran up the flight of stairs busting through the door. Landon turned to me in alarm, but already aware that I would make it. And there in his arms was my beloved with a knife to her throat. "Sam." What surprised me is she was beaten up really bad but by her stance, she looked stronger and braver. What the hell has she gone through to be able to be brave and take the pain? Those emerald eyes bore into mine so intensely but there was something in her eyes that broke me. You could see the pain and some new coldness in those eyes, it frightened me. I knew I failed her but it hurt to see how cold her eyes were now. "Let her go, it's over Landon," I said. "I don't think so Sam, you think I would surrender myself after all the years I have been running and hiding. The number of bounties hunting me? Never." He flared and shook with anger. "You don't have much of a choice, your army has been annihilated. You think that Mercy would ever let anyone escape or win?" I threatened. "I will kill her, don't push your luck, did you like my little present," he taunted. I clenched my fist and jaw in anger, I scowled at him. "We both know that this hunt is over, there is nothing left for your sorry ass." He stared at me with those stone cold eyes," That may be true, but at least I can get even with her in my grip." Even? What is he talking about? "Do you remember that house you sat on fire? You thought we were all dead." He questioned with anger, flaring in his nostrils. "You have taken everything from me, my family, army, my happiness." My eyes widened at the whole memory of how I got in boarding school. "That wasn't intentional, I never meant too," I stated.