Deeper Than the Knife

Chapter 29- The Hell Storm Part 2

I reached out to Yukino, she was so close yet I couldn't reach her. Tears swelled in my eyes, making everything but her blurry.

The smell of burning wood and smoke filled the room. The sound of the house burning down sounded like the crackling of wood in the fire place back at our home in Japan.

"Yukino. . ." I pleaded.

She opened her eyes slowly, her eyes were filled death-there was barely any life in her eyes. Blood trickled out from her mouth which was slightly hung open. Seeing her like that, on the verge of death and laying in a pool of her own blood, broke the dam holding back my tears. 

"Hey, Yukino, stay with me." I begged. "Don't you dare give up."

Yukino coughed violently, spitting out blood onto the floor. I wanted her to take my hand, to say something, anything at all to let me know she was still alive somewhere in there.

She slowly took my hand into her shaking one, and I started to cry more.

"Yukino," I cried, "when we get out of here, will you marry me?"

Yukino laughed softly, before she winced in pain and decided to give me a smile. "We're already. . .married. . .stupid." She said, having to gasp for air.

"No, I mean-I want to marry you." I said. "Actually marry you, in a big ceremony with all our friends there to cheer, and cry, and eat all of Aliyya's amazing food. And we'll wear those white dresses and promise to love each other forever, and we'll let Yarah rush down the aisle tossing flowers everywhere."

Yukino gave another pained laugh, and I could see the life shine in her eyes again as tears started to form.

"And we'll dance together," I continued. "Just you and me, until the sun goes down and the stars light up the night sky. Everyone we love will be there, and we'll exchange rings so everyone in the whole world knows we only belong to each other."

I squeezed her hand as I imagined it, imagined how beautiful Yukino would be as she walked down the aisle towards me. How adorable our little girl would look as she threw flowers at everyone she could. I could picture us, Yukino and I, dancing slowly to the music as the sun set in the distance and the moon started to take it's place as out spotlight. I wanted that dream to become a reality, I wanted Yukino and Yarah to be in my future. They were my future. 

"So, Yukino, will you marry me?" I asked.

tears fell from her beautiful ice blue eyes, that, once upon a time, I thought were filled with nothing but coldness. "Yes," she cried, "I'll marry you, Charlotte."

I was so happy in that moment, I cried. Well, I cried more.

"What a touching moment." Jack interrupted. "But I'm afraid you'll never get the chance to marry."

Yukino's grip started to loosen, my fear returned. Much worse than before.

"No, no, no! Yukino!" I cried.

She seemed to be fighting to keep her eyes open, her breathing was uneven and crazed as she struggled to breathe. 

"Kick. . ." she started. "His ass for. . .for me." Her hand slipped out of mine. I tried for dear life to grab it again, and her eyes shut closed. I cried harder, yelling her name and begging her to wake up.

"It's no use, Charlotte," I could hear the smugness in Jack's stupid voice. "She's gone."

"No!" I yelled in protest.

I forced myself to get up. My arms shook like crazy as I pushed myself up, blood seeped out of my wounds and pooled together on the floor. When I got up on my shaky feet, clutching the knife wound on my stomach, I glared at Jack. He only gave me an unimpressed look. My anger and fear burned inside of me, begging to be released. I was a dam that was about to burst and cause the flood of the century.