Lie - (E. Hunt)

we don't know how the story's gonna end

His arms around me felt like home.

This is what I had been longing for, for so long. I missed the feeling of his arms.

I leaned my head against his chest, ignoring the fire in my lower back. Ignoring the ache in my head. Ignoring the world around me.

"I regret not letting you be the hero." I whispered, my eyes on his.

He leaned in and kissed my forehead.

"Do you hate me?" My voice caught.

He shook his head, "I could never hate you, love. Never."

Relief washed over me at his words. I had lived so long, fearing the hate in his eyes. I didn't want to see him for so long. I didn't want to have to live knowing that he didn't love me anymore.

What had I missed? Could we have worked through that lie? Could we have dealt with it?

"I'm sorry I left, Ethan." I shifted, feeling the pain once again, "I just wanted to hurt you then. I wasn't thinking."

"Stop talking like you're dying, Jem." Ethan's face hardened, "You're gonna live. It's gonna be okay."

I felt the tears spring up. There was the protector I knew and loved.

The clicking of a gun sent tension through Ethan's arms. We looked up.

Vinter, I think that's what Ethan called him, was standing over us, blood leaking from his split lip. I glanced at the gun in his hand.

"Vinter." Ethan's voice was low and dangerous, "Put the gun down."

Vinter laughed, "I don't think so."

Ethan started to shift, moving me backwards, covering me with his body.

"I'm finishing this here." Vinter grinned down at us, "Her, then you."

Ethan's grip tightened and I buried my head into his chest, breathing him in.

Probably for the last time.

"I've got you." Ethan breathed.

I found his hand and held it tight.

There was a crash outside the door and I felt Ethan look up. Vinter pauses also.

My eyes flew from the door to Vinter to Ethan. Hope was sprouting on his face. And I also saw determination there. Nothing was happening without a fight.

The door flew open and a man stepped through it, gun raised.

Vinter raised his gun.

The man fired. Ethan spun us around, shielding me.

I heard Vinter groan and then listened as a body fell to the ground.

There was silence, broken only by the heavy breathing of the man who had shot Vinter. Ethan looked up and glanced around, his gaze landing on the man who had saved us, "Brandt. Good to see you."

"I was cutting it close." Brandt holstered his gun and knelt next to us, "How is she?"

"Hanging in there." Ethan shifted, "She had a knife in her lower back and has lost a lot of blood."

Brandt nodded, "Medics are five minutes out. We'll get her outta here."

"Is it over?" I asked, my voice weak.

Ethan looked down at me, a grin on his lips, "You're going home."

"I am home."