- 5.
Olivia arrived as Ethan desperately tried to
force open the temple doors.
The flames had warped the wood, jamming
them in the frame.
Ethan used his shoulder to ram against the
door.
He was covered in blood, but he didn’t notice.
Olivia tried to stop him, but she couldn’t.
He shoved her aside, his face grim.
“Get out of my way! Rachel’s in there, I have
to save her!”
When he finally broke through the door, the
temple was engulfed in flames.
Without hesitation, he plunged into the
inferno, eyes closed.
I was huddled in a corner, barely alive.
Ethan’s eyes were bloodshot. Trembling, he
ripped off his coat and frantically beat at the
flames engulfing me.
<
When that failed, he used his hands.
His hands, once elegant, were blackened and burned. Yet, he seemed to feel no pain as he pulled me into his arms.
With all my remaining strength, I pushed him.
away, my resentment unrestrained.
“Ethan, you didn’t want me to live, and even
in death, you won’t let me have peace, will
you?”
The simple words broke him.
Ethan knelt before me, despair etched on his
face.
“I don’t want you to die, don’t leave me!”
“Please, don’t die. How will I live without
you?!”
I offered a bitter smile.
“Ethan, I’m so tired, so hurt!”
“Please, let me go. Let yourself go, too.”
A stone slab fell. Ethan instinctively shielded
- me.
<
The.
It hit his back with a thud.
He coughed up blood.
Ignoring the blood, he pleaded,
“No, I can’t.”
“The thought of losing you breaks my heart!”
“Rachel, I don’t want to hate you anymore. Give me a chance, let me spend my life making it up to you.”
I didn’t reply. The searing pain was fading my
consciousness.
I saw my loved ones smiling at me.
I closed my eyes, a smile gracing my lips.
I whispered,
“Wait for me, I’ll be with you soon!”
After today, all the love and hate would end.
Ethan and I would finally be free.
