Chapter 42
Elena
I’M ON THE FLOOR STILL HUDDLED WITH EVIE.
Tony has disarmed Matt and Enzo is beating the shit out of him.
He shoves Matt on the floor before turning to me.
My heart is overwhelmed with emotion. He came for me.
He actually came for me… they all did. Tears start to spill again and I wipe them away with the back of my hand.
Enzo kneels before me and pulls me into his arms. I missed the smell of him, the feel of his arms around me.
He feels safe, like home. Evie is helping Tony with these awful chains.
Each strike against the chains sends painful vibrations up my arm but I don’t mind the pain. They are here now and I am safe.
“I’ll never let you go, never again. I promise.”
I snuggle closer to him, my chin resting on his shoulder.
“Thank you for saving me.”
I open my eyes, holding Enzo tighter. Movement draws my attention just in time to see Matt reach down to tug on his jean bottoms and pulls out a gun from a leg strap. It happens so fast.
Matt takes aim at Enzo.
“You’ll never live to have her.”
I don’t have time to think, I just react, pushing Enzo away from me as Matt pulls the trigger.
“Noooooooooo!” Another bang.
I look back, Enzo is shocked, dazed even but unharmed. I frantically make my way to Evie and she pulls me into a tight hug but… it hurts. She’s holding me tight and I cling to her even when the ache turns into a burn. Warmth seeping out of me and down my clothes between us.
It hurts.
I turn to Enzo… He’s helping Tony tie Matt up. They’re okay… They’re all okay.
It hurts.
Wet heat drips between us. Evie must notice because she pulls away from me. Looking down at her hands, now covered in crimson.
“Elena?” Her voice is a whisper; a sob lodged in her throat.
“Elena! Oh my God! No!” Her expression shifts, panic creeping in as she starts looking around frantically, trying to call for help but words seem to fail as panic chokes her.
“It, h- hurts.” Tears are flowing freely down my cheeks. Evie is in full panic.
“It’s okay, you’re okay. Everything is going to be okay.” She manages to rasp out the words and I know that my friend is at a loss, feeling utterly helpless.
“I’m sorry.” I cry harder now.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. You’re fine, you’re going to be absolutely fine.” She keeps repeating the mantra, I suspect, more for herself than for me.
“C-cold.”
“Stay with me Elena. Tony called the police and an ambulance is already on the way.”
“Evie… the… b…”
“Shhh, don’t speak, help is on the way.”
“No! H-hurry.”
I motion for her to bend down so she can hear me, she drops her head angling to hear me better.
“H-Hurry. B-baby.”
“Baby?”
She looks concerned and confused at first but then I see the exact moment she realised what I’ve just said to her. Now she knows. So…. Tired.
“Tired.”
“No-no-no stay with me, keep your eyes open… Elena!”
“So tired.”
“NO! No no no no no no. ELENA!”
I hear her screams and Enzo’s voice, “What happened?” Evelyn’s reply, “She got shot.” Enzo’s voice “Elena! Baby, please, wake up, please come back, please, open your eyes-” as I drift off into darkness. There’s no pain here. I’m not cold anymore. I feel… nothing.