MARRY ME NOW

~

“Let go of me!” I screamed, trying to squeeze my hand out of his tight hold. He threw my body at his and clamped his hand over my mouth. He was dragging me to the other corner of the house.

Oh God, there was no way he was going to take me again. I heard the front door slam open. The cops were screaming commands.

I squirmed, trying to get out of his hold. A cold metal was suddenly pressed against my head, and I stilled. Tears streamed out of my eyes. I didn’t want to die. No, I wanted to have my old life back. When it was just me and my child.

The thought of not seeing Anne again was terrifying. “Stay still and do what I say or I’m going to fucking shoot a bullet through your skull. Understand?”

I could hear his pounding heart. Was he scared? I hope he was. He needs to know how it feels to be scared. He pulled me to the far corner of the room. Releasing me, he dared me to say anything.

He quickly walked to the door and locked it. I’m sure the cops are already searching everywhere in the house, this house is huge.

I panicked, seeing him lock the door. I was so scared if I screamed, he might just get agitated and shoot me. It was a very scary situation.

“Please, Cedric, just let me go. I be-”

“Shut up.” He snapped cutting me off. He came over to me and started pulling me along with him to the back door. He stopped when he heard voices coming from there.

Oh my God, I was so close to my freedom. He retrieved back. Unconsciously, I screamed. “Bitch.” I heard him cuss.

He hit me on the head with his pistol, almost knocking me off. My vision was blurry, but I had to stay awake. Whoever was outside the door was using his weight to open the door.

I could hear shouts but couldn’t make out what was going on. He had hit me so hard. The door flew open.

Three cops stood there pointing their guns at us, or rather, at Cedric. Cedric placed his gun back on my head.Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

“Put the gun down!” I heard one of the screams. At that moment, I couldn’t think straight, nor did I know what was going on. It felt like I was going to die at any moment. I felt numb.

They were exchanging words.

God, please take care of my daughter.

Lily, what are you saying? Do you want to die? My subconsciousness scolded.

No, I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die… I cried internally. I knew he was threatening to shoot me if they come closer or shoot. No idea what came over me, I bit his hand that was over my mouth. He screamed in pain, stepping away from me.

Using the only strength I had in me, I ran away from him, technically limping. Thinking he would just give up and let the cops take him, he didn’t.

“Holy fuck, do not shoot!” I heard a cop shout.

Instead, he raised the gun back up.

And shot towards me.

Luckily, I couldn’t stand anymore, so I had to fall to the ground, the gunshot passed over my head and hit the wall. Two gunshots were heard at the same time. It felt like slow motion, I tried to find who fired the other gunshot. A cop did. He did immediately Cedric pulled the trigger.

Blood splattered over the curtains. Cedric’s blood. I screamed. “Call the ambulance, hurry.” One of the cops said.

I saw three other cops rush in. Two got next to me. Their mouths were moving and I was sure they were talking to me but my brain wasn’t processing anything.

I passed out.

~

**** Kara’s POV ****

~

“Is she going to be okay?” I asked the doctor. Thankfully, she wasn’t shot, but there was a huge scar on her head. Well, not technically a huge scar but it was bleeding a lot.

I hope nothing happens to her, she has a young child who would definitely need her motherly love. It’s been less than two hours since they were found.

It’s sad things like this happen to someone with such a good heart. “Yes, luckily there wasn’t any damage done. We expect her to be awake by tomorrow or next.”

“Oh okay, thank you,” I said. He nodded and walked out of the room. I sighed. Celina would be here soon. She was so relieved when she heard Tessa and her daughter has been found.

Anne is with my mom. She was of course sent to the doctor first and according to him, she was fine but needed lots of rest as she was racking it.

I wasn’t surprised when I found out Cedric was indeed behind all this. It’s a messed up situation. He was shot and he’s currently in the emergency room.

I wanted him to live… So he could go to jail. That monster. He has caused so much pain. Who knows if he raped Tessa. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did.

I just feel bad for Tessa.

~

*** Third Person’s POV ***

After a few minutes of sitting down in silence next to Tessa, Kara needed to go use the restroom. She left, leaving the room extraordinary silent.

Three minutes later. The doorknob twisted from the outside.

Seeing her so hurt, and helpless made his heart limp. She looked so broken. He opened the door wider and walked closer to her until he was on the left side of the bed.

Her forehead was plastered. For some reason, he blamed himself. He should have just acted on his feelings for her earlier instead of being mean to her.

At that time, he thought being mean to her would hide his feelings for her, but it didn’t. If anything he fell deeper in love with her. And seeing her hurt every time he did or say something mean to her was heartbreaking, but he had to continue doing so.

Maybe if he had acted sooner, all this happening now wouldn’t have been happening. He clenched his jaw. He sat down on a chair next to her bed. With a shaking hand, he reached out to her hand.

So delicate… Bringing it closer to him and locking it between his hands, he whispered. “I’m sorry.” Over and over again.

He didn’t even realize it when tears slipped out of his eyes. It wasn’t new, but it was rare, Austin Kings rarely cry and when he does, it must be something from his heart.

“I’m sorry..” That was probably the millionth time he said that, holding her hand. He was going to hurt anybody that hurt her.

“I love you.”

~

“Ah.” Kara groaned. It was less than an hour ago that she heard Cedric passed away and no, it wasn’t from the gunshot. He survived that.

Such a pussy, he couldn’t afford to face jail but decided to kill himself. Yes, he killed himself.

He had managed to get poison and until now, no one knows who gave it to him but an investigation is on.

~

**** Tessa POV ****

~

I opened my eyes, but quickly close them back as the bright light almost blinded my eyes. Wow, I thought I died. I opened an eye, it wasn’t as bright as before, so I opened my other eye.

I heard a familiar giggle. “No, mommy doesn’t want me to be a Barbie, she said barbie is dumb.” I heard Anne say.

“Mommy is right, you know. Are you sad about it?”

“No, I believe mommy and my friend also think so,” She replied. “So! How is your girlfriend?” Anne asked.

Oh my God. “I don’t have a girlfriend,” Austin replied.

Anne gasped. “Really? I thought all cute guys has a girlfriend! You know, even mommy thinks you’re cute, it’s also the same as good-looking, right? She once said yo-” I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Anne!” I called. Oh my God, she was about to expose me. Austin’s ego is already huge, I can’t imagine how bigger it might get if he finds out I actually find him attractive.

“Mommy!” I heard her call. She ran to me and literally jumped on me. I hugged her so tight, I miss her so much. “My baby..”

It was over soon. “What are you doing here?” I asked Austin, rudely, of course. I don’t have to be nice to him.

“Mommy, don’t be rude…”

“I think you should listen to your child.” He said, a silly smirk on his face. The nerves.

“Don’t take what she said to heart, she’s a child and doesn’t know about stuff like that.”

“I’m pretty sure a child of her age won’t make up such a lie. You know, there’s nothing wrong in finding someone goo-”

I cut him off. “What are you even d-”

“Tessa! Don’t be rude! Especially to the person who helped you out of that danger you were in. You should be grateful.” I heard Kara’s voice. She showed up.

Wow, I should have known earlier. I’m so stupid at times. Kara came over to me and crushed me in a hug. “Thank goodness you’re okay.”

~

Kara finished telling me about everything that happened. It was kinda disturbing that Cedric died. Not that it bothered me though. It’s just, I don’t know how to put it.

I wanted him to go to jail for what he did. But I guess some things don’t always go as we want them to.

~

I owe a huge thank you to Austin. I was being rude for no reason. I sighed.

The doctor said I could be discharged by next tomorrow. Kara had left with Anne to go make some of my favourite food and bring it back here.

I wanted Austin here. A part of me insisted it was just so I could apologize to him and thank him. But the other part says otherwise.

It was just like a wish come true and Austin showed up. “Hey.” He greeted.

I blushed. Don’t ask me why, because I don’t know why. “Hi… Austin, about earlier, I’m sorry for being rude… I do-” He cuts me off.

“You don’t have to be sorry, Tessa. I should be the one saying that.”

I’m sorry…

I’m sorry…

I’m sorry…

I love you…

I remember hearing those words over and over again when I was asleep. I thought I was dreaming… Was that him? Yes.

“W-what do you need to say sorry for? Absolutely nothing…”

“For everything. I have been nothing but intolerable to you. At first, I just felt the need to hurt you. I regret everything, Tessa. If I could turn back time and make everything right, I would..”

“What are you talking about?”

“I love you. But at this point, it’s all too late. I couldn’t protect you.” He said. He looked so vulnerable at that moment.

“I mean, Who said it is..” I blurted out.

~

I was more than happy seeing my std tests come negative. I was leaving here tomorrow. Investigations were still going on, trying to find out the criminal mastermind and whoever the person was, he/she is really smart.

But who would want to hurt me?

I just hope they find out. I was advised to go to a depression therapy, and lots more. About Austin, it’s all too complicated. We kept going back and forth.

After what I had said, I managed to tell him off in the end. Letting him know I had no feelings for him whatsoever. Only God knows how much I want that to be true.

~

It’s been a day since I was released and I haven’t heard from Austin. I wanted him to at least give me a call. What’s wrong with me?

“Tess. Austin is here, he wants to speak to you.” She said. I beamed but quickly tried to cover it. After what I have gone through recently, I shouldn’t be thinking of things like this.

I got up from where I sat. And walked outside. “What are you-”

“About what I said the last t-” He couldn’t finish his sentence as we heard a loud pitched scream. Anne’s. I panicked. She was in the opposite house playing with her newfound friends.

“Mommy!” She came to me in the middle of the road. “What happened?”

“It’s Kayla. She pierced me with a sharp plant.” Austin was next to us the next second. “Sorry, baby. Go inside the house okay? I would be there in a minute.” I said. She nodded and walked to the house.

“Go on,” I said to Austin.

“About what I said last time… I mean every single word of it, but trying to convince myself that it’s too late is painful Tess. I need to show you something.”

He touched his pockets but realized it wasn’t there. “Coming.” He said going over to his car. I watched him go.

**** Third Person’s POV ****

Tessa watched Austin as he walked away to his car. She forgot she was in the centre of the road. But it wasn’t a big deal as cars usually do not use this road. It was a tiny road.

She got lost staring at him, not knowing a car was headed her way. Suddenly she heard a voice. “Tessa! Get off the road!”

Everything happened so fast. The voice sounded so familiar though. Jake.

“Tessa!” This time it was Austin’s voice.

Someone pushed me out. I heard the roar of the engine. And I looked up to see a car speeding away. I was okay.

I looked down to see. A familiar face. Jake’s. There was blood gushing out of his mouth. I screamed.

He got hit, trying to save me.

.

.

.

…….