Hills Of Pain

The gentle moonlight stood at the center of the night sky and painted the surroundings with an electric-blue hue, it lengthened the shadows of objects, gilds everything in a warm glow and reveals little grains of sand on the concrete ground.

Everly slipped into her favorite cropped top and denim jeans and appeared before Edwin who sat on the soft bed with his legs crossed and arms placed on the bed behind him, which he leaned on for support. The delightful scent of cologne hit him at a distant, his blue eyes twinkled

Their building sat a few miles away from the others, the alley was cemetery-quiet.

“How do I look?” she asked with a quirked eyebrow and shaped her lips into a smile.

The gentle ceiling lamp dipped her skin in a golden glow.

“Woah!” he gawped, his eyes dwelt on her red-violet lips.

Her sleek hair gave a striking beauty, she lifted her cropped top, exposing her dainty waist. She had a burning-hot body like that of a model. He cued for her to sit beside him and mirrored her movements

“I'm all yours.” she said, wrapping her arms round his neck.

He gazed at her, his face unreadable. The thought of her father being against their union had struck him afresh. Hubbard, her father, who happened to be the founder of the renowned Penty Empire, had warned her never to be found with Edwin, but his warnings to her were like an arrow without its head, harmless. Her love for him waxed stronger every minute of the day, she couldn't have possibly conceived a world without Edwin in it.

“Don't give me that face.” she pleaded.

“Your f-father,” he felt a lump in his throat,“ he would never allow us to be.

“Don't say that,” she shook her head in disbelief,“ I already hate myself enough for being his daughter, losing you,” she said with tears in her eyes,“ would be the beginning of another nightmare for me.

“That would never happen.” he said, pressing her close to the warmth of his body.

The doorknob clanked like someone was trying to forcefully open it. She energetically broke away from his grip.

“Are you expecting someone?” a quizzical brow arched above her left eye.

“No, am not.” he shook his head.

She studied his face for a brief moment and said,“I'll go get the door.

“Did he invite another woman over?” she tilted her head briefly and conceived.

Behind the door was a masked man who had fixed a mini bomb on the doorknob as he found it difficult to open manually, he shuffled some steps backwards, for every step Everly took towards the door, the countdown was against her as she lifted her arm to reach out for the door, a loud noise was heard, the bomb blew off the door and sent her crashing on the floor.

Fortunately, she wasn't hit by any of the shrapnel, Edwin scurried and helped her up. The masked man walked in, his footsteps were Ghost quiet, a flicker of impatience shone in his eyes. His knotted shoe lace denoted an ancient symbol used by dangerous assassin's called,'wingles', his black leather jacket stood firm and opposed the movement of the wind, he was no average assassin, he was the immediate leader of the wingles.

He clenched his gun with a death grip and advanced, Edwin mustered up courage to challenge him, beads of sweat had formed on his forehead as he pushed Everly behind him and swept a hand across the forehead to get rid of the sweat. The masked man cocked his gun and aimed at Edwin.

“No!”

Everly thundered and pushed him to the side, her scream had ignorantly drawn the attention of an old man, who happened to be a passer-by, he planted himself by the window and watched closely.

She stood right in the face of death and was ready to give her life for him.

“Nothing would separate us, not in this world or in the other.” her breath came in stubbing gasp.

Edwin gazed at a determined Everly, ready to give up her life for him, but would he have done the same for her? He conceived.

The masked man exhaled sharply, he was running out of time and patience, he knew only a bullet could end them both, so he aimed at Everly, ready to pull the trigger.

“Don't lay a finger on her, just kill the man and get the job done.” the earthy voice rang in his ears.

He narrowed his eyes, having an intent focus, and gritted his teeth.

“This is taking longer than I expected.” he complained under his breath.

For how long would he watch their melodrama? Time was ticking against him. For some reasons, he was confident that Edwin wouldn't allow Everly to die in his place. The gun roared as the masked man killed his patience and pulled the trigger. The bullet ran out with the speed of light, Edwin's eyes widened, he stood up and threw himself in the face of death.

The silver bullet sank into his heart.

“Argh!

The old man blurted out, his voice called the attention of the masked man, a series of gunshots shattered the glassy windows as the masked man shot at him repeatedly, fortunately, he escaped being hit.

Everly's skin crawled with sparks of electricity as the bullet drowned her hopes of a future with Edwin.