Chapter 90

Lillian

I couldn't breathe; all I could see was red, with heavy tears clouding my eyes.

My heart was beating so fast that I could feel it in my eyes.

My hands trembled violently, too scared to reach for him.

" Zay..." I choked on snort and saliva. This can't be happening, not again.

His unfocused gaze found mine. He coughed up more blood, his chest heaving up and down. The arrow was sticking out from his chest.

"No...no...no...no...no...God...no", I crawled onto the floor and grabbed his hands." Stay with me, okay, you'll be fine. Keep your eyes open, don't you dare pass out!"

Falco didn't survive the shot and Zayden...

I shook my head violently, removing such thoughts from my head.

He squeezed my hand lightly, his face twisting in agony." Lilly."

He groaned and I lifted him a little till his head was resting on my thighs." I'm ...I'm sorry."

A cry left my lips as I shook my head from side to side." Stop talking, you'll be fine. You have to hold on."

His eyes fell closed for a second and I almost panicked until he opened them again." I'm sorry for hurting you." He whispered, his voice breaking mid-sentence." I'm sorry I couldn't be a better person for you. I'm no better than a criminal."

"It wasn't your fault...I know the truth now. She set you up, I should have believed you when you told me the first time." I placed his palm on my face, letting myself feel the warmth in his palm.

He smiled, or at least tired, and then coughed up more blood.

Another cry left my lips, tears flowing like a river." Someone, please help! Please help!" I yelled at the top of my voice, hoping that someone would hear me.

" Lily....tell me you love me," Zayden Whispered and I couldn't help but break down all over again.

" I love you, I love you so much. I've always loved you. I love every single thing about you; I don't care if you're the worst person on earth; my heart beats for you alone." I placed a kiss on his knuckles.

He smiled, and a tear trickled down his eyelids. The sight crushed my soul into a thousand pieces.

" You shouldn't have shielded me again. You shouldn't have stepped in." I wailed, my voice box was going sore.

He only smiled looking over at me with pain in his eyes." I'll do anything for you even if it means dying. I didn't come this far to let you die."

I yelled at me." Stop! Fucking stop talking!"

"Thank you...for making me feel alive.You're my first, my first love. The first person that made me feel like I was enough. The first person who accepted me the way I am. The first person that didn't run away even after Learning of my crimes." His voice broke mid-sentence.

I screamed." Stop! Stop talking! You can't leave me. Somebody, please help."

Why was no one coming?

Why was everywhere so silent?

Maybe it's because it's the sound of death's knocking.

I looked around, my eyes searching frustratedly. My whole body was in tremors, my head was spinning so bad.

Zayden clutched my hands in his." They've gone to get help. Relax, I don't want you to worry."

I wiped all the tears that had clouded my vision." You can't die here, we still have to get remarried. We are going to have this baby together."

He chuckled but only ended up coughing up more blood. And then he groaned painfully.

" I didn't sign the divorce papers, so technically we are still married."

I couldn't hold it in any longer and just let it out. I cried, I cried hard, letting my tears fall to his palm.

I looked down at him again. The movement of his chest had become slower.

I pushed him gently." Please don't leave me!" My voice broke." Don't leave me alone, please."

He managed to glance at me, his eyes holding all the love it could muster." I really wanted a happy ending." He spoke softly, then slowly, his eyelids closed.

" No..no...no...Zayden!" My breath hitched as I pat his face gently." Open your eyes, open your damn eyes."

He didn't open them, his body was completely unmoving. His chest had stopped moving and his hands turned cold.

"please open your eyes for me. Don't give up yet,you can't leave me." I screamed in agony.

My heart shattered into a million pieces as I stared at his unmoving body. My fingers were colliding against each other in a fast rhythm.

He can't die!

That's not possible,zayden is strong.

I lifted his hand but it fell back down with a thud.

I let out a horrified scream, the sound vibrating through the walls. The next moment, I got up to my feet, heading towards Sage, who was kneeling on the floor, with one hand clutching the other tightly.

" I'll kill you bastard...I'll kill you!" I yelled, anger rushing through my veins.

I was overwhelmed with emotions- anger, sorrow, despair, loss and frustration.

I just lost the one man I loved, and it was all because of her. The void in my heart will never be filled and it's because of her.

Zayden went through so much pain and it's all still because of her.

I picked up the crossbow that was lying a few feet from her and marched towards where Sage was kneeling.

The moment I got close enough, I lifted the weapon and sent it crashing right into her face. She stumbled backwards, blood spilling out of her nose and mouth.

" You bastard! This is all your fault." I hit her again, letting the anger control me.

"Your stupid jealousy killed him. You're a murderer!"I lamented.

I was about to hit her again when I paused. I stared at her half-unconscious body and then her belly. I paused, She was carrying a child. I won't hurt a child because of her mother's mistake no matter how much I was hurting.

This was enough blood for today. It was becoming too much, it was so wrong.

I put down the weapon and slammed her head on the wall and then she lost consciousness. She would be fine as long as she doesn't give up before help arrives. She would face appropriate punishment legally, it wasn't my place to end her. That would make me a murderer, and I would be no different from her.

   It reminded me of Zayden, he has blood on his hands. Even if...if he was still alive, he would spend some time in prison for going against the law of this damn country.

I broke down again, my chest feeling incredibly heavy.

It hurts.

It hurts so much.

I couldn't breathe.

I still couldn't believe that he was gone. Just like that, after he came all this way to rescue me.

I kept crying until my body started aching all over. My waist felt like it was on fire and then a sharp pain shot through my tummy.

My baby.

I tried to calm my breathing, taking slow breaths and hoping the pain would subside.

It didn't.

It felt like my muscles were on fire and then suddenly I felt dizzy.

I think I'm going to pass out, and I did right before I heard rushed footsteps and voices echoing in the distance. One of them sounded particularly familiar.

I caught a glimpse of men rushing down the stairs of the basement just in time before my eyes fell closed.

Was that Oliver?

I didn't get an answer because the darkness suddenly engulfed me.