The Unexpected Twist

Author’s POV

Aslan was waiting for his bride. He adjusted his bow for the hundredth time. He knew he will be no match to Elena’s beauty, but he wanted to look good for her. As good as he could.

Slowly the music started and one by one the bridesmaids started pouring in. Bella came last as she was the maid of honor. Then the flower girl came followed by the ring bearer. He was waiting for Elena and the bridal music went on but she didn’t arrive. He smiled nervously thinking maybe her dress caught up in her shoes and she was fixing it. Or her posy wasn’t right. Is she nervous? Is she having second thoughts? He had all these thoughts killing him, but he only breathed a heavy sigh.

His heart was beating fast now. God, where is she? Is she alright? What’s going on?

Breathing was getting difficult. Ian came running inside. Isn’t he giving her away?

Ian looked worried, and blurted that Elena had not arrived. Aslan’s smile faded.

His men started figuring out what was going on. Her destined driver was not picking the phone. Aslan was growing restless. The murmur of the crowd turned into chattering. He was about to leave the altar when her voice boomed into the space. What is it now? He looked around?

“Aslan, I hope you can hear me.” He turned to locate her voice but it sounded as if it was coming from a speaker. At least, she is fine was all he could think of. But where is she transmitting from?

“I know you are shocked. You were going to write history, but I am sorry to snatch your pen. I am the one who will write history, by going against the mighty Aslan Parker. In my life, I have always craved peace and respect. You robbed me of both. I tried to reason, but it was of no use, because you can’t understand that a relationship is built on trust and respect. You could never earn my trust, and respect is not something you can ever give me. I have found my way, and it’s way different from yours. You challenged me once, saying you are the powerful party. I would beg to differ now. I tried to trust you, Aslan, but you left me no choice. I was betrayed by you. But no more. I won’t be anyone’s puppet now. I am leaving. I know you will try to find me and saying anything won’t stop you. That’s why I had to choose this way. So, Goodbye, Aslan”

His eyes were filled with tears and his voice was choked when the message ended. He could feel someone drilling into his heart. Is this how it feels when a person dies? Hollow? Because there is no way he can be alive after hearing to this.

“And one more thing, Aslan.” Is there more? God, she will be his death. “I am not just a lot bet.”

He was only figuring out what she was saying when he heard commotion in the crowd. There was a man and he aimed at Aslan. But Aslan stood stunned. Aslan saw the gun aimed at him, but he was too much in grief to react. The man fired the shot and Ian reacted in a split second, but the bullet pierced his friend and the blood oozed out of him.

The hitman tried to run away but guards acted fast and caught him. Aslan fell on the ground and the blood was everywhere. He could see the church’s ceiling but all his mind thinking of was her. Her smiling face came in his view and his eyes closed. He whispered her name but he knew she will not hear him. She was gone. His life was gone. He was no better than a dead man.

Aslan’s mother was crying as he was taken to the car. Joanna and Tom were handling kids and running to the car. Aslan’s father was not invited at the wedding and he didn’t bother to put up a fight. Alicia took her mother’s hand and they walked to their car.

Ian and Matthew were seated with Aslan and were trying to keep him conscious, but only Aslan knew that he had no reason to live anymore.

The hospital was ready for Aslan. He was loaded on the stretcher and a senior doctor came running to treat him.

The doctor checked the wound and cursed.

“What is it?” Matthew asked.

“He is hit right beside his heart. I am afraid the lung is punctured.”

Ian was losing it. He held the doctor’s collar and looked into his eyes. “If anything happens to him, I will bury you with my own hands.”

“Ian, let him go.” Matthew stopped him. The doctor hurriedly guided the nurses and they took him to an operating room.

Everyone had arrived by now.

The operation lasted for 10 hours. Doctors knew that he was shot in a very tight spot, but they also knew the who he was. If anything happened to this patient, they will be dead.

Aslan’s mother was so upset that she was only praying to God. Alicia was cursing Elena, and Joanna was ready to kill her. No one was trying to understand why she did what she did and what she meant by that last sentence. Ian and Matthew couldn’t believe Elena pulled such a stunt.

The team of doctors finally came out and Aslan’s mother ran to them. “Please tell me my son is fine.” Her tears melted their hearts and the doctor placed a hand on her shoulder to steady her nerves. “I won’t lie to you. He is not fine. He needs a reason to live which I believe he is lacking right now. We have done what we could.”

“Can we see him?” Ian asked.

“He will be shifted to a private room and you can see him then.”

It took another half hour. They saw how a bare-chested Aslan was shifted to a luxury private room. Al the zeal of being a groom was gone. He was battered, pale, and wounded, teetering on the verge of death. The tux he had bought with so much zeal was gone. He was wrapped in bandages. When he had fallen after the shot, he had injured his head, so even it was wrapped.

The doctor advised them to see him one by one. His mother couldn’t control her tears when she looked at her son. She talked to him for a few minutes but finally realized who had caused this.

“I curse her. She will pay for it.” But Elena was nowhere to know what she had done.

Ian was the last to visit his friend. He broke down and all his efforts to stay strong were shattered.

“You, listen to me. You have to live. You are Aslan Parker. A bullet can’t kill you. And a woman can’t break you. You know how many kids around New York will become orphan if you die?” He tried to joke, but tears leaked. “Look, buddy, please get well soon and I swear we will find that bitch and punish her. We have to.” He felt a hand on his shoulder and found Matthew.

“Calm down, Ian. He can’t listen to you.”

“He damn has to. Listen Aslan,” He took his friend’s hand into his, “Man, it’s not time for you to go. We have to retire and play golf, and fuck thousands of women.”

“Hey, you just settled down with my sister.” Matthew tried to calm down Ian. It worked as Ian chuckled and turned to Aslan. “See? You are the only lucky bastard who can still fuck around. So, get well soon man, and I promise, we will get that bitch back.”

Matthew didn’t want to admit it, but he knew he was missing something here. Elena was such a sweet woman. She would never do something like this until it was absolutely necessary, but he knew better that voicing these thoughts now will only make the matter worse.

So, they just sat with their friend while the bride was miles away to an unknown destination.