MARK:
She had been shot.
Blood poured from her, and she lay there, unmoving. Just like her.
Once again, I was dragged back into that dark, hollow corner of the world, where sanity had no power against the cold, empty void. I stared blankly at her. Why wasn't she moving?
Is she...? No. No. I couldn't lose her too. I wouldn't. I held her in my arms as if she were the most fragile thing in the world, terrified that even the slightest movement would shatter her. Just like her. I couldn't take any risks. Couldn't... wouldn't afford that.
I pulled her close, but she didn't hold onto me as she used to. Her body was limp, her head and hands falling away, and I clutched her tighter, desperate. Rising to my feet, I tried to carry her off the ship. One of Leo's men—the same bastard who'd shot Lara—charged at me.
This time, I didn't hold back. With one powerful kick, I sent him flying into the sea.
My gaze shot to the boat where our team—Rio, Raven, and the others—stood with the kids. I spotted Bitney among them, safe. Her tearful eyes reflected the pain she felt for Lara.
My chest tightened. This was all my fault. Just like before, it was I who had dragged her into this mess. If I'd only been more careful, if I'd answered her call this morning, maybe she would have—
"Hurry! We're running out of time," Rio shouted from the boat. "The ship's sinking; it'll go down any moment!"
But what if she dies too? What would be left for me in this world? Maybe we should sink together. I wasn't ready to let her go.
"Mark!" Raven yelled over the chaos. "What are you doing? Come on! We need to move!"
But my legs refused to move. And then—I saw her. Amy.
Her long, brown hair, her soft, warm eyes that could melt ice with a single glance. The same beautiful smile that never failed to make my heart race like a wild horse. But this time, there was a new look in her eyes—pain.
She was crying.
As the soft breeze blew, rain splattered around us, and she just stared at me. There was anger in her eyes—anger, sadness, and... blame. She held me responsible for everything.
I wanted to reach out to touch her one last time. But I knew she wouldn't let me. And then, with a deep pain etched in her gaze, she began to fade. Shadows crept up behind her, monstrous shapes swallowing her whole. She fought, I could see it—but they wouldn't release her.
"A-Amy... wait..."
But she didn't. She closed her eyes, surrendering to her fate as the darkness pulled her in. I reached for her, desperate, but she continued slipping away. A single tear rolled down her cheek, mixing with the rain before disappearing into the depths.
"No... wait... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." I whispered, the words tumbling out, as if they could pull her back.
Water surged up around me, rising quickly, swallowing everything just like the shadows had taken her. What was I supposed to do? How could I—
Suddenly, strong arms grabbed me from behind, yanking me away. I clung to Lara, holding onto her with everything I had. I couldn't—wouldn't—let her go. Not now. Not ever.
"What the hell were you thinking?" The voice was fierce. Dazed, I looked up and realized I was on the boat, Benny towering over me, his face dark with rage. Even in the pitch-black night, I recognized his stormy eyes. Those eyes could burn through any darkness.
"You could have drowned!" he shouted, fury thick in his voice. "You could have died! Why would you risk everything like that?"
But the words hung hollow in the air. Because she was gone. And nothing I could say would bring her back.
I couldn't process it—seeing her again after all these years. It felt surreal, like a dream I couldn't shake. But I knew she'd been there. She had been real.
"Jesus, she's bleeding!" Benny shouted, his eyes fixed on Lara's unmoving body. I was still trapped in a darkness I couldn't escape, frozen as if venom had paralyzed me. Benny gestured to Rio, who gently pulled Lara from my grasp. I wanted to protest, but I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. It was like I was anchored in place, drowning in a sea of shadows.
"Mark? You all right, brother?" Benny's voice was laced with concern as he tried to pull me back. I could only stare at him, my mind blank. "Mark?" he called again, more urgently.
Then I felt small arms wrap around my waist. Looking down, I saw Amara clinging to me, her tear-streaked face full of worry. "Ma-Mark... why aren't you saying anything?" she asked. "Will Lara be okay?"
The truth was, I didn't know. I didn't know if Lara would survive, if she'd ever open her eyes again or look at me with the same warmth she once did—or if she'd hate me, the way Amy had. I had no answers. I was lost, shattered, trapped in a maze of regrets and guilt with no way out.
I watched as Raven led Amara and the other girls to safety. As the boat moved through the rain, Benny turned to Rio. "What about the others?"
"We caught one," Rio replied, his tone cold. "The other escaped, but we're tracking him. He won't get far."
"Good," Benny said, nodding. He paused, a dark glint in his eye. "As for the one we caught... show him a taste of our hell."
And I stood there in the pouring rain, feeling as though hell had already claimed me.