THE SIREN'S BECOMING.

THIRD POV. As the lights disappeared from his eyes, a tear escaped as he struggled to breathe. He tried grabbing onto something, but nothing could help him. Neegan struggled to open his eyes, and he couldn't help but manage a smile when he saw Anna by his side. "I can't br...e..a..t..h", he said, struggling to breathe. "I know, baby", Anna said, her voice breaking. Neegan lay there on the ground as he clutched Anna's hand as if it were the only link to the living he had. His heart gave away slowly, and all he could do was stare at the beautiful woman who was beside him. He wanted to tell her to call somebody and not just sit there watching the life drain out of him. "Am sorry ", Anna said as she kissed Neegan. What had she done? A tear escaped Neegan's eyes as he stared at the woman whom he had loved with everything in him. A woman he would have offered his life in exchange for if it meant she would be happy. "W...hy?" Neegan muttered as he took a breath, not knowing it was the last. 10 HOURS EARLIER. As the cicadas swayed, creating a rhythm, Anna was lost in it, lost in the wave. She couldn't help but feel nostalgic. "Do you love it ?" Neegan asked as he stared at Anna, wondering what a beauty like her was doing with a man like him. He could see beyond the tough girl act she put up every time she was working. He didn't know what was better, her being soft or her being in action. "I love it ", Anna said as she smiled at Neegan. "I want to make you the happiest woman alive. Anything you want, just tell me, and you'll get it. I love you so much, Mi amor ", Neegan said, taking a breath to stare at the beauty that was standing in front of him. "I love you too ", Anna said, but this time around, there was no smile, just sadness. "No am not done. I know I'm not a good man, but I am so lucky to have you in my life. I do not know what it did to deserve to be loved by you. Every time I looked at you, I wondered how life would have been if I had met you earlier. I hate that you went through so many things before you made your way to me. I want to protect you and take care of you. I would do anything and give up anything if it meant I would have you in my life forever. You have given my life colour and meaning. I love you, Annastasia, "Neegan said, looking at her. In that moment, she felt like the whole world had stopped just for that moment. In that moment, she felt as if she was capable of anything. She knew they were just words. She couldn't lose control; she had gotten way too far. "The guests are here, it's time for the first dance," Marriana, their maid, said. "Thanks, Marriana", Anna said. "You're welcome, my lady ", Marriana said and left the two together. "We can't keep the guests waiting ", said Anna as she wore the mask on her face. The chandeliers hung high and shined like they had just robbed a diamond mine. As Anna walked around the room, glancing at everyone present, she wondered how many of them were Neegan's friends. How many people? They wanted him dead? "Can I have this dance ?" Neegan asked as he stretched his hand to hold Anna. "Yes, you can ", Anna said as she got engulfed in his arms. As the speakers burst with young and beautiful Anna wondered what life would have been like if she had never met Neegan. She could picture herself sitting by the window, covered in tears, wondering where she had gone wrong. "What do you think they are talking about ?" Anna asked Neegan as she stared at the spectators who were staring at them. She really hated that she couldn't see people's faces, but that was the whole point of having a masquerade ball. "It doesn't matter am here with you dancing thats all I care about. They can think about whatever they want ", Neegan whispered as he swung her around, bowing in front of their guests. "I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us ", Neegan said as he took Anna's hand as they left the dance floor. "I believe in just letting things flow. Putting too much faith in the future tends to end terribly and disappoint us in the end, don't you think? "Anna said as she grabbed their drinks and handed one to Neegan. "I think we all have room to dream. If you live in the constant fear of something bad happening, then it will most definitely happen", Neegan said as he took his drink in one gulp. "I think life has this trick of always giving you what you want just to take it away from you. There's pleasure in snatching the thing you want the most from you. Watch you become ruined by something that was not going to be there forever. I think the best way to enjoy life is to live each moment to the fullest. Live like it's your last day cause it might be ", Anna said as she kissed Neegan. "Well, baby, then let's live like this is our last day. What do you want to do today ?"Neegan asked her with excitement all over his face. "I want to be drunk and in love ", Anna said as she grabbed two glasses of champagne. "Then that's exactly what we're gonna do ", Neegan said as he took the drinks from Anna's hand without a second thought and donned them. He had won. His enemies were lying dead in their graves, and there he was hosting a ball. He had the love of his life, and his life was finally starting to make sense. After very many years, he was finally starting to be happy. He had found the piece that was missing.