RUIN AND REDEMPTION

Chapter 4: Into the Fire

I murmured, "Stay with me, Ethan," my hand tightening around his wrist and dragging him in toward me. Though his body shook, I could feel the heat radiating from him as though he shared my fear. His pulse surged, matching mine, but I knew we would be dead if we stayed still or delayed action.

My heart thumping was the sound of footsteps behind us—urgent, predatory. Every feeling advised us to leave. There was neither time for explanations nor for doubt. only survival.

"Victor, I find it difficult." Ethan's voice was tense and desperate, his words piercing me like a knife. "What's going on?" Why are they hunting for me?

His eyes, those wide, blue ones that had once been full of trust, now reflected the uncertainty and anxiety I felt down below. I was trying to shield him. I owed it to him for protection. No matter how many lies I told myself, though, I couldn't get rid of the truth: I was exactly as caught in this as he was.

"Not now," I said, my voice sharp with need. Just follow me and remain silent.

His resistance was palpable. I didn't blame Ethan since he was not the kind to follow orders. Between us, we harbored too much unresolved anger and too much history. Right now, though, that was not relevant. I needed him to believe me.

Victor, I—“victor," He began, but I had to stop him from finishing.

With fingers probing the fabric of his jacket, I grabbed him by the shoulder and drew him into the darkness. It made no difference whether we were pressed up against the side of a building now, the chilly stone rubbing against my back. We had to leave the street, away from the car pursuit closing in on us and the flashing lights.

Now I could hear them: slow, deliberate steps closing in from all sides. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw the dark figures moving from the alley. Though I had no idea how many of them there were, I knew we had not long before they discovered us.

Pulling Ethan even closer, my breath came quickly as I tried to find my bearings. His body pressed against mine—the warmth of him, the closeness—reminded me of everything we used to share, of how much I had lost, and how much I still wanted him.

"Victor.." Ethan murmured, his voice barely audible and rough.

I fixed my gaze on him and sensed the unadulterated passion on his face—the pain, the anger, the fear. Though I could not let him see it, it reflected all I was experiencing. I couldn let him know how much I really cared.

"Don't talk," I said, my voice low and dangerous, my eyes looking about for any movement. "They're practically here."

Again, Victor asked, his voice quivering with desperation: "Why are they after me?"

I pushed myself to swallow the lump in my throat, as the weight of the truth descended over me like a suffocating blanket. Though I detested myself for it, there was no other way to put it. I had to present the reality to him.

My voice breaks quietly, "They're after you because of me."

Shock widened Ethan's eyes, but before he could react, the sound of gravel crunching far away echoed. Steps forward. More walks.

I sensed the air change and the stress mounting all around us. I said, "Stay down," just barely keeping my voice steady. I drew him into a crouch and peeped around the corner, my arm encircling him defensively.

Their forms caught me; at least four men were moving deliberately. They were not here for a polite conversation. Their only reason here was blood.

"What are their expectations of me?" Though Ethan's voice was low, his tone clearly revealed panic.

I swallowed the bile building in my throat, gritted my teeth. Though he had to know, the truth tasted sour.

"They want you because of the deal," I said, my voice strained. "They believe you possess knowledge they need. Something they are going to kill for.

Ethan's eyes flicked to mine, and for a split second I sensed the spark of identification. He followed what I was saying. But on his face was all the rage and the treachery.

You used me, he said, his voice quivering with passion. You advanced by using me. And now, because of it, they are chasing me.

I staggered, the words like a slap to the face stinging. "No," I answered, sounding raw with irritation. "I did not make use of you. I made a decision. a decision meant to keep you safe. I never wanted you to wind up in the middle of this.

He turned away, his jaw clenched. And now I am expected to regain my trust in you? His comments, while accurate, were piercing. I had deceived him.

"I'm sorry, Ethan," I said, but the words felt empty. "I had no idea it would travel this far. I never wanted you in danger. Unlike this.

But I had to protect him. Before it was too late, I had to get him off this planet.

"Victor...?" Ethan began, but his voice stammered. He had conflict in his eyes. The struggle he was still trying to hang onto against his resentment toward me. Which one would prevail eluded me.

I pushed my fingers to his lips and murmured, "Shh." Now the conflict between us was intolerable, but I couldn't pay attention to that. I only could concentrate on getting us out of here. "Silence yourself. Not make a sound.

Now the footsteps got louder and more direct. They were almost here.

Breathing deeply, I drew Ethan closer just as the first shadow passed the alley entrance. My hand tightened around his wrist, and our eyes locked for a brief moment again, this time with a silent awareness.

Though Ethan said nothing, I could see it in his eyes. He terrified himself. And I was therefore as well.

I would not, however, be losing him once more. Neither could I.

One of the guys suddenly turned toward us, staring down the alley. I inhaled, praying we wouldn't be seen. But it was already too late.

"Get down!” Just as the man turned his head toward us, I hissed, dragging Ethan down.

The strain in the atmosphere was stifling. The footfall stopped, and for a moment everything went quiet.

The man spoke then, his voice like gravel. "I know Victor, you are here. You cannot hide indefinitely.

Ethan stopped, terror widening his eyes.

My heart thumping, I turned back to him. "Get ready," I said, my voice hardly more than a whisper.

Then all burst in an instant.

The man shot forward, and I dragged Ethan into the darkness with me, just barely avoiding the blow meant for my head. My pulse surged, and adrenaline poured from me.

I yelled, "Run!" pushing him ahead.

My heart dropped, though, as we ran toward the next alley and heard another car squealing to stop.

We no longer were by ourselves.

And there was nowhere out this time.

Our feet thumping against the concrete, we hurried into the next alley, but the sound of the men's sharp, forceful voices rang from behind us, getting closer with every step. There was no time; I turned forward. We had to keep on even though I could feel the air squeezing in on us and the tightness of the street closing in all around.

"Victory!" Ethan gasped, and his breath came quickly. His hand tightened mine, dragging me along even as I tried to concentrate on the movement forward. "We cannot run from them indefinitely!"

I knew, I panted, my chest constricting. "We simply have to keep on toward the next street. We will figure a means of escape from this.

Even to me, though, my words seemed empty. The men's voices grew louder as I heard their boots crunch on the ground, closing the distance. My brain flew; nowhere could be used for hiding or running. I had no escape strategy. Not a way to stop this.

"victor!" Ethan pulled me to a stop, and his voice cracked. I—I am unable to do this anymore.

His comments shocked me like a physical blow, forcing awareness through my chest. I had hauled him into this mess. All the secrets, all the lies I had buried—it was all emerging right now. He was imprisoned, and I knew nothing to ask for. Not anything to present. Only my mistakes.

I said, "I'm sorry," barely audible, but Ethan heard me. His eyes locked with mine, the hurt and uncertainty in them clearer than it had ever been. He was afraid, so I had no right to force him through this.

Then tell me what's happening, Victor demanded, his voice quivering with intensity. Tell me the real story. That much is due to me.

I heard clearly a car door slamming before I could respond. Footfall thud across the alley, their motions exact and coordinated. Upon turning to check over my shoulder, the shadows had already engulfed us. We had time to run out.

My pulse pounding, I said, "They're closing in." "We just have a little time."

The tension was broken suddenly by the loud, commanding voice, which froze us both in place.

"You cannot hide forever, Victor," the man said with a menacing tone. We'll find you. And when we do, you will regret every minute you ran.

Trying to keep it together, I closed my eyes, but the words hit harder than I anticipated. Right now, they were rather near. We came upon a corner. And I had no idea how I might defend myself.

My head whirling through every conceivable escape path, I turned to Ethan. But nothing really existed. Not at all clear how out.

Ethan murmured, "Victor..." his voice shaking. "What do we do right now?"

I looked at him; the weight of everything between us collapsed. The anxiety, the treachery, the fear—all felt too much.

And then we could hear feet right behind us.

A cold, terrible voice echoed across the alley, sending shivers down my spine.

"You're not headed anywhere, Victor." Not without costs.

My heart dropped; before I could respond, someone entered the small opening ahead and blocked our only way out.

We got imprisoned