The Latent Sentinel

FATEFUL ENCOUNTER 7

Ella POV:

It was still raining outside. It started raining again around late morning. It just stopped raining for some time in the afternoon yesterday. That’s when those rogues showed up. It is like I am living in a water bubble that will burst any second. After a very long time, I was happy and safe, so I enjoyed this feeling. The comfort of having someone who would be there for me forever and would take care of me made me feel wonderful. I could see his eyes come alive every time he looked at me. I can sense a deep hidden loneliness in his heart, but I hope he finds comfort in my presence as well.

We stayed like that for the whole day. By midnight, I was asleep in his embrace. The next morning it was still raining heavily. The thunder and the maddening rain colliding with trees was making everything feel scary and loud. I was holding Ethan’s hand for my dear life, hiding my face in his broad chest, when that dreadful feeling of doom came back tenfold. Suddenly, I heard rustling noises and sensed movement at the cave entrance.

I woke Ethan up by shaking him. He is alert and ready as soon as he smells the rotten flesh. He wanted me to stay. I could see it on his face. I am not staying here again; he is not going anywhere without me. When I protested, he took a defensive stance in front of me and moved me behind his back. We slowly made our way forward. It smelled like rotten meat and spoiled eggs. I felt like vomiting but the fear of dying stopped me from making any noise. The dark suffocating feeling is back. I was terrified of this; those people are back.

“Good job. You are both awake. I thought I would have to wake you up.” Says a deadly-looking guy standing at the entrance. He is covered in tattoos and smells of garbage covered in cigarettes and alcohol. He has burn marks on his neck and a chopped ear. I inched towards Ethan involuntarily. He sees that and smiles sinisterly.

“Well… well… so that’s our new bodyguard. I see. You both costed me good people with your killing spree yesterday. But not to worry, now I will capture you and get what I am owed by the master.” He sneers, smiling at me. He looks sick. His smile is sinister and creepy. I have this feeling of dread deep in my bones which is paralyzing me. I feel as if something terrible is about to happen, and I can't stop it no matter what I do.

Ethan’s anger is simmering on the surface. I can feel his patience dwindling with this guy. I tried to hold him back. We can run if we get a chance, and they will never catch us again. We can be happy and live together somewhere far-far away.

I try to pull Ethan back, but he shields me from the guy. Four more people came forward and stood behind the guy. They are blocking the entrance. Just as the guy is about to say something else, Ethan shifts and attacks them. Nyx is on the surface, looking at her mate. She knows we can’t shift. But when a grey-looking hyena pins Ethan down, Nyx shifts, and her roar shakes the cave. Rocks tumble, hitting the guys guarding the entrance. We fight side by side and kill all the five hyenas.

Ethan shifts back, I am looking at his toned back when suddenly he drops. He is on the floor and another dangerous-looking man with burns and whip marks on the back sliced a knife through his back. Before I can react, he has the knife on Ethan’s neck.

“Now…now… little dove. We don’t want him dead, do we? We have had enough shift and reject this mate of yours, or I will kill him.” Nyx roars in agony.

“We can’t have people fighting and protecting you. You will be alone till you give up and accept our master. That’s what Master told me to tell you. Now reject him or I will kill him.” I don’t know what to do, but I am sure I won’t let Ethan die.

“What if I reject him, and you still kill him?” I have to keep him distracted if I want to save Ethan.

“Fine, I give you my word. You reject him and I will let him leave. I won’t kill him.”

I pretend to think about it and when he looks away for a second, Ethan kills him. I slowly helped him sit and took him inside the cave. We both just sat there looking at each other. I know now that he won’t be safe if I am in his life. He would die if I stayed with him. Nyx is angry at me, but I block her out. I know what I have to do to keep him safe. I need to do this. I can’t see him getting hurt. He almost died twice. I am not good for him. I am a poison for him which will kill him. Maybe he will find someone gentler and kind like him. He deserves someone better than me. The jealousy alone kills me, but I need to do this for him. Before I could change my mind, I did the unthinkable. I killed his kindness with my words. I know he will never forgive me, but he will be alive and safe. That is enough for me.

“I Ellasandra Larue, reject you, Ethan Raynott.”

I said with tears in my eyes and held my chest. The pain kills me. I fell to the ground clutching my chest. Ethan is on the ground clutching his chest, gasping for breath. In his moment of distraction, I make a run for it. He would never forgive me. I can never face him again. I ran away from the love of my life. I ran away from my happy ending.

I have been running from him since that day. It doesn’t matter where I am in the forest, Ethan always finds me. He helps me when I don’t notice, but he gives me my space. I can’t seem to forget him, but I can’t accept him either. It would put his life in danger.

Everything swirls around us as the memory disappears from my mind. The past and present swirl together. I cry at the memory of the kind stranger I lost before I could get to know him. I cry for the pain I caused him.

End of flashback.