Everything happened too fast. Way too fast.
The rain was coming down hard now, blurring my vision. Liam's hand was tight around mine too tight but I didn't care. I was scared. Like, really scared. The kind of scared that makes your chest hurt and your legs forget how to work.
Run,Liam said. Not loud. Not calm either. Just serious.
Run where? I cried, my voice breaking. My eyes kept darting back to that figure standing near the car. Still smiling. Like this was some kind of joke.
I said run, Kaya! he snapped.
That's when I noticed it. The blood.
It wasn't a lot. Just a thin line running down Liam's arm, mixing with the rain. I stared at it like my brain refused to process what I was seeing.
You're hurt, I whispered.
I'm fine,he said quickly. Too quickly. Please just trust me.
Trust him.
Funny how he chose now to ask for that.
Before I could say anything else, the figure stepped forward. Slow. Confident. Like they had all the time in the world.
So this is her, the stranger said. A man's voice. Cold. Almost bored. She doesn't look like much.
My heart dropped straight into my stomach.
Liam stepped in front of me instantly, blocking my view. Stay back, he warned. His voice was different now. Hard. Protective. Dangerous.
The man laughed. Relax. I'm not here to hurt her.
Then he paused. Smiled wider.
Yet.
I grabbed Liam's jacket from behind. My hands were shaking so bad I could barely hold on. Liam who is he?"I asked
Liam didn't answer me. He just stared at the man. I told you to stay away.
And I told you,the man replied calmly, there's no walking away from this life.
Life? What life?
The man's eyes flicked to me again. "She knows nothing, does she?
Silence.
That silence was louder than any scream.
I looked at Liam's back, waiting. Begging. Hoping he'd say something. Anything.
Kaya he finally said, quietly. Too quietly. "I didn't want you to find out like this.
Find out what?
The man took another step closer. "She deserves to know,he said. "Don't you think?
My chest felt tight. Liam, I said again, my voice cracking. "What's going on? I asked almost crying.
He turned to me then. His eyes were full of something I'd never seen before fear. Real fear.
I lied,he said.
The words hit me harder than the rain.
I lied about who I am.
Before I could even ask what that meant
A loud bang echoed through the park.
I screamed.
Liam shoved me down behind the bench, covering me with his body. My ears rang, my heart felt like it was going to explode.
Whatever happens, he whispered urgently, his face inches from mine, rain dripping from his lashes, you have to promise me something.
My throat burned. "What?
If they take me
He swallowed.
…don't come looking."
My eyes filled with tears. What do you mean if? Still confused
He didn't answer.
Because the man was already moving again.
And this time he wasn't alone.
Between us, forever
was no longer just about love.
It was about survival.