Chapter 31: Chapter 31

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“I-I NEVER meant to say goodbye to you this way. I never meant to say goodbye at all. Please forgive me…”

“Alexander…” Gretel hugged him from behind as fresh tears kept streaming down her face. “Hold on. Save your strength. We need to get out of here alive.”

“I’m sorry you have to see me die like this. This is the reason why you can’t see me after sunset. I don’t want you to know that I turn into a monster at night. I have been living like this for years, and I’m only waiting for my thirtieth birthday to die. This is the curse Minerva gave me.” Alexander’s trembling hand squeezed her arm. “I love you. Promise me you’ll survive.”

“N-no! We’re going to make it out alive!”

“I-I’ll make sure you’ll make it out alive.”

But Gretel doubted that. She could feel his weight on her. Alexander was losing his strength quickly.

“And I’m here to make sure that at least one of you will die,” Minerva said cunningly.

She lifted the weapon in her hand as she slowly walked toward them, a disgusting grin plastered on her face.

Alexander tried to lift his body to shield Gretel from her, but it was a struggle. He was wounded badly.

Gretel shifted in a swift moment, putting her body between Alexander and Minerva. She hugged him tight. Alexander roared her name as the weapon dug into her flesh. For a moment, Gretel stopped breathing.

“N-no!”

Minerva retreated in shock as she pulled the weapon from Gretel’s back.

“Bitch!” she hissed. “Do you want to die, too?”

Alexander felt Gretel’s warm blood in his hand. That moment, he thought his death came early.

“Gretel, no!”

“Then I’ll just have to kill you both!” Minerva prepared for another attack.

“I-I love you,” Gretel said despite the pain.

Even before Minerva could bury the blade on Gretel’s back for the second time, the mirror on the other end cracked.

“Y-you can’t die on me, whether you’re Alexander or Javier. I love you just the same. If you die on me, I’ll kill you myself.”

“G-Gretel…” His voice broke as she pulled her into a tight hug. “Don’t die. I’d rather die from your hands than this curse. I love you. Please…”

“N-nooo!” Minerva screamed.

Her magic mirror was her source of strength and youthful beauty. It can’t break. Not now! Not ever!

She saw her reflection on the broken pieces. Her skin turned to wrinkle, her hair turning grey. She caught her face. Her smooth skin began to turn dull and old.

“H-how could you love a monster like him?” she snarled at Gretel.

Gretel could not blink as she watched the horror of Minerva’s change before her eyes.

“Javier is not a monster. The real monster is the one you see in that mirror. Don’t tell me a thing or two about love when you know nothing about it at all. You only love yourself. You’re just another miserable person who thinks superficial beauty is everything. You’re pathetic.”

Minerva screamed.

Alexander saw the torch from the corner. He grabbed it and threw it on Minerva before he dropped to the floor. Her dress caught fire.

She was crying in agony, begging to put out the fire in vain. She paced restlessly until she reached the window and lost her balance, falling to her death.

Alexander crawled to Gretel’s side.

“G-Gretel…” He caught her hand. “Hold on.”

“Javier… I love you. I mean it.” She squeezed his hand weakly and smiled.

“I love you, too.”

They slowly closed their eyes as the light from the torch on the floor went out.

“JAVIER, c-can you hear me?”

He slowly opened his eyes. Everything was blurry. He felt weak, and his throat was dry.

He felt a squeeze on his hand. As his eyes adjusted, he saw Gretel's worried face over him. But she was still as beautiful as the sunrise and sunset.

“Tell me I’m not dead.”

“Oh!” Gretel laughed as tears sprung from her eyes. “You can’t die. I promise to kill you myself, remember?”

Javier chuckled.

“Javier!”

Gretel buried her face on his chest as she wrapped her arms around him.

“I thought you’re gone. Thank God!” she said as she cried harder.

“What day is it, my love?” he asked as he stroked her back.

“Three days since your thirtieth birthday.”

He blinked. He could not believe he was unconscious for more than three days!

“Your wound.”

“I’m fine. At least, it’s bearable now.”

“Did I change?”

Gretel sniffed as she sat beside him.

“No. You did not change. The curse was already broken. And I read your letter. I still hate you, by the way.”

“What?” Javier uttered as he stared.

“You did not really think I would love you as Alexander?”

He was caught off guard.

“I-I’m sorry.”

“Will you trust my love for you now?”

“After taking that blade for me? That was really stupid of you, Gretel.”

“I know,” she said, pouting. “And you know what? I won’t mind doing it over and over again.” She cupped his face. “I love you.”

Javier reached for her face and traced the dark circles under her teary eyes.

“This is not a dream, right?”

“No. You’re here with me. For real.”

“I love you,” he said with a smile.

“I knew you’d say that.” Gretel giggled like a child. “Do you need anything?”

“Water,” he mouthed.

“Of course.” Gretel stood up and grabbed the pitcher on the nightstand.

“What happened back at the tower?” Javier asked.

“Mr. Martinez arrived with Hansel…”