Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Elizabeth looked at the gun in her hands and held tightly ready to pull the trigger.

The guards and maids all shut their eyes in fear and horror but kept their ears open waiting to hear a gunshot. Clinton bent his head knowing fully well he would be breathing his last soon. If Karen, the most favored and well treated of everyone in the room could pull the trigger on him, how much more someone whom he has mistreated all his life, someone he had made to feel pain.

To him, and even to her, this is her best opportunity to take her revenge on him without being blamed for anything. He wished he was allowed to say his last words. What would he have even chosen to say? Call his parents and apologize for refusing to go with them? Maybe if he had listened to them, he wouldn't be in this situation. Or maybe apologize to everyone he has offended in the past both intentionally and unintentionally.

Well, none of that was necessary that moment since he would be dead soon enough. He took a quick glance at Elizabeth before him with her hand firmly holding the gun ready to pull the trigger.

He wondered why it was taking her too long to pull the damn thing. Karen didn't waste time like that. He tried to take a peek at her facial expression but couldn't understand what he saw. Her face showed no particular emotion or anything. He wished she made it quicker for him.

"You have at the count of three to pull that trigger, 1…..2…..3…," the leader of the masked men yelled at Elizabeth.

The room was pin drop silent as they all waited to hear the sound of a gunshot.

The maids and guards felt pity for their boss as he is currently faced with someone who shouldn't even think twice before ending his life for all she had passed through in his hands. They believed it would be a simple thing for Elizabeth to do. What more legal way to kill her tormentor could she ever find. This is her perfect time to avenge her pain. But why on earth is she taking a lot of time?

"Tawai!" the sound of a metal something that fell on the floor was heard.

Everyone looked to see what happened only to find that Elizabeth had thrown the gun she held on the floor. To say they were beyond shocked was an understatement. Now it is her turn to be pitied as the masked men won't take it lightly with her.

"I can't do it," Elizabeth knelt on the floor almost tearing up.

"I can't….I can't...I just can't...I thought I could but I just can't…" she said incoherently.

"Huh? Ha ha ha," the leader of the gang laughed but his face never showed it. He merely made a sound. He looked like he was having a hard time controlling his anger that Elizabeth just awoke.

He approached Elizabeth where she fell on her knees and dragged her up holding her hair. Elizabeth yelled in pain.

"You know, for one who has suffered a lot in his hands, I'm surprised you are letting this opportunity slip out of your hands," he held a gun to her throat.

It baffled everyone how he got to know about that. That means he had an insider. Someone betrayed the Smith' s family. Mr and Mrs Smith won't take it kindly with whoever it is when they return.

Elizabeth couldn't breathe well for fear of the cold metal that was being held directly to her throat almost to be pulled.

Who would ever believe Elizabeth would give up this golden opportunity presented before her on a silver platter.

Clinton couldn't understand what just happened before him. First Elizabeth couldn't pull the trigger, not because she can't but because she chose not to.

"I guess you are ready to die in his place huh?" He asked with his hand still gripping Elizabeth's hair tightly.

"Huh? Are you ready to die for him?" He yelled this time in anger pushing Elizabeth away. She landed very hard on the floor gasping for air.

"You have one last chance, and that would be all. You pull the trigger or I kill you myself. Your last chance. Bolly hand her the gun."

"Please don't. I can't do it. You can kill me instead," Elizabeth said from where she sat wincing in pain to the utmost surprise of everyone.

"Okay. Your wish would be granted. Bolly tie her up."

Elizabeth was tied up immediately to one of the pillars in the room.

Clinton bent his head. He should be happy, at least he is still alive at the moment, all thanks to Elizabeth. He couldn't believe it. Elizabeth of all people? saved his life. He can bet on his life that any other person in the room wouldn't hesitate to kill him if it would save theirs.

He shook his head not in happiness to be alive, to be saved by someone that in reality should not spare his life, but in shame and self hate. How has he hated her all these while for nothing.

Clinton thought about why he had hated and mistreated Elizabeth all these while but couldn't make out any reason. He cried bitterly within him wishing he had done better.

All he wanted that moment was a chance to undo his doing, a chance to beg for forgiveness from Elizabeth, a chance to amend his ways, a chance to be a better person not just to Elizabeth but to everyone around him.

"If she can't do it, others are willing to. I told you we ain't leaving you here with life inside of you," the leader taunted Clinton.

Clinton started to fret all over again. For two sake of becoming a better person, he begged God to spare his life just this once. He couldn't even believe he could pray but he saw himself doing it.

He used to hear people pray and refer to God as the last hope of the common man. That moment, he considered himself to be a common man and prayed fervently.

Same loaded gun was handed over to Karen again to finish up what Elizabeth didn't have the nerve to do.

Clinton knew it was finally his end. He felt it and shut his eyes.

"Forgive me lord, and make Elizabeth to forgive me too," he mumbled his last prayers and waited to breathe his last.