Chapter 10: Chapter 10

I step back, processing what’s going on here. Bobby whimpered and tried to fight back, but Ethan didn’t let go of him until he lost a lot of blood. My hands started to tremble, and my knees weakened, wanting to shout and curse at him for doing that to Bobby. He dropped the poor dog on the ground, lifeless, and started to take a step forward closer to my spot.

“Ethan! Are you fucking sick or something?! Why did you-” then I stopped when I realized he was holding a knife. Ethan is holding a knife.

Why would Ethan hold a knife and kill a dog he loves and treat him as his own son? The Ethan I know would use his claws and transform into his wolf form to kill his victim. I bit my tongue to control the outcry inside my head. I shook my head, wanting to get rid of the thought haunting me. This can’t be. Earlier, we were just talking about him, and Ethan comforted me. I was just stressed and needed a rest.

I am facing the person we didn’t expect would return. Could it be.…?

After thinking deeply, I surfaced back to reality when he launched the knife he was holding to my face. I quickly dodged it, then took my cue to run away from his sight. My heart was throbbing painfully to what happened to Bobby. I felt like I had lost another child again. I kept my composure since I needed to escape from his wrath!

He laughed maniacally as if he was ready to suppress the world. He’s gone mad and crazy. No one can stop him right now from the devastation he will create.

I finally found the grand staircase and was about to run on the stairs when I suddenly ceased. My eyes widened in pure horror when I saw Ethan lying on the ground floor, swimming in his own pool of blood. There were holes on his back, making it look like he was stabbed with pure choler.

I was about to rush to his side when someone grabbed my elbow. I looked from my shoulder and saw Nathan smiling frighteningly. His eyes were thirsty for retaliation. I screamed and tried to push him away, but unexpectedly, he was strong. His grip tightened around my arms, causing his nails to cut deeply into my wounds. I panted, and a tear escaped.

“You’re such a fucking slut for dating my brother after what he had done to our parents and to me!” he yelled, then pushed me on the stairs. I rolled and banged my head on each staircase before finally dropping to the ground. My vision becomes blurry, and my head is spinning crazy. I saw Ethan. He’s close to reaching now. I tried to crawl towards his spot, reaching out his hand. I was almost there when a foot stomped on my hand.

“Both of you should suffer in hell just like what happened to me!” Nathan screamed. He pointed his gun at me.

“NO!” I jolted on my spot, breathing heavily. I looked around and saw I was on the same bed. Sweats were forming on my forehead and dripping down on the bedsheets. I cursed and realized it was all a nightmare. I was stressing about it so much it haunted me in my sleep.

I heard a bark beside me and saw Bobby looking at me curiously. If he can talk, he would ask what’s wrong. I sighed in relief and hugged him to see him he was okay. That dream caused me trauma. I will never let Bobby run away from my sight.

“Thank goodness you’re alright,” I whispered and decided to look for Ethan. I need to make sure he’s alright. I wrapped a robe around me and then left the room. I flinched when the sky started to rumble. Perhaps it’s going to rain.

“Ethan!” I called his name, looking anywhere. Good thing I remember the way down to the grand staircase. I quickly went there to see if my dream wasn’t fooling me. I heaved a sigh of relief to see everything was clean. I massage my head and then drop to the ground, suddenly feeling exhausted.

I’m glad it’s just a nightmare. No pool of blood, nor does Ethan get stabbed insight. I stayed there for a while, restraining myself from thinking anything that would bother me again. Perhaps, Ethan is right. I am pressuring myself too much in our situation. I shouldn’t overthink it since this is the cause of my stress. I’ll get nightmares if I don’t stop.

I chuckled and then shook my head before getting up.

“Ethan!” I screamed for his name, looking around to see where he went. Well, I need to find him since it’s already midnight, I assume, and he hasn’t gotten back yet. He said he would fix some of the things here, and I noticed a slight difference in the place. Well, it did highlight some of the features. I’m impressed Ethan actually did these all by himself without my help. Well, what could I expect from him? The place is massive, and some rooms still need to be cleaned up.

“Ethan! Where are you?” I screamed once again, and I heard a bark coming from my back. I glanced at Bobby, who wagged his tail while trailing behind.

“Have you seen your Dad?” I asked him, and he shook his head. I sighed. Where did he go? I pushed myself to roam the area and check every room. Panic started to rise inside my system when there was no shadow, nor even a strand of hair of Ethan was seen in the whole mansion.

Could it be? I shook my head. Ethan wouldn’t dare to do that, not without my consent. He knows how dangerous outside is, especially if there are forces like Allen out there who would murder him without having doubts!

“Ethan! This is not funny!”

“Ethan!”

“Where are you?!”

I stopped, catching my breath while holding on to my knees. This can’t be.

Ethan had gone out.

I tried to compose myself, restraining the negative thoughts circulating inside my head. Keep it together, Natasha. Ethan must be here somewhere here since the place is tremendous. We just agreed to each other earlier not to lie and hide something.

I chuckled humorlessly, even though the demons inside my stomach were already hollering at each other, causing me to get nuisance. I shook my head and then called his name until my throat dried. Bobby was also barking, looking for his Dad but no bail. I jerked when the thunder blasted out in the sky, making a clangorous noise startled beneath it. Bobby whimpered, then closed his ears using his paws. I carried him to stroke his fur, keeping him calm. Dogs have sensitive hearing, and it might cause stress to them. I wrapped Bobby between my arms and continued my search even though it was hopeless.

I stopped in front of the door when I noticed something. I gradually crossed the gap between the porch when another lightning strike appeared, giving me a better view of the claw mark on the ground. My eyes widened from the sight. I looked up to see the forest before me. The cold wind violently blows on my feature. I squint my eyes to see deeper inside the forest. Another pitch of roaring hollered, and this time, something flickered in my head.

"Ethan…" I whispered his name when I saw him going out with his wolf form. Returning to the city we escaped to track down his brother's body.

I shook my head, stepping back. This couldn't be possible. Am I overthinking too much again that I see things that terrify me? I message my temple, closing my eyes. Ethan didn't leave me for the sake of knowing if what I saw was true. I opened my eyes and then stepped out of the porch, running in the middle of the woods while holding Bobby tightly in my arms.

"Ethan!"

I was crying my heart out while calling his name. I just hope he's safe out there since there must be surveillance from the orders of Allen. Something pierced my soul, just the thought of him running away from me. He should have told me everything! He shouldn't scare me like this! What if something terrible happens to him?! What if one of Allen's forces shoots him with their weapons?! Why on earth should he go back from the hell hole we escaped for a reason in the first place?!

Bobby bark, then scoops closer into my chest, hiding his head from the rain. I am sorry, Bobby, if I had put you through this mess again, but I can't leave you alone in that place if there are no possibilities of coming back again.

I step on something sharp, and since I am not wearing any slippers, I fall on the dirt. I heard Bobby cry painfully because I dropped him. The rain was pouring down drastically, making it possible for someone to move muscles under this hazard. I crawled, trying to hold on to something that would help me get up from the mud.

My head started to spin forcefully, and my legs wobbled. I tried to fight it back, but I descended again to the ground.

"B-Bobby! Where are you?" I tried to dart my eyes around the area to see where he was. I saw him creeping closer to me with his weakened paws. A tear escape along with the pours of rain above. God, I wanted to slap myself for hurting this angel. I have become so careless again!

I looked up at the sky. The winds blew harshly on my skin. I was about to yell Ethan's name again when something caught my eyes. A man was walking in the middle of the woods. I couldn't see his face since everything was dark, and the terrifying raindrops made it difficult. I raised my hand slowly, trying to reach it when the thunder roared, and my vision went blank from weariness.