Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Ethan blocked my body using his hands, shielding himself so the authorities wouldn't lay a finger on me. I swallowed the lump in my throat, roaming my eyes around the area to look for something we could escape. There was no use. We're being cornered again, and they wouldn't let us run with ease this time! Allen was standing there. Even half of his body was covered with his blood. Behind him were his comrades, who didn't lower their guns at us. One wrong move and we're gone.

"Why won't you just let us free?!" Ethan yelled, taunting them not to take a step closer, or he would kill them. His voice sounded defeated, so I grabbed his hands, stroking them to ease his senses. I know he's worried about our lives being trapped again at the hands of authorities, but Ethan needs to chill down. Allen might shoot us here.

"And let you kill more lives?!" Allen shouted in dismay, pointing his fingers at Ethan.

"I won't let you get away with this! My country is in my hands, and it's my job to protect and serve the people here! To keep harmony, peace, and justice to those lives who were stolen from them!"

His comrades took a step forward carefully. Bobby hid below the bag, hiding his head. I looked down at him and smiled, telling him that we would survive this.

Even if it's already impossible and there is no way out.

"I know that! I know what sins I have caused! I know my simple sorry wouldn't bring back those lives I killed! I know that you won't trust someone like me! But please…if ever…"

My eyes widened when Ethan suddenly kneeled down. He raised his hand in a pleading manner before bowing his head. My jaw hung open in a daze to see him turning and begging for Allen to stop this madness he wanted to create between us. Ethan's enormous hands were shaking, and this kind of thing was not even in his vocabulary, but it was the only option he could think of to save us.

"E-Ethan…" I wanted to stop him, but I couldn't move from my spot.

"But please! Arrest me and torture me! Just set my family free! I will let you take me into custody and kill me if it's the only way to let this woman I love and our dog roam free with their lives!"

My whole body trembled when I heard those words from him. I didn't know how to react, and the only thing I could do was kneeled down beside him, holding his hands, trying to stop him. If he thinks I am happy with it, I am not! I opened my mouth, but sobs only came out. I shook my head, then glanced at Allen, whose eyes become hooded, and no hint of emotion was latched.

Silenced crept us, and only our imploring cries were the only thing I could hear. This doesn't suppose to end like this. Our lives are at risk right now, and Ethan was willing to surrender to give me an everyday life I truly deserve.

"Please…let them live," Ethan mumbled…clenching his hands on the dirt. I wailed and embraced him tightly between my arms. I can't let them kill him! He's the only man I love!

"I will not leave you, Ethan! I will go anywhere you go! I will stick with you until my last breath! That's what I promised you, remember?!" I shouted, helping him get back to his senses, but Ethan didn't seem to hear anything from anyone. He's persistent in letting himself get killed.

"Very well, if you say so." Allen raised his hand and then pointed his two fingers at Ethan. I crawled all the way just to get in front of him, shielding my body so they couldn't let them take him.

"No!" I protested, but the soldiers just pointed their guns at my forehead. It made my whole body shiver in dread, but I didn't stagger in my spot. I raised my head up, biting my tongue and letting myself take whatever would happen.

"Natasha, please! Let them handle this. I want you to have a normal life without me." Ethan whispered behind me, and a tear streamed down my cheeks because of what he said. Ethan grabbed my hands, but I slapped them away.

"Why is it so easy for you to push me away when I am willing to risk my life for you?! Do you think it will make me happy to know you're being tortured while my life is out there, breathing peacefully?! Do you think that's how shallow I am?! I stayed with you for months, and you gave me the hope to continue to live! And I wouldn't let this bastard take it away from me!" I shouted with remorse, my voice reaching the whole forest.

"Why you little-" the soldier close to me suddenly kicked me on the jaw. I dropped to the ground, wincing in pain. Ethan stood up and suddenly attacked the soldier.

"You don't have the right to kill my wife-!"

I heard a loud boom that rang in my ear. My whole world had suddenly stopped spinning when I glanced behind to see Ethan's body falling off the cliff. As if the objects around me disappeared and I could only think of was to follow him! I stood up, pushing away the fear of my heights when I looked down.

"Natasha! No!" I heard Allen's voice stopping me, but I didn't listen to him. Before they could grab me, I jumped into the fall. I hugged my back firmly so Bobby wouldn't fall off it. Bobby was barking and wailing when we finally reached the bottom of the stream. The impact stung slightly when I opened my eyes and looked up. I hurriedly went to the surface to breathe some air.

"Ethan!" I screamed his name, looking around to see where he was. Bobby was coughing and sneezing. When I looked down, he was shivering from the cold. The water was freezing, and I had to swim away from the fall hitting us.

"Ethan! Where are you?!" I yelled once again when we escaped from the fall. I looked up from the cliff, and I couldn't see If Allen and his minions were still up there because of the fog blocking the view. I took this opportunity to search for Ethan before they could get here.

"Don't worry, baby, we'll get you out of here," I whispered at Bobby. God, the water is chilling, and I need to find something to keep us warm too!

"Ethan!" my eyes caught him floating in the stream. I pushed myself to get to his side and remove him from the water.

"I got you, shhh! I got you!" I mumbled in his ear when he coughed, gasping for air.

Ethan was heavy, and it was hard to get him out, but I managed to drag him out of the water. I placed him on my lap, and Ethan was still coughing out the water inside his mouth.

"N-Natasha…" his eyes were hooded, but he smiled when he saw me. I caressed his cheeks, snatching his hands, and kissed the back of them.

"I told you, I will never leave your side," I told him, my smile reaching the corners of my eyes. I was happy to save his life. Ethan was transformed into his average body, and I could see where the bullet was shot.

"Your face…" he mumbled, sitting up straight while checking my cheeks. He tried to caress it, but I winced when he had contact with my skin.

"It's just a bruise. Yours is more alarming, and we needed to treat it-"

"They damaged your beautiful face," he said, more like to himself. Ethan's pupil shrank, and he suddenly stood up. He has this minacious look in his eyes. The bruised on my face was the stimulus for making him like this.

"Ethan… it's okay. I can take it. We need to-"

"They hurt you, Natasha! Now they started a war with me," he growled, his fangs were showing, and his eyes were ready to kill everyone who got in his way.

"Ethan, please, you don't know what you're up against-"

"Oh, I know what I am up against, Natasha! The world had shown me who is the real monster here." Ethan taunted before looking down at Bobby, who was mewling and crying. Ethan stroked his head and then smiled before launching towards where Allen must be heading.

I stood there, panicking and not knowing what to act! Ethan was furious because one of the soldiers kicked my face. I needed to stop him before they could add another bullet to his body. I quickly went to his side, grabbing his hands to stop him, but he just pushed mine away, telling me to back off.

"There they are!"

I froze on my spot when I heard their heavy footsteps and voices coming our way. They have found us. I shook my head, ready to defend Ethan if something went wrong when I saw a man flying above me as if he had been thrown away. I stopped in my tracks and then saw him crash on a tree and then drop to the ground, lifeless.

What just happened?

"I fucking gave you an option to take me away and give my wife the life she deserves! But you ruined her beautiful face!"

The ground beneath us shook from his animalistic growl that echoed throughout the entire forest. Ethan transformed again into a beast, but he looked more robust this time. He flaunts his claws and snarls at the soldier who points their gun at him. Ethan doesn't look scared at all from them. In fact…

He looks more ravenous…