Guilt and Regrets
---Lara pov---
I ran in the jungles as bullets flew over my head. I then ducked behind cover and started looking sound for any way to escape from this problem. I then saw that I was near a waterfall. When I saw this, I took my chances and ran towards the cliff and jumped off, hoping to hit the water below.
I looked below and saw that I was about to hit the water. But all of a sudden, a plane suddenly popped out of existence. I then ran into the plane's wing and started sliding off. I then quickly used my climbing ax so that I won't fall from the aircraft. I was going to pull myself up when suddenly someone grabbed my hand and helped me back up again.
I looked at the person that helped me up and saw three people who were supposed to be dead.
Lara: "Roth, Grim, and Alex? "I said with a shaky tone to my voice as I looked at them. "But... But I saw you die." Roth came towards me and grabbed my hands.
Roth: "Didn't I always say I'd come back for you, Lara?" he said as his face started melting away and was replaced with a blood-covered look. "All of us are coming back for you, Lara" when he announced his words Alex and Grim's body suddenly transformed into a bloody look with a sinister smile on their face.
Lara: "You're not them." I said while taking back my hands from Roth. I then started wildly swinging my climbing ax at Roth, which hit his head. I didn't bother taking back my weapon and started baking away from them. All of a sudden, a blood-red blade went through their chest. Roth, Grim, and Alex melted away as the knife went through them.
When they melted away, I saw Joseph behind them. He gave me a warm smile as he walked towards me. When I saw him, my eyes teared up as I ran towards him and gave him a longing hug. I then gave him a long kiss as I cried in joy. When we finally separated, Joseph smiled at me while we were still hugging each other.
Joseph: "Lara… I Love…" but before I could hear his words, my hands suddenly moved their own and grabbed an arrow out of nowhere and started repeatedly stabbing Joseph on the chest. When I saw what I had done, I cried out loud as I tried to stop my hand from repeatedly stabbing Joseph.
Lara: "I'm sorry, Joseph, I'm sorry, Joseph…" I kept repeating, yelling those words as I failed to stop my hands from repeatedly stabbing Joseph on the chest. Sweat, blood, and tears started to mix as I cried and bit my lip until blood started coming out from them, to try to wake up my hand. When I was about to give up, my hands stopped mid-swing and got back control of my hand.
Joseph backed away from me while looking at me. He held his chest as he walked back near the edge of the wing.
Joseph: "Lara.. why did you do this to me?" he said with a betrayed look on his face. I was going to tell him that my hands just moved by itself, anything to explain why I stabbed him. But before he could hear my words, he fell off the plane.
Lara: "JOSEPH!!!" I yelled at him as I ran towards the edge of the wing. I saw him hit the water below and disappear from my sight. "NO, I didn't mean to hurt you, Joseph," I repeatedly said as I cried my lungs out. "I...I'm sorry, Joseph…"
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I suddenly opened my eyes, and I felt a cold sweat drip down my forehead onto my pillow. I then covered my face with my hands and cried silently after remembering my nightmares. Every time I sleep, a new dream formed in my head where I stabbed Joseph with an arrow.
I tried everything to stop myself from stabbing Joseph. I even went as far as to admit my feelings for him in my dreams. But every time he was about to confess his affection for me, I would stab him on the chest.
Lara: "This is probably my punishment for denying Joseph." I said while my heart misses Joseph so severely. All of a sudden, I heard an alarm clock from my smartphone next to my bed. I grabbed my phone and looked at what date it is today.
I saw that today is July 19, 2014. I then turn off the alarm and set the phone back on the side table. I looked up the ceiling and thought to myself. I haven't talked to Joseph since we escaped Yematia 11 months ago. I didn't dare go to his cafe as it would be too awkward for us to meet each other.
I got off the bed and went towards my desk to grab a box with a sticker saying 'Lara's treasure.' I then got out of my room and headed towards the kitchen to brew myself a tea. I sat down near the table and started checking the contents in the box while I waited for the pot to boil the water.
When I opened the box, I saw small pictures that I have taken during my time on the ship going to Yematai. I looked through the people who were once alive and thought to myself, what if I hadn't told my ideas. But it was pointless thinking about this now. In the end, I found the legendary Island of Yematia at the cost of losing everything else.
We lost our ship, most of our friends. So few of us made it out alive, and we're all struggling. But suddenly I saw a picture of Joseph, who is cooking in the kitchen with Jonah. I saw many hearts drawn near Joseph's face saying, 'I love you.'
When I saw this picture, I remembered that Joseph saved some of the crew that was in that burning village and many more. He is the only person in the ship who wasn't affected much from the horrible things we saw on the island. Thinking about how he casually fought a storm guard by himself is still mind-blowing to me right now. I longingly looked at the image of Joseph and gave it a lengthy kiss.
Lara: "God, how much I miss you right now, Joseph." I said as I caressed his picture with a loving look on my face. I then heard Sam calling out for help inside her room.
Sam: "LARAAAA!" she yelled. When I heard her call, I didn't think twice and ran towards her room. There I saw her lying on the floor, shivering in fright.
Lara: "Sam, are you okay? What happened," I said while running towards her and helping her up on her feet. Sam shook her head and answered my question.
Sam: "I am fine... I was just sleepwalking," she said while being supported by me.
Lara: "we will head towards the kitchen where I am brewing tea," I said while looking at Sam worriedly.
Sam: "And a biscuit?" she said while being dragged by me towards the kitchen.
Lara: "Definitely a biscuit." I said while worriedly looking at how weak Sam is right now.
I had moved into Sam's apartment when we came back from Yematai. Sam is still scared of what she saw on the island, and she needed someone to look after her.
It didn't take long for us to reach the kitchen. Sam grabbed one of the chairs and sat on it. I noticed that there was a bruise on her arm and asked her about it.
Lara: "When did you get these bruises on your arm," I said while worriedly looking at her.
Sam: "Huh? Oh yeah, I just fell against the wardrobe, don't worry about it, Lara." she said while holding up her head in pain. She noticed the picture of Joseph on the desk and picked it up. "Who could have thought that Joseph is a wizard," she said jokingly towards me.
Sam looked at the photo and saw the heart kiss marks I left behind before.
Sam: "Lara, do you still have that same nightmare you had told me about." when I heard her words, I shivered in fear. I looked at the two cups of tea I made and just nodded at her question. Sam saw this and sighed and asked me another question. "Do you regret not accepting Joseph's confession."
When I heard her words, I paused for a minute before answering her question.
Lara: "Yeah, I regretted my decision before." I said while feeling down for myself. All of a sudden I heard my phone rang. I grabbed my phone off the table and saw Jonah was calling me. "Jonah, how are you.." but before I could finish my words, Jonah interrupted me.
Jonah: "Lara, I need your help…"