The Betrayal Within

Alan's POV

Every second that stretches agonizingly long while Ariel's screams resound in my ears, the hospital walls seem to be closing in. Pain emanating from where Adam smashed me into the wall causes me difficulty breathing. I force myself to rise, trying not to let dread paralyze me, and my mind flies. I cannot let Adam pick her. Never again.

My ideas faded, adrenaline coursed through me as I staggered into the poorly lighted hall. Weakly flickering emergency lights create ghostly shadows that twist and turn, fooling my imagination. I have no time to consider. I have to look for Ariel. I have to cut Adam off.

I start down the corridor, every step a fight as my legs seem about to buckle under me. I passed darkly lit rooms and hurried nurses, concentrating just on the faint voice of Ariel. Her resistance to give in and her fighting back give me the will I need to push on. I am not going to fail her. Not this time.

As I round the corner, Adam dragging Ariel toward the door is seen at the rear exit. Her face contorted in terror and wrath, she is scratching at his arm. The sight hurts, a scorching mix of remorse and wrath filling my chest.

"Let her go, Adam!," I yelled, a desperate voice breaking through.

Adam looks back, dark and unfeeling eyes. You still seem to be playing the hero, huh? sympathetic.

Driven just by pure will, I rush ahead. Adam pulls a revolver from his coat, aiming it squarely at me, before I can get to them though. I stop; my heart strikes against my ribcage. Adam is ready to terminate this, one way or another, hence this is not only a warning.

"Stay back, Alan," he says, his voice cool and quiet. You already have lost.

Ariel's terrified wide-open eyes fix on me " Alan, don't—"

"I cannot let you do this, Adam," I say, my voice trembling but resolute. "You have no need to hurt her."

Adam laughs and grabs Ariel tightly. "This is not about you any more. It has to do with righting things.

I walk forward, palms up in surrender, my thoughts racing for any way to defuse this. Nothing will be fixed by Hurting Ariel. It will not affect the events.

Adam grips the gun tightly and twists his face with rage. Do you still not get it? She is among the contributing factors. She had always been.

All slows down in a short second. Ariel surprises Adam by elbow hard in the ribs. My heart stops as the gun goes off with an amazing thunderous bang and causes a searing sting in my side. Clutching my midsection, I stagger back and warm blood is flowing through my fingers.

" Alan!" As Adam pushes Ariel aside and scrambles toward the exit, her cry breaks through the anarchy.

I fall to the floor panting for air. Though I have blinding anguish, I will myself keep conscious. Watching Ariel dash to my side, her face pallid and tears moistening her eyes,

She pushes her palms against the cut and begs, " Alan, stay with me." "You are going to be alright. merely hang on.

But over the ringing in my ears, I could hardly hear her. Everything seems far off and surreal. Though I'm not sure I believe it myself, I reach up and sweep a tear off her cheek to attempt to soothe her. "Ariel... I'm regretful.

Footfall fills the corridor before she can reply. Adam is already gone, vanishing into the darkness like a shadow, as security personnel dash in carrying firearms. While the guards radio for medical assistance, I am mostly focused on Ariel's face—her dread and will.

She responds, her voice shaking but firm: "I have you, Alan." "I refuse to let you leave."

The following few hours merge together: flashing lights, hysterical shouts, the antiseptic smell. Wheeled into the ER, Ariel's face is the last thing I see before the doors close. I float in and out of awareness, the suffering ebbing and flowing like waves slamming on the coast.

The room is silent when I at last wake, except for the heart monitor's constant beep. My head pulsing, I blink against the strong fluorescent light. Slumped in a chair next to me, Ariel closed her eyes and wore features marked with weariness.

"Ariel?," asks I croak, my voice dry and scratchy.

Her eyes open and she leaps to be by my side. " Alan!" You woke me! She squeezes my palm, wary not to disturb the IV; relief floods her face. "I started to get quite afraid." I felt I had lost you.

Though it comes out as a grimace, I try to grin. "Thanks for keeping me here."

Her worried eyes follow a piece of hair she brushes behind her ear. "You saved Alan,," said You had not to—"

I did, I interrupted, pushing her hand back. "I would do it in one heartbeat once more."

Ariel's face softens, yet she still carries a shadow of anxiety. " Adam's not going to stop, is he?"

I groaned at the agony shooting across my side, shook my head. He won't, not sure. Not until he has what he wants.

We have to stop him then, she replies angrily. We cannot continue running. We have to retaliate.

Her will fires a blaze in me despite the suffering and the terrible chances against us. As you say. Still, we have to use wisdom about it. Adam is aware of every step we take. We must have a strategy; one he will not see approaching.

Ariel nods, resolving to harden her features. "We need someone who can get us near to him to help. Someone he would not have expected.

I scowled, trying to consider who would possibly be of use to us. Then a name strikes me—one I have been hesitant to mention but now feels like our greatest chance. "Stella. Adam doesn't know we are dealing with her; she has contacts.

Ariel pauses and bites her lip. "Do you believe her??"

I remember my last chat with Stella, the wary look in her eyes as I asked her to help. She is not a saint, but right now we have few choices. "As far as I trust anyone right now, I trust her. Though it comes with risk, we have to accept it.

Ariel nods, her eyes ablaze with will. "Then let's get to it. Let's wrap up here.

Over the next few days the strategy begins to take shape. Stella agrees to see us in secret; her allegiance is dubious but her want to see Adam removed is clear-cut. Sitting in a poorly lit café, we review the specifics, every word tinged with anxiety. While I try to ignore the agony chewing at my side, Ariel listens closely and her attention is unaffected.

Stella continues, her voice low and steady: "We'll lure him out." He expects you to hide and to cower. He will show himself, nevertheless, if we can help him to believe he has won.

Ariel nods, though I can see uncertainty flickering in her eyes. And what should happen if he ignores the bait? Suppose he is aware it is a trap?

Stella leans back in her chair and smokes. "Then we start to improvise." But believe me, Adam's pride won't let him go. Not when he believes he is just about to have his ideal.

Though reckless even, the plan is our finest one. I have an unusual mixture of hope and fear as we leave the café. This might be the end—one way or another.

The day the confrontation comes arrives faster than I had anticipated, and there is clearly tension between us. The chilly air eating at my skin, we wait in the shadow of an abandoned warehouse. Stella is hiding but close enough to set the trap. Ariel is here next to me, her attitude sharp and uncompromising.

She says, "I'm ready," her voice firm despite the fear I know she is experiencing.

I nod and gently draw her near. "We will face it together whatever happens."

Footfall resonates over the vacant area, and I feel my heart rate increase. Adam materializes in the gateway, his form silhouetted against the low light. He is alone, yet I know more than would fit to assume he is unarmed.

"This is your major scheme then? Adam , his eyes darting between us. "Corner me like a rat?"

"Give it up, Adam," I say, forward striding. "It's over."

He laughs, with a harsh and contemptuous quality. "Beyond? It's only starting.

Adam grabs a detonator from his pocket before I can respond. As I understand what it is, my blood freezes. These days, this goes beyond merely exacting retribution. He is prepared to pull us all down alongside.

Adam tues, his finger hovering over the button, "Say goodbye, Alan."

"No!!" Ariel yells and runs forward. Still, it is too late. Adam's thumb pushes down, and everything goes crazy.

The explosion knocks me off my feet and is loud. I ground hard, agony shooting every nerve. The air is thick with dust and trash; I can hardly see through the smoke.

"Ariel!": I cough, stutter to my feet, my vision blurs.