Beneath the ruins

The silence in the room was suffocating.

Elena sat on the cold, marble floor, her entire body trembling violently.

Her fingers clutched her chest, trying to steady her ragged breathing, but it was no use.

She was shaking uncontrollably, her vision blurring with tears.

The space where Noah had stood just moments ago—

Felt emptier than ever.

Her voice was a broken whisper, barely audible.

"Noah…"

But he was gone.

And the ache in her chest was unbearable.

She pressed her fingers against her lips, trying to stifle the sobs, but they tore through her throat violently.

Her chest heaved, her breath coming in shallow, uneven gasps.

Her entire body shook violently, wracked with heartbreaking sobs.

Daniel's ragged breath suddenly pulled her back into reality.

Her head snapped toward him, her eyes wide with fear.

"Daniel…!"

Her voice was raw with desperation.

She crawled toward him, her hands trembling violently.

Her fingers brushed his bloodied face, her eyes wild with panic.

"Hey, stay with me, okay? Just—just stay awake."

Her voice cracked with terror, barely above a whisper.

But Daniel's eyes were glassy, unfocused.

His breathing was shallow, wheezing painfully.

"No… no, no, no…"

Elena's voice trembled violently, her hands pressing against his blood-soaked shirt.

The dark crimson spread rapidly, seeping between her fingers.

Her chest tightened violently, panic clawing at her throat.

Her voice cracked with desperation, her hands trembling.

"You're going to be okay. You hear me? You're going to be fine."

But Daniel's eyes fluttered weakly, barely conscious.

A faint, pained smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"You're… crying over me?"

His voice was barely a whisper, weak and broken.

"Didn't think you cared."

Elena let out a shaky sob, her hands trembling violently.

"Don't you dare joke right now."

Her voice cracked, barely above a whisper.

"You're not dying on me. Do you understand? You're not."

But Daniel's eyelids drooped heavily, his breathing growing fainter.

Her chest tightened painfully, and her voice broke violently.

"Daniel, no! Stay awake!"

Her voice was frantic, almost hysterical.

"Please! You have to stay awake!"

She pressed her hands firmly against the wound, trying to slow the bleeding, but the crimson kept spreading, soaking her hands.

Her breath caught violently, and she screamed.

"HELP! SOMEONE HELP!"

But there was no one.

No one to hear her.

No one to help.

She was alone.

And Daniel was slipping away.

Her hands trembled violently, her vision blurring with tears.

And then—

Suddenly—

Daniel's bloodied hand lifted weakly, his fingers brushing against her cheek.

Her breath hitched violently, her eyes wide with fear.

"You were always… too good for him."

His voice was barely audible, slurred with pain.

"Noah… didn't deserve you."

Her chest clenched violently, and she let out a broken sob.

"Stop talking like that. You're going to be fine. I promise."

Her voice cracked with desperation, trembling violently.

"Just stay awake. Please."

But Daniel's eyes were dulling, fading rapidly.

His breathing grew shallow, uneven.

Elena's chest tightened violently, and she shook her head frantically.

"No! No! Don't do this!"

Her voice was wild with panic, almost a scream.

"Daniel, please! Don't leave me!"

And then—

His eyes slowly closed.

His body fell limp against the floor.

Elena's blood turned ice-cold.

Her breath caught violently in her throat.

"No… no, no, no!"

Her voice cracked violently, trembling with raw desperation.

She pressed her hands against his chest, shaking him violently.

"Daniel, wake up! Wake up!"

But he didn't.

He didn't move.

He didn't breathe.

Her sobs turned hysterical, her hands trembling violently.

"No! Don't you dare! Don't you leave me!"

But his eyes remained closed.

His body remained still.

Her hands shook violently, her breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps.

Her vision blurred with tears, her throat burning with raw, broken sobs.

And then—

The door suddenly burst open.

Two armed men stormed in, their guns raised.

Her head snapped toward them, her eyes wide with terror.

But they didn't shoot.

Didn't aim at her.

Instead—

They rushed toward Daniel, their hands moving swiftly, checking for a pulse.

One of them suddenly looked up sharply, his voice cold and authoritative.

"He's still alive! We need to move! Now!"

Elena's breath caught violently, her hands shaking.

Her eyes widened with disbelief.

"He's… he's alive?"

Her voice was barely a whisper, trembling violently.

The man didn't answer.

He just lifted Daniel into his arms, his movements quick and efficient.

Elena staggered to her feet, her legs weak beneath her.

Her vision swam violently, her hands shaking.

She stumbled after them, her voice breaking.

"I'm coming with you!"

But before she could take another step—

A strong, familiar hand suddenly clamped around her wrist, yanking her backward.

Her eyes widened violently, her breath catching sharply.

And then—

Her heart stopped cold.

Because when she looked up—

She met Noah's cold, unyielding eyes.

His grip was iron-tight, his expression emotionless and hard.

Her voice broke violently, trembling with desperation.

"Noah… please, let me go. I have to be with him."

But his eyes were hollow, devoid of warmth.

Ruthless.

And when he spoke—

His voice was low and merciless.

"No. You're coming with me."

Her breath caught sharply, her eyes wide with disbelief.

She struggled against his grip, her voice trembling.

"No! Let me go! Please! He's dying!"

But Noah's fingers only tightened, his eyes dark and cold.

And then—

Without another word—

He dragged her out of the room, his grip unyielding.

Elena's screams echoed violently through the corridor, but he didn't stop.

Didn't look back.

Didn't soften.

He dragged her away—

Leaving Daniel behind.

---

See you in next chapter....