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409words
Time seemed to froze.
Nathan looked at his wound,shocked.
He met my eyes and suddenly laughed."Why?"
"Sarah,why?"
Tears fell."Your ‘trapped beast'is my love."
Nathan laughed hysterically."Good,good!You love that stubborn fool?That drooling,broken dog!"
"You never loved me,did you?You lied to me,Sarah!"
"How could you,when I love you,make me see you were acting?How?"
Blood was spilling from his mouth.He didn’t have time
He collapsed,blood was on him everywhere,yet he was still smiling."Doesn't matter.You're dying too.We can't be together in life,but in death,we will,right,Sarah?"
"We'll never part,forever..."
I stood,ripping off my bald wig.
I sneered."I was pregnant?Lied."
"Cancer?Faked."
"Dr.Wells is with me,you idiot."
...
Luke.
My Luke was still in the hidden passage.
I had to find him.
Had the police saved him?
A knock came.
Nathan's other lieutenant,Mike"Hound"Carter.
"Boss,cops haven't found us yet.You okay?"
I gripped the gun,steadying myself."Your boss is with me.We're fine.Come in."
As Hound opened the door,I shot him.
He fell,shocked."Ma’am,you..."
I dragged him opposite Nathan,placing his gun in his hand.
It looked like they'd killed each other.
I smeared Nathan's blood on my face.
Opening the door,I wailed,running to the arriving men."Help!Hound's a mole!He’s with the cops!He killed Nathan!"
When I reached Nathan's villa,it was alreadysurrounded by police.
Layers of them.
I grabbed someone,frantic."Luke?Where is he?Is he saved?"
He pointed at a direction with pitying look in his eyes."Saved,over there."
That look made me tremble,breath shaking.
Dr.Wells said,"He's weak.Six-foot-two,now under 110 pounds...covered in scars,tortured for ages."
"Surviving this is a miracle."
I suppressed my sobs,approaching,brushing aside his matted hair.
Luke pulled me into a fierce embrace.
So tight,so painful.
Like I was a rib torn from him,now returned.
His cheek pressed tightly against mine,tears streamed down both of our cheeks,sobbing like a beast."Emily,it's you.You're back."
I opened my mouth to speak,but he covered my eyes."Emily,don't look.I've no fingers,I drool,I'm incontinent.I'm filthy,unworthy."
"Don't look..."
His broken voice crushed my heart.
Filthy?
My proud,upright Luke was never filthy!
I held his head in my arms,stroking him like a child,repeating,"Luke,you're not filthy.I love you,I love you!"
"It's okay,Nathan's dead.We'll never be apart ever again!"
Gunfire echoed in the hills.
Unknown birds cried out.
They say it's mourning.
And the sound of reunion.
...
Nathan's terrorist group was dismantled.
Luke was awarded for his heroic actions.
At the ceremony,I was invited onstage.
I'd already said it.
My Luke wasn't a beaten stray dog.
He was a trapped beast,and a hero.
