Chapter 4
418words
"Maya! Hug! Charlie wants hug!"
The clearing fell into stunned silence for a beat, then exploded with renewed outrage.
"Holy hell! She really is involved with that idiot Charlie!"
"Who would've thought Maya Johnson preferred... that?"
"No wonder they were chatting at the village entrance! Rekindling their... whatever this is!"
"Poor Nathan Campbell! How long has he been wearing that green hat without knowing?"
Nathan stood frozen, his complexion pale as ash, voice trembling.
"Maya..."
"Tell me it's not true. You and... him?"
Seeing the devastation on his ashen face, I pressed my lips together, refusing to answer.
"Say something!" he roared.
"What do you want me to say? You've already made up your mind—"
His hand connected with my cheek before I could finish,
"You cheating whore!"
"Three years together! You never let me touch you!"
"All this time, saving yourself for this... this imbecile? How could you do this to me!"
Before I could defend myself, he struck me again and again until stars danced in my vision and copper filled my mouth.
The crowd's mockery swelled around us.
It happened so fast, but the police weren't idle.
The nearest officer, a young man, immediately barked, "Hey! Stop that! Step back!" and moved to intervene.
But the crowd, a solid wall of simmering rage, surged and blocked his path.
Angry shouts drowned him out.
"This is family business! Stay out of it!"
"A heartless creature like her deserves it!"
The older officer fought to control the scene, speaking urgently into his radio.
"Situation escalating! We need backup now!"
In that brief chaos, isolated from the police by the mob, Nathan struck me again.
The crowd's roar was deafening.
When his kick landed in my stomach, the young officer finally shoved through, pulling Nathan back roughly.
"I said stand down! You will not assault someone in front of us!"
It was the sight of me, bloody and curled on the ground from that kick, that made Charlie completely snap.
He let out a raw, guttural cry, broke free from the distracted officers holding him, and lunged toward the large oak tree at the clearing's edge.
Everyone froze, following his gaze, watching as Charlie frantically dug in the mud beneath the roots.
He emerged clutching something metallic, holding it high with a cracked voice.
"Maya no kill!"
"Murderer! Murderer here!"
The next second, every face turned ghostly white.
