CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-NINE : DON’T LOOK DOWN

CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-NINE : DON’T LOOK DOWN
“Leah,” his voice called out.

And I thought I was dead, or dreaming.

And if I was, I never wanted to leave here, because at least his voice was here with me.

“Open your eyes, Leah.

I’m not dead.

We need to get out of here ,” his voice sounded more urgently this time.

And I snapped my eyes open.

It felt like my heart was on the verge of exploding out of my chest seeing Ethan standing before me.

And most importantly alive.

“Then, who was…” I stammered, still unable to regulate my breathing.

“Ragnar was shot.

Killian killed him.

He was the one who shot before Ragnar could fire his gun,” Ethan said softly.

“K..Killian?” I stuttered in confusion.

It felt like I had slipped into the future.

“Yes,” he answered, holding my hands tighter.

My gaze shifted from him, taking in our environment.

Ragnar laid on the floor.

A gunshot wound to his head.

“Where’s Killian?” I asked in worry, holding onto Ethan’s hands knowing we could not leave him here.

“He went to get the police.

They are on their way here.

Vivian and Jennifer ran the moment Killian shot Ragnar,” Ethan said hastily, moving to the door.

“It’s over?” I breathed, trying to calm myself.

Ethan halted on his steps, turning to face me.

And like always, his hands cradled my head gently.

“It is,” he whispered.

Then he moved, stretching his hands towards the door handle to open it.

But right before he could, the door was pushed open.

I watched frozen as Jennifer walked in.

Her eyes flared in rage and madness.

Before we could realize what exactly was happening.

Jennifer grabbed me harshly as my body landed right beside her.

And then, I felt the tip of her gun digging into the side of my head.

“Leah!” Ethan shouted in panic running towards me.

“Take another step Ethan, and I swear—I’ll kill her,” Jennifer growled furiously, digging the gun deeper. 

“Calm down Jennifer.

Let her go.

You want me right?

Then, you can have me.

Just let Leah go,” Ethan's voice trembled as he spoke.

His eyes held nothing but fear as he looked between me and Jennifer.

Jennifer only laughed.

“Let her go?” She repeated his words again, laughing louder like she just heard the funniest joke ever.

“Do you take me for a fool, Ethan?” She hissed.

“I’ve lost everything.

Every single thing, and it is all of her fault,” Jennifer spat, as she moved backwards and towards the edge with me by her side.

“If she had just left you alone all those years ago when I asked her to, none of this would have happened.

And any moment from now, the police are going to come in here, and arrest me.

Ragnar is dead, so I have no one to bail me out.

Everything is finished,” she screamed.

I could feel the way her hands vibrated as she held the gun.

And when she screamed, tears trailed down her cheeks.

And right there, it was obviously clear to me.

Everything was indeed finished for Jennifer.

“I have nothing to lose, Ethan.

So why should I listen to you and keep her alive,” she growled as she clicked on the gun.

Her hand was just a second away from the trigger.

And right before she could pull it.

My hands moved faster, unknown to her as I elbowed her ribs hard.

An ‘oof’ sound left her lips as she let me go in shock.

But I underestimated everything.

Because the force with which she let me go left me tumbling back.

My feet slipped over the edge of the rooftop.

My body broke through the poorly built barricade as I stumbled back, falling into open air, and towards my death.

But right before that, I felt a hand grab me from above.

Ethan’s wide and frightened green eyes gazed at me, as he grabbed onto one of my hands keeping me from falling.

My teary gaze met his, wide with fear, as I moved to look down over the twenty feet building.

“Don’t look down, Leah!” He shouted in desperation.

“Please, don’t look down,” he said more gently this time, holding tighter onto my hands and I listened to him.

“I’ll pull you up, grab my other hand,” he shouted, and I nodded.

Moving my other hands and I held onto his outstretched ones.

“Don’t do that, Ethan!

Don’t pull her up,” Jennifer shouted from the rooftop.

Though I could not see her from where I hung in the air with Ethan the only thing holding me.

Sweat broke in Ethan’s forehead, as he pulled, struggling to pull me up.

“I said don’t pull her up!

Or else, I’ll shoot you, Ethan!

I’ll kill you!

Just leave her to die,” Jennifer yelled louder this time.

And I could hear it in her voice, she meant it.

Jennifer was going to shoot Ethan.

But Ethan barely listened to her words, because he pulled me harder this time.

And he was so close to the edge of the rooftop.

Just a little more, then I’ll be up.

And at that exact moment, a loud gun shot echoed in the air.

I watched as Ethan jerked.

Blood trailing down from somewhere in his back and pooling at the edge of the rooftop.

A scream tore through my throat knowing Jennifer had just shot him.

“Ethan!” I screamed as his wide eyes found mine.