Chapter 98 - TWO CHANCES
I decide to take advantage of the distraction before it's too late. With my whole body aching, I struggle up from the ground. The bruises on my skin are really painful, but I try to put them out of my mind from the pain, focusing on the task of escaping as soon as possible. I see the gun lying on the wooden floor.
My hands tremble with anxiety as I grab the weapon from the floor, feeling its cold metal against my palms. With careful movements, I quickly examine to corroborate if the gun still has bullets in it, feeling the weight of responsibility tighten in my chest. There are only two cartridges left, two small hopes in the midst of the chaos around me.
I watch the bullets carefully, feeling the weight of their meaning. Each one represents an opportunity, a chance to change the course of this terrible night.
As I handle the gun, I can't help but touch my belly lightly with my unoccupied hand. The feeling of life growing inside me is surreal, almost too beautiful to be real. But I can't allow myself to dwell on that thought now, I have to concentrate on surviving.
The thought of telling Genrant about our son makes my heart race with excitement and fear. What expression will he put on his face when he finds out? The pang in my chest returns with a vengeance, reminding me how much I miss him and how desperately I want to be by his side.
But I also know it's selfish of me to think of him rescuing me, even knowing that if he comes, he's likely to risk his life for mine. The internal struggle between the desire to be with him and the fear of losing him is overwhelming, but I know I must move forward, for me and for our future child.
Sora's deep growl abruptly pulls me out of my thoughts, sending a shiver of fear down my spine. My eyes fixate on the desperate struggle between Sora and Frank, each movement filled with a ferocity that chills the blood. The sound of their growls and the clash of their bodies fill the cabin, creating an atmosphere charged with tension and danger.
Suddenly, silence falls over the place like a heavy blanket, interrupted only by the echo of my own agitated breathing. Sora lies motionless on the floor, her fur stained with blood, but Frank does not let go. His fierce gaze is fixed on his prey, as if waiting for a last gasp of resistance from her.
Time seems to stand still as I hold my breath, my eyes flicking between Sora and Frank, caught in a state of nervous anticipation. The tension in the air is palpable, as if it's about to snap at any moment.
Without waiting for Frank to become aware of my presence, I rise from the ground and point the gun with trembling hands. I keep a safe distance between us, aware that at any moment he could attack me. Fear stirs in my chest as I point the gun at him determined to survive, my fingers pressing the trigger hard. I feel the responsibility to put an end to this nightmare once and for all.
My hands shake nervously, struggling to keep a steady pulse. My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, wondering if I can do what it takes to survive. Then, with a cry of determination, I pull the trigger with all my might.
The bullet shoots out of the gun, but doesn't hit where I expected it to. A scream of frustration gets stuck in my throat as I curse my shaking hands for ruining my only chance of escape. The feeling of helplessness overwhelms me, making me question whether I really deserve to live if I can't even protect myself.
The sound of the bullet impacting against the wall causes Frank to look up, releasing Sora's neck with a growl of frustration. His eyes blaze with renewed ferocity as he moves toward me, his lips curving into a sinister grimace, revealing his sharp, blood-stained fangs. I instinctively recoil, feeling my heartbeat quicken as I grip the weapon tighter, preparing for the worst.
The cabin suddenly seems too small, with nowhere to hide. Frank rushes towards me with astonishing speed, his imposing body filling the space with an overwhelming presence. Before I can react, his front paw strikes me with devastating force, causing me to lose my grip on the gun. The gun falls to the ground with a metallic clink, its trajectory interrupted as it rolls to a stop near the fireplace. But before I can try to retrieve it, the scene becomes even more chaotic.
A sudden flash of sparks of fire erupts from the chimney, followed by a deafening bang. The gun has fallen directly into the fire, causing a sudden explosion that sends fragments of burning metal and flames dancing throughout the cabin. The heat from the fire spreads rapidly, covering the old wood on the floor ravenously. Sparks of fire leap and dance around the fireplace, lighting the room with flashes of mortal danger.
I feel Frank's stale breath on my face as he approaches, his eyes glowing with a wild intensity that chills the blood in my veins. A sense of desperation grips me as I brace myself for the inevitable attack.
Suddenly, a high-pitched, familiar howl echoes from outside the cabin, disrupting the tense atmosphere. Frank growls in response, his attention divided between me and the source of the sound. He seems annoyed by the interference just as he is about to capture his prey, which in this case is me.
Frank stops dead in his tracks, his eyes flashing with fury as he digs his claws into the wood with impressive force. It seems as if the howl was the beginning of the real battle, a call to action that prompts him to prepare for the worst. His muscles tense, ready for the final confrontation, as the roaring fire dances around him, reflecting his own ferocity.
The wood of the floor, already weakened by the passage of time, gives way under the intense heat, crackling and crumbling into smoldering embers. The flames rise voraciously, devouring every inch of wood with an insatiable hunger. Thick, black smoke swirls through the room, filling my lungs with its bitter, choking taste. Will I die here, in this hell of flames and smoke?