Chapter 131 Written Out of Existence

Chapter 131 Written Out of Existence

Elena POV

Sirens cut through the air, their flashing lights reflecting off the brick walls of the alley.

Liam didn't drop the book he had grabbed from Marcus. Instead, he grabbed my wrist, pulling me along as he sprinted away from the sirens. We rounded two sharp corners, our shoes slapping against the wet asphalt.

I looked over at him, the tension in my chest suddenly breaking into a quick laugh. Liam turned his head, his eyes lighting up as a grin broke across his face, and he laughed right back with me as we ran.

We turned into a small public square by the river and stopped behind a stone fountain to catch our breath. My lungs burned, and my heart slammed against my ribs.

"We actually... outran them," Liam panted, placing his hands on his knees, still chuckling under his breath.

A middle-aged man holding a wooden tray filled with cold treats stopped right in front of us. He looked at the two of us, taking in our messy hair and our hands still resting near each other.

"I have an offer for a couple, if you don't mind," the man said with a warm smile. "Buy one big strawberry cone, get one free."

I quickly looked over at Liam. "Oh, we're not a—"

"We'll take them," Liam interrupted smoothly, sliding his arm around my waist and pulling me a few inches closer to his side.

Before I could protest, the man handed us two thick waffle cones piled high with bright pink ice cream and small heart-shaped candies stuck in the cream. "Here you go. May you two have a long and good love story."

"Thank you," Liam said.

The moment the vendor turned around and walked off toward the park path, I pushed Liam's arm off my waist and stepped two full paces back, glaring at him.

Liam immediately raised both hands in the air, his face softening. "I'm sorry. I really am. I didn't want to make it awkward with the guy. I won't do it again, I promise."

I adjusted the jacket over my shoulders, keeping my eyes fixed on the ice cream cone in my hand. "You shouldn't have said that."

"I know," Liam said softly, taking a step closer. "I was out of line. Can we... forget about it and focus on getting back?"

I took a small bite of the cold cream, the sweet flavor coating my tongue. "Fine."

We stood by the stone railing, watching the river water flow under the bridge. Liam leaned against the post, quietly licking his cone. He turned his head toward me, his eyes focusing on my chin.

Without saying a word, he reached out his thumb, pressing it gently against the corner of my lower lip to wipe away a stray dab of cream. His skin felt warm against mine.

My heart hammered violently against my ribs, so loud I was sure he could hear it. I froze in place, staring straight into his eyes, unable to move a muscle.

Liam pulled his hand back, sliding his thumb into his pocket. He looked out over the water, his tone turning quiet. "That man earlier... the one you were talking to outside that building. I hope he's good to you."

A cold spike of fear shot straight through my stomach. My throat went bone-dry.

"Um..." I swallowed hard, forcing my head to nod. "Yes... He's good."

I kept my eyes on the side of his face as he stared at the river.

Liam... you know I am different, don't you? I thought, my chest tightening with a dull ache. I hope... I hope I can stay beside you for a long time.

Liam finished his cone and threw the napkin into a nearby bin. He turned around, shaking the cold out of his arms. "Enough talk. Let's start going home before it gets dark."

An hour later, I sat at the small desk in my room under the light of a desk lamp. My open notebook and textbooks lay in front of me, but my pencil hadn't touched the paper in twenty minutes.

My mind kept pulling back to the dark item sitting in my wardrobe.

I stood up from the chair, walked over to the wooden closet, and pulled open the bottom drawer under my clothes. I reached to the back and lifted out the book Keal had given me, its dark cover cold against my palms.

I carried it over to the bed, sat down on the edge of the mattress, and flipped open the thick first page. The strange, dark lettering seemed to press right into the paper.

I traced my fingers across the first paragraph, reading the sharp warning line by line:

If a suspect human touches the mark out of curiosity, you will disappear from the surface of the earth forever.

When you disappear, the memory of you will be completely erased from the people who know you, and you will cease to exist in their lives.

My hand froze on the page. My breath caught in my throat as the words sank in.

If I mess this up... Liam will not remember me.

A soft knock rattled the wooden door frame, making me jump.

I shoved the book under my pillow instantly, pulling the blanket over the edge just as the door handle turned.

Liam stepped into the room, wearing a loose gray shirt and sweatpants. He looked tired, his hair messy over his forehead.

"Elena?" he asked quietly, standing by the doorway.

"What is it?" I asked, keeping my back straight against the headboard.

Liam rubbed the back of his neck, looking down at his feet. "I had a bad dream. I couldn't sleep."

I looked at him for a moment, the tension in my shoulders easing slightly. I patted the side of the bed. "You can stay in here."

Liam shook his head, pulling a spare blanket off the chair near the door. "I'll take the floor."

He spread the blanket onto the wooden floorboards beside the bed, settling down and pulling the cover up to his chest. He turned his head sideways, looking up at me from the floor.

"Goodnight, Elena," he whispered.

"Goodnight, Liam," I murmured back.

I turned off the desk lamp, plunging the room into darkness. I lay back on the pillow, right above the hidden book, staring up at the shadow of the ceiling while the sound of Liam's steady breathing filled the quiet room.

If a human suspects your mark and touches it, you will be erased from the earth, with your memory still existing in people's minds; the words still ring in my head as I close my eyes.