Just before she could set Grandma’s clothes on fire, I broke free and tackled her to the ground.
The lighter went flying and landed on the windowsill, igniting the curtains.
The lack of oxygen had left me weak. Stella easily overpowered me, pinning me to the floor and wrapping her hands around my throat.
Til kill you! I’ll teach you to compete with me!”
A burning pain filled my chest, I could feel my consciousness starting to slip away.
the fire was spreading, getting dangerously close to Grandma. Tears of desperation streamed down my face, but I couldn’t break free.
Finally, just before I blacked out, I heard the sound of the door being kicked in.
Police! Don’t move!”
Aurora! Stella, let her go!”
Gideon, if I can’t have your love, then no one can! You can all die together! Ah!”
Gunshots, screams, and cries erupted all at once.
Something warm dripped onto my eyelid.
managed to pry my eyes open and saw Gideon holding me tight.
There was a long gash across his neck, blood pouring from it.
Beside us, Stella lay motionless, a bullet hole in her chest, the blade I had dropped still clutched in her hand, her eyes wide and vacant.
We have to go, she poured gasoline everywhere! The fire is spreading too fast!”
Several police officers rushed over to help us.
But then I turned my head and saw Grandma, engulfed in flames.
Ah, ah!”
My throat was raw, my body completely spent, but I still stubbornly began to crawl toward her.
elix ignored the officers‘ warnings and fought his way to my side.
Aurora! Listen to me, you have to get out of here! I swear to you, I will get Grandma out!”
Burning debris rained down from the ceiling as the police forcibly dragged me outside.
tolls of smoke kept pouring out of the narrow doorway, and my heart, too, hurt like it was on fire.
Grandma…”
Amid the chaos, my strength finally gave out, and I lost consciousness completely.
When I opened my eyes again, Eleanor was sitting by my hospital bed, her own eyes swollen like walnuts.
The moment she saw I was awake, she started crying and laughing and cursing all at once.
‘Aurora, Aurora! You’re finally awake! I had it all figured out, if you died, I was going to die too! That stupid bitch Stella-”
I quickly reached out and covered her mouth.
My throat was still raw, but at least I could speak.
“Where’s Grandma? Cough-”
23:01
Dear Drathan —
Chapter 13
“Oh, oh, don’t worry, Grandma Miller’s fine! She was just badly shaken, you know how it is. She was only in the hospital for two days, woke up even before you did! She’s right in the next room.
Y
I let out a long, shuddering sigh of relief.
But then, my heart tightened again.
“And Fells and Gideon?”
Eleanor’s fingers twisted the white sheet on my bed.
Her eyes darted away. “They’re alive. You know what they say, only the good die young. It’ll take more than that to kill them.”
Chapter 14
Chapter 14
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.