Tangled Web of Shadows

Elena's Point of view:

Dominic's palm tightened around mine, and his words came out strained with a trace of terror. "Marc, stay back. I am not letting you treat her badly.

Marc laughed, a sound that chilled me to no end.

You believe you might stop me?Looking at Dominic like a predator measuring up its prey, he said "My friend, you hardly even play the game. never were you.

The tension in the room intensified, the air between us electrified, flickering with the type of wrath and dread that may ignite everything.

Dominic maintained his ground, but I could see uncertainty flaring in his eyes. Though I wasn't convinced anybody could stop Marc right now, he was attempting to guard me.

"I warned you," Marc said, eyes darting to me then back to Dominic.

You ought not have gotten engaged. You have no idea what you are handling.I said, my voice firmer now even as my pulse raced and my thoughts shouted at me to run: "I'm not afraid of you."But Marc's smile turned sharply nasty.

"You ought to be".

You have no clue the distance I am ready to travel.The room was stifling, and although I could hear distant sirens getting louder, it was unable to cover the mounting anxiety that tore across my chest.

Trying to grasp something firm, my fingers shook as I grasped Dominic's hand.How much more time could I remain composed? Every word Marc escaped his lips caused my chest to contract and my head whirled with everything I did not know.

Marc, the lies, the manipulation, I had hoped I could toss it behind. Now, though, his presence was an unavoidable weight I was unable to shake.

Having Dominic next to me offered me some solace, but I knew deep down he was just as vulnerable as I was in this regard. Marc was erratic, dangerous, and I had no idea if we could survive from this.

" Why?My voice is softer now, " I asked. Marc, why are you doing this? From me, what are your expectations?"”Marc's eyes softened for the shortest of times, yet that type of gentleness was worse than any rage.

You truly do not understand, do you? He moved slowly toward me and said, "You were never meant to escape me.

"You and I are knotted together. Whether your belief is in line or not.

His comments seemed like a smack, and I stopped momentarily from breathing. She was correct. No matter how much I yearned for freedom from him, something always seemed to drag me back.

Debt, a past, something darker and deeper I could not flee.

Trying to protect me from Marc, Dominic stood in front of me, but I could sense the stress in his stance. His body was stiff, and his mouth clinched told me everything.

He was getting ready to battle for both of us, not only shielding me from escalation.

"You're making a mistake, Marc," Dominic whispered, his voice low and menacing.

"This is finished." You lose control over her now.Marc's smile vanished, and I sensed a flutter in his gaze toward something darker.

You feel you could challenge me? You believe yourself to be in command here?

Dominic answered, pushing forward his chest inches from Marc's, "I'm the one standing between you and her.

"The type of tension that might strike at any moment, the sheer intensity of the air between them, frightened me of what would happen when it did.

Marc only laughed, though; the sound resonated off the walls.

You believe you are the one under control? You two are stupid.

The tension was broken suddenly by the sound of a door groaning open, and all our eyes turned toward it.

My pulse skipped a beat as yet another person came out of the darkness.

It was the last person I could have predicted seeing.As the fresh newcomer entered the low light, the room went into startled quiet.

The second his eyes locked with mine, I realized I wasn't the only one who'd gotten caught in the web of this warped game.

I didn't even know if I was more glad or horrified at seeing him.Marc grimaced, his voice poisonous, "I thought you would never show up.

"The newcomer smiled slightly, then turned back to Marc after momentarily staring at me.

"I was busy," he murmured, his tone grim and knowing. But you appear to have created somewhat of a mess here.

”Marc's voice grew stiffer, yet suddenly there was a flutter of doubt. "This has no bearing on you.

Oh, it does now," the recent immigrant said with a suave, even sarcastic tone.

"You've more than you could have imagined stirred things.

"My heart thumping in my chest, my thoughts trying to keep up with all happening before me.

This was someone. And why did he seem so self-assured, so under control of a scenario that had already spiraled out of my reach?

Marc's gaze narrowed.

You have gone much too far. I am not stoppable.With a chilly voice, the newcomer added, "I'm not here to stop you.

I'm here to ensure you avoid what you wish for."Once more, the mood in the room changed, an obvious tension hovering over each of us.

It was like the peace before the storm; I had no idea what would happen when the lightning hit.The newcomer advised you to go now, his gaze darting to Dominic then back to Marc.

"Things are going to get... difficult.Marc ignored it. Rather, he advanced, his hand reaching to his belt.I glimpsed something metallic before I could respond.There was a gunshot, breaking the quiet.

As I watched Dominic convulse, his body stiffening, the globe slowed down all around me before he fell to the ground."Dominic!I yelled and hurried to be by his side.

Blood was already discoloring his clothing; his face was pale, his breathing was short.

Though Marc's laughing resounded in the background, I couldn't pay attention to him. I felt afraid.

I owed it to him to help. But exactly?The newcomer moved forward, his face inscrutable.

You have run out of time.My heart thumping in my chest, I knelt next to Dominic and his body became slack.

His blood leaked through his shirt, collecting underfoot. Shaking wildly, I groped for his wrist and prayed for some indication of life.

My voice cracked as I sought to awaken Dominic, "Domic, stay with me!" but the quiet around us was stifling.

The newcomer moved nearer, his face cold and inscrutable, without even a flutter of astonishment in his eyes.

"He's still breathing, barely," he said, as though it were only a nuisance.Furious, I squinted up at him. "What the freak did you do? Why would you shoot him?

"The visitor retreated slowly, his face becoming reflective, nearly apathetic. "I shot him to stop him; there's a difference from shooting him to kill.

"I could hardly understand what he said. Fear and uncertainty whirled in my head. "What the crap is that supposed to mean?"Marc's voice stopped, chilly and contemptuous.

"It means, sweetheart, that your little knight in shining armor isn't superhuman. You think you can run from me? I always find a way to get what I want.

"I looked back to Dominic, helpless tears poised to pour from my eyes. Every moment seemed like forever."He's bleeding out," I said, my voice raspy and my chest constricting in terror.

"Please... help him. Please, you cannot just leave him like this".At last the visitor dropped down next to us, his eyes glancing at the room with a detached quality that chilled my spine. "I'm here to finish what Marc started, not to help him."My heart halted. " What do you mean, finish what he started?

"The door to the room crashed open with an amazing crash before I could obtain any responses. Marc's horrified look was the last thing I noticed before everything went dark as someone arrived silhouetted against the light.The newcomer stood with hands still soiled from violence.

"We have company and this time things will get much worse."Dominic was nowhere visible to me. Was unable to detect his respiration. Who was arriving through that door eluded me. All I knew was that this dream was not yet finished.