CHAPTER FOURTEEN

As the intense battle reached its closing, Nina watched in horror as Zoa struggled against Ingo, his strength waning with each passing moment. Blood and injuries marred his face, proof of the fierce struggle they both endured.

With a desperate surge of energy, Zoa managed to overpower Ingo, pinning him to the ground and choking the life out of him. But in a cruel twist of luck, Ingo drew a small dagger from his side pocket and struck out at Zoa, catching him off guard.

“Ahhh!!..” he screamed, holding his neck, looking at ingo with so much pain in his eyes.

Zoa’s heart was filled with anguish as he cried as the dagger plunged into his neck, blood gushing forth in a crimson tide.

“You shouldn't have challenged me, Say hello to my father in the afterlife.” Ingo's expression twisted into one of pride, his victory short-lived as Zoa, with a last burst of strength, seized the dagger and turned it against him.

Nina's heart shattered as she watched the deadly exchange unfold before her eyes, tears streaming down her face as she rushed to Zoa's side. Blood poured from his wound, staining the forest floor crimson as Zoa's life slipped away before her very eyes.

"Please, Zoa, don't leave me," Nina pleaded, her voice choked with tears as she cradled his head in her arms. "I love you, I'll give us a chance. Just please, don't leave me."

Zoa's breaths came in shallow gasps as he lifted a trembling hand to caress her face, a faint smile gracing his lips despite the agony that wracked his body.

"It's okay, Nina," he whispered, his voice barely a whisper as he struggled to speak. "I'm... I'm dying a happy man. I protected you... and your unborn baby. I... I didn't... I didn't kill a pregnant woman. Take care of yourself and your child, I’ll always be your guidance angel. And... and I love you."

Nina's heart shattered at his words, her tears falling like rain as she clung to him desperately, unwilling to let him go. But Zoa's strength was fading fast, his eyes growing dim as he weakly touched Nina's cheek and smiled one last time, and closed them in eternal rest.

Nina yelled, calling him but Zoa didn't answer. She was heartbroken and wondered why nothing good ever stayed longer in her life. Then she glanced at ingo, with hate in her eyes.

Ingo, meanwhile, lay writhing in agony nearby, the dagger buried deep in his heart. Blood pooled around him, staining the forest floor as he gazed up at Nina, his eyes pleading for mercy.

But Nina's heart was numb with grief, her sorrow overwhelming as she watched the life drain from Ingo's eyes. She wanted to help him, to ease his suffering, but she couldn't find it in herself to move, her body frozen in shock and disbelief.

As Zoa lay dead on the ground, Nina felt a surge of guilt wash over her, her mind consumed by thoughts of what could have been. She wished she could have saved him, maybe if she had explained to Chris when she had the chance, none of these would have happened.

In the end, all she could do was watch with spite as Ingo's life was slipping away, his body growing still as he was giving in to death.

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Seeing Zoa’s lifeless body on the floor, Nina's relief was short-lived as a searing pain ripped through her side. “Ah!.. With a cry of agony, she looked up to see Ingo's lifeless form again collapsing to the forest floor, she saw ingo move, and by the time she noticed what was coming, ingo had thrown a tree branch that protruded from her body, a cruel attempt to harm her unborn child.

Ingo was trying to kill her. Nina looked at him with widened eyes but he immediately slumped and died.

The pain was unbearable, and Nina felt herself growing weaker by the moment. Blood gushed from her wound, staining the forest floor crimson as she struggled to stay conscious. She knew that she was losing too much blood and feared that her time was running out.

But just as darkness threatened to engulf her, a small figure appeared on the edge of her vision. It looked like Nana Sam, her grandmother, and a glimmer of hope flickered in Nina's heart. Perhaps help had finally arrived.

As she teetered on the brink of unconsciousness, Nina reached out desperately towards the figure, her voice barely a whisper as she called out for help. “H..help me,” She prayed with all her might that Nana Sam would come to her aid and save her from certain death.

And then, the darkness claimed her, and Nina slipped into unconsciousness, her world fading into blackness as she awaited the unknown fate that awaited her.

As Nina slowly regained consciousness, her senses gradually returning to her, she found herself in an unfamiliar environment. The surroundings were different from the dense forest where she had been injured, and confusion clouded her mind as she struggled to make sense of her surroundings.

Blinking away the haze of sleep, Nina scanned the room, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight before her. This was not the place where she had fallen unconscious; it was clean and well-lit, a stark contrast to the dark and foreboding forest where she had last been.

Fragments of memory began to filter back into her mind, and with a jolt of realization, Nina remembered the events that had led to her injury. The image of Ingo's malicious attack flashed before her eyes, and she shuddered at the memory of the pain that had threatened to overwhelm her.

"Nana!" Nina called out, her voice tinged with urgency as she searched for any sign of her beloved grandmother. But there was no response, and Nina's heart sank with disappointment as she realized that she was alone in the unfamiliar room.

As she heard footsteps approaching the room, Nina's attention was drawn to the sound, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and anticipation. With bated breath, she watched as the door opened, revealing a figure standing in the doorway.

To Nina's surprise, the person who entered the room was not Nana, but a kind-faced woman who smiled warmly at her. Relief washed over Nina as she realized that she was safe, her fears easing with the knowledge that she was no longer alone.

As the woman approached her, Nina couldn't help but notice the absence of pain that had plagued her moments earlier. The wound that had once caused her so much agony now seemed to have healed, leaving only a faint ache as a reminder of her ordeal.

With a sense of gratitude flooding her heart, Nina offered a silent prayer of thanks for her miraculous recovery. Though she still had many questions unanswered, she was grateful to be alive and surrounded by kindness in her time of need.