Chapter 97 SURRENDERED TO DEATH
I ran, stopping to hide behind the enormous crates, desperately searching for something I could use as a weapon. I spotted an iron bar on the ground and pulled it, holding it tightly against my chest, ready to use it if necessary.
“You know, my Light, I always wanted to play cat and mouse with you. It always excited me to see your need to fight for survival.” Pavel pushed some crates aside, looking for me and shooting at the spot afterward. “Can't you see we were made for each other? We are perfect together.”
He laughed, moving to another part of the room. I walked slowly to the back, trying to hide even more, trembling nonstop.
“When you left, it destroyed me. I realized where I was wrong—my light.” Kicking other crates and shooting, Pavel continued. “I wasn't giving you the necessary attention because of work; now I understand that. But it will be different; I bought a deserted island, and now it will be just you and me; no one else will interfere.”
I covered my mouth, feeling the tears fall. Pavel, that damned sicko, hit the crates near me, knocking some over. I moved further back, trying not to make any sound.
“Come out, Elisabeth, I'm losing my patience!” he yelled, frustrated, shooting at more crates, getting closer to where I was. “You were never very good at this game of hide-and-seek.”
Throwing the crates aside, I bolted. Pavel grabbed my shirt, tearing the fabric. I turned and hit him hard on the head with the iron bar, striking more blows on his shoulder and arms before running again.
“Leave me alone, you damned psychopath!” I screamed, opening the warehouse gate and running between several containers and warehouses in the area.
I tried to open many that were chained, entering another warehouse that had a gap I could squeeze through. Furthermore, I held the bar tightly, took off my heels, and went to the back of the place, looking around. I was startled to see his eyes watching me through the gap in the gate.
“Run, my light, run.” He laughed wickedly. “But it won't matter, you are mine.”
“Why can't you just leave me alone?” I shouted, clutching my head and spinning around. “Pavel. What happened to you? You weren't like this.”
“It's your fault, Elisabeth!” Pavel yelled through the gap, pointing the gun at the lock. “Always attract attention to yourself, wanting to catch the eyes of the surrounding men, even my supervisor from the KGB. Did you know they are hunting me because of that now? I had to eliminate my boss because of you!”
“My fault?” I trembled nervously. “You were blinded by jealousy. I loved you; I never had eyes for another man besides you, Pavel!”
“Didn't you? But at the first opportunity, you ran into the arms of an arrogant CEO, didn't you?” Andreev spoke sharply, in a merciless and threatening tone. “Patrick Morgan will die slowly in my hands, and I'll make you watch his death. His blood will be on your hands!”
“No!” I screamed, taking a few more steps back. Pavel shot the padlock, breaking it. I ran to hide, climbing the stairs in the warehouse, trying to open the rooms, but they were all locked. “Patrick, please. Save me.”
I managed to open a door to a dark room, closing it carefully and hiding behind large shelves with various stacked boxes.
“Elisabeth, it's inevitable. The more time you make me waste hunting you, the worse your situation will be.” He laughed, kicking a door and breaking it down. “My love, just let me love you like before. Remember the nights around the pool, drinking wine and dancing close... It was magical, just you and me, united by the night, and our bodies thirsty for desire.”
I closed my eyes, remembering the night he referred to when he simulated water torture, dunking my face in the pool several times and timing how long I could hold my breath without passing out while kneeling on my ribs. Hot tears ran down my cold, sweaty skin. I knew that if Pavel caught me, it would be the end for me!
He kicked more doors, breaking them down. The sound of things being knocked over and rummaged through echoed in the room when I heard his phone buzz with a notification.
“Look at this, my Light, news about your lovely grandma. It seems she passed away after the medication I sent her.” Pavel laughed, amused. “That damned old woman lasted quite a while.”
“My grandma?” I sobbed loudly, revealing my location. I covered my mouth in fear that he had found where I was. A loud kick knocked down the door to the dark room I was in. I backed up a few steps, terrified of being found.
“I found you, my runaway!” Pavel appeared behind me, yanking my hair while I screamed. I tried to hit him with the iron bar, but it fell as he pulled me, dragging me out and throwing me to the ground, pointing the gun at my head.
I tried to crawl away, but every time I attempted to stand, he slammed me to the ground, kicking my stomach and punching my face.
“It could have been different, you know?” he whispered so coldly that I felt my blood freeze. “Your grandma would be alive if it weren't for your escape. Don't you see? This is all your fault. If you were a good wife, everyone would be alive.” Laughing, Pavel stared at me with the gun aimed between my eyes. “You have as much blood on your hands as I do. We are a perfect pair, my light!”
“You... you killed my grandma?” I screamed, raising my eyes toward him and getting on my knees, trembling as I crawled to the front of the gun barrel, pressing my forehead against it. “If that's true, then I have nothing left in this life... You win, Pavel.”
Accepting my fate, I knew he wouldn't stop. He would always hunt me, and innocent people would die because of me. My grandma. My sweet grandma... No, I couldn't keep living like this. I needed to at least protect Patrick from this psychopathic monster. I grabbed his hands tightly, covering the gun with mine and placing my finger alongside his on the trigger.
“Fulfill your fantasy once and for all, blow my brains out. I surrender!” I spoke, my voice almost fading, closing my eyes and waiting for the imminent shot.