Chapter 136
Chapter 136
~LANA-
Apollo’s expression changes at my response. I could see the immediate relief in his features. His reaction fuels my determination.
I had to believe there was another way out of this. The tension coiling in my stomach eases a little at the reminder of his pack that was undoubtedly on our trail, they would be able to tell that we were in danger and since their skills in tracking was incredible, they would soon find us.
“Are you sure that’s the right response?” The kidnapper asks as he motions for the others to come forward with weapons of their own.
My heart raced uncontrollably, thumping hard against my chest as waves of fear washed over me. Each frantic beat felt like a warning bell echoing in the stillness around me.
What did they plan on doing now that I refused to do as they asked of me?
Just a few seconds ago, I was sure I’d given the right response. However, now that they were all circling my mate, I wasn’t sure if I’d done the right thing.
Nothing mattered to me more than Apollo’s safety.
I couldn’t recall a time when I had felt this level of fear, even in situations where my life had been at stake.
“It’s going to be okay.” Apollo tells me, ignoring the men around him. Despite his life being in danger, he still took the time to comfort me.
Before I could respond, the kidnapper grabbed his blade once more. Once more, my heart is gripped by fear.
“What are you doing?” I demand as my eyes widen in horror. “Do not hurt him! Please!”
The leader sighs, “you had your chance.” He tells me. “Now it’s time for me to respond to your disappointing answer.”
My mind races with ways to stop this from happening but nothing could prepare me for what happens next.
“Now!” He orders his men.
Everything happens so quickly that it takes my body some time to catch up with the emotions swirling within.
As the initial shock goes away, an involuntary scream escapes from/deep within my chest. It pierces the air, a raw, primal sound that echoes through the room, filled with a mix of fear and anguish. My heart races, pounding loudly in my ears, as my surroundings blur and all I can focus on is the
overwhelming surge of panic that grips me.
What am I supposed to do?
How could I stop this from happening?
The scene continues to unfold before my eyes despite my constant screams for it to stop, an unsettling display that rips me apart inside.
They’re punching him, kicking him, using their weapons against him. It was an image that I knew would haunt me for the rest of my life.
Despite the emotional turmoil it stirs within me, I find myself unable to turn away. I am unable to blink or breathe as I hope for the chains to break and for my mate to burst free and unleash his wrath on all of them.
“APOLLO-,” I cry, my voice hoarse from all the screaming.
“I’m-,” he groans as he tries to look my way, okay, Lana. I’m okay.”
The pain that trembles in his voice, fragile and broken, strikes my heart like icy daggers.
“STOP IT!” I beg them. “PLEASE! JUST STOP IT!”
1/3
Chapter 136
Apollo clenches his jaw tightly, determined not to let a single sound escape his lips, even as waves of intense pain rip through his body.
Sweat beads on his forehead, as they continue to hit him with blades and big pleces of wood, yet he remains silent, fighting against the instinct to make a sound of pain.
I know he’s holding back because of me. He doesn’t want me to worry about him, nor does he want me to know the extent to his pain.
His breaths come in shallow gasps, each inhale a reminder of the agony he endures, but he stays strong, refusing to allow the pain to dictate his voice or reveal his suffering to me.
“APOLLO!” I cry louder. I know he doesn’t want to hear my desperate cries for them to stop hurting him but I can’t help it.
I pull against the chains bounding me to the chair, trying to break free from it. However, the more I tried, the more bruised my wrist became, I felt helpless and totally at their mercy.
Minute later, when they are finally done with him, there is blood everywhere. It is splashed all around, soaking through his clothes and leaving them clinging uncomfortably to his skin.
There are pools of blood formed on the ground, glistening under the light, creating a reflection of the torturous scene.
The leader pivots toward me again, a menacing grin spread across his face, revealing the glint of white teeth against his dull features. I can see how happy my cries have made him. I’d given him exactly what he wanted.
His eyes, dark and calculating, sparkled with malice as he reveled in the power he held. I have never disliked a person as much as I do him right now.
“What do you say Lana?” he asks me with a smile. “Do you think you can reject him now or do you need more convincing?”
My mate can barely keep his head up with the amount of pain he’s in currently and it rips my heart into shreds to see him like that. I have lost my voice, unable to repeat my earlier words. I could no longer say in a determined voice that I would not reject my mate. I knew if it came down to saving him, I would have no choice but to do as they were asking of me.
“No-,” my mate croaks, realizing that the kidnappers were getting to me. “Don’t do it, Lana. Please. Don’t. I can handle it. This torture is nothing compared to things I’ve been through in the past. I swear, I hardly feel a thing.”
He’s lying to me. Once again, he’s pretending that he’s okay so that I wouldn’t give in to their awful request. But, his voice tells me everything I need to
know.
I know it will rip my heart out if I listened to the kidnappers but if Apollo died in front of me today, I would not be able to forgive myself.
“It looks like she enjoys seeing her mate in pain, we should increase the torture-,”
“Wait!” I shout.
The leader turns back to me, his eyes hopeful that I was finally ready to do as he wanted me to. “Yes?” he asks, “What is your decision, girl?”
It is hard to look at my step–brother knowing that I have already made the final decision to reject him. I knew it would tear us apart, I knew that there was
a chance we would no longer have any feelings for each other. However, I knew I didn’t have a choice right now. This was something that had to be done in order to save his life.
“Lana,” he whispers, trying once more to stop me. “Please think about this before you agree to it.”
His voice breaks a little before he adds, “I don’t want to lose you. Please.”
My hands are shaky, in fact, my entire body trembles from the reality of our situation and what I would no doubt be forced to do here today.
My bottom lip quivers as I say, “you will never lose me.”
Apollo pulls against the chains, shouting my name as I turn my piercing gaze towards our torturers, “I’m ready to do it.”
