Page 110 of The Tattoo Artist

“Fuck you!” I spat at him, my grip on Ares tightening with every passing second.

“That’s not very angelic of you,” Luca taunted, his words dripping with malice. “But if you insist, I can make it easier for you to leave.” My heart staggers as he slides out a gun, aiming it squarely at Ares. Panic surged through me, a primal instinct to protect the man I love at all costs.

“Don’t! Stop it!” I scream, desperation lacing my voice as I shield Ares with my body, refusing to let him come to harm. “You’re fucking crazy!”

“Now, I’m going to make it harder for you.”

The echo of the gunshot reverberated through the room, a deafening cacophony that drowned out all other sound. I brace myself for the impact, but when it came, it is not Ares who bore the brunt of the bullet—it was me.

Pain explodes through my thigh like a searing inferno, stealing the breath from my lungs and leaving me gasping for air. I bit back a scream, but it escapes in a guttural cry of agony that fills the air with its intensity. Blood wells from the wound, staining the fabric of my clothes and pooling beneath me in a macabre tableau. I clutch at the wound, trying to stem the flow, but it was no use—the pain was overwhelming, consuming me from within.

Through tear-blurred vision, I see Luca’s smirk, his eyes gleaming with triumph as he revelled in my suffering. He had wanted to hurt me, to break me, and in that moment, he had succeeded.

And he leaves.

But even as darkness threatened to engulf me, I refuse to surrender.

I wanted to give up, but I knew I couldn’t.

With every ounce of determination left in me, I stood up, the pain shooting through, the blood pouring out. I wrap my arms around his shoulders, mustering all the strength I had before dragging him across the floor. With one leg holding his weight. The fire is getting closer, and I couldn’t stop coughing. It felt as if my skin is burning, and the crawling sensation of heat reached my body’s limit.

But I couldn’t let go; I had to get Ares to safety.

“Ares, please wake up!” I beg him.

I continue to drag him, my muscles screaming in protest, but I ignored the pain. I had to keep moving.

Suddenly, I felt my shoulder burning, and I looked back to see the ceiling crawling with fire. Panic surges through me, but I push it aside. There is no time to waste.

Not time at all.

I press forward, my breaths becoming shallower as the smoke fills the air. My vision blurs, but I kept my eyes focused on the door, praying that we could make it in time. The flames dances around us, the heat becoming unbearable.

Don’t give up…don’t…give up…

My leg…I couldn’t feel my leg.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we reach the smashed door. I muster the last of my strength, dragging Ares through the threshold. Fresh air rushes in, and I took in deep breaths, trying to clear my lungs.

Gasping for air, I collapse onto the ground, my body trembling with exhaustion. Coughing and wheezing, I struggle to catch my breath, but the smoke had taken its toll on my lungs. My eyes burn, and I couldn’t seem to open them no matter how hard I tried.

The world around me felt hazy, and I clung to consciousness with every ounce of strength I had left. I could hear distant shouts and sirens approaching, but they sounded muffled and far away.

“Ares...” I manage to whisper; my voice barely audible.

Panic filled me as I realised, I couldn’t see him.

I use my hand, spreading it across the concrete ground until I felt his body, I crawl towards him. Slowly resting my head against his chest….my body is tired. My eyes are finally open and able to see slightly, but what I see above me is Luca. His fingers tighten around my neck, cutting off my breath as he lifts my weakened body, rendering me powerless to resist.

“Now... choose... you or him?” Luca’s voice was chilling, his eyes cold and devoid of mercy as he forces me to look at Ares, lying helpless on the ground.

“Why are you doing this?” I choke out, my voice barely a whisper against the weight of his grip.

“Because it’s fun,” Luca sneered, his lips twisting into a cruel smile. “It makes me happy...finally getting the revenge I deserve. Now…you or him?” He slides out his knife,

I glance at Ares and in that moment, I knew what I had to do. Because he wouldn’t have hesitated before choosing me over himself. He has always put me first, I can tell…and so with a trembling voice and a heart heavy with sorrow, I whisper my choice.

“Me.”

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