Page 158 of When Hearts Surrender

My heart pounds rapidly inside my chest, the pain and heartbreak from moments ago not yet healed as desperation climbs up my spine and lodges itself in my throat.

She’s running again, that same beautiful bright smile on her face.

Come back, Belle. Don’t leave. Stay with me.

My feet give chase, my strides faster, adrenaline pulsing inside my veins.

Don’t leave me.

The words echo in my mind, a desperate plea.

The skies turn black again, and I shake myself.No. No. No. I can’t do this again. I can’t watch her die in front of me again. I can’t—

A sharp pain splinters inside my chest, an incessant beeping ringing in my ears.

Everything hurts. Everything fucking hurts.

A bright white light sears my eyes, adding to the splitting headache.

Pain, so much pain.

I knot my hands into fists.

“Did you see that?” the gale whispers, the hammering in my brain growing in intensity. “He moved!”

“Doctor!”

The strange voices disappear and I’m thrust into my dream again. The cycle repeats itself.

Again. And again. And again.

Belle is dashing into the rose garden once more.I need to stop her. I need to stop her before she gets hurt. I need to stop her before she leaves me.

Opening my mouth, I scream, expecting no sounds to come out much like all the times before, but this time, I hear it.

“Belle, Belle…”

Hands are on my body, dragging me away from her.No. Stop it. I need to get to her.

“Maxwell! Oh my God. Maxwell! Can you hear me?”

Belle.Her sweet voice pulls me in like the bright beam from the lighthouse.

“Maxwell! I’m here. Open your eyes. I’m here!” A slender hand grips my arm. Her hand. Her warmth. Her sweet scent of lilies.

With a lot of effort, I blink once…then twice…watching the dream flicker on and off like a broken television, until it disappears, and all I can see…is her.

Her beautiful smile, her cheeks wet with tears. Those breathtaking tawny eyes. The eyes of nature in bloom—vibrant and full of life.

“My little muse,” I whisper, my voice raspy, like it hasn’t been used for a while. The rest of the unfamiliar room slowly comes into focus. “W-Why are you crying? Who the fuck do I have to kill?”

Her face crumbles as she throws herself on top of me, her hair tickling my neck as she sobs into my chest.

Pain stabs through me and I groan. “Everything fucking hurts. What happened?”

Belle gasps, springing back, her teary eyes widening in panic as she moves her hands down my body, like she’s checking for injuries. “Oh my God, did I hurt you? I’m so, so, sorry! How are you feeling? Are you okay? Oh fuck, that’s a stupid question, of course you’re not okay, you got shot and nearly died. What am I talking—”

“Shhhhhh.” I lift my finger to her lips.

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