My eyes moved from the man on the floor to the masked guy standing on the stairs.
He gave me a short smirk.
As he released the trigger, a terrifying thought crossed my mind.
Am I going to face death twice?
"Axel, help," the words escaped my lips.
The bullet raced toward me.
"AXELLLLLLLLL!" I screamed inside my head.
Suddenly, someone pushed me aside.
The bullet hit a man instead.
Chaos exploded everywhere.
People screamed and scattered, running in every direction.
"Ahhhhh!"
The hall turned into madness.
The masked man fired three shots into the hall, then fled out of the building.
I watched his every move, my eyes darting in fear.
I tried to run, but the elevator had stopped working.
People crowded around it, hitting it desperately.
"Are you okay?"
"Get the hell out of here!"
More screams echoed as people rushed toward the stairs.
Women in heels struggled as they ran for their lives.
Soon, I was left alone.
Crying.
I truly needed help.
I needed Axel right now.
When the place finally cleared, I slid down to the floor, my head spinning.
A man walked in slowly.
So this is how my life ends?
After being rejected by a man? I asked myself.
Everything looked blurry, like a tremor shaking my vision.
The man came closer.
I couldn't see his face only his footsteps.
He held me by the waist.
"Axel," I murmured.
I would recognize those hands anywhere.
No matter where. No matter how.
*****
I opened my eyes.
The first person I saw
"Axel," I murmured.
He pulled my head against his neck.
"Why did you buy the ring?" he asked.
"Why did you save me?" I asked back.
He breathed in sharply, leaning closer, checking my breath whether I was drunk or not.
"Calliah."
Since when did he start calling my full name?
What happened to Liah?
I couldn't bring myself to ask such a foolish question.
"Why save me?" I asked. "You made sure to tell me you don't like me."
"I've been saving you for a while," he said calmly.
"And I never liked you. Your confession didn't change anything about me helping you."
"Then don't," I said, lifting my head.
"Return the ring. Would you really put your life on a stupid deal just to gain Raines Company?"
"Why?" I asked.
"I'm doing this because Josh requested it. As his last wish."
My heart sank.
So he wasn't helping me.
He was only doing this as a favor.
"Y-you…" I stammered.
"I almost died twice. And in that moment, I was calling your name. And now you're telling me this means nothing to you?"
I stood up.
"So all this time, you never felt anything? Not even once?"
"You were nothing to me, Calliah," he said.
"Not even a friend. Just someone I helped out of pity."
There was no lie in his green eyes.
No emotion.
Just emptiness.
I inhaled deeply, holding back my tears, forcing my voice not to break.
"Rest tonight. You can't move. They're searching for you."
"You know something?" I said bitterly.
"You told me not to trust anyone including you. I finally understand that now. I also understand what Zane said about you using me."
"You're an asshole, Axel!"
Tears betrayed me.
"Even though my feelings won't leave, I tried avoiding you. I went on dates, tried to move on. But in my quiet moments, I always remembered you like a missing puzzle."
"But now…" my voice cracked,
"I think you scattered the pieces and shattered them completely."
"Calm down," he said.
"I can't!" I yelled.
"So all my feelings, my confession and all you say is calm down?"
He stood up, towering over me.
He grabbed my hand, but I pulled away.
"Don't," I warned.
But he held me tighter, pulling me close.
I broke down against his stomach, crying.
"Axel," I sobbed, soaking his shirt.
"Liah," he murmured.
He held my waist, patting my back.
"I just don't love," he said quietly.