The rain poured relentlessly, striking her frail figure without mercy. She didn't know how long she had been running. All she knew was that she couldn't stop.
Her fists tightened, her eyes burning with a desperate fire that refused to go out.
She moved through the empty street with unnatural speed, the downpour doing nothing to slow her as a tear slipped down her cheek, blending seamlessly with the rain.
Her skin had gone pale, her jet black hair clinging to her face and neck. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears as the sound of footsteps behind her grew louder.
How long had this chase lasted? She had no idea.
Only one thought remained...survive!
An Mei Lin had prepared for this day her entire life. She had always known the darkness surrounding her would one day swallow her whole. But now that it was happening…
Why did she hesitate?
Why did she feel torn?
Between giving in…and reaching for that fragile thread of light.
Her legs trembled with exhaustion, every step heavier than the last. Pain coursed through her body, yet she forced herself forward.
She couldn't stop, not when she had finally found a way to save her mother. Not when she had finally found...him.
Another tear slipped down her face, her vision blurring as emotions surged uncontrollably.
Why now? Why, when she had finally found something worth holding onto?
Her nails dug into her palm, drawing blood. But she felt nothing, only numbness.
"Miss An! The chairman has given the order to shoot if you don't stop!"
Chairman?
Shoot? A bitter laugh escaped her lips.
How ironic. The man who had dragged her into this darkness… was now the one ending it.
She had always known what kind of man her father was. Ruthless, calculating, but never once had she imagined that she would be the one discarded so easily.
Pain tightened in her chest, but her steps didn't falter. If anything, she ran faster. She refused to die like this.
Then... 'Bang!'
A gunshot shattered the night.
Her body jerked as pain exploded through her shoulder. Warm blood spilled instantly, soaking through her clothes.
Her breath hitched.
They really meant to kill her.
Gritting her teeth, she pushed forward despite the agony. Her vision swam, but her resolve didn't break. She would not die by their hands.
'Bang!'
Another shot rang out.
This time, it struck her back.
A choked gasp escaped her lips as her body nearly collapsed. Her steps faltered, her breathing turning ragged.
No. Not yet. She still had so much she hadn't seen, so much she hadn't lived.
And him…
The thought of him ignited something deep within her.
Her knees finally gave out, forcing her to the ground. Blood pooled beneath her as she struggled to breathe, her hand clutching her wounded shoulder.
She had lost too much blood.
She coughed, the metallic taste filling her mouth.
She could hear footsteps approaching her but she couldn't tell from where.
Her vision blurred further.
Still…she refused to surrender.
Using what little strength she had left, she forced herself up again, her body trembling violently.
"One more step,Just one.." she whispered to herself when...
'Bang!'
Another gunshot.
Her leg gave out instantly as the bullet tore through just below her knee. Her body collapsed, shaking from the impact.
Dark figures approached her slowly, their voices distant and distorted that she could barely hear them.
A faint, bitter smile touched her lips.
So this… was the end.
With the last of her strength, she whispered softly into the rain, "I love you... Chen."
And then everything went dark.
The rain stopped and the once gloomy sky cleared, almost as if the heavens themselves had been waiting for her to fall.