Iven's knuckles were bleeding profusely.
So were the walls of his room. It seemed as if somebody had printed dripping red on them.
He was lost of his.
His only wish, was to take back the very words he himself had said!
He is unaware of what had possessed him to make him turn out that way.
He forced himself in to the same dungeon from where Seb had put her risk and effort to drag him out.
The only regret he had, that he didn't even put any kind of effort to even stop her.
If he did, perhaps the result could have been different. Things could have not how they are now! He could have changed the end!
But he...just let her walk away on him!!!
He told her to get out from his life on impulse, but she?
How could she just blindly obey him? She believed him so easily???
It was like a dagger piercing through Iven when Seb had said that she failed him and failed to change him for better.
It wasn't her fault!
It was completely his.
He couldn't lock it up from the beginning, not even for her.
That's she whenever she was with him, he often lose his calm and hurt her.
He made her vulnerable to himself, unable to protect her even from him! She wasn't even safe with him, how disappointing that could be!
Iven fought with himself, resisting the urge to call her up.
After all he did, he didn't have any courage to even listen to her voice.
It was impossible!!!
To stop himself, he vent out his frustration on every possible concrete he found around in the room.
For an instance, he even felt sorry towards Erica and wanted to apologize.
But he knew, that nothing would help at the moment.
He had ended it.
Ended it all.
He shoved the only person out of his world who showed him the world!
And now, he can't take his words nor her back anymore!!!
His phone started ringing.
He was breathing heavily balancing his bloody hand on the wall, reminiscing the past a while ago.
It kept on ringing.
His pupils moved due to irritation.
It rang on.
He was no suitable mood to talk to any one. He knew that any one non guilty on the other side would be just blamed with no reason.
It was still ringing.
Finally at his limit of frustration, he growled out a bark and grabbed the phone.
He decided to greet as rude as possible to give the person a clue that he's not interested for the moment at all!!!
But as soon as his eyes fell on the call name, his frown melted.
His face relaxed and he finally felt pain on his fingers. His eyes bloomed as he sighed amused!
It was her.
Belle!!!
She was calling.
She was indeed calling!!!
It was complete something unexpected.
She must have hurting and suffering herself too, and couldn't take it.
Iven's joy knew no bounds till limit.
He broke free from his daze realizing that the phone was still ringing, he quickly picked it up!
"Belle?", he breathed out his voice,"Oh my Belle...."
He received no reply as soon. Only a faint breath was heard from the other side.
He could feel it from within, it was familiar. None other than Seb!
"....Iven...", came a lost, almost inaudible voice.
Iven's heart skipped a beat, but he immediately knew that something was wrong with her!
Her voice was cracked.
Even if she would be hurt, this won't be her self.
Iven excitement disappeared in thin air within no time.
On the other side Seb had her corner of a lips puckered into a small smile.
So Erica was true.
Judging by just the words and his voice, it's obvious that he didn't mean anything he said.
He's been suffering more!
It's a huge relief to know that he is longing for her like she is. But it was only a matter of time!
But Seb had no strength left to speak all of that thoughts to him anymore.
She would be lucky enough just to let him know her situation at the moment.
She could barely force voice out of her mouth.
"Belle", Iven spoke before she could," What's wrong? Where are you???", his worried voice warmed Seb up to the core. He understands her even without saying, just with her voice.
-Please.....get me....
-Where are you???
-Beaufort.....street....
-Near the Dockyard? I'm here too...
-I wish....I could come to you. But....the thing is....I can barely drag myself right now. And....it's only...a matter of time.....before....
Iven's hand tightened on his phone.
She's hurt!
And she's sure hurt bad which made her not even able to speak properly.
Her words were giving pangs in his heart.
She is in danger.....
And he knew only one person who could do this nasty deed.
He blamed himself furiously and neglected her safety.
It completely slipped his mind that she was still being targeted.
His personal emotions drove him to distraction!
Suddenly a rough voice reached Iven's ears from her side.
"What's that? The bitch has her phone on!!! Did she call someone?", said one.
Another different voice replied,'She is!!! When did she??? Stamp on it!!!".
And then....there was nothing more heard.
Not Seb's voice, nor her faith last breathing.
"Belle? Belle!!!.....No, no!!!", Iven threw the phone across the room with flaming rage,"Iason....", he whispered and stormed out of the room.
There was no time to waste at all.
He had already started running.
It's near, he needs to catch up.
If he hurries with full might, he can save her.
Don't worry, she'll be fine!
She's okay!!!
She stronger than normal people.
She'll manage to survive it.
Iven also knew that he was just fake assuring himself.
With that voice, she must have already passed out.
Iason that demon, what did he do to her!!!
This time, if he dare lays a finger on her single strand, he's sure to die!!!
No pity this time.
He'll not let it happen again.
He'll protect the one he cares about,he surely will.
History will not repeat itself!
The area was just round the corner.
Iven was sprinting at an inhumane speed.
He had faith he must make it before something horrible happened to Seb.
Almost there, almost!!!
Belle, Belle please be safe, Iven prayed continuously.
But to his terror, he was late!
Too late!!!
Beaufort street was totally isolated by the time he reached.
No soul in sight.
He looked everywhere screaming Seb's name like a madman, but no reply came.
To his fierce, he found a phone completely stamped on and crushed upon. He recognized Seb's phone.
And also, there was a puddle of dark blood near it!!!
Iven's heart came up to his throat, it almost stopped beating.
He kept gaping at the bloody mess.
"Belle!!!!!", he screamed her name not knowing what to do. He dropped on his knees, and clasped his hair tightly.
He couldn't even take it out crying.
What he's suppose to do?
She's been taken away.
He couldn't protect her after all.
He's been undeserving.
She's already injured, and now this blow would get the worse of her.
It was all his fault. It was all that useless quarrel. He shouldn't have let her go at all, else this never would have happened.
"Belle....", this time his was losing power. It was broken and lost,".....where are you?". His eyes closed facing down.
"Iven?", a soft mumble came.
"Belle?", Iven turned with a jolt, only to his utter disappointment.
Erica stood there.
She approached him.
Her face a mixture of worry and sob. She was weeping quietly!
"Did you see everything?", Iven asked still looking down with a gentle voice,"Were you with her?"
"It's you right?", Erica asked him instead, keeping a distance of few centimeters from him. She seemed afraid,"It's you, Iven?".
"So he came himself?", Iven said,"The one with my face...".
Erica understood that it was indeed him.
Only Iven can express such intimacy for Seb.
"He was brutal Iven", Erica broke down as she took weak steps towards him,"Very brutal, to her!".
Iven covered his face with his hand.
He doesn't want to even to listen to it.
It wasn't new, Iason is skilled in being brutal. Seb won't be any exception.
Her survival till then was a miracle itself. Only if she can hang on till rescued!
Iven wasn't sure.
Erica wiped her tears continuously.
She didn't question any further.
Iven has never been like this before. This time he must have been deadly hurt from within, being unable to protect Seb is killing him!
"Are....you okay?", he asked out of the blue.
"Me?", Erica was amazed,"I....hid. I ran away like a coward, leaving her face all by herself. She fell protecting me, and I just....", she sighed,"....I shouldn't have listened to her and stayed along with her".
"No!", Iven firmed his voice,"You did a good job staying away. Else her sacrifice won't be for any good. It's good that at least you are safe".
Saying he started to get up.
"She asked me escape at the first chance offered and.....", she paused,"....get you".
Iven didn't reply.
She still had trust left in him, after all he let happen.
She might still have faith in him to rescue her....
"She's hurt bad Iven...", Erica started sobbing again,"....she was bleeding a lot. I saw it all.....still couldn't help her at all. I was such a coward".
Iven closed his eyes trying to forget what he just listened,'You did well Erica, relax.....".
Erica wiped off her eyes.
"I know this all happened because she got involved in your issues, isn't it Iven?", Erica confronted this time,"If you don't bring her back safe, I'll never forgive you!!!".
Iven clenched his fists, his eyes burned!
His jaw was tightening due to rage.
He didn't express anything.
All his feelings were replaced with fury.
He started walking without saying anything anymore.
"You need to know this before you go Iven", Erica said,"So that you think about her thrice before you decide what to do".
Iven stopped, but didn't turn.
"Seb was ambushed while she was coming to see you", Erica said it,"She blamed no one but herself for everything that happened earlier. I dunno what kind of person you are exactly, and I don't
approve of you, but her feelings for you.....are genuine than anything else! She trusted you even at that perilous time!!! She has never meant those words said to you. So even you.....shouldn't
betray that faith she's on you. Don't let her belief on you go in vain".
Iven just listened quietly, without any reaction.
Then he just said without turning,"Thank you", and walked on.
Belle, he said to himself, don't you give up after this. I want to hear these words from your mouth straight. So just hang on a little longer. This time I won't fail you, I promise!
His next terrible words were directed at Iason.
Taking this riot to personal level is the last thing you could've done Iason, before your utter doom!!! And I'll make sure it's the last thing you'll dare to do, because after this.....I'll not leave you capable
of doing anything else!!!