Bello strolled towards Loretta, chuckling with the gun pointing at her head. She cried and crawled back, finding means to escape the ruthless beast in front of her.
" Please, spare my life"
"Huh? – Spare your life, you said?" He smirked amidst chuckle. " Do you think I'm so dumb to let you off the hook so you can expose me? Huh!! Never, bitch, not even in your dreams " He roared, kneeling beside her with the gun over her skull.
" Please " She pleaded in tears.
" Just say your last prayers, honey" He shouted.
*********
Paola, Bianca, and Loretta's parents, Mrs. Ciara and Mr. Ben sped towards the location shown on the GPS in their vehicle.
" Drive a little faster, Ben" Ciara cried in devastation.
" I am, honey– Just pray we're not so late. I've already informed the police and I'm sure they're already on their way. They should even be there by now " Replied Ben with gaze still fixed on the road; a depressed look etched on his face.
" Oh, my God, I can't believe this is happening " Ciara exclaimed, turning to Paola and Bianca who sat at the back seat, monitoring the GPS signal, nervously.
" How is it going, girls– Are we any closer?"
" Yes, mum, we should be there within the next two turns" Paola swiftly answered.
Ciara nodded and turned back, facing the road; her eyes closed and head bowed in prayers.
********
Loretta secretly glanced around with the back of her eyes, desperation written all over his face as she searched for a source of defense to free herself from his watch. Just then, her gaze fell on a sharp-pointed stone. She instructively gulped down a lump down her throat– her gaze tactfully fixed on Bello as she slowly reached for the stone and simultaneously but carefully moved it closer.
" See you in the next life " Whispered Bello, about to pull the trigger but Loretta quickly took the stone and smashed his head.
He fell to the ground, groaning in pain and anguish. She hurriedly but weakly struggled to her feet and raced off– But too weak to go any faster.
" Hey, get back here, bastard " He shouted while he struggled to his feet, covered in blood.
" I'll make you pay for this, Lore? There's no way you're getting away with this, bitch" He furiously shouted, followed by the shot of a gun.
" No!!!!! – Lore!!!! " A voice echoed behind.
Loretta and Bello fell simultaneously to the ground with a loud cry. Ciara, Ben, Bianca, and Paola rushed to Lore's side. She had already been shot by Bello and profoundly bleeding.
Ciara slowly raised her, adjusting her on her laps as she trembled in tears. The color in her face had suddenly drained out while she struggled to pull herself together for her daughter.
"Is okay, Lore, mum is here now. You're going to be fine, just hang in there". She stuttered, tears rolled down her eyes.
" Mummy ", cried Lore faintly with tears running down her cheeks as she lay in a pool of blood. " Not sure, I can hold on for long". She groaned while she slowly gasped for breath.
Ciara gently caressed her daughter's face with shaky hands, crying.
" No, honey, you got to. Mummy is here and I promise, everything is gonna be okay." Clara cried. "Please, just hold on for a few more hours".
" I'm so sorry mum, dad " Loretta stammered, her voice growing fainter and weaker " Please forgive me", she cried.
They both stared down at her, shuttered in tears.
" Hey, hey, don't say that, okay. You'll be fine. You're our only daughter and we love you so much. Just hang in there, the ambulance will soon be here", said Ben, growing more impatient.
" Please where had the ambulance gotten to", he roared at one of the police officers attending to a call. His voice was quite shaky and trembling with panic.
"Almost here, sir!" he instinctively answered and swiftly returned to the call. " Please hurry, the victim suffered severe injuries, over!." He exclaimed.
Paola and Bianca couldn't help, seeing their friend in such pain and anguish. They nervously held her hand as they tried to keep her from closing her eyes.
" Stay with us, Lore, please ", cried Paola and Bianca nodded in sobs.
"You'll be alright, dear. Just keep talking " Bianca added in assurance.
" I wish, I could, guys." She groaned. " I'm sorry," she whispered faintly. Just then, her face went pale, her breath ceased out and her hands slowly slithered to the ground, lifeless.
Paola and Bianca panicked. " Lore– Loretta! " They called as they nervously shook and tapped her to open her eyes which proved futile.
" Hey, what's wrong with my daughter, someone, please talk to me," Ciara shouted in agony which made Ben instinctively, wrap her into a hug to calm her.
"Hey, girl, come on, wake up. Please". Bianca and Paola desperately cried.
Ciara screamed, shaking her nervously.
" No, no, Lore, you can't do this to me. Please" She welled "Oh, my God, this can't be happening. Help, please, anyone", she wept.
Paola and Bianca hugged her in tears. Just then, the ambulance pulled over. Ben hurriedly carried Loretta and rushed her into the ambulance with Ciara, Bianca, and Paola, following.
" You guys should take the lead. I'll join you later", said Ben as he laid her on the stretcher and got down.
Ciara nodded, holding her daughter's hand. The ambulance soon sped off.
The police had already secured the scene and examining the incident soon began.
" Hey, check the culprit, if he's still alive", the commander announced.
They nodded and examined Bello who lay unconscious on the ground.
" He's alive sir. His pulse is still working", one announced.
" Alright, take him to the police hospital. We'll handle it from there when he recovers."
" Okay"
They carried him into a police ambulance and sped off. Ben followed them in his car.