I am currently stuck in a nightmare.... With horror in my eyes, I watch the two men facing each other. It seems to me that everything begins to play out in slow motion as they draw their weapons and point them at each other.
All around them, a fight was taking place between their men, and I ran down without thinking. I don't look under my feet, I don't worry that I'll break shortly, but I can't let the final battle play out before my eyes.
It's too soon. I'm not ready for it.
I stand between them and with terrified eyes, I look at one, then the other. Their weapons are just pointed at my head, which should make me feel a monstrous fear, but surprisingly, it is not so. I'm not worried that I might accidentally be killed, but I am concerned that before my eyes, they might kill each other.
I don't know why, but I feel remorse because I am one of the main reasons for this war. All this is happening because of me.
- Stop, please - I say in a whisper, closing my eyelids. - I have never understood the rules of the dark underworld, but isn't this an exaggeration?
A firm grip on my shoulder, and a tug, made me open my eyes. In front of me, I see a concerned Alexander, so I have no doubt that I am just being held by my biological father.
- Return my man to me yet, and I will leave here without much bloodshed.
- I didn't hide Solar from you to just let her leave with you now. I am not a coward, I am not afraid of bloodshed. After all, I told you that you will take her over my dead body.... - Alexander twists her lips in a tart smile, all the while bravely looking into his eyes. Not even for a moment does he look away. - Besides... I waited eighteen years to be able to avenge the woman I loved. Now I will not miss this opportunity.
My father bursts into mad laughter.
- Alexander, you make me feel good.
My father lowers his gun, looking relaxed. His rival still does not trust him and aims his gun at him, probably wanting to finish what he was unable to do eighteen years ago.
- Let's make a deal - he suggests to the blond man.
I don't think I like this even more. A truce between two mafiosi sounds scarier than starting a war.
Alexander looks amused at this point.
- What are you afraid of that you want a truce? After all, your people appear to be much stronger than mine. They have already defeated everyone. I'm the only one left - he announces, and I furrow my eyebrows, not understanding his action. - You are a ruthless man who is completely unmoved by murder, so explain to me what is the point? Don't you want to show your daughter's real face? Are you playing the good daddy? I think it's too late.
I do not understand what is actually going on here. In all the gangster movies I've watched with Henry, the mafiosi were always ruthless and when they pulled out their guns, they shot each other without thinking.
- Your sniper is just aiming a gun at my head. That's why you feel safe - Robert says through clenched teeth.
I open my eyes wider and turn back, looking at the red laser coming through the window and aimed straight at my father's head.
- I'm not as weak as you always thought I was - Alexander declares. - However, you have to be an idiot to fall on the private property of an enemy who also has power, and in this country I have more power than you. Here you are the loser.
A strange feeling of joy fills my heart when I hear the victory speech of the man who has protected me all my life. I want to take his side, but my father grabs me tightly and puts a gun to my head.
The joy goes away, and is replaced by a feeling of fear. I'm scared as hell!
- What are you doing? This is your daughter! - Alexander is disturbed by the behavior of the enemy.
The father smiles mockingly.
- So what about it? I see that she prefers you. She is as keen on you as her mother. I am not fit to be my successor.
My heart is beating harder with fear. Alexander was right when he said that my father is a beast. For him, it doesn't matter about family, it doesn't matter that he just wants to kill his daughter. He is protecting his ass in this way because he has come to the conclusion that I am unworthy to be the heir to the Winchester family.
Alexander is trapped. He doesn't know what to do.
Tears are streaming down my cheeks as I come to the conclusion that right now may be my end. The happy life I would like to taste at Luke's side will never come.
I will not have that chance.
A loud scream escapes my lips as a gunshot rings out within a brief moment, and I swear the bullet rubs against my hair. It hits right in my father's chest, and I jump away from him, looking with terrified eyes at Luke, who is standing by the railing. The boy, who was barely alive and struggling to hold the gun in his hand, took a chance and just shot at the man, not afraid that he would accidentally hurt me.
What happens a moment later is a veritable nightmare. My father is lying on the floor, with streams of blood flowing from his wound. One of his men like a ghost appears behind Luke and points a gun at him. I want to shout, to warn him, but it's too late. The boy is shot, and I run to him up the stairs, not caring that I too could lose my life.
Alexander shoots at the enemy people, but there are too many of them, although a sniper is helping him. He only targets the people he has in range, so the blond is without a chance.
I'm on the second floor when I see Alexander, who has been shot several times, kill the last enemy. He falls to his knees, looking directly at me. His lips stretch in a slight smile, as if he is satisfied that he managed to protect me to the very end, then he spits blood and falls to the floor.
My crying turns to hysteria as I run up to Luke and embrace his face with my hands. He is conscious and looking at me, but I am in such shock that I do not know what I should do now.
- Phone... I need a phone to call an ambulance.
I want to walk away from him and find any cell phone, but the boy won't let me. He grabs my hand, holding me to him. With a look full of suffering he looks into my eyes.
- You must take care of yourself, Solar. Promise that after this you will start living happily - he says in a whisper.
I can't control my hysterical crying as I press my hand against his wound, and he croaks in pain.
- Don't leave me, Luke. Don't fall asleep, please.
I can see his eyelids getting heavier with each passing moment.
- Just promise me that you will take care of yourself, and I can leave peacefully. - I put my hand to his cheek and pressed my face to his face, brushing my lips against his. - That's enough for me - he adds, smiling slightly. He closes his eyelids, and I lift my face, dully looking at one point.
It's my fault that so many people lost their lives. They died to protect me.
*
Six months later.
I have a painful past. In my nineteen years of life, I have managed to go through so much that mature people cannot experience. Recent events have contributed to my growing up faster. I am able to look at the world differently, and I no longer need to look for something to make me happy.
Thanks to Alexander, I don't lack anything. I am involved in his legitimate source of income, which is a nightclub. This man has prepared a future for me, and as his wife, I haven't even had any problems with the police regarding his illegal activities. Everything disappeared as if it had never existed before.
He left me the house and the club. I am set for the rest of my life at this point. I don't have to worry about money and a roof over my head.
Six months ago, I was going through a hard time. I wasn't even able to answer questions to the police. I felt like I was in an amok, and everyone around me was moving too fast while I was sitting still, looking at one point.
I try not to return to those days with my thoughts, but it's not easy for me to just forget all that.
Dressed in a blue coat, I stand in front of the airport, nervously glancing at my watch. It's the beginning of spring, it's getting warmer, so I prefer to wait outside. I need to get some fresh air before I board the plane.
I swear I'll kill this moron if he doesn't show up in a while.
And just at that moment he gets out of the cab clumsily, correcting the glasses on his nose. I look at him with pity, guessing that he overslept.
- Henry, moron, move! - I shout, with which I draw people's attention to myself.
Yes, I forgave the idiot. He explained that he sold me out because he knew Alexander wanted to help me. If I had been in danger, he would never have acted that way in his life.
I wonder if he actually would have, but I would rather not torment him anymore and let him go. The most important thing is that Alexander was indeed not my enemy and the person who protected me from beginning to end.
Nevertheless, Henry is still paying for his sins. I like to take advantage of this and bully him. He won't say a word to me because he knows he deserves such treatment.
- Did you fall asleep? - I ask him when he appears in front of me with a suitcase in his hand.
- Forgive me, Solar. I'm sorry you had to wait so long.
I roll my eyes and slap him on the forehead.
- Since you've had free entry to my club, you can't let go even one night. A little more and I'll let you live there.
A wide smile appears on his face.
- That would be a blessing for me.
- Calm down - I warn him, and his face this. - Let's go because we won't make it to the briefing.
*
Bali Island. I'm here again. I missed this place so much. This is where I first met Luke and fell in love with him at first sight. This is a place I will always remember fondly.
The last time I was here, was with my fake parents, who have completely cut off contact with me since that situation. They seem to have sunk to the ground, and when my anger passed, I realized that I missed them. I would like to meet them and ask them if they are okay, and even spend some time with them.
I hope the day will come when I will succeed.
I sit on the beach and out of the corner of my eye I watch my best friend seduce an attractive blonde.
He is a womanizer. He will never get bored, although I hope that a woman will appear in his life who will make him finally settle down. It is said that everyone has a soulmate with whom he should spend the rest of his life.
I hope that Henry, too, will eventually come across such a person.
- Solar, this girl is wonderful. I feel that I fell in love at first sight - declares my friend, putting his hand to his chest. - I can't miss this chance. Let me leave you alone and spend some time with this angel.
I smile slightly as I am reminded of that day when I was crazy about Luke, although I didn't know him at all.
- Go and don't waste this chance, bastard. - I pat him on the shoulder, watching as a wide smile appears on his face. He kisses me on the cheek, then just like that he leaves to go about his business of picking up an attractive blonde.
I draw my knees to my chest and embrace them with my hands, gazing out at the water. There are people walking around me, but I don't see them. My gaze is fully focused on the ocean.
- I am jealous. Two years ago, you were staring at me like this, not at the water.
My heart begins to beat harder. My eyes enlarge in disbelief as I vigorously look over my shoulder and spot an unearthly handsome guy. I can't get the words out, I just look at him like the most beautiful picture in the world.
- Before I left for treatment, I told you that if we were destined for each other, we would meet again by chance. Who would have thought that it would be the Island of Bali? The place where we fell in love with each other at first sight?
My eyes well up with tears as I throw myself at Luke and crush him to the sand. He bursts into loud laughter.
- Bastard, I missed you so much. I was afraid that I would never see you again.
- Since I didn't die that day because I had the strength to fight thanks to you, I was sure that our separation wouldn't last long - he replies.
I hug him tightly, not intending to let him go.
It was a miracle that he survived that day. Alexander's personal doctor was still in the house, whom I forced to help Luke when he left the room scared afterward.
The bastard was just going to live and finally experience a happy life by my side.
I smile broadly as we pick ourselves up from the sand, and he puts his hand to my cheek, stroking it thoughtfully.
- As long as you are by my side, I feel safe. You are my angel - he declares.
- And what about your health, is it better already?
Luke nods his head.
- I don't know what kind of pig Alexander has been futzing me with, but I have regained my strength. You have provided me with the best medical care.
I hug him around the waist and put my face to his chest.
- Can we finally start being happy, Luke?
- Right now we will start being happy - he announces, kissing the top of my head. - We have all our lives to do this.