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Is this what dying felt like?

Chapter 5

Ruby pov

I slowly opened my eyes, grogginess fading. Hospital lights blinded me.

The door swung open, and Lucas and Mr. Ice walked in. My gaze locked onto Mr. Ice's bandaged hand and the faint scratches on his face.

Memories flooded back, the explosion, the pain, then darkness.

"How did you sleep for two days?" Lucas asked, standing beside my bed, scrutinizing me. "You don't even have a scratch on you."

Mr. Ice settled into a chair, a few feet away, his expression unreadable.

I tried to speak, but my voice caught in my throat.

“Let me go reach out to your mother, she has been bugging my phone wanting to know if you are awake yet.” Lucas moved to leave and something didn't sound right… My mom was worried and wanted to know when I would wake up.

Lucas's words faded as he stepped out, leaving me alone with Mr. Ice.

I turned to him, his eyes still closed, his rugged features illuminated by the bright lightening in the room.

"Thank you for saving me, Mr. Ice," I whispered, my voice trembling. I was met with silence and I wondered if he'd heard me.

Then, his eyes snapped open, piercing blue locking onto mine.

"Ethan," he corrected, his voice low and slightly rough.

I felt a flutter in my chest.

"And, for the love of God, unlock the door before cranking the handle," he added, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes before it was gone.

My face burned with embarrassment.

But beneath his cold demeanor, I glimpsed something more, a flicker of concern.It vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving me questioning if I'd imagined it.

Ethan's gaze lingered on mine, his expression unreadable.

The door swung open, and Lucas entered, my mom trailing behind.

"My silly Ruby! You're finally awake!" she exclaimed, rushing to my bedside.

Her tears of relief made my heart ache, but I couldn't shake off the lingering resentment.

I pulled my arm away as she reached out, unsure why her sudden display of affection irritated me.

An awkward silence hung in the air until Ethan's deep voice broke the tension.

"You can take your daughter home now. The hospital bills have been settled."

His tone was detached, yet commanding.

My mom nodded eagerly, like an obedient child would. "That's wonderful, we'll leave right away!"

I closed my eyes, annoyed by her change in attitude.

Ethan's gaze lingered on me, his expression calculative.

Well, your guess was as good as mine. The moment we got into the cab, my mother's attitude made a complete degree turn, but I wasn't supprised.

What really bothered me was that she didn't even try to extort money from Ethan or cause a scene, a stark difference from her greedy behavior.

The cab stopped by our house, and my mother hurriedly got out and walked towards the house after paying the driver.

I sighed heavily and slowly followed, murmuring a thank you to the driver.

"You should go up to your room and rest," I heard my sister murmur to me immediately I stepped into the house.

"What is going on with you?" I asked, my voice tinged with frustration and suspicion. "Did you finally find out

you were going to die and decided you care about me?" I bit back. Their behavior was becoming increasingly unsettling.

And to top it all off, my sister didn't reply to me but just flashed a smile and got back to tapping at her phone, her nonchalance fueling my suspicion.

I decided to ignore them and went up to my room, eager to escape the suffocating tension.

I was drawn into a deep slumber immediately after my head touched the bed, exhaustion consuming me.

I stayed in bed feeling well rested, but the eerie silence of the house work me.

My whole room was pitch black, the darkness mirroring my mood.

I stood up and made my way downstairs to get something to eat, all the while being quiet not to wake anybody, but my attention was drawn to shadows behind our back door.

Unease crept in as I walked close to the kitchen window and peeped out to see Mom talking to some people.

“You can go grab her, Mrs.” I heard my mom happily say as she pocketed something in her dress pocket.

Her cheerful tone sent a shiver down my spine, and I felt a growing sense of dread.

Her words sunk into my consciousness like a poison, and I figured it out. She was trying to sell me off! A chill ran down my spine. I knew she didn't have an ounce of love for me, but selling me off was pure betrayal.

I slowly backed off from the window, heart racing, trying not to grab their attention.

"Where do you think you're going, red worm!" my sister snickered from behind, her voice dripping with malice. I spun around, but a sharp pain pierced my back, and I screamed.

Adrenaline coursed through me. Summoning strength, I pushed myself up as footsteps approached. I knew I had to escape.

"Mom, come quick! I got her," my sister called out, her excitement twisted.

Seizing the distraction, I toppled her over and punched her in the face. The rolling pin in her hand caught my eye, and I grabbed it, hitting her hard on the shoulder.

"Have a taste of your own medicine, carrot face!" I spat, reveling in her anguished screams as I sprinted into the night.

Four steps beyond our yard, a vice-like grip clamped onto my shoulder. Without hesitation, I swung the rolling pin, its weight an extension of my anger.

My mom's scream tore through the air, but I felt no remorse.

I glanced back, and my heart sank. Shadows in black swarmed our yard, their footsteps closing in.

Panic fueled my flight. Bare feet pounding the rough ground, I ran without direction, driven solely by instinct.

No matter how hard I pushed, their footsteps drew nearer. Desperation clawed at my chest.

My eyes frantically scanned the surroundings, searching for an escape.

Just then, a black car screeched around the corner, tires smoking, and halted before me.

I spotted Lucas in the driver's seat, and a surge of relief washed over me. Ethan swung open the passenger door, his eyes locked intensely on mine. Without hesitation, I lunged forward, but a searing agony ripped through my upper abdomen, stopping me in my tracks.

As I slowly looked down, my heart sank. My blue t-shirt was transforming into a deep crimson, the stain spreading rapidly. A distant voice screamed my name, but it sounded muffled, distant.

The ground seemed to rise up, and I felt myself slumping. My vision blurred, and my legs gave out. I lay there, feeling weak and helpless.

Bullets whizzed past, the sound deafening. Gunfire erupted from both sides, and I knew I was caught in the crossfire. Fear gripped me.

"Is this what dying feels like?" I wondered, my thoughts fading into darkness.

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