334: RUNNING ON FUMES LUKE’S POV I carefully lifted Ariel into my arms; a sense of urgency gripped me. Her breathing was shallow, and I knew I had to get her medical help fast. I made my way towards the exit of the abandoned house, and I could feel Ariel’s weight in my arms. Plus, I was enervated. But it was all worth it. Reaching the doorway, my movements faltered, my eyes widening in alarm as I spotted a group of men standing just Outside, their figures Illuminated by the dim light filtering through the windows. They held their guns with an air of authority, sending shivers down my spine. But hell no! I wasn’t going to be terrified of these morons. I still needed to be careful, though. I quickly c dove back into the shadows, pressing myself against the wall as I assessed the situation. Those were undoubtedly the men in the scumbag outfit. I couldn’t let them see me. That might just put Ariel’s life in more and more danger. My mind raced with possibilities, each one more ominous than the last. But one thing was clear: I couldn’t risk walking into their line of sight, not with Ariel’s life hanging in the balance. Carefully, I adjusted my grip on Ariel, ensuring that she remained cradled securely in my arms. Then, with a silent prayer, I began to backtrack, moving away from the exit and deeper into the darkness of the abandoned house. Every step was fraught with tension, and every sound magnified in the stillness of the building. I had to find another way out–another path to safety for Ariel and myself. Navigating through the maze–like corridors of the house, my senses remained on high alert, ready to react at the slightest hint of danger. I couldn’t afford to let my guard down, not when Ariel’s life was depending on me. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I stumbled upon a small window whose glass had cracked and weathered from years of neglect. It was a risk, but it was our only chance. Gently lowering Ariel to the ground, I positioned myself by the window, my heart pour ding in my chest as I prepared to make our escape. With one last glance back at Ariel, I took a deep breath and pushed against the window, praying that it would give way. To my relief, the window groaned open, revealing a narrow alleyway beyond. Without hesitation, I hoisted Ariel back into my arms and squeezed through the opening, the cold night air hitting me like a slap in the face. As I emerged into the alley, I glanced around, searching for any sign of the men who had been lurking outside the house. But the coast seemed clear, at least for now. Taking a deep breath, I made my way out of the house. My only thought was to get Ariel to safety and seek help before it was too late. Whatever lay ahead, I would face it head–on, for Ariel’s sake and for our love. 334 RUNNING ON FUMES 2/3 Taking slow steps, I carefully navigated through the alley, hyper–aware of any sign of the armed men lurking nearby. Every shadow felt ominous, and I scanned the area, searching for any hint of danger. Still moving, a lot of thoughts raced through my mind about how to secure a vehicle to escape this peril. But before I could formulate a plan, a voice shattered the silence, demanding to know our destination. My blood turned to ice as I turned to see the man charging towards us, fury etched on his face. Without hesitation, I clutched Ariel tighter and sprinted into the nearby woods, my muscles burning with exertion. The trees provided cover as we darted between them, my heart thundering in my ears as I sought refuge from our pursuer. I crouched behind a thick trunk, listening intently for any sign of our follower. Footsteps echoed through the woods, growing louder with each passing moment. I held my breath, hoping that no one would discover us. Because if we did, only God knew what was going to happen. However, trust me, I was going to slam him vigorously and mercilessly, like I did to those idiots earlier. Fuck it! Time stretched agonizingly as I waited, the strain in the air almost suffocating. And then, just as I was hoping, the footsteps faded into the distance. I couldn’t hear the idiot moving around any longer. With a relieved exhale, I cautiously emerged from hiding, scanning the area for any lingering danger. When I was satisfied we were alone, I turned my attention back to Ariel, grateful we had narrowly escaped capture once again. But our ordeal was far from over. And the fire kept on burning in my veins. I knew I had to keep moving, to keep pushing forward until I found safety for the both of us. For Ariel’s sake, I would stop at nothing to ensure her survival. “Stop right there!” The thunderous voice went through my ears. Still holding Ariel, I turned around. It was the same man who chased me. He had a pistol in his hands, which he pointed at me. “You’re trying to escape, huh?” He stepped closer. “Calm down, buddy. We can do things the easy way. Let’s not get into a fight over here.” In a slow tone, I said to him. He laughed. “You think I’m afraid of you? Don’t move. Furthermore, I guarantee that I will annihilate your intellect if you attempt to engage in any foolish activity. I took a deep breath, and in hushed tones, I said, “Okay.” After that, I gently placed Ariel on the ground, looking into her eyes. It pained me to see her in this condition. Badly injured and bruised to the fullest. There are too many scars on her face. If I had the power to heal, I would have treated her immediately. I didn’t want to lose her now, and I had faith that I wasn’t going to lose her. Neither was she going to lose me. FUNNING ON FUMES. The man pulled out his phone, his fingers swiftly dialing a number, and at this point, I knew I had to act fast. So guess what I did. I lunged towards him, aiming to disarm him before he could make that call, and then I tackled him to the ground, the impact reverberating through my body as we crashed against the forest floor. His grip on the pistol loosened, and I seized the opportunity, grappling for control of the weapon. Each of us engaged in a fierce battle for dominance. The man’s ferocity matched his strength, making him a formidable opponent. But a primal Instinct drove me to protect Ariel at all costs, refusing to allow him to overpower me. Blows rained down from both sides, the sound of flesh meeting flesh echoing in the stillness of the woods. I could taste blood in my mouth, but I pushed through the pain, focusing solely on disarming my adversary. I managed to wrench the pistol from his grasp, but the fight was far from over. F This man launched himself at me with great vigor, his fists flying in a flurry of punches. I dove and weaved, fending off his blows. But despite my best efforts, he landed a solid hit, the force of it sending me reeling backward. I stumbled but quickly regained my footing, refusing to let him gain the upper hand. I moved forward, unleashing a barrage of punches and kicks with all the fury pent up inside me. Blow after blow rained down on the man, and I just kept going. And then, finally, after what felt like an eternity, he faltered, his strength waning under the relentless assault. With one final, decisive blow, I knocked him to the ground, his body crumpling in a heap at my feet. Breathing heavily, my eyes went to the pistol, which was on the ground.
