333: SURVIVING THE STORM ARIEL’S POV Luke’s question hung in the air, unanswered, while the men descended upon him with brutal force. I watched in horror as they unleashed a flurry of blows, their fists raining mercilessly down upon him. It was so painful to witness such an assault. What could I do right now? How could I put an end to the terrific scene unfolding before me? I “Stop!” I screamed, my voice raw with desperation, as I struggled against my restraints, helpless to intervene. “That’s enough! A voice resounded in the room. A familiar voice indeed. To verify my thoughts, I slowly turned in that direction, and stepping out of the shadows was Bernardo. He wore a black shirt that tightened around his body. His look was not nice. “Bernardo?” I vocalized in hushed tones, looking fixedly at him as he stepped closer. “Don’t tell me you’re the one behind this.” “Are you surprised?” He asked a question, raising an eyebrow. “You rat me out, didn’t you?” “Oh, Laura confronted you?” “Shut up!” He snapped without hesitation. “Shut the hell up, Ariel! If you continue, it will destroy my marriage. “Watch your mouth,” Luke chimed in, breathing heavily from the intense assault. “That’s my wife you’re talking to.” “You shut up!” Bernardo barked at Luke, pointing his finger at me. “This wife of yours is nothing but a snitch. And trust me, I am going to make her pay. I will ruin your life; I will ruin your marriage, just as she did to me.” “Don’t put the blame on me. You were the one cheating on your wife,” I defended. “And so what? I’ve been doing this for years.” I couldn’t believe my ears. “Hold on. So you’re telling me that you’ve been sleeping with other women behind Laura’s back all these years?” “Yes, I have! And she never caught me! But you came and ruined everything.” “You want to know something, Bernardo? That’s disgusting.” I told him boldly. “I love your courage, Ariel. But you and your husband are going to die. That’s what you get for messing with me.” 13 SURVIVING THE STORM “Well, I’m glad Laura now knows the kind of man you are.” “What’s your gain, then? You’re going to die anyway!” Bernardo squatted closer to me; his tone was low, and his smirk was baleful. He stood up, looking at the other two men in the room. “I want you both to beat the hell out of them. Just torture them and make them scream for mercy. “For the death, we’ll handle that later.” “Yes, sir. We’ll do as you have told us.” Bernardo glanced at me once again. “I hope you enjoy yourself, Ariel. Look at what your foolishness has done to you.” “Don’t speak bad about her, you moron,” Luke defended me. “I tell you this: we’re not afraid. And should you believe that you are capable of causing our demise, you are merely jeopardizing your own credibility.” Bernardo glared at Luke. “What are you both? Gods or something?” “No, but our love is strong. Because the heavens hold us tight,” Luke replied. “We’ll see about that,” Bernardo said, walking away. The two men looked at each other, shrugged, and continued their brutal assault. Yet, Luke and I endured the pain with stoic determination. Blood trickled down our faces, mingling with sweat and tears, yet we refused to cry out. Instead, we clung to each other’s hands tightly, finding solace and strength in our shared love and defiance against Bernardo’s cruelty. That man! I had no idea he was this heartless. With each blow, our resolve grew stronger, and our gazes never wavered from each other’s eyes. We silently communicated our unwavering commitment, making our bond unbreakable even in the face of such brutality. Despite the agony coursing through our bodies, Luke and I remained united, our love serving as a shield against the onslaught of violence. We refused to let Bernardo’s hatred tear us apart finding courage in our shared struggle. The brutal beating continued, our grip on each other tightened, and our silent solidarity was a testament to the depth of our love. Though battered and bruised, we remained steadfast, our hearts beating as one against the storm raging around us. LUKE’S POV These men went really hard on the both of us, like their lives depended on it. It was really painful, and they seemed determined to end our lives. But I wasn’t going to let that happen. I didn’t know how I was going to stop them, but I was not going to let them kill us. And my anger was boiling each moment, watching Ariel submerge in pain. But everything grew more intense, the anger deepened, and now the monster within me was ready to surface. 323 SURVIVING THE STORM! Why? Because these men had beaten Ariel to the point that she lost consciousness, A surge of rage erupted within me, obliterating any shred of fear or doubt. With a primal roar, I tore at my restraints, feeling them snap under the force of my fury. I was mad as hell, and at the moment, I could tell I had a strength that I had never possessed. With lightning speed, I lunged forward, my fists in a blur of motion, as I unleashed a torrent of blows upon our assailants. I calculated each strike, aiming to incapacitate those who dared to harm us. The first man staggered backward, his grip on his weapon slipping as my relentless assault overwhelmed him. With a swift kick, I sent the gun flying across the room, out of reach. Fueled by a potent anger, I continued to rain down blows upon him until he crumpled to the ground, defeated. Meanwhile, the second man struggled to regain his footing, but I was already upon him, my wrath unyielding. With a fierce roar, I tackled him to the ground, engaging in a savage struggle for dominance Despite his desperate attempts to fight back, my rage–fueled strength proved insurmountable. I delivered punishing blows with a primal cry, each one emphasizing that I would not surrender. My fists found their mark with unwavering accuracy, breaking bone and shattering resolve with each devastating strike. Finally, with a decisive blow, I rendered my opponent unconscious, leaving him sprawled on the ground. Breathing heavily, I surveyed the scene before me with my gaze fixed on Ariel’s still form. Rushing to her side, I gently cradled her in my arms, my heart racing with a mix of relief and concern. Despite the chaos surrounding us, I knew we would overcome it. I was not going to let anything bad happen to her. I was even surprised at how I managed to take out those men. “Ariel, Ariel, wake up.” I tapped her face several times, hoping that she might regain consciousness. But who was I kidding? She suffered severe injuries. I was glad she wasn’t dead. Now, I had to take her to the hospital. 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.
