Everything was empty. My heart is filled with void, choler, frustration, and every negative emotion that can be mixed. I couldn't even think of what was going to happen to me. Every object around me faded, and all I could think of was Ethan, my home, my family, my everything.
I left him alone there. I am in trouble. His life is in danger. We have separated, and I think there's nothing I can do anymore to save this family we are building since everything has been taken from us. Our freedom and our choices. My lips were parted, and I could feel that I was breathing, but the question was, am I alive? Or am I dead, and my body has been functioning on its own? I don't know. I don't want to know. I don't even know where I am. I don't know what are they going to do with me. All I could remember was I was begging Harry to help me, reaching for his shoes. Still, instead, he turned his back on me and walked towards his house, leaving me alone with the authorities that have been haunting us for months now.
My heart shattered, and everything had fallen apart. It's been hours since that incident, and I don't know where they are taking me. All I know is that I am inside a vehicle that's siren has been buzzing in my ears. My hands were cuffed while I was placed in the back seat. I could sense Allen was looking at me from time to time through the rear view mirror. His piercing eye was threatening me. One wrong move and I'll be a goner.
Or that's what I thought.
Soon enough, we had already reached the city where Ethan and I grew up after a long hour's drive. We're back here again, and I can't run away this time. I am outnumbered by Allen's men. They can strangle me to death if they want to. My life is in line right now, and I can't do anything but follow them. The car stopped, and I didn't look outside just to see the swarms of reporters and bystanders outside the station who wanted to know the truth. The door beside me opened, and a flash of a camera greeted me. I closed my eyes firmly, averting my eyes, but someone pulled my hands, and now my feet were stepping out of the car.
"You're a monster!"
"Where is he?!"
"Why is she alone? Where is the wolf? Or is she the monster?"
"Is it true, Ms. Gomez, that you are dating a monster that killed innocent lives?"
My eyes were fixated on the ground, not minding the words they were throwing at me. Honestly, I couldn't care about it anymore. My mind is wandering elsewhere. They pushed me and even tried to trip me, but the police scolded them away. I don't know if I should feel glad about it or not. I smiled bitterly, and I think one of the reporters saw it because they suddenly threw harsh words at me, assuming that I was part of the killing and that I was selling the victims' organs.
What shameful assumptions. Even if I publicized the truth, no one would believe me. Or if ever someone out there they can't help.
The door closed behind me, and everything was still silent. They pushed my back and led me to a gray and empty room, just like what I am feeling right now. I didn't look at the other police or forces following me with their baleful stares. I couldn't care about it. We halted, and they slumped me down on the chair, not removing the handcuffs on me. I don't mind, though. As if I can run away from them. The two men were holding me back out, and I could see from the corners of my eyes someone was sitting across the chair at the opposite end of the table.
I already know who it is.
"Good day, Natasha. It's nice to see you alive and still kicking…."
Silence.
"Okay, I will ask you straightly, where's your husband?"
That made me halt in surprise. My shoulder's tensed, but I didn't look up to see his face. My eyes were fixed on my hands that were playing on my lap. They didn't know? But how? Jessica reported it, and she told me that she visited someone dear to me and that's why she's back at the mansion. The reason why she was there in the first place. Or else…
My breathing hitched. Did she lie about it? Perhaps, she doesn't know Ethan, and the helpers probably or surely didn't let her inside the mansion. That's why she didn't tell the authorities Ethan is there or takes for granted that Ethan is living elsewhere. She just assumed when she was talking with me earlier to catch me, to trigger me. For a moment, I finally breathed. Thank god they don't know where Ethan is, even though it's already in their palms when they go to the mansion.
"W-we got separated…." I said, biting my inner cheeks. My palm was sweaty, and my heart was throbbing painfully against my chest. They can do everything they want to me, but please, I am praying to the heavens above that they wouldn't find out about Ethan.
"Don't lie. We know you know where he is." Allen slammed his hand, losing his patience. I flinched but didn't speak. They can interrogate me all they want, but nothing will come out of my mouth.
"I am not lying. I don't know where he is!" I yelled back, looking at him with pure fury. That's when I realized that Allen looked exhausted and hadn't slept all these past weeks. I'm surprised he's still functioning even in that case. The large black sack under his eyes, the unshaven hairs above his lips and on his chins, and last time I recalled, his hair was clean-cut, but not anymore.
Allen didn't say anything, but his eyes remained on my face. He released a violent sigh, slamming back his body on the chair.
"You could have been roaming free in this country, Natasha if you just give him up to us." he threatened, but I was not dazed by his words. I knew from the start and accepted my fate the moment I chose Ethan.
"Allen…" I called his name, and my voice was hoarse and tired this time. Exhausted from running away. Tired from everything we had been through. I placed my elbows on the table, clasping my palms together. My tears were already forming at the corners of my eyes, but I shook my head, suppressing them from falling.
"I k-know what had Ethan done. I know the sins, chaos, and marks he left. But please, he was abused by his family. He was thrown away. He was neglected and treated like garbage. He-"
"-He killed his parents, Natasha. He killed his twin. He killed innocent lives who also had a family. He killed everyone in the Asylum massacre. He killed hundreds of lives, Natasha, and you think a simple "Sorry, I changed." will favor you that?"
Allen stood up and then started to circle me. I suddenly don't know what to say or even open my mouth. I was speechless when Allen cornered me. He stopped behind me, and I realized I was holding my breath when he leaned down. His lips were brushing against my ear lobe, sending chills down my system, immobilizing my whole body.
"We are living in a country where the law is implemented, and when I say the law, it means no one is an exemption. Not on my watch…."
He stood up straight and then began to lecture me.
"I simply don't care if you are the President of this country, the most influential person on this planet, or even the strongest person that can ever live. A crime is a crime, and money won't buy your freedom, especially not under my supervision."
I swallowed. Allen fears no one. He is the kind of man who stands up for his principles. He treats people equally, and he wouldn't let it pass if someone made a transgression. I admire him for that. I admire his bravery and the fair justice system that every country in this world deserves. However, we are unfortunate to have Allen around in our case. Allen wouldn't take it even if we had money to buy our freedom.
He thinks Ethan is the enemy.
"Ethan changed!" I stood up, yelling and losing my composure.
"I saw how he changed and how he implored he won't kill anymore-"
"You simply don't understand, do you?" Allen cut me off, making me shrink in my seat when one of his men pushed me down. A long deafening silence filled the room before Allen spoke again.
"The man who helped you is being interrogated in the other room."
My forehead creased, creating vertical lines, when something snapped, making my eyes widen in fear. The whole color of my body drained when I agnize what he is talking about. I inhaled a sharp breath, relaxing my body which could not calm down right now.
"Harry…"
Allen smiled when I mentioned his name. He leaned closer until our faces were inches apart. I want to remove that smug look on his face, telling me that we will never win this case, and it's the end game for both of us. How I hated to admit he's true, and all of this is over.
"Who knows, he might be told to my colleague where your husband's whereabouts are. Soon, we won't let him escape once we have our palms on him. We will sentence him to death."
My whole world flipped when I heard the word death. I shook my head, and this time my tears fell off, but Allen looked away.
"We will give him a slow, painful, and torture death so the numbers of killings in this city will decrease and people's lives will be at ease…." he trailed off, continuing.
"And there's nothing you can do about it, Natasha."