235 So Close and yet So Far (2/2)

This feeling of guilt in my chest...it's an awful feeling. Yet, I felt happy, glad that I was wrong. I...I'm the one that had failed her. I'm the one who doubted her, secretly thinking deep down in my mind that I was being cuckolded. Yet...she proved me wrong.

”What's wrong?” she tilted her head somewhat as she looked over at me.

”Nothing,” I wiped away the few drops of tears in my eyes.

”I've packed all the valuables already,” she then said as she slung a small bag over her shoulders.

”Then why didn't you leave already?” I asked her.

”I...” she blushed somewhat as she looked to the side to avoid my gaze. ”I wasn't ready to leave behind our home cause...” she glanced over at me shyly. ”you might end up coming back.”

Upon seeing her attractive face blush and act so shy, my heart started racing. I felt warm inside, a feeling of great love that made me tear up even more. I am no longer able to contain myself and this desire I had felt upon seeing her. I took a step over towards her and pulled her into a tight embrace. My nose breathed in the scent of her hair as well as the sweet fragrance of her body. It was a calming smell, and the warmth and softness of her body proved soothing to my tensed muscles.

”A-Alevian?” Muria stuttered from surprise and embarrassment.

I had to cut the embrace short due to time constraints, but I was already more than satisfied. This was the most intimate interaction we had ever since our marriage, and by the looks of it, Muria doesn't seem to dislike it.

”Let's go,” I smiled and said to her. ”The Jorzans shouldn't have reached this north of Palisia just yet. If we head towards the northern gates now, we are guaranteed to be able to make it out safely.”

”Then let us leave,” Muria smiled.

”Yeah,” I nodded as I led her out of our house and towards the exit of our enclosed yard. I have no regrets of leaving this home, because where ever Muria is, that is my home.

My mind immediately cleared up and a feeling of joy seeped into it. If all goes according to schedule, we will be able to escape the city safely. From there, we'll just have to make our way further north and find some sort of transportation that would take us somewhere near Fort Sarendale. The future is still grim, but with Muria safe by my side, I will make sure that I protect her. I have yet to fulfill that promise I made when I left home.

I stepped onto the main city road from the small road that led to it and turned to face north. If we just follow the road down north, we will be able to escape the city. I could even see the opened city gates leading to safety up ahead. I glanced over in Muria's direction, seeing a smile on her face and smiled in return. With each other's presence, both of us must be feeling a sense of security that we were deprived of in the past two years.

We'll get out of this alive together.

With a smile and great confidence in my mind, I took the first step towards salvation. Yet, that is when I felt a sharp pain originating from my left lower back, catching me by surprise and bringing me to a sudden halt. Slowly, I looked down at my stomach and saw my shirt being soaked red with blood originating from my back.

”Alevian!” Muria called out in horror.

Slowly, I turned around with wide eyes as they trembled. Standing behind me with bloodied hands was the girl that I had left behind in her house. On her face was a corrupted and broken smile. She chuckled at first, and that chuckle soon turned into a crazed laughter as she turned around and walked off.

I twisted my body somewhat, feeling a sharp pain in my left lower back. I looked past the blood stained red of my shirt and found the black handle of that kitchen knife the girl had threatened me with. With horror in my trembling eyes, I fell onto my knees.

We're so close, I cursed in my mind as the stab wound burned from the pain as my wife knelt next to me with great worry and concern in her voice and tears in her eyes.

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