Free Web NovelChapter 4: Chapter Four: The Will
One of the villagers shouted:
What’s that? Gunshots?
The villagers screamed in panic, while one of them yelled,
The shot came from the direction of the lake!.
At that moment, all I saw was a full body rushing toward me like an impenetrable wall.
The sound of the gunshot rang out.
A heavy silence fell... as if the world had stopped.
I didn’t understand what had happened.
Until I saw the blood... slowly spreading across his chest.
The bullet had pierced his body.
He staggered... then fell onto the green grass, which began to turn red.
Jaber was shocked by what Kamel had done. He growled angrily, “Damn you!”
The villagers’ voices rose from all sides; they were shouting and closing in on him, panic etched on their faces.
He gave me a cold stare, his eyes terrifying.
Then he jumped into his car and sped off at full speed, leaving behind a cloud of dust and the shouts of the villagers who couldn’t catch up to him.
I collapsed beside him, my hands trembling—I didn’t even feel them until they were soaked in his blood.
I pressed down on his wound with all my strength, but the blood kept flowing through my fingers.
I looked at my hands, stained with the blood of the man who had saved me, and I knew it was all my fault. I was the cause.
I felt remorse weighing heavily on my chest.
I tried again and again to stop the bleeding, but to no avail.
Then he took my
hand and said in a weak voice,
“It’s no use. Where’s Ren?”
I felt as if everything had come to a standstill.
Ren was on her usual way home when she heard a gunshot and saw a crowd of villagers running toward the lake.
She remembered her father’s words when he told her he was going fishing.
She froze in her tracks, fear and terror creeping into her heart.
She ran, fear etched on her face, repeating:
Dad... Dad... Dad...
When she arrived, she saw the sorrowful circle formed by the villagers.
She saw me, broken and weeping, then her gaze fell upon her father, lying there.
“Daaad!”
She threw herself onto his chest, crying bitterly, then turned to me with eyes filled with anger and blame: Get away! Your hands are filthy... This is your fault! If you hadn’t come into our lives, this wouldn’t have happened...
You should have died instead of him! I hate you.
Tears choked me, and I could only reply, I... I’m so sorry... I didn’t mean for this to happen.
He opened his eyes wide with difficulty for the last time and whispered softly: “Hidara... don’t apologize. What happened isn’t your fault... Don’t blame him, Ren This is my fate.
He gave her a weary smile and wiped a tear that had fallen on her cheek with his trembling hand.
Live happily, my little butterfly... Death is inevitable.
Then he turned to me with what little strength he had left.
Leave Ren in your care... Don’t leave her alone... Protect her and support her... Do you promise me?
I replied, my voice trembling: I promise... I’ll protect her until the last day of my life.
His hand slowly relaxed, sliding down Ren’s cheek and leaving a thin trail of his blood, before falling motionless to the ground.
Kamel was dead.
Silence fell over the lake, broken only by Ren’s wailing, which tore through the village’s stillness.
The next morning
After the funeral rites were over.
I knocked gently on her door. Ren... may I come in?
Her voice came back to me, broken: “Come in"
I stood a few steps away and bowed my head: “I know words won’t bring him back... but he left me a will. He told me you’re a trust placed upon my neck.
Ren laughed bitterly: A responsibility? I’m not something to be handed over after death.
If I could have died in his place, I would have,” I said with a sincerity that shook the very foundations of the room.
Ren looked out the window at the raindrops:
I’ll go with you to the city... not for your sake, but because it was his last wish.
I let out an audible sigh, trying to absorb her anger and the sadness filling the room, then said in a calm tone: “All right... I’ll wait for you at the station in an hour.
I didn’t wait for her reply; I left the room immediately, heading for the station. My steps were quick, driven by guilt and the weight of the promise hanging around my neck.
Elsewhere
In a corner of “Malissora”:
In a dark corner of the city, Jaber muttered in frustration: “Damn it... I couldn’t kill him.”
Zarak’s mocking voice rang out: It’s only natural for someone like you to fail.
If the Commander finds out I let him slip away, he’ll take his anger out on me,
Jaber said nervously.
Zarak replied as he walked away: I won’t tell anyone... Do as you please.
Jaber growled to himself with a terrifying, wide grin.
I’ll kill him... and make a lot of money.
An hour later
At the bus stop, I stood watching the road with a restlessness that was wearing on my patience, until I caught a glimpse of her approaching from afar.
I said, my tone a mix of relief and doubt:
“I thought you weren’t coming”
“Ren” approached with quiet steps.
She was carrying a small, worn-out bag that reflected the simplicity of her shattered life.
She replied curtly, without looking at me:
I said I’d come, and I don’t want to disobey my father’s will.
I turned toward her, trying to break the ice.
Thank you for coming, Ren.
She replied sharply, though I wasn’t surprised.
Don’t get too excited; I’m not doing this for you.
I took a deep breath as I gazed at the horizon.
I know that, but I promise I’ll do everything in my power to protect you.
The bus arrived; we got on and sat in silence, broken only by the sound of the old engine.
Ren looked out the window, then whispered,
This is the first
time I’ve ever left the village.
I said to her, trying to reassure her,
We’re going to my place in the city now. It may not be a palace, but it will be a safe haven for you.
Ren remained silent, watching the raindrops race down the windowpane, and murmured softly, I hope so.
On the other side of town, in a spot shrouded in darkness,
Jaber and Zarak stood in front of an abandoned warehouse that reeked of alcohol and burnt wires.
The place sent shivers down one’s spine, as if the walls were hiding secrets.
Jaber whispered as he adjusted his weapon with a greedy look: “Let’s go in.
Zarak moved coldly behind him, and both of them plunged into the darkness
of the warehouse.
