199 Am I Dead?
He stopped mid-way, and everything around him seemed to stop as well. He didn’t feel it from the beginning, but when his eyes slowly lowered to look at the staff that had penetrated through his chest, not only did the pain coerce through all his system, but it drained the little energy he had left, and he felt stranded.
For a few unblinking seconds, Anna’s gaze rested on the staff that had painfully connected to Roshan’s chest, the tip of the staff was piercingly sharp and shaped like a spear, making it easier to be used as a weapon, but to think Azazel would use it on him, and he’s so close to reaching her hand.
Without anyone holding it, the long staff magically pulled itself out of Roshan’s chest, leading the bleeding Demon to bite his lips in order to hold back the pain and Anna frantically shook her head at the sight she was forced to witness.
The staff dutifully returned to the hands of its master and Azazel’s red eyes glinted with something incomprehensible as he watched Roshan struggle to keep standing. Although he wasn’t the one doing all of this, Azazel’s hold tightened against the staff, watching his brother bleed and being unable to do a thing about it.
He has no control over his body, and has to abide by the rules of being its protector, but if Roshan doesn’t cross it to the other end, he will die and losing his brother wasn’t something Azazel was ready to face yet. Even if his body acted out of his own control, he was still the person responsible for causing Roshan this much harm and looks like he’s got to the peak of it.
“Roshan.” His name barely came out audible from her lips as she watched him remain still, his hands which were currently stretching to reach hers had dropped by his side, and Anna didn’t want to accept the reality that Roshan might die if he didn’t come to her.
“Roshan, l_look at me.” Her voice quivered, “look at me, you can’t give up yet just look at me.” She was already crying as she spoke, closing her eyes tightly and taking it as her fault that Roshan would end up suffering because of her. She’s always done this, people who tend to mean the most to her, get hurt because of her and she just wanted to apologize for bringing them this much pain with her presence.
Looking at the blinding passage behind her, if she’s still able to go in there, then will Roshan be fine?? If she leaves this place and enters through the passage then will all this stop?? Will everything end here??
Meanwhile, Roshan who just remained still like an unmoved mannequin slowly felt his consciousness slipping away with every second, his vision had turned so blurry that everything in his sight appeared vague and confusing, he couldn’t see the spikes that were still penetrating through his feet and the air felt cold.
.....
Sucking in a deep breath, he was already damaged to think he can continue this further. If he was a full Demon, then he might have been lucky, but being a half-demon didn’t give him that amount of energy to carry on.
Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth and his eyes were threatening to close, to give up, but when he raised his head up to see Anna, through his vague gaze, he noticed the woman was already heading into the passage of the afterlife, leaving his once heavy lids to snap open as he realized the gravity of the situation that was at stake.
She can’t go in there.
“Anna!” He called her name, making her stop once again and when she turned around to look at him, his expression had grown serious, so serious that it made the crying Anna stare in half-surprise.
“Don’t.” He said and before her very eyes, he began to walk again, this time, keeping his gaze fixed on Anna as though she was the trophy he was waiting to achieve if he ends up winning through this stage.
“What?!” The inhumane voice that spoke was shocked to see the demon walking, despite being stabbed, injured, power drained, disheveled, his energy was currently dropping at a low point and yet he’s still walking???
For once, Azazel finally chose to take charge as he blinked, his eyes returning to the original blue eyes that Anna grew familiar with.
Crouching, he placed a hand on the ground and Anna was starting to mistake his actions for another severe deed, not until she saw his body glow in the same luminous white light as her, and those glowing lights escaped him as they made they way to the the ground, leaving his body and going after the bridge that had been replaced with steel.
Those glowing lights followed the bridge and didn’t stop until they connected with Roshan’s body, giving him a power boost, even if it was little, and that alone was enough to energize Roshan for a short amount of time so he had to use it wisely.
No longer caring about the spikes and the extreme hotness of the steel, the only thing he cared about was the image of the beautiful woman that wouldn’t leave his head, and she was standing there, waiting for him with her arms stretched out again.
The only difference was that he was able to reach for her hands at the last minute, and Anna wasted no time pulling him away from the spikes and into the safer side of the bridge.
“Roshan!” His legs gave out almost immediately as he sank to the ground, making him go on his knees and Anna instantly did the same, hugging the man who had succeeded in reaching her side at the last minute.
She pulled back, cupping his cheeks with her hand and making sure he met her gaze, but he appeared weak, with the look of passing out. Regardless, he persisted and kept pushing himself to stay awake.
“Did I make it? Or am I dead as well?” He asked, but Anna shook her head with a smile as the tears effortlessly ran down her cheeks.
“You’re not dead at all, you made it.”
Staring at her face like he still couldn’t believe it, Roshan’s hand slowly reached to touch her cheeks, gently wiping away the tears that blocked her pretty eyes and she smiled even more at his gesture, knowing that he wanted to confirm if he was dreaming or not.
“See? I’m here with you.” She took his other hand so he could feel her face, but he was still struggling to keep his eyes open in order to see properly. Feeling the face of his one and only Anna, his brain could finally accept that he did make it, leading a small smile to form on his tired and sick-like face.
“Ahhh... I must appear so ugly right now, right?” The glacier wasn’t even feeling bad about his predicament, but is actually concerned about his looks??
His words made Anna chuckle lightly despite how she tried not to show it, and she shook her head, placing a tender kiss at the top of his head and smiling at him, feeling a sudden warmth fill her system.
“Never.”
She hugged him after that, unable to describe the happiness she felt to have Roshan in her arms again. Roshan finally let his eyes drop to a close while succumbing to Anna’s hold and warmth. The familiarity left his heart beating and now, he realized how going through all of that turned out to be worth it.
Azazel, who stood at the other end watched as the two embraced each other, and for the first time, his lips curved a bit, revealing a triumphant smile. The scene before him felt heartwarming, and this is the first time he was willing to acknowledge that.
Hitting his staff on the ground with a loud bang, his eyes turned to the demonic red that showed the other side of him, and he pointed his staff at the two of them.
“You’ve crossed the bridge,” the inhumane voice startled Anna, grabbing her attention and she lifted her gaze to look at the being who spoke, “he’s the first survivor to make it past the bridge and alive, and since he completed it all without going against the rules of retaliation, what he seeks shall be given to him.”
Smiling, Anna looked at the glacier who was currently resting on her arms and his eyes were sealed shut. To her relief, his heart was still beating and that was enough for her to guarantee he’s still alive.
She wanted to do a lot of things, to say a lot of things, but in the meantime, all she could do is shower him with hugs, feeling grateful that he was alive.
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶