Chapter 36

I looked over at Chase in a haste. He was holding a gun in his hand and was rushing over to me frantically. I stepped forward to run over to him but was immediately engaged in a headlock.

"Not so fast." Izzy hissed against my ear, and I bit down on her arm. She yelped, and I grabbed her arm firmly then threw her over my shoulder. She fell on her back and groaned before standing up and glaring at me.

"Bring it on, little sis." I challenged and held the chain in my hands. She scowled angrily and tackled me to the ground. From the corner of my eye, I could see Steven making his way out the double doors, and I cursed. I couldn't let him get away.

"Don't you even think about it," Izzy growled at me and punched my chin. I hissed in pain as she sent another punch to my face, but I blocked it and used it to pull her, making her stumble a bit. I heard a clinking sound of metal, and something shone in my field of vision. When Izzy charged at me, I dodged her punch and stepped around her, standing behind her. Before she could do anything, I kicked the back of her legs and forced her on her knees, passing the chain of the handcuffs over her head and wrapping it around her throat.

Her hands immediately went to the chain around her throat and struggled to take them off, but I prevented her from doing so and pulled the chain tighter. I glanced at the butterfly knife lying some feet away from us and watched as Chase took down the man he was fighting with.

"Chase!" I screamed, and his head snapped in my direction. I motioned to the knife and struggled against Izzy who was gasping for air. He seemed to get the hint and kicked the knife toward me. I released Izzy from the chokehold and instantly grabbed the knife from the ground as she massaged her throat.

She started coughing violently as I flicked the knife open. I stabbed her in the shoulder, making her cry out in pain. I kicked her face and she landed on her bottom, holding the knife that was sticking out of her shoulder with a grimace. I glanced at Chase and noticed he was holding up fine, so I bolted out the double doors. I ran down the hall and outside, looking from a far distance as Steven and some of his men got inside a car.

I screamed out in frustration when they sped off, and hurried back inside. Chase was now struggling against Gregory and Bryce which had him cornered. I could tell that he was in a bad shape since most of his weight was on the wall beside him. I quickly jumped on Gregory's back and pulled him down with me. I pushed him off me and rolled away from him, glaring at him. He was quick on his feet and I grabbed a gun from the floor, holding it firmly. Once he charged at me, I aimed at his leg and pulled the trigger right before Gregory kicked the gun out of my hands.

Bryce's yell met my ears as I struggled with Gregory. I was feeling lightheaded and nauseous as I fought him, the handcuffs not being of much help. I kicked his side and chin and watched him spit out some blood and glare at me. He brought his knee up and I blocked it but felt his fist connecting with my cheek. I winced and fell on my side, and he smirked down at me when I brought my hands up to touch my cheek.

"Seems like you're starting to lose skills, Amy." He said, and I didn't hesitate to kick the back of his legs. He fell backward, and I jumped on top of him and punched his face repeatedly with both fists at the same time. With one last punch, I managed to knock him out cold, and I instantly looked over at Chase. He was panting by a corner, and Bryce was some feet away from him holding his bloody leg in pain. He was glaring at me as I went to assist Chase, but I easily ignored him.

"Can you stand up?" I asked Chase, and he winced and nodded at me slowly. I draped his arm over my shoulder and did my best to help him stand up. He limped beside me, and I could tell he was trying his best to not put his weight on me.

"Amelia." He croaked out, and I shushed him.

"Don't talk. There are no guards, for the time being, so you need to get out of here while you can." I said and led him out the exit.

"Me? What about you?" he asked and turned to look at me.

"Bryce and Gregory are not dead yet, neither is Izzy—"

"Eva." He corrected.

"Whatever. The point is that at least Bryce and Gregory might recover fast. I will have to hold them back while you escape. I'm sure they're more guards on their way here and I can't put your life at risk anymore." I said, and he stopped.

"No. There is no way that I am letting you do this." He argued, and I sighed.

"I'm pretty sure I wasn't asking for your permission, Brownie," I said, and he frowned.

"I can't put your life at risk anymore either, Amelia. I won't let you do this alone. What if you die in there? Hell, I can't even think about it!"

"You have to go, Chase," I argued back and pointed to some fake earrings I had on my ears. "Lindsey hid a tracking device in these earrings, she should be here any minute now for you.

"I can't leave you!" he exclaimed, burying his face in his hands in frustration.

"Why not, Chase? I am trying to save your life here! I'm pulling you out of the mess you shouldn't have been involved with in the first place." I pressed.

"I just can't, Amelia!" he said, and his voice broke at the end. "I can't bear the thought of losing you in there. I'm scared of how you will end up. I've been a coward my entire life and you taught me how to be strong. I don't want you to die."

I stared at him, and he just looked down to the floor while leaning against a wall exhausted. I felt a familiar knot forming in my throat and frowned. "Why do you care so much about me, Chase?"

At this, he finally lifted his head and looked me in the eye. I was taken aback by how many emotions his eyes held as he stared at me. He opened his mouth and closed it a few times before sighing. "Don't you remember that kiss?" he whispered, and my breath caught in my throat.

I nodded slowly and stared at him in the eye. He shook his head slightly, looking to the ground with a frown. "Why do you think I kissed you?"

I blinked, and my heart sped up. I took in a deep breath and bit the inside of my cheek. Of course I knew, but I hoped it was just a thing from my imagination. "Chase..."

"Yes, Amelia," He whispered, and I took a step back in denial. "I have fallen in love with you."

"You shouldn't. You can't," I said immediately and looked down at him when he lifted his gaze from the floor. He looked like he had been slapped across the face and he scoffed in disbelief. Noises were heard from the background, and I looked at him in panic.

"Why not?" he asked as he searched my eyes.

"You have to go, now!"

"No. I am not going to leave you." He hissed, and I groaned in frustration at his stubbornness.

"Don't make this harder on me, please," I pleaded and started pushing him out the door. "You need to escape this place before they get us both."

"I can't leave you to die here," He told me and held my arms firmly. I gripped the front of his shirt and pressed my forehead against his chest. His heart was beating frantically against his ribcage and I felt my own heart breaking. This shouldn't be happening. It wasn't the right time.

"Chase, please."

"Why not, Amelia?" he asked, and I frowned in confusion until I realized he was referring to my answer to his confession. I could hear faint footsteps in the background and I did the first thing that came to mind. I gripped the back of his neck and pushed his lips against mine in a desperate kiss. A traitor tear rolled down my cheek as he kissed back without hesitation. After a moment, I pulled away and caressed his cheek with my thumb.

"Because loving a person like me will only bring you destruction," I whispered at him and he looked at me with desperate. The footsteps grew louder, and I pushed him away.

"Wait, Amelia." He started and reached out to me, but I only pushed him away again.

"Go, Chase," I whispered at him and started walking backward. He shook his head and another tear rolled down my cheek, but I wiped it away hastily. I turned around and came face to face with an angry Gregory that was coming my way. I instantly lifted my arm to punch him, but he blocked it and punched me in the stomach. I doubled over and gasped for air, then he grabbed a fistful of my hair and pushed me to the ground. He pulled my hair up, making me yelp in pain as he smiled cynically at Chase.

My eyes watered up as I laid on my stomach, and I looked at Chase. He was about to charge at Gregory, but I stopped him with pleading eyes. "Run!"

He stared at me wide-eyed and I could tell he was having a mental fight with himself. Gregory sat down on my back and pulled my hair harder, pouting mockingly. "How sweet, Amy. You're trying to save your new lover. I'm a little moved by it, so I'll let him escape this time."

"Do it!" I yelled at Chase once more, and his eyes watered up as he looked down at me. Gregory slammed my head against the floor, and I let out a loud groan as my vision blurred. When I looked back up at Chase, he stared at me while his eyes watered, taking small, hesitant steps back.

"Don't die, please." He whispered and finally took off running.

"Isn't this quite the romance?" Gregory hissed in my ear. "You seriously prefer him over me? I didn't expect you to do nerds."

"Shut up before I make you." I hissed back at him and he only pulled my hair more painfully.

"Oh, but I would love for that to happen." He muttered seductively in my ear and I scowled at him in disgust.

"I don't know what you're thinking of, but whatever it is won't be happening." I spat, and he licked my ear making me gag in disgust.

"Just you wait." He whispered and slammed my head against the floor once more.

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[Edited: September 13th, 2020 by michh_44]

And Chase escapes! Oof, the adrenaline is insane. So much action on these chapters...it kind of keeps you on edge. Doesn't it? No? Oh, well, I'm not perfect after all. I hope you liked the chapter, and if you did leave a vote and a comment. Lots of love ♥