I was awake.

Evgeni had dropped me to the ground and was now standing above me. My neck was in excruciating pain as I tried to sit up. He kicked me down the ground, almost cracking one of my ribs. Leon now had a gun in his hands and pointed it directly at Evgeni.

“I do not want your money. I do not want your American information,” he says, his eyes glaring at Leon. Leon kept the gun pointed at him, his hands steady. “I have killed your men, your team. I have erased your very existence. What more could I need?”

Just then, I heard Leon fire his pistol. Evgeni immediately fired back at Leon, missing him by an inch. Leon had shot him in the shoulder as I could see now, by the crimson stain spilling through his grey shirt. He hadn’t hit a major artery, so I doubt Evgeni would bleed to death, but the pain alone would cause delayed reactions and poor cognitive function. He fired again, missing Leon a second time, his arm shaking.

Leon’s gaze was fixated on Evgeni. His eyes were a colder and more dangerous blue than I had ever seen. His eyes remained on Evgeni, studying his every move.

“You’re too late” Evgeni said, and with that, coming from upstairs, was an explosion, followed by one in the bathroom just behind us, launching me across the room.

The basement was engulfed in flames. The fire was spreading viciously. Deep shades of red and amber shawn brightly as the fire sucked up the remaining air surrounding us, becoming stronger by the minute. My lungs became charred with the thick, pungent smoke. As the fire burnt in all it’s glory as its heat hit me like a train, pain radiating throughout my body as the fire scorched my skin. I felt a warm, strong, hand take my own and then let go. I was then picked up, arms wrapped around my back and the folds in my knees. Evgeni was long gone and Leon was carrying me up the stairs, coughing violently as his lungs charred and trying his best to shelter his burning eyes.

He carried me up the stairs, choking on the smoke with every step. As we reached the main frame of the chalet, I saw the desolation of the flames. He walked through the fire regardless, continuing to cough while sheltering me from the flames. The wooden panels that made up the chalet’s walls were rapidly fading to ash as we finally made it out of the house. Leon went straight for the lake to the side of the chalet and we both collapsed. The little chalet was entirely swallowed up by the flames. We watched the smoke rise into the air and the petite chalet become no more than charcoal and ash.

I turned to face the long, gravel driveway that led out of the property to find Evgeni walking along the side of the road. He was almost out of sight now. I rushed back to the chalet, a sudden burst of adrenaline firing me forward to the car. I quickly located one of Leon’s rifles that we had buried in blankets in the back seat and readied the weapon. With a loaded magazine, I exhaled and steadied my aim as the shell lifted from the magazine to the barrel of the rifle. I inhaled once more and pull back the forend. In my final move, I exhaled for a final time and closed my eyes, feeling the shell slide into the chamber of the gun and fire. In the distance, my target fell to the ground swiftly and quietly. I carefully laid the weapon back down and removed the magazine.

Evgeni was dead.

I looked to Leon who was slowly approaching me with a slight limp in his step.

“Nice shot” he complimented me, his voice growling more than usual. I sighed and wiped my brow, tears rolling down my cheeks. I dropped to my knees and collapsed.

“Hey, it’s okay. It’s over now,” Leon said, his hand rubbing circles on my back as he knelt down to my level. I took his extended hand and let him help me back up. His eyes looked into mine. I eyed him up and down, examining his wounds. His burns were pretty horrible but I could treat them fairly easily. I looked back to his eyes and he surprised me in a hug, wrapping his muscular arms around me, whispering in my ear.

“Ich liebe dich”

“Ich liebe dich auche”

I buried my face into his warm chest, the pungent smell of smoke causing me to rethink my reaction. He ran his hands through my hair gently before placing his hands on the sides of my shoulders.His lips gently brushed my own, more innocent than I had imagined they would be. His arms encircled me and brought me into another tight embrace as we pulled away. We stayed like that for what seemed like hours, though only a few minutes had passed. I exhaled and placed my hands on his chest.

Weil du alle mein bist

Next Chapter: Chapter Eleven