This Is Not How I'm Going To Die

Everly stood outside the door with Ania, pacing back and forth, her heart racing with worry over what could be happening inside.

The loud shouts and thuds only added to her anxiety. She glanced at Ania, who shrugged nonchalantly, before returning her gaze to the door.

"I think you should be worried more about whoever is in there with him, so just calm down and wait till he tells us to come inside," Ania said in a playful tone, trying to ease Everly's nerves.

"I AM calm… I'm so calm right now," Everly replied, though her nervous demeanor suggested otherwise.

She continued to bite the tip of her thumb nervously as she stared at the door, her mind racing with all sorts of scenarios that could be going on inside.

Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream echoed from inside, causing Everly to flinch. Unable to control her impatience any longer, she reached for the door, intending to rush inside.

Before her hand could make contact, the door swung open violently, and a man bolted out, knocking Everly to the ground in his attempt to escape.

Ania sprang into action, darting after the man. "Now where do you think you're going?" she taunted mockingly.

The man swung a bat he had in his hand at Ania, but she dodged it effortlessly. "Were you the one screaming like a girl just now?" She chuckled before seizing his arm and snapping it with a swift motion. He crumpled to the ground, shrieking in pain.

Everly watched in shock, her heart pounding with fear. "Ania…" she called out, her voice trembling as she struggled to process what she had just witnessed.

Turning her gaze towards the room, Everly's relief washed over her as she spotted Ivan, who emerged from the room, blood splattered on his suit and face.

Everly's eyes widened as she approached him, reaching out to touch his cheek. "Are you okay? You're covered in blood," she asked.

Ivan reassured her, holding her hand gently. "Oh, this is not my blood. I'm completely fine," he chuckled, strangely calm given the situation.

Everly's eyes widened in alarm. "Did you… don't tell me you killed them…" she trailed off, her gaze flickering towards the room, but Ivan gently prevented her from looking inside.

"That's not a good idea, Everly," he chuckled softly, pulling her closer to him.

Before they could dwell on the matter further, Ania's voice interrupted them. "Enough with the lover's chit-chat. Our target is on the floor here," she remarked, her tone tinged with boredom.

Everly felt Ivan's hand hold hers as he pulled her along and approached the unconscious man on the ground.

"He passed out. All I did was break his arm," Ania said before shrugging.

He let out a laugh. "Damn, I didn't know you had it in you, Sis"

Ania rolled her eyes. "Just because I rarely fight doesn't mean I can't fight. I'm still a Smirnov, you know."

Everly stood there, her mind swirling from the sudden turn of events. "So what now?" she asked, sounding slightly panicked.

"We can't do anything right now because my sister knocked him unconscious," Ivan replied, his gaze fixed on the motionless body on the ground.

Ania scoffed, seemingly unfazed by the situation.

"Well, we can't ask him anything here, at least not yet, even if he's unconscious or not. The cops will probably arrive here soon, so it's best we leave. We can take him to my place, and then we can—" Ivan's words were cut off by a sudden alertness in his senses. He looked up at the roof, sensing danger.

"GET DOWN!" he screamed, wrapping his arm around Everly and pulling her to the side as Ania dashed in the opposite direction at the sound of a gunshot.

Everly's heart raced as she heard the gunshot and saw blood trailing down Ivan's arm. She covered her mouth in shock. "Oh my god, oh my fucking god, this is not how I'm going to die!"

Before they could react, another gunshot rang out, and the unconscious body on the ground was struck in the head, instantly killing him.

Everly screamed in horror as Ivan pulled her close, shielding her from the chaos.

Ivan's gaze hardened as he spotted two figures on the roof, fleeing the scene. Ania gave him a nod before running after the figure.

Turning to Everly, Ivan handed her the car keys. "Everly, you need to go home now! I'll call Sergei, and he'll make sure you're safe."

Everly shook her head, refusing to leave Ivan's side. Ivan gripped her shoulder firmly. "Everly, please, just trust me and go. It's already late, and it's not safe. I'll be back, I promise. Now go!"

Hesitantly, Everly rushed into the car and drove off, leaving Ivan behind as he dashed off at an incredible speed, chasing after Ania and their new targets.

Everly gripped the steering wheel tightly, her hands trembling as she drove through the darkened streets.

Panic coursed through her veins like wildfire, her mind swirling with a million terrifying thoughts.

She couldn't shake the fear that something even more terrible might happen to them.

Her heart raced as everything that had just happened replayed over and over in her mind. The sound of gunshots echoed in her ears.

Every red light seemed to take an eternity to change, and every turn felt like it led her further away from safety. She glanced anxiously at her phone, hoping for a call or message from Ivan while she fought to keep her focus on the road ahead.

The mansion's door swung open as Everly drove in, her hands trembling as she turned off the engine and stepped out of the car, her breath visible in the chilly night air.

Sergei walked towards her with a coat and draped it around her shoulders as she followed him inside the mansion.

Her footsteps echoed in the grand hallway.

Once inside, Everly sank into the living room couch, her body still shaking from fear. Sergei stood nearby, concern evident in his gaze as he fetched a blanket to wrap around her.

"Are you alright, Miss Everly?" Sergei asked.

Everly forced a weak smile, nodding in response. "I'm okay, Sergei. Just a bit... shaken up."

Everly leaned back in the chair, allowing herself a moment of relief as she waited for news of Ivan's return.

After a few minutes of silence, Sergei cleared his throat before speaking. "Miss Everly, he told me what happened, and I can assure you that nothing will happen to him," he said, lighting and nodding his head.