63 Military pink

Iven had rushed to only one possible place left in the building to find Seb.

It was the last resort.

She has to be there!

The basement storage.

He knew the place well because of their last encounter in there.

The underground area was a dim and dull place.

It had no connection or reach of electricity, thus one single lamp supported the whole area.

And Seb was kept captive in that dingy place.

It was small enough and Iven had not even spent 20 seconds to find her out.

It was dark where he found her finally.

But his eyes had never been more clear.

Noah's words struck him hard.....they reconstructed back in his head.

I wish you won't see her the way I've.

He was completely nailed on his feet, staring in a daze, unable to take on any emergency move.

He wished again and again if he had the capability to rewind back time.

He knew his visuals were betraying him.....but it was true to the core!

He knew that he should act fast instead of spacing out, but none of his body parts would move.

He won't even blink!

In front of his eyes....there was Seb!

His Belle!

She was in horrific imprisonment without any crime....without any cause...

Her hands shackled above her head, hung to the extent that her feet barely touched the ground.

Her head stooped low, exhausted, and her clothes torn and filthy.

The blood all over her clothes were dark and dried up. But it was obvious she had been bleeding profusely, god knows how much and for how long.

There was layer from behind her head as Noah had said...and also on her wrist which might have been injured due to resisting the shackles for long.

The scratches and scars on her neck and arms were obviously someone's terrible torture.

Included, the wound on her leg looked miserable like never. It had swollen alarmingly.

Even the dressing was taken off!

There were still some blood drops dropping down on the floor,....from her drooped mouth.

A drop of tear slid down through Iven's cheeks.

It was too much to take in altogether!

She underwent these all by herself just because she got herself involved in his affairs....

No!

Just because he let her into his life.

Seb coughed a bit.....it was even difficult to collect to energy for that.

Blood spat from her lips.

She managed to sustain a little sense ....but not enough to distinguish anyone in front of her.

"Had....enough?", her voice creepily changed. She grasped her breath and tried speaking again,"End this...misery already! Kill me..'coz you...can't get anything outta me".

Telling that took out all of her energy. Another streak of blood escaped her mouth.

"Tame...my corpse", Seb's voice was fading.

Iven wanted to be proud of Seb, but he couldn't.

Not at such a huge cost. This is not worth it.

If she sacrificed this much just to protect something Iason was after, it's not worth it at all.

Iven had promised to protect her once,....but she ended up being the one protecting him.

Yet again!

She's the one who's been protecting him and the others all this while.

And she acted up on that foolishness again.

Iven wiped off his eyes and finally broke free from the shock. He approached Seb gathering his mind.

Raising his hand, he reached for her cheek to caress it.

She had always differentiated him and Iason. And now, she can't because he has put her in this situation.

Seb hissed and tried to dodge him with her full will,".....you dare....!", still stuck up on her pride. She gave up her body, but not her pride.

"...Belle...", Iven called softly. He suppressed his sob.

Seb knew that accent.

Only Iven could utter her name with such intense, no doubt.

It was him....he's come for her finally.

She forced her head up.

Her face was a mess,"Iven....", her voice losing strength.

He held her cheeks gently,"It's alright...it's me".

-I'm so sorry....Iven.....

-No babe...you've done good hanging in there! Don't say anything anymore.

He hurriedly tried to break her free from the shackles.

It seemed to have glued to her wrists due to the clotted blood.

But he managed to open them somehow.

As soon as they were undone, Seb immediately collapsed!

She was weak to the level where she couldn't even stand.

Her breathing rate increased and her cheeks were flushed.

Iven's arms looped around her waist right on time.

He wrapped them around her arms protectively when he felt an odd warmth.

She was burning up with a fever.

she still opened her bloodshot eyes to look at Iven.

she opened her mouth to speak but Iven shut her up instantly.

"Don't talk. Hang on for a little longer", he said.

"I...am sleepy...." Seb uttered as she slowly closed her eyes. A smile spread on her lips. She was glad.

"Yeah, rest. Take a nap and let me take care", Iven said as he cradled her in his arms carefully.

He was especially gentle with her leg.

It was black!

He let her arms loose and fall so that it doesn't bother her.

Seb had already fallen senseless.

Iven clung and let her head lean on to his chest. Her face was messes, but looked peaceful this time. She had relaxed herself carefree in his arms.

She held it for long.

Knowing that she was not hearing or watching, finally Iven said it all out.

He couldn't have said it face to face.

He has no courage to do that.

"I'm so sorry Belle, so sorry! It's all because of me you're here. All mine fault..." he croaked.

He rubbed his cheeks with her gently.

Another stroke of tear made her cheek wet.

He started walking from the perilous hell of a cell.

Seb was out cold, her mouth open for more breath and her face little off due to pain probably.

The factory resembled a bloody massacred warfield.

Toatlly blood coated.

Broken body entrails and dead bodies lay everywhere around.

It was an end to Iason's clan.

Iven's brothers were still fuming with blood drenched clothes.

When Iven came out of the dungeon area, they were collecting around scattered bodies and looking for escaped ones.

Seeing him, they left their hands and gathered around him.

He was carrying Seb which grabbed their attention.

All their eyes were on her, gasping and shocked!

Their faces reflected sorrow and regrets for their inability to protect her.

Iven stood with his eyes down.

Yuka eyes turned red as he fought hard to hold back himself.

Hamish and Jose bit their lips even their face was washed off from the continuous flow from their eyes.

It was silent performance.

No one hid it.

Even Mak, the toughest of all, turned back and wiped his eyes. He inhaled hard to stop himself.

The only person who had dared to look inside their real self, the one who meant like a sister to them, whom they pledged to protect and laid broken and bruised out of her senses.

Seb, who fought bravely beside them against their enemy and protected them, enjoyed with them time to time....was led down on her expectations.

She taught them what really life was.

And again, she protected them all.

Whereas they were completely helpless when it came to her.

It's obvious that her disappearance ignited everyone's affections.

"It's okay Mak",Iven sighed and sadly smiled,"No need to hide, we all feel the same".

Mak turned with his tear stained face and moist eyes. He forced to reject his expressions,"Is she.....".

"....just passed out due to exhaustion and blood loss", assured Iven,"But the torture was merciless. she has suffered a lot!".

Inhuman it was indeed.

Saying he looked at her serene and pale face again.

Then he studies his boy's face.

Even though they cause such a mayhem, their expressions went with contrary with it.

Iven encouraged them a bit,"Let's go home guys, she's going to be okay".

And he received more solemn smiles in return.