Chapter 59

The following morning, Ana and Khai headed to the beach after a leisurely lunch. Because of her exhaustion from the previous night's lack of sleep, Ana dozed off shortly after leaving Arcane.

Upon arrival at the beach house, Ana was met with the disappointment of a rain shower. Khai stepped outside to gather supplies, asking her to wait for him inside. Time passed and her worry grew as she waited for his return. As the sun dipped below the horizon, Ana made the decision to venture out and search for him.

Ana hugged herself as she took a walk on the cold windy shore. The beach was a desolate and gloomy place. The wind howled, driving the rain in sheets that beat against the sand. The once-pristine beach was now littered with debris, twigs, and leaves that had been swept in by the wind.

The waves were rough, crashing against the shore with a ferocity that sent sprays of water high into the air. The sea was a dark, foreboding shade of gray, and it churned and roiled as the wind whipped up whitecaps.

Despite the dreary weather, Ana trudged on, desperately looking for shelter. She cried in relief as a small bamboo beach shack came into view. Although it was barely holding it's own in the pouring rain, it would provide her some respite. Ana ran towards the shack, her bare feet hurting because they were frozen from the cold.

She pushed the door open, the wind slamming it against the wall as she stumbled inside. She shook the rain off her hair and clothes and looked around, taking in the dimly lit interior.

It was then that she saw them. Khai was locked in a passionate embrace with Natalie, kissing her neck as she stared back at Ana with a vicious smile. Khai's shirt along with Natalie's dress were lying in a pile on the floor. Khai looked up when he noticed her presence. His eyes held so many emotions. Shame, regret, disappointment, loneliness. She had never seen this side of him before.

Ana stood frozen in shock, her heart pounding as she took in the sight. She felt betrayed, like the world she knew had suddenly crumbled beneath her feet. Before they could say anything, she ran out of the door, tears streaming down her face as she ran out into the rain. The wind and rain beat against her, matching the chaos and pain she felt inside.

She stumbled along the shore, the wind and rain lashing at her face. She was numb, her mind and heart both in turmoil. She didn't know what to do, or where to go. She felt like her life was falling apart, and she didn't know how to put it back together. In a moment of desperation, Ana waded into the water. The waves were rough, and the water was cold, but she didn't care. She wanted to feel something, anything, other than the pain that was consuming her.

But soon, the waves became too much for her. The water was pulling her under, and she was struggling to keep her head above the surface. The wind was driving the rain into her face, and she was gasping for air. She was starting to lose consciousness, the water pulling her under.

Was this how her life would end? Was there no happiness left for her in this dreadful world? This can't be the end, it simply cannot…

*****

"It's just a nightmare, Ana. Shhh." He could feel her spine under his palm as he rubbed her back to soothe her. Picking up a glass of water, he held it to her lips as she took a sip to clear her head.

"Where are we?" She looked around, her eyes widening at the unfamiliar surroundings.

"We're at the beach house," he replied, still holding her close. "You fell asleep soon after we left Arcane."

As Ana's erratic heartbeat began to slow when she realized that she truly had been dreaming. Khai was now supporting her in his arms. They were sitting on a large bed, lined with soft linen sheets. She took in the atmosphere of the beautiful bedroom. The room was huge, and white. The warm glow of the setting sun streamed through the French doors that took up the entire left wall, casting a golden light over everything in the room. The doors opened right onto the beach sand and the endless ocean was glistening with waves only a few yards away, presenting a magnificent view of the water swallowing the sun.

The gentle lapping of the waves had changed to a soothing, rhythmic lullaby, and the sky was a breathtaking shade of orange, pink, and purple as the sun dipped below the horizon. The seagulls had gone to roost, creating a peaceful and tranquil scene.

There were two doors on either side of the wall facing the bed. The right wall was mostly occupied by the closet. With the exception of a few lamps and a large mirror by the closet, the bed was the only other furniture in the room, with two bedside tables on each side. The wood used on the bed and the doors, matched the color of the sand on the shore, tying everything together seamlessly.

"It's perfect here." Ana took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of tropical flowers and saltwater. "Everywhere you take me is so beautiful, Khai." She looked up at him with a smile.

Khai chuckled and brushed his lips against hers. "You were out for quite a while. Did you not sleep well last night?"

Ana blushed, remembering the previous night and her recent nightmares. "I just kept having nightmares."

"You seem to be having them often. What's bothering you?"

Ana shook her head, attempting to steer the conversation away from her. "If I forget to tell you later, I had a great time here. Thank you for bringing me." She pressed a small kiss on his jaw.

Khai tightened his arms around her. He wanted to take her to the most beautiful beaches, watch her bathe in the most stunning waterfalls, and hike the most breathtaking views, as long as he could hold her in his arms like this.