I Don't Want to Die

Lord Vanriche focused intensely on his cousin, his shoulders visibly tense, and his piercing gaze sent a clear signal to everyone around, drawing their attention within the vicinity.

When Constantine was finished ripping the final chain on his feet, he looked behind him, his vermilion orb spotting Miha too easily for her liking.

A cold, shrill line traveled down her spine, ripping her ears apart as her heart hammered wildly in her chest. Despite her unfortunate circumstances, her instincts pushed her to escape, but she knew the consequences would place her to her doom.

Her eyes darted towards the door; would she burst into a sprint? Her plan was unmistakably a test of luck. Miha knew she didn't stand a chance, especially now that she has glimpse of the true nature of Constantine. The spooked out faces of the guards and the heavy chains on his body earlier had now made sense, and Miha wished it were all fiction, when in fact, the reality had been stepping beyond her boundary this second.

This is real, and so was the danger in Constantine and of his world.

If it was her old, reckless self, she would've run the second she sees the wooden, oaked doors. Right now, she just couldn't do it. Not when she's in such a dire state, teetering on the brink of death, regardless of which path she chooses to pursue.

Miha failed to notice that Lord Vanriche's men were already scattered around them, ready to defend their master in case another one of Constantine's killing spree spurs into motion. Miha refused to get caught in the middle of it all. Despite her reluctance to escape, she knew she needed to think of another way to escape them. Perhaps she won't make it out today, but who knows what tomorrow has to offer.

She had to look at this in a positive light, or else she'd be stuck her for eternity. That, or she'd be dead when the sun rises.

"Do I have to repeat myself?" Lord Vanriche called from above the staircase, his rich blue eyes devoid of any emotion.

To Miha, witnessing this particular scene felt comically similar to what had happened a few moments ago: them surrounded by Lord Vanriche's men, and Constantine heading straight to where she lay, bones crushed, her heart failing as many times as the people around did to her.

He took his time to get to her, his strides sure and calculated, eyes striking as the day she had first had given a look at them. They seemed like twin rubies that she could pawn anytime of the day, and she'd earn a massive fortune just by letting people stare at it. Women would fight their way to own it, and the same goes for men who plans to earn from it. But the greatest impact it had was compelling pull it had of her for some unknown reason.

Miha began to find herself captivated by its stark color that she wasn't able to look away, that were incomparable to any jewels she had in mind earlier, no matter how scared she was of him.

Nobody did anything funny when Constantine knelt on the ground, his cloak surprisingly sliding onto her sides and providing the briefest of warmth she had craved for the past hours or so.

Miha caught his unreadable face, but managed to spit out a few more words despite the unstoppable tears that fell on either side of already swollen cheeks.

"I don't," she tried to whisper, but find it hard to say the exact words she had in mind.

Constantine displayed unwavering patience as he remained rooted by her side, his gaze lingering and seemingly fixed on her.

Everyone waited on her word, and Miha decided she's to say no matter the outcome it will produce.

"…want to die."

Constantine's eyes became glowing rubies, his pupils dilating as his face remained nonchalant to what Miha had just said. She wanted him to know that despite at the end of the tunnel of being killed, she had every energy in her soul of wanting to live to face another day.

Her honesty bounded her sincere words. In the previous deaths she'd come to face, Miha truthfully wanted things to come to an end. But somehow, as she immersed herself in Constantine's eyes, both mesmerized and overwhelmed by what was happening, she felt the ignition of hope—of endless possibilities that could come to her with a second chance in life.

Miha believes she deserves the opportunity she's given to pull at the end of the light; she deserves to live.

A few seconds later, she blinked in surprise as she watched him nod briefly. The act was so startling that she questioned herself if she was seeing things the way it should be.

That single nod could've been the start of her salvation.

The light at the end of the tunnel grew more significant than it had been the first time she awoke in his world.

Miha wanted to live, and she couldn't believe herself for placing the decision in Constantine's hands.