Page 57 of Written in the Stars
Zander looks back at Walter. “She’s not your wife. She’ll never be your wife. She’s mine.”
I feel Walter’s grip on me tighten. “The fuck she is. If you don’t want to see her blood spill onto this floor, I suggest you turn the hell around and go back where you came from.”
I see Zander thinking his words over carefully. He knows that one wrong thing can make Walter snap. Obviously, Walter is crazy, and what a crazy person is capable of scares me to death.
“There’s no way I’m leaving her without her. Not a chance in hell. Just let her go, Walter, and we won’t report your ass to the police.”
Walter’s hand tightens on me. He chuckles for only a second before tossing me onto the bed and charging at Zander. They wrestle on the ground, and all I can do is watch. I’m still so weak.
“Zander,” I call out, barely above a whisper. But it’s no use. It does nothing for Walter attacking him. Fear grips the back of my throat as I see Walter on top of Zander; the knife is still in his hands.
Zander came out here to save me and now he’s in a grave position as the two of them battle it out on the ground. I wish there was something I could do to help. I wish I could get up off this bed and stop Walter from attacking my love.
“It’s done,” Walter says as he hovers over Zander, knife against his throat. “It’s over now.”
Zander’s hands are covering Walter’s, trying to push the knife away from his neck.
“Zander!” I try my hardest to scream out, but it doesn’t come out very loud. I’m weak. How much longer until the effects of the drugs Walter had given me wear off? By then it will be too late, I fear. Walter will have taken Zander’s life. By then, will I even be alive?
As the morbid thoughts race through my mind and I continue to watch Zander and Walter on the ground, two figures burst through the bedroom.
I squint my eyes, not believing the scene before me.
There they are, Damien in his police uniform with his gun drawn, and Lissa standing a few feet behind him.
“Police!” Damien shouts, with his gun pointed directly at Walter.
Walter and Zander look up and see Damien in a ready position. But Walter still holds the knife to Zander’s throat as if nothing were.
“Drop the knife or I’ll shoot,” Damien commands.
But Walter doesn’t move the knife an inch. Instead he says, “Step back or I’ll kill him.” Walter motions to Zander.
No, no. He can’t hurt my Zander. He can’t. Please God, oh please, don’t let this be the way it ends. Don’t let Walter hurt my baby.
Damien repositions himself. “This is the last warning. Drop the knife or I’ll shoot.”
“Then he dies!” Walter shouts, taking a quick look down at Zander, but right before he can make a move to insert the knife into Zander’s throat, two shots fire and Walter drops to the ground.
“Serenity!” Lissa exclaims as she rushes toward me.
Damien goes over to Walter and Zander, confirming Walter is deceased.
“Oh my God, are you alright?” Lissa asks, helping me sit up on the edge of the bed and then wrapping a blanket over me.
I shrug. “I’m fine… I—”
“Sweetheart!” Zander shouts, running toward me. As he reaches me, he pulls me into an embrace.
I sob into his chest. “I was so scared. I thought I was going to lose you.” I bawl into him, shaking against him.
“Shhh, it’s okay, love. You’re alright. We’re alright. It’s all over now, sweetheart.”
* * *
Once the scene gets cleaned up and they’re taking Walter away covered in a black body bag, Zander gives the officers on site his statement. After so long, I’m finally getting some of my strength back. And man, does it feel good to be covered and back in my clothes.
“Are you sure you’re okay, Ren?” Lissa asks as we stand on the sidewalk, watching the nightmare finally coming to an end. She runs a hand along the side of my arm.
