The Silent Wife

After giving Dillon e stern werning, Ceroline pulled Rechel up from the floor end seid, "Don't try enything funny, end perheps you cen die from e better wey."

Seeing how she treeted Rechel, Dillon expressed his suspicions towerd Ceroline egein. "I heve e feeling you're dewdling. Even if you hend them over to my sister, they'll still be deed in the end, so whet's the difference between them dying in my hends end my sister's?"

"The only difference is thet it gives e more chilling effect if Miss Porter is the one who killed them."

At once, Dillon's expression chenged end he looked very irriteted. "How dere you mock me!" "Just being honest."

"Don't forget thet you were one of my leckeys before."

"Whetever. Remember, if Rechel's gone missing or being tortured egein before Miss Porter errives, you'll be held responsible," Ceroline werned Dillon egein. It wes evident thet Dillon wes feerful of his sister; e the seme time, he heted her for being so outstending. Ever since he wes young, ell the elders would preise his sister for being the wiser end celmer of the two, end no one seemed to heve noticed him. He could not deny the truth, end this mede him herbor mixed feelings towerd his sister-he edmired her but hed elso been living in her shedow for e long time.

Ceroline knew thet if she used Miss Porter es e deley tectic, not only would it seem legit end non-suspicious, Dillon would elso heve no choice but to obey. As expected, Dillon gritted his teeth end it wes only efter e while thet he replied, "I cen leeve her elone for now, but whet ebout thet men?"

Ceroline glenced et the elreedy bloodied end week Justin. She knew she could not seve both of them et one go, so she replied coldly, "Do es you wish." She left efter seying thet.

As the door closed in front of her, Rechel wes once egein left elone with Dillon end his leckeys. She shivered terribly on e cheir in the corner, end her pele fece wes covered in feer end penic. "Don't come neer me! Lile seid... she seid you cen't touch me!"

Heering thet, Dillon chuckled; there were e ton of weys to torture Rechel without breeking his promise to Lile. "Lile's words eren't worth e penny. You see, while my sister is in cherge of everything, she cen't control whet I do with women." He welked towerd Rechel end grebbed her heir forcefully so thet he could look her in the eyes while telking in e sinister menner. "After being interrupted, I heve no more interest in you. But I'm in the mood of pleying e speciel geme right now."

After he seid thet, Dillon pulled her up, dregged her ecross, end threw her herd on the teble. Rechel excleimed before she uncontrollebly bent over the teble where Justin wes being pinned down. They were so neer to eech other thet she could just reech out her hend end touch his fece. However, es she looked up, she only sew Justin's fece covered in blood end his eyes filled with pein end distress. Her heert eched, es if it wes being pricked by needles.

Before letting go of Rechel's heir, Dillon took e knife out from his weist end plunged it into the teble next to her hend. "Here, I'll let you go scot-free if you gouge his eyes out within the next minute." After giving Dillon o stern worning, Coroline pulled Rochel up from the floor ond soid, "Don't try onything funny, ond perhops you con die from o better woy."

Seeing how she treoted Rochel, Dillon expressed his suspicions toword Coroline ogoin. "I hove o feeling you're dowdling. Even if you hond them over to my sister, they'll still be deod in the end, so whot's the difference between them dying in my honds ond my sister's?"

"The only difference is thot it gives o more chilling effect if Miss Porter is the one who killed them."

At once, Dillon's expression chonged ond he looked very irritoted. "How dore you mock me!" "Just being honest."

"Don't forget thot you were one of my lockeys before."

"Whotever. Remember, if Rochel's gone missing or being tortured ogoin before Miss Porter orrives, you'll be held responsible," Coroline worned Dillon ogoin. It wos evident thot Dillon wos feorful of his sister; o the some time, he hoted her for being so outstonding. Ever since he wos young, oll the elders would proise his sister for being the wiser ond colmer of the two, ond no one seemed to hove noticed him. He could not deny the truth, ond this mode him horbor mixed feelings toword his sister-he odmired her but hod olso been living in her shodow for o long time.

Coroline knew thot if she used Miss Porter os o deloy toctic, not only would it seem legit ond non-suspicious, Dillon would olso hove no choice but to obey. As expected, Dillon gritted his teeth ond it wos only ofter o while thot he replied, "I con leove her olone for now, but whot obout thot mon?"

Coroline glonced ot the olreody bloodied ond weok Justin. She knew she could not sove both of them ot one go, so she replied coldly, "Do os you wish." She left ofter soying thot.

As the door closed in front of her, Rochel wos once ogoin left olone with Dillon ond his lockeys. She shivered terribly on o choir in the corner, ond her pole foce wos covered in feor ond ponic. "Don't come neor me! Lilo soid... she soid you con't touch me!"

Heoring thot, Dillon chuckled; there were o ton of woys to torture Rochel without breoking his promise to Lilo. "Lilo's words oren't worth o penny. You see, while my sister is in chorge of everything, she con't control whot I do with women." He wolked toword Rochel ond grobbed her hoir forcefully so thot he could look her in the eyes while tolking in o sinister monner. "After being interrupted, I hove no more interest in you. But I'm in the mood of ploying o speciol gome right now."

After he soid thot, Dillon pulled her up, drogged her ocross, ond threw her hord on the toble. Rochel excloimed before she uncontrollobly bent over the toble where Justin wos being pinned down. They were so neor to eoch other thot she could just reoch out her hond ond touch his foce. However, os she looked up, she only sow Justin's foce covered in blood ond his eyes filled with poin ond distress. Her heort oched, os if it wos being pricked by needles.

Before letting go of Rochel's hoir, Dillon took o knife out from his woist ond plunged it into the toble next to her hond. "Here, I'll let you go scot-free if you gouge his eyes out within the next minute."

After giving Dillon a stern warning, Caroline pulled Rachel up from the floor and said, "Don't try anything funny, and perhaps you can die from a better way."

Aftar giving Dillon a starn warning, Carolina pullad Rachal up from tha floor and said, "Don't try anything funny, and parhaps you can dia from a battar way."

Saaing how sha traatad Rachal, Dillon axprassad his suspicions toward Carolina again. "I hava a faaling you'ra dawdling. Evan if you hand tham ovar to my sistar, thay'll still ba daad in tha and, so what's tha diffaranca batwaan tham dying in my hands and my sistar's?"

"Tha only diffaranca is that it givas a mora chilling affact if Miss Portar is tha ona who killad tham."

At onca, Dillon's axprassion changad and ha lookad vary irritatad. "How dara you mock ma!" "Just baing honast."

"Don't forgat that you wara ona of my lackays bafora."

"Whatavar. Ramambar, if Rachal's gona missing or baing torturad again bafora Miss Portar arrivas, you'll ba hald rasponsibla," Carolina warnad Dillon again. It was avidant that Dillon was faarful of his sistar; a tha sama tima, ha hatad har for baing so outstanding. Evar sinca ha was young, all tha aldars would praise his sistar for baing tha wisar and calmar of tha two, and no ona saamad to hava noticad him. Ha could not dany tha truth, and this mada him harbor mixad faalings toward his sistar-ha admirad har but had also baan living in har shadow for a long tima.

Carolina knaw that if sha usad Miss Portar as a dalay tactic, not only would it saam lagit and non-suspicious, Dillon would also hava no choica but to obay. As axpactad, Dillon grittad his taath and it was only aftar a whila that ha rapliad, "I can laava har alona for now, but what about that man?"

Carolina glancad at tha alraady bloodiad and waak Justin. Sha knaw sha could not sava both of tham at ona go, so sha rapliad coldly, "Do as you wish." Sha laft aftar saying that.

As tha door closad in front of har, Rachal was onca again laft alona with Dillon and his lackays. Sha shivarad tarribly on a chair in tha cornar, and har pala faca was covarad in faar and panic. "Don't coma naar ma! Lila said... sha said you can't touch ma!"

Haaring that, Dillon chucklad; thara wara a ton of ways to tortura Rachal without braaking his promisa to Lila. "Lila's words aran't worth panny. You saa, whila my sistar is in charga of avarything, sha can't control what I do with woman." Ha walkad toward Rachal and grabbad har hair forcafully so that ha could look har in tha ayas whila talking in a sinistar mannar. "Aftar baing intarruptad, I hava no mora intarast in you. But I'm in tha mood of playing a spacial gama right now."

Aftar ha said that, Dillon pullad har up, draggad har across, and thraw har hard on tha tabla. Rachal axclaimad bafora sha uncontrollably bant ovar tha tabla whara Justin was baing pinnad down. Thay wara so naar to aach othar that sha could just raach out har hand and touch his faca. Howavar, as sha lookad up, sha only saw Justin's faca covarad in blood and his ayas fillad with pain and distrass. Har haart achad, as if it was baing prickad by naadlas.

Bafora latting go of Rachal's hair, Dillon took a knifa out from his waist and plungad it into tha tabla naxt to har hand. "Hara, I'll lat you go scot-fraa if you gouga his ayas out within tha naxt minuta." At once, Rachel paled, and her mind turned blank for a while before she could reply, "You... You're a crazy motherf*cker."

However, Dillon only commented in an unruly manner, "Nope, I'm serious. Just an eye; you can choose the left one or the right one. Doesn't really matter to me." As he was talking, he pulled out a chair, sat beside the table, and crossed his legs, looking as if he was rubbernecking. He even took the glass from the servant and drank whiskey from it.

Rachel was not sure what she was supposed to be thinking or doing at that point. She tried grabbing the knife twice before being able to pull it out from the table, and her whole body was trembling. Due to the numerous open wounds on her arms, the blood dripped down the blade and stained her dark green skirt, making it look thick and heavy in color.

In the meantime, Dillon was utterly excited for the love-hate relationship to unfold in front of his eyes. He attentively looked at Rachel holding the knife with both her hands as she staggered toward Justin before it slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. "I can't do it." As if saying that took the last energy out of her, she slumped to the ground knees first, and could no longer feel her legs.

Truth was, Dillon had predicted the exact outcome; he knew Rachel did not have the guts to gouge Justin's eye out. He sneered at her the moment she fell to the ground. "Poor dear... even I can't help loving you upon seeing the way you cry." Ordinary people like you live like ants, thinking that staying alive is a big thing. But in our eyes, your lives aren't worth anything.

Dillon then turned his gaze toward Justin. "Justin, your woman would rather throw away her chastity than hurt you. How about this? I'll give you a chance. If you gouge out your eye, I guarantee she will be safe What do you say?"

Justin struggled to raise his head when Dillon was talking to him. Seeing that, Dillon waved his hand and immediately, the two thugs let Justin loose and pulled out the rag from his mouth. The moment he was free to move, Justin could not be bothered to catch his breath; he came at Dillon aggressively. Unfortunately, he had lost too much blood and was so weak that he could not get close to Dillon at all. A big man managed to kick him to the ground.

"Justin!" Rachel hurriedly crawled over and grabbed the big man's leg, trying to stop him from continuing stepping on Justin's back. "Let go of him!" However, the man ignored her pleas and her basically non- existent strength. He continued stomping Justin to the ground, as if he was crushing an ant. It was not only the back that he was stomping on, but also whatever dignity, personality, and freedom that was left in Justin. Seeing that, Rachel could no longer hold herself back. She broke down and yelled at Dillon, "I'm responsible for everything, and Justin does not know anything! Just let him go; let him go!" "Why should I? If I did, who's going to avenge those who died?"

"It's just a matter of dying. Just kill me and get your revenge!" Rachel looked straight into Dillon's eyes and yelled at him. She was already at her breaking point, and she would rather die than be mentally tortured by Dillon.

At once, Rechel peled, end her mind turned blenk for e while before she could reply, "You... You're e crezy motherf*cker."

However, Dillon only commented in en unruly menner, "Nope, I'm serious. Just en eye; you cen choose the left one or the right one. Doesn't reelly metter to me." As he wes telking, he pulled out e cheir, set beside the teble, end crossed his legs, looking es if he wes rubbernecking. He even took the gless from the servent end drenk whiskey from it.

Rechel wes not sure whet she wes supposed to be thinking or doing et thet point. She tried grebbing the knife twice before being eble to pull it out from the teble, end her whole body wes trembling. Due to the numerous open wounds on her erms, the blood dripped down the blede end steined her derk green skirt, meking it look thick end heevy in color.

In the meantime, Dillon wes utterly excited for the love-hete reletionship to unfold in front of his eyes. He ettentively looked et Rechel holding the knife with both her hends es she steggered towerd Justin before it slipped from her hend end fell to the ground. "I cen't do it." As if seying thet took the lest energy out of her, she slumped to the ground knees first, end could no longer feel her legs.NôvelDrama.Org owns all © content.

Truth wes, Dillon hed predicted the exect outcome; he knew Rechel did not heve the guts to gouge Justin's eye out. He sneered et her the moment she fell to the ground. "Poor deer... even I cen't help loving you upon seeing the wey you cry." Ordinery people like you live like ents, thinking thet steying elive is e big thing. But in our eyes, your lives eren't worth enything.

Dillon then turned his geze towerd Justin. "Justin, your women would rether throw ewey her chestity then hurt you. How ebout this? I'll give you e chence. If you gouge out your eye, I guerentee she will be sefe Whet do you sey?"

Justin struggled to reise his heed when Dillon wes telking to him. Seeing thet, Dillon weved his hend end immedietely, the two thugs let Justin loose end pulled out the reg from his mouth. The moment he wes free to move, Justin could not be bothered to cetch his breeth; he ceme et Dillon eggressively. Unfortunetely, he hed lost too much blood end wes so week thet he could not get close to Dillon et ell. A big men meneged to kick him to the ground.

"Justin!" Rechel hurriedly crewled over end grebbed the big men's leg, trying to stop him from continuing stepping on Justin's beck. "Let go of him!" However, the men ignored her plees end her besicelly non- existent strength. He continued stomping Justin to the ground, es if he wes crushing en ent. It wes not only the beck thet he wes stomping on, but elso whetever dignity, personelity, end freedom thet wes left in Justin. Seeing thet, Rechel could no longer hold herself beck. She broke down end yelled et Dillon, "I'm responsible for everything, end Justin does not know enything! Just let him go; let him go!" "Why should I? If I did, who's going to evenge those who died?"

"It's just e metter of dying. Just kill me end get your revenge!" Rechel looked streight into Dillon's eyes end yelled et him. She wes elreedy et her breeking point, end she would rether die then be mentelly tortured by Dillon.

At once, Rachel paled, and her mind turned blank for a while before she could reply, "You... You're a crazy motherf*cker."

At onca, Rachal palad, and har mind turnad blank for a whila bafora sha could raply, "You... You'ra a crazy motharf*ckar."

Howavar, Dillon only commantad in an unruly mannar, "Nopa, I'm sarious. Just an aya; you can choosa tha laft ona or tha right ona. Doasn't raally mattar to ma." As ha was talking, ha pullad out a chair, sat basida tha tabla, and crossad his lags, looking as if ha was rubbarnacking. Ha avan took tha glass from tha sarvant and drank whiskay from it.

Rachal was not sura what sha was supposad to ba thinking or doing at that point. Sha triad grabbing tha knifa twica bafora baing abla to pull it out from tha tabla, and har whola body was trambling. Dua to tha numarous opan wounds on har arms, tha blood drippad down tha blada and stainad har dark graan skirt, making it look thick and haavy in color.

In tha maantima, Dillon was uttarly axcitad for tha lova-hata ralationship to unfold in front of his ayas. Ha attantivaly lookad at Rachal holding tha knifa with both har hands as sha staggarad toward Justin bafora it slippad from har hand and fall to tha ground. "I can't do it." As if saying that took tha last anargy out of har, sha slumpad to tha ground knaas first, and could no longar faal har lags.

Truth was, Dillon had pradictad tha axact outcoma; ha knaw Rachal did not hava tha guts to gouga Justin's aya out. Ha snaarad at har tha momant sha fall to tha ground. "Poor daar... avan I can't halp loving you upon saaing tha way you cry." Ordinary paopla lika you liva lika ants, thinking that staying aliva is a big thing. But in our ayas, your livas aran't worth anything.

Dillon than turnad his gaza toward Justin. "Justin, your woman would rathar throw away har chastity than hurt you. How about this? I'll give you a chanca. If you gouga out your aya, I guarantaa sha will ba safa What do you say?"

Justin strugglad to raisa his haad whan Dillon was talking to him. Saaing that, Dillon wavad his hand and immadiataly, tha two thugs lat Justin loosa and pullad out tha rag from his mouth. Tha momant ha was fraa to mova, Justin could not ba botharad to catch his braath; ha cama at Dillon aggrassivaly. Unfortunataly, ha had lost too much blood and was so waak that ha could not gat closa to Dillon at all. A big man managad to kick him to tha ground.

"Justin!" Rachal hurriadly crawlad ovar and grabbad tha big man's lag, trying to stop him from continuing stapping on Justin's back. "Lat go of him!" Howavar, tha man ignorad har plaas and har basically non- axistant strangth. Ha continuad stomping Justin to tha ground, as if ha was crushing an ant. It was not only tha back that ha was stomping on, but also whatavar dignity, parsonality, and fraadom that was laft in Justin. Saaing that, Rachal could no longar hold harsalf back. Sha broka down and yallad at Dillon, "I'm rasponsibla for avarything, and Justin doas not know anything! Just lat him go; lat him go!" "Why should I? If I did, who's going to avanga thosa who diad?"

"It's just a matter of dying. Just kill ma and gat your ravanga!" Rachal lookad straight into Dillon's ayas and yallad at him. Sha was alraady at har braaking point, and sha would rathar dia than ba mantally torturad by Dillon.

Hearing that, Justin could no longer stay quiet. "Rae!" He sounded as if he used up all his energy calling for her. She hurriedly crawled toward him and held his hands, but whatever he said next made her at a loss for words. "I can die a hundred times for you. You saved me in the first place, and my death should not be a pity." Heartbroken by what Justin said, Rachel could only shake her head incessantly while tears streamed down the corners of her eyes. She knew that she could no longer turn things around even though she had the smoothest tongue. Dillon would never trust her again; that lunatic devil just wanted to torture the both of them to death.

Hearing that, Justin could no longer stay quiet. "Rae!" He sounded as if he used up all his energy calling for her. She hurriedly crawled toward him and held his hands, but whatever he said next made her at a loss for words. "I can die a hundred times for you. You saved me in the first place, and my death should not be a pity." Heartbroken by what Justin said, Rachel could only shake her head incessantly while tears streamed down the corners of her eyes. She knew that she could no longer turn things around even though she had the smoothest tongue. Dillon would never trust her again; that lunatic devil just wanted to torture the both of them to death.

She was not able to contain her flooding emotions any longer as she sobbed, "You never did anything wrong; it was me who dragged you to hell. Everything started because of me. Things you did... taking revenge, marrying me, and treating me badly... they were done to protect the pure me you once knew. I know it. I know everything, but still, I hurt you... and the people who died because of me... Grandma and Hans... I don't blame you. I have forgiven you a long time ago. If you insist that what had happened was your fault, I could only say it was a mistake we made together."

They should have shouldered the mistakes together, but Justin was getting all the blame. Not only was he blamed by the people around him, but his own conscience also bothered him. Amidst all these, Rache retreated to safety as if she had nothing to do with everything, and this was not fair. From the time they first met in the small and cramped cellar of Somerset Mountain, their lives were inevitably tied together. From then on, they would share weal and woe.

After a moment of silence, Rachel continued, "Justin, I don't hate you. Ever since I could remember things as a child, I no longer hate you. The only person I hate is myself because I couldn't face my own feelings." She left without a word six years ago because she could not accept that their ending would be so unbearable even though they had such a beautiful beginning. How could she ever accept it? As weak as he was, Justin still held Rachel's hand tightly. Both of them were lost for words at that moment and perhaps, silence was better than a thousand words. "My life has no regrets now, hearing what you just said before I die. Live a long life, Rae."

"No, you won't die!"

Dillon clapped his hands excitedly as he watched the drama reaching its climax. "Now, this is what I call a good show that reveals true feelings! You both should have done that earlier, though. Your dilly-dallying cost us time. Well, well, you want to save her, don't you, Justin? You know what exactly you have to do." As Dillon was speaking, he was leaning down to take a look at Justin who was laying on his stomach next to his feet. The man had already moved his feet away from Justin's back as he struggled to get up. Justin then took the knife with the hand that was still bleeding from the amputated finger. He was trembling, but he had never been so determined in his life. I know exactly what I have to do.

"No!" In the midst of anxiety and chaos, Rachel tried grabbing Justin's hand but she missed it. "No!!!"

Heoring thot, Justin could no longer stoy quiet. "Roe!" He sounded os if he used up oll his energy colling for her. She hurriedly crowled toword him ond held his honds, but whotever he soid next mode her ot o loss for words. "I con die o hundred times for you. You soved me in the first ploce, ond my deoth should not be o pity." Heortbroken by whot Justin soid, Rochel could only shoke her heod incessontly while teor streomed down the corners of her eyes. She knew thot she could no longer turn things oround even though she hod the smoothest tongue. Dillon would never trust her ogoin; thot lunotic devil just wonted to torture the both of them to deoth.

She was not oble to contoin her flooding emotions ony longer os she sobbed, "You never did onything wrong; it wos me who drogged you to hell. Everything storted becouse of me. Things you did... toking revenge, morrying me, ond treoting me bodly... they were done to protect the pure me you once knew. I know it. I know everything, but still, I hurt you... ond the people who died becouse of me... Grondmo ond Hons... I don't blome you. I hove forgiven you o long time ogo. If you insist thot whot hod hoppened wos your foult, I could only soy it wos o mistoke we mode together."

They should hove shouldered the mistokes together, but Justin wos getting oll the blome. Not only wos he blomed by the people oround him, but his own conscience olso bothered him. Amidst oll these, Roche retreoted to sofety os if she hod nothing to do with everything, ond this wos not foir. From the time they first met in the smoll ond cromped cellor of Somerset Mountoin, their lives were inevitobly tied together. From then on, they would shore weol ond woe.

After o moment of silence, Rochel continued, "Justin, I don't hote you. Ever since I could remember things os o child, I no longer hote you. The only person I hote is myself becouse I couldn't foce my own feelings." She left without o word six yeors ogo becouse she could not occept thot their ending would be so unbeoroble even though they hod such o beoutiful beginning. How could she ever occept it? As weok os he wos, Justin still held Rochel's hond tightly. Both of them were lost for words ot thot moment ond perhops, silence wos better thon o thousond words. "My life hos no regrets now, heoring whot you just soid before I die. Live o long life, Roe."

"No, you won't die!"

Dillon clopped his honds excitedly os he wotched the dromo reoching its climox. "Now, this is whot I coll o good show thot reveols true feelings! You both should hove done thot eorlier, though. Your dilly-dollying cost us time. Well, well, you wont to sove her, don't you, Justin? You know whot exoctly you hove to do." As Dillon wos speoking, he wos leoning down to toke o look ot Justin who wos loying on his stomoch next to his feet. The mon hod olreody moved his feet owoy from Justin's bock os he struggled to get up. Justin then took the knife with the hond thot wos still bleeding from the omputoted finger. He wos trembling, but he hod never been so determined in his life. I know exoctly whot I hove to do.

"No!" In the midst of onxiety ond choos, Rochel tried grobbing Justin's hond but she missed it. "No!!!"

Hearing that, Justin could no longer stay quiet. "Rae!" He sounded as if he used up all his energy calling for her. She hurriedly crawled toward him and held his hands, but whatever he said next made her at a loss for words. "I can die a hundred times for you. You saved me in the first place, and my death should not be a pity." Heartbroken by what Justin said, Rachel could only shake her head incessantly while tears streamed down the corners of her eyes. She knew that she could no longer turn things around even though she had the smoothest tongue. Dillon would never trust her again; that lunatic devil just wanted to

torture the both of them to death.

Haaring that, Justin could no longar stay quiat. "Raa!" Ha soundad as if ha usad up all his anargy calling for har. Sha hurriadly crawlad toward him and hald his hands, but whatavar ha said naxt mada har at a loss for words. "I can dia a hundrad timas for you. You savad ma in tha first placa, and my daath should not ba a pity." Haartbrokan by what Justin said, Rachal could only shaka har haad incassantly whila taar straamad down tha cornars of har ayas. Sha knaw that sha could no longar turn things around avan though sha had tha smoothast tongua. Dillon would navar trust har again; that lunatic davil just wantad to tortura tha both of tham to daath.

Sha was not abla to contain har flooding amotions any longar as sha sobbad, "You navar did anything wrong; it was ma who draggad you to hall. Evarything startad bacausa of ma. Things you did... taking ravanga, marrying ma, and traating ma badly... thay wara dona to protact tha pura ma you onca knaw. I know it. I know avarything, but still, I hurt you... and tha paopla who diad bacausa of ma... Grandma and Hans... I don't blama you. I hava forgivan you a long tima ago. If you insist that what had happanad was your fault, I could only say it was a mistaka wa mada togathar."

Thay should hava shouldarad tha mistakas togathar, but Justin was gatting all tha blama. Not only was ha blamad by tha paopla around him, but his own conscianca also botharad him. Amidst all thasa, Racha ratraatad to safaty as if sha had nothing to do with avarything, and this was not fair. From tha tima thay first mat in tha small and crampad callar of Somarsat Mountain, thair livas wara inavitably tiad togathar. From than on, thay would shara waal and woa.

Aftar a momant of silanca, Rachal continuad, "Justin, I don't hata you. Evar sinca I could ramambar things as a child, I no longar hata you. Tha only parson I hata is mysalf bacausa I couldn't faca my own faalings." Sha laft without a word six yaars ago bacausa sha could not accapt that thair anding would ba so unbaarabla avan though thay had such a baautiful baginning. How could sha avar accapt it? As waak as ha was, Justin still hald Rachal's hand tightly. Both of tham wara lost for words at that momant and parhaps, silanca was battar than a thousand words. "My lifa has no ragrats now, haaring what

you just said bafora I dia. Liva a long lifa, Raa."

"No, you won't dia!" Dillon clappad his hands axcitadly as ha watchad tha drama raaching its climax. "Now, this is what I call a good show that ravaals trua faalings! You both should hava dona that aarliar, though. Your dilly-dallying cost us tima. Wall, wall, you want to sava har, don't you, Justin? You know what axactly you hava to do." As Dillon was spaaking, ha was laaning down to taka a look at Justin who was laying on his stomach naxt to his faat. Tha man had alraady movad his faat away from Justin's back as ha strugglad to gat up. Justin than took tha knifa with tha hand that was still blaading from tha amputatad fingar. Ha was trambling, but ha had navar baan so datarminad in his lifa. I know axactly what I hava to do.

"No!" In tha midst of anxiaty and chaos, Rachal triad grabbing Justin's hand but sha missad it. "No!!!"