190: GONE


    ARIEL’S POV


    [FLASHBACK CONTINUES]


    As the clock struck midnight, I stood on the grand steps of our mansion, watching the sky explode in a


    kaleidoscope of colors. Lukel and Janice, my precious children, stood beside me, their faces aglow with


    wonder as the fireworks painted the night sky.


    Lukel pointed excitedly at a burst of red and gold, eximing, “Mom, look at that one! It’s like a dragon


    breathing fire!”


    I chuckled, feeling a swell of pride and nostalgia. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Each firework tells a story, just


    like the year we’ve had.”


    Janice tugged at my hand. “Mom, will this year be as magical as the fireworks?” Her gaze was fixed on


    the dazzling disy above.


    Kneeling down to Janice’s level, I gazed into her eyes, filled with warmth and love. “Darling, every year


    is what we make of it. Just like these fireworks, we can create our own magic and light up the


    darkness. Let’s make this year the most beautiful one yet.”


    The fireworks continued to illuminate the sky, casting a soft glow over our mansion. The air buzzed with


    the sound of crackling fireworks, blending with distant cheers andughter weing the new


    year.


    As the grand finale approached, I held Lukel and Janice close, feeling their hearts beat in rhythm with


    the explosive disy of light and sound. We stood together as a family, united in our love and shared


    experiences.


    With a final burst of color lighting up the sky, the fireworks concluded in a spectacr disy, leaving


    behind fading sparks that slowly dissipated into the night.


    A quiet fell over the grounds as thest echoes of the fireworks faded away, the gentle rustle of the


    wind in the trees filling the air. Lukel’s joyful whoop broke the silence as he hugged me tightly. ” Happy


    New Year, Mom! I love you!”


    Tears of joy filled my eyes as I embraced Lukel. “Happy New Year, my dear boy. I love you more than


    words can say,” I whispered, my heart brimming with love for my children.


    Janice joined in, wrapping her arms around us. “Happy New Year, Mom, Lukel. I love you both so


    much,” she said softly, her voice filled with emotion.


    Under the watchful gaze of the stars and the fading embers of the fireworks, our family stood together,


    our hearts intertwined in an unbreakable bond. Weing the new year with hope and open arms, we


    knew that whatever challengesy ahead, we would face them together because we


    were one.


    [END OF FLASHBACK]


    TWO GONE


    2/3


    And that was it the lovely moments spent with Lukel. They were all in my head; I could remember each


    scene and each word spoken. How he smiled, how he cried, how he was so lively, how weughed, the


    games we yed. Oh, the memories now how was I going to continue to live with this pain etched in


    my heart?


    I still couldn’t believe that Lukel was gone and that little boy was gone. That adorable kid was gone,


    and that marvelous son had left me. Why did this have to happen to me? Why did the pain have to


    strike me hard like this? I made a promise to protect my children, to keep them safe, and to make sure


    they don’t fall into any sort of danger. But I couldn’t keep that promise; it was all my fault that my


    little one had to leave this world.


    And all I could do was drown in tears, getting washed by the pain. Because life now would be filled with


    so much darkness, and my heart would continue to bleed. Losing a loved one was painful, but this was


    really intense. It seemed like I was going to be ripped apart and torn into pieces. The heart had been


    shattered already. Now I could just see what life had installed for me. Or was there still a reason to


    live? Yes, my Janice was here, and I wasn’t going to let anyone touch her.


    I braced myself, putting on the armor of confidence and bravery. Now, I had decided to be strong and


    firm in this situation. If Mason thought he was going to take my daughter away from me, he was


    mistaken. My daughter was now my world, since she was the only one I had left. I would make sure no


    harm came her way.


    I quickly rushed to my car and drove to where I had left Janice. Luke kept on calling me, so I had to


    block his number. Janice was standing outside, tears falling down her face, sad and broken by the


    news of her twin brother. It was the same feeling here, but what could we do? Absolutely nothing. We


    would just have to live our lives ording to what we see–the things that came out.


    “Janice, get in the car,” I told her.


    She shook her head. “No, mommy, I don’t want to go anywhere. I want my brother back.


    “We all do, but right now, I need to protect you. If Lukel were here, he wouldn’t want anything bad to


    happen to you.”


    “What’s the problem, mommy? Are some people after us?”


    “Something like that. That’s why I want the both of us to go somewhere far from here. And we need to


    do that tonight; if not, it’s going to be toote.”


    Janice kept staring at me, not saying anything.


    “Please Janice. Do this for my sake; I’m not going to let anything bad happen to you. So please, enter


    the car.‘


    After some seconds, Janice finally nodded, and she got into my car, sitting next to me.


    “I love you so much, my baby,” I said in hushed tones, kissing her forehead.


    I started driving, and yes, I was leaving this city and this state. If possible now, I should be leaving this


    country. I needed to be somewhere far from here. Somewhere, they wouldn’t be able to find us.


    190: GONE


    But as I was driving, I looked in the mirror and noticed some cars were driving behind me, and it looked


    really suspicious. I drove with speed; they matched my pace, following me till one of the cars finally got


    in front of mine. I stopped immediately; we were now at a bridge.


    Two men walked to my car, pointing guns at me and Janice. “Get out, now!” They snarled


    I refused to listen to them, so they opened the car doors and forcefully dragged me and Janice out.


    “Mommy, who are these people?” Janice cried out as they held her forcefully.


    I couldn’t bear to see her in pain. “Let her go!”


    “Shut up, Ariel.” A voice rang through my ears, and when I turned to look at who it was, I saw Harriet.


    She had a baleful smile on her face, and she was holding a pistol. Just taking a look at her made me


    sick.


    “Where do you think you are going?” She asked, slowly moving her fingers on her gun.


    “That’s none of your business. You better let go of us now.”


    “And you think I would do that? Oh,e on, Ariel, I thought you were better than this.”


    “Mason sent you, didn’t he?”


    “Well, he did. I’m the one who’s going to kill that child of yours. Payback for you ruining my life.”


    “You were the one who wrecked your own life. Don’t put the me on me.”


    “Shut up! You snatched Luke away from me. And now I’m going to snatch your daughter from you.”


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    I nced at Janice, and she was extremely worried. “Mommy, please, don’t let her take me. I don’t


    want to die.”


    “Shut up!” Harriet snapped at her.


    “Harriet, please. You don’t have to do this.”


    “Too bad, Ariel. You can’t change my mind.”


    The man holding me let go, pushing me to the edge of the bridge. Harriet didn’t hesitate to fire a


    gunshot at my stomach.


    “Mommy!” I heard Janice screaming as everything began to fade slowly. Harriet shot me for the second


    time, causing me to fall from the bridge, right into the river.