Chapter 118 - 118 - Rain

I finally reached the end of the stairs but it was still dark. I saw an exit door and walked towards it, rushing. I didn't mind if I felt the pain anymore. I just wanted to escape from this place. The door was a steel door and it was rusty.

I frowned when I saw that it was slightly open. I was scared but still took the step outside. I pushed the door as hard as I could and was met by a cold breeze.

I was right. It was a tower near the ocean. And it was on a cliff. I thought that it was a whole mansion but it turns out it was only a single tower.

I am on an island, I'm sure of that. I looked and searched for a way. On my right, I saw a road but my instinct says it would only lead to my father. On my left was a forest, it was darker in there than where I was standing.

From the road, I suddenly heard a vehicle approaching. The tires were screeching and from the sound of it, it was trying to go up on a slope.

My chest felt tight and started to pound again. I came out from the tower successfully, I wouldn't be caught like this. I panicked and rushed into the woods.

I was running not knowing for how long, without even looking back. My mind was only focused on escaping from the grasp of my father. There were bruises all over my body. The forest has a lot of trees with thorny branches, it was brushing and piercing my skin but I didn't mind at all.

I just kept on running. My feet were numb and injured. I don't have anything on it. I was barefooted. My white nightgown was already muddy and there was blood scattered in it. My hair was messy and disheveled. My lower lip was swollen and had a cut from my father's beating. My eyes were red from crying. And my body was trembling in fear.

I was exhausted and felt like I couldn't go on anymore. I saw a huge tree and sat there to rest for a while. I leaned my back and rested my head. I was so sleepy from exhaustion but I couldn't close my eyes.

I looked at my wrists and the cloth wrapped in it was almost full of blood. I suddenly felt dizzy. Am I losing blood? 

"Jayden." I whispered.

Then tears started falling again from my eyes. My heart was longing for him, waiting for him to save me but my mind says differently. I know his life would be in danger if he meets with my father. I started to remember what happened to him in Flousia. Just thinking about it again makes me scared even more.

I wonder what he's doing right now. And Caden, is he okay? I know my friends wouldn't allow him to get hurt. I was glad that we left him with them.

I still couldn't think of any reason why my father asked about Caden. What the hell did he want from him? Is he really that evil that he could hurt his three year old grandson? There are still a lot of questions in my mind about what he told me.

His revelations somehow have some differences from what was written in the diary. Venice said that it was based on her mother's investigations. Maybe some of the information she gathered wasn't the truth. She used her body to get those, and had an affair with father's men. It's possible that she was deceived and was given false information.

But I honestly do not care about it anymore, the video recording of the murder of Lucia Castello, that was the only thing I care about. I wanted to have it so we could use it to take down my father. But how could I get it? It was hanging on his neck. The only way to get it was to kill him.

I was in that thought when I heard the sound of a broken branch. My eyes widened. Did they find out I was missing? Did they catch up to me?

I forced myself to stand up and started to walk again. This time I tried to walk faster. I found a tree branch and used it as a staff.

The ground I was walking on descended and became slippery. I forgot that I was locked in a tower on a cliff and the area was definitely not a flat surface.

When I stepped forward again, I slipped and wasn't able to hold on to something. The staff I was holding suddenly broke and I slithered helplessly down the slope.

I fell hard, rolling over into a muddy puddle with my face down. Fuck! Am I going to die? Is this how my life ends?

Then it began to thunder, a loud rumbling noise after the lightning struck a tree. I suddenly felt a drop of rain into my cheek followed by a heavy downpour.

The sound and the smell of rain was mixing with my silent cry and the scent of my own blood. I was losing hope. I felt like I was really going to die. I couldn't even move my finger.

My visions were getting blurry and my eyes were closing on their own. I was so tired that I couldn't stop myself from losing consciousness.

"Jayden, love. I'm sorry. I tried to get to you but I couldn't take another step. I'm so tired. I love you. Please take care of Caden." I said.

I felt like this is the last time that I would be telling him how much I love him. Even if he's not here with me, I wanted to at least say those words.

"Caden, please forgive mommy for leaving you early. Your dad will take care of you. I love you son with all my heart." I uttered.

My heart was beating but I could hear the fading sound of it. It was beginning to slow down.

As the rain continued to pour down on my almost lifeless body, I heard a sound of footsteps running towards me. 

I tried to keep my eyes open and see the people approaching me. It was blurry but I know there were three people who were rushing to me.

"Peggy!" The sound of that familiar voice makes my heart beat a little bit faster.

Then he pulled me into his arms, embracing me.

"Peggy! No! Please, love!" He said, almost crying.

I raised my hand and slowly reached his face. He held it and kissed it gently.

"Love?" I whispered.

"Yes. It's me. I'm here. You're safe now." He said.

His voice was music to my ears and seeing him now in front of me makes my heart alive again.

I forced myself to smile at him and whispered, "You're late."

Those were the last words I said before I lost consciousness.