章 113: Chapter one-hundred-and-eleven
Tasmin
The only chance I have of saving her is by taking her to the cruise's infirmary, which is located on Deck three. I know this because my parents weren't prepared for their kids to be extremely prone to seasickness on our first cruise. And that's where they went to get me some medicine and some good rest.
The nurse asked me too many questions, but as I'm rushing back to Deck seven, I remember that the medical crew onboard cruises aren't usually expecting to be acquainted with bullet wounds.
I'm quite terrified at the moment.
Handing Ally over to the crew means that I did my best to save her, but it also means that the crew is now well-informed of the danger onboard. When they find them, they won't just arrest Ben.
I take the stairs this time, but just as I near Deck seven, I slow my steps, becoming acutely aware of how loud my footsteps are. Lucky I did.
Ben is standing in front of the very elevator Ally and I took before. Something moves to my left, and I flinch backwards, almost tripping over my heels. It's Harry. And he's holding his gun, physically trembling.
So Ben can shoot his own sister but can't shoot his best friend, and Harry can't shoot anyone.
The elevator sounds and then the doors slide open, and the blood appears again. I notice the inconsistent trail of it, rounding around the corner and into the elevator. Then, in the middle of the floor, a puddle of crimson, and the back wall, also covered in Ally's bloody paint.
I flick my head away. I can't look at blood anymore. I might keel over, then Ben will turn around, and his bullets will rip me apart, and then Harry.
When I open my eyes, Harry's in view, his index fingers pressed to his lips, eyes wide, staring at me. And then he's raising his gun, and I feel my own eyes widen. He keeps his eyes on me and his gun pointed at Ben, and he's angry, so angry. But his eyes soften. He gestures with his hand for me to go down so I shake my head.
Please, he mouths. And I open my mouth to respond, but my body moves on its own. I step down, hide behind the barrister. As long as Harry can't see me, he won't think I'm in danger. He doesn't want my help, but that won't stop me from trying.
"Turn around, Ben."
Ben snaps around and immediately lets loose a bullet. It slams into the wall beside Harry's head. I let out a long but silent breath.
"Ben, do –"
"STOP IT. STOP TALKING TO ME."
"LISTEN TO ME, BEN!" Ben seems to jump back a little. Harry didn't raise his voice so much until now. The barrel of his gun seems to drop a little, but Harry keeps his steady. "I don't want to shoot you, Ben. You've been my best friend for –"
"As soon as you get me to lower my gun, I know you will!"
"And it's the same for me, Ben! So what, we're even."
A moment of silence passes over, and it's like a blanket, but it only remains for a second. I think of their relationship, how long they've been friends, and I almost start to cry.
"I never would've suspected you."
"Hah. So I guess my father did plan correctly, then. If it weren't for my stupid sister, then I wouldn't have to be here right now."
Harry raises his leg, and the second lasts a millennia as he brings it forward, stepping closer to Ben.
"You don't want to shoot me," Harry states.
"I will," Ben retaliates, but his voice cracks.
Harry somehow sneaks out a smile. "You won't."
"I'll do it!"
Harry smiles a little wider this time, takes a step closer. I hold my breath.
"You won't." Even Harry seems to be lowering his gun, and internally I beg him not to; Ben will – "Ben, you're not the one that hates me –"
"Don't. Say it."
"Your dad does."
"You ruined my family."
"No, Ben." They're standing less than a metre away from each other. I think I might scream. But then I realise something. "You dad made you think that. He made Ally think that."
"Shut up."
"Ally woke up to it. She realised."
Ben has his back to me… He's lowering his gun… Harry has him distracted…
"She didn't realise anything! She was just a traitor to us from the start. She knew, as well as me, how much our father suffered. Yet she couldn't even –"
"I'm sorry your father suffered."
Ben steps back. Even I'm shocked to hear that. An apology from Harry? And for what? He's not even the one who –
"What…?"
"I said 'I'm sorry'."
"Don't think you can –"
I don't give Ben the chance to apologise; he won't. I have my left arm around his neck and as Ben brings up the gun I slam my right arm down on his arm as hard as I can and hold it there. He bellows in pain and drops backwards… into me. As I let go of him, trying to slide around him before he takes me down the staircase, my arm nearly rips from my socket as Harry grabs my wrist.
I'm beside him in a second, and I see Ben at the bottom of the staircase, gripping one hand with the other and groaning. Next to me, Harry has both guns out, pointed at Ben, but he doesn't look angry anymore. He looks upset.
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